Honored that my poem “Show Me How to Trace This” was featured as the Poem of the Week for Sampsonia Way.
This is a strange poem about my pacemaker, and I’m so glad it found a home! Click here to read it.
Take care,
Poem of the Week
Pittsburgh poetry
National Poetry Month Reading
Hi y’all,
I was scheduled to give a reading for Pretty Owl Poetry at White Whale Bookstore to celebrate National Poetry Month on April 22nd with readers Malcolm Friend, Lucia LoTempio, and Charlie Lefever.
To curb the spread of COVID-19, the reading was held virtually through Zoom on April 23rd.
If you missed it, here is the full video.
Write on,
Book Launch #2
I was blessed to bring this beauty into the world recently. My friends, colleagues, and family helped me celebrate my second chapbook, The Shedding Before the Swell, at The Glitterbox Theater on December 8th.
Poets/friends Dan Shapiro, Ava C. Cipri, Charlie Brice, and Amy Lee Heinlen gave beautiful readings and introductions.
“Kara’s poems can take us just to the edge, teetering on the brink, through a mastery of the senses and an unapologetic voice she transforms the ordinary into unnerving and unexpected landscapes. Sometimes I feel as if she leads, but mostly I feel she asks us to walk alongside her, and look into the abyss, and name our hunger. “—Ava C. Cipri, author of Leaving The Burdened Ground
We had books for sale (of course) and a signing party after the reading with wine and sweet treats made from my best friend, Holly.
I’m so grateful for everyone that came out to help celebrate this book with me.
(And to Catherine, who captured the beautiful photo below of my parents looking on!)
Sending love,
Autumn Readings
As quick as the leaves changed in the fall, my season of readings for the last part of 2018 has come to a close.
I’ve kept busy the past couple months:
Carlow University
Red Dog Reading Series
Black Cat Market
Honey Bee Review Reading
Full Pint Wild Side Pub
Hell’s Lid Reading Series
And one more upcoming reading at the Millvale Community Library
Girls Write Pittsburgh Winter Reading Party
Here’s wishing you the happiest of holidays with your loved ones!
Until next time,
Pittsburgh Poetry Houses
My poem “Road Maps” was reprinted recently with Pittsburgh Poetry Houses. It was also featured both online and at Randyland, which is pretty much the coolest thing ever.
A Season of MadFridays
Almost a year ago, I was presented with the opportunity to co-curate the Madwomen in the Attic‘s monthly reading series here in Pittsburgh, PA.
Since then, being a part of MadFridays has been nothing short of an adventure on its own; it has been filled with talented writers and readers, a captivated and supportive audience, and a community of friends.
Our last reading of the season took place May 11th with a special spotlight on the Madwomen Mentorship program and featured talented mentees: Joy, Alexandra, Rachel, and Sally. Mentors Kayla, Emily, Daniela, Wendy, and our fearless leader Jan are also pictured.
Thank you to all for a wonderful 2017-2018 season! We’ll see you in September.
Special thanks to my sidekick Laurin for all her work, all the open mic readers and attendees over the past year, and to Delanie’s Coffee for letting us use their space.
Pittsburgh Poetry Review Roadshow
Calling yinz near and far, check out Pittsburgh Poetry Review!
My poem “Tuesdays at Baum Grove” was published in Issue Two, and I read at the Pittsburgh Poetry Review Roadshow last night (Thursday, May 19th) at Té Café in Squirrel Hill with Jen Ashburn.
(Note: Seeing your name on a poster for the first time as a featured reader is pretty cool.)
Some photos from the evening.
I read a total of ten poems, one of which I had literally thrown together that same afternoon. Some I had written in my Madwomen workshops, some came from my experiences in Spain, and others uncovered the emotions behind getting my pacemaker.
Jen Ashburn, who lived in Japan for four years, graced us with her incredible poems, as did Jason Irwin and Jill Khoury for the Open Mic session.
Although I didn’t try any tea, Té Café had some really good coffee in cups the size of giant soup bowls. Definitely will be coming back for the poetry and the caffeine 🙂
Check out next week’s readers Edward Murray, Jamilla Rice, and Janeen Rastall. Same place, same time!
Pittsburgh Poetry Review currently publishes 3 issues a year, March, July, and November. You can find more information on their website or on their Facebook page.
Special thanks again to those that made this possible: Michael Albright, Jennifer Jackson Berry, and Daniel Shapiro for seeing something in my work and taking a chance on me.
Thanks so much to everyone that came out! Hope you enjoyed my words as much as I loved reading them.
from this side of the sun 