My ALA Poetry Blast! Recap
At the American Library Association conference in Chicago recently, I had the truly joyful experience of reading with a number of other poets for Marilyn Singer’s and Barbara Genco’s Poetry Blast on the Pop Top Stage.
Here’s a photo of the Pop Top Stage before The Poets took over:
Here is the Poetry Blast program:
So many talented poets, excellent poetry, wonderful books! Many of those listed are poets who I’ve looked up to and learned from through reading their poetry. Several years ago I met Nikki Grimes briefly when she came to lecture at Hamline University while I was studying there and I was thrilled to meet her again. (She's had a tremendous influence on my poetry writing!) I've worked with Laura Purdie Salas through one of her online workshops and it was wonderful to meet her in person. Most, though, I met through this event for the very first time.
Sylvia Vardell (another poetry luminary who I met for the first time) posted an excellent Poetry Blast recap last week that included snippets from each of our readings. You can catch Sylvia's posting by clicking: Poetry For Children Poetry Blast!
After we read and took the group photo, we signed our books. Here’s a photo that Sylvia took of me playing it cool between Marilyn Singer (who is signing a book for a fan) and Nikki Grimes:
Nikki Grimes and Marilyn Singer - two of my poetry heroes and happy me.
July 1, 2013 will go down in history as one of my favorite author days ever. I said it then and I’ll say it again: "I feel as though I'm getting away with something here!"
Thank you, once again, Marilyn, Barbara, Nikki, Rebecca, Bob, Alma Flor, Isabelle, Laura, and Sid, for letting me participate with you in the 2013 ALA Poetry Blast! It was a true honor. Thank you ALA organizers for letting the poets have the Pop Top stage on Monday morning! And a special thanks to the good people at Houghton Mifflin Books for Children for sponsoring me! I had a BLAST!
P.S.
Joy Acey suggested that I include the poem that I'm reading in Sylvia's video; thanks for the idea, Joy - here it is:
Sam
JUST DAD AND ME
Free Verse Poem
For fishing tomorrow
it's just us two.
Not Mom, not Grandpa,
not Lucy.
It'll be like playing catch or
painting the garage.
Just Dad and me.
Fishing.
Poetry Friday on 7.12.2013 will be at Michelle H. Barnes's Today's Little Ditty
7.11.2013
ALA, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Poets 
Reader Comments (10)
Sounds like your having a fantastic debut year, Tamera! From what I hear, it's well-deserved. :)
Look at your smile! Can it get any bigger? What fun! I can only imagine how amazing it would be to read alongside these wonderful authors. Congratulations!
What fun! And yes, your smile says it all- happy, poetry filled time.
A.Maz.Ing, Tamera! What an incredible experience - well deserved. Love that you are relishing your success.
Tamera,
Thank you for sharing the ALA Poetry Blast with me. I've read your poetry book GONE FISHING, and love the back matter with all the helpful information for kids who want to write poetry too. Well done. I wish you would have included the poem you read in this post.
Thanks for sharing. It certainly looks like a blast.
I hope it is the first of many dream-come-true days for you!
"July 1, 2013 will go down in history as one of my favorite author days ever." -- yay!
You've definitely made it to the big time in one giant leap (one great book)! You DESERVE your place at that table!! You EARNED it!!
Hello there lovely poets,
Thank you so much for these kind words of encouragement. Your support is overwhelming and I appreciate it! Joy, I'm adding the poem "Just Dad And Me" from GONE FISHING which is the one that I'm reading in Sylvia's video. Thanks for the suggestion.
Best to you all,
Tamera