Sharing the latest publications from MR contributors, including David Ricchiute, Amanda Hawkins, @rebeccaslehmann.bsky.social and more! themassachusettsreview.substack.com/p/contributo...

I’m thrilled to announce my forthcoming novel, The Beheading Game, about my girl, Anne Boleyn 🎉🥳🍾🗡️

The Sweating Sickness got a mention in last weekend’s @nytbooks.bsky.social !!! @upittpress.bsky.social

Chicago!!! I am reading from The Sweating Sickness TONIGHT at 6:30pm at City Lit Books with @rubenq.bsky.social —come join us for an evening of poetry in the Windy City (but hopefully not too windy…).

Look I’ve thrown a lot of shade at Thomas Cromwell but the man had a pet leopard and loved to dress in black velvet so…irl I probably would have been his friend.

Valentine’s Day is a great day to order a copy of The Sweating Sickness, and dream about the spouse awaiting us all one day: death ☠️ University of Pittsburgh Press (link to order below) @upittpress.bsky.social

It’s official!! The Sweating Sickness, my third book of poetry, is out today from @upittpress.bsky.social! I’m so proud of these poems, and hope you love them.

My tragic flaw is that I revert to British spellings when stressed because I read too many British/Canadian novels as a kid.

Chicago! Start your New Year with Poetry & Biscuits! Carrie and I are excited to bring you readings by Natalie Eilbert, Donato Loia, Ruben Quesada, and Deborah Shapiro along with biscuits and cozy company. Fri, Jan. 17 @ 7pm 2145 W Walton RSVP to the biscuit maker: mailto:[email protected]

“I’ll move back/to the Midwest, and leave bone cold/New England far behind. I can imagine/all the tattered houses fading from sight/over the back of my son’s car seat as we drive/down the tollway, the mountains receding like sad/contractions” — @rebeccaslehmann.bsky.social “Into the Firmament”

It’s official: engaging with art and culture benefits health & wellbeing. In the UK, it generates £8bn/year in quality of life improvements & higher productivity. Starving the Arts won’t help Canada’s productivity gap. #cdnpse @ucalgary.bsky.social #ArtMatters www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Reading my first Sally Rooney novel and can I just say I love her attention to clothing? I love clothes, and the way she details what people are wearing is deeply satisfying.

it’s all the purest distillation of the idea that society doesn’t actually exist. the only thing that exists is some amorphous “liberty” that entitles you to a life without obligations or responsibilities or anything that might impose a duty on you or a limit on your conduct

Let me get this straight: you can now literally take a shit in the halls of Congress, and it’s not a crime? Cool cool cool cool cool.

Tbh I wasn’t aware Time magazine still existed 😮‍💨

Forgot about this banger from last winter! Still relevant this year as I remain deeply obsessed with Anne Boleyn.

Consider yourself to have been blessed to be alive in any kind of overlap with Nikki Giovanni, May Allah be pleased with her. She has left her voice with us. This is one of my favorites. Photo credit: @jana_m_mader on X

Rest in poetry: one of America’s finest poets. I know I will be rereading her work today.

Yes, and also the economics of it. There is a NINE percent gender pay gap at the assistant level at my college. If your spouse makes more money (and could make more in a more desirable location) why tf would you stay??

SPACE SPIDERS SLIDE SHOW!!! This is not a drill! If you’re in the South Bend area come join us for what is sure to be a memorable evening with @jillchristman.bsky.social as part of the Visiting Writers Series.

Evening plans: sledding; frozen hot chocolate; corny Xmas movie; melatonin; in bed by 11pm. Ahhhh.

My students gave presentation on women or nonbinary/GF poets this week and 🥺🥺🥺 I was so proud. From Elizabeth Barret Browning to Natalie Diaz to Eavan Boland: great discussions on great poets.

Getting as bi as I can and ordering Blundstones. I am so excited!

Sending this around again tonight

Really excited to be hosting @jillchristman.bsky.social in the Visiting Writers Series at Saint Mary’s College Monday, Dec 9th. If you’re in the area, come join us!

I’m watching Hot Frosty!

This.

YOU FOOLS. YOU LET MOOSE.

For years I made inferior Chex mix; then I asked my dad, what’s your secret? Double butter, friends, double butter. Cheers.

Buying extra vanilla and maple syrup at the store just in case, feeling very barfy at the prospect of more shortages, why anyone wanted a return to this, etc.

I don’t want to force anybody into anything, but it’s a great time for Jason Segel to release a full length puppet-led vampire musical.

A couple weeks ago, I followed a starter pack of journalists, and now I deeply regret it; it’s nonstop posting about political news (I’m aware but don’t need the constant bombardment). Systemically unfollowing them all.

A List of Things People Blamed on Short Skirts 🧵

I recommend setting aside some time to read this thoughtful essay. I found it to be very clarifying and grounded in actual detail rather than pundit-y projections.

Because, you may not understand, back then we thought he would finish all 50 states. And, also, the beauty and glory of the performance! Hippie church at its finest.

Was just talking with my husband about when we saw Sufjan Stevens live (in swan costume!) at a Unitarian church in Madison in 2004. I want it back!

There is a subreddit on Reddit called “Flexin’ Lesbians” of just ordinary women of all shapes and sizes flexing, hyping each other up, and getitng/giving advice. It’s so wholesome seeing women motivating each other no matter where they are in their journey. 💪🏾. I’d be down for this on @bsky.app !

The Sweating Sickness (my third book of poetry, out from @upittpress.bsky.social in Feb) is available for preorder!!! I’m so proud of it, and hope you love it ❤️ upittpress.org/books/978082...

This from the cover of German Vogue

Word of the day is ‘sequaciousness’ (16th century): the slavish and reckless following of another person in matters of thought or opinion.

Mixing tequila and a Labatt in a cocktail shaker and calling it a Tariff. That’ll be $24.

A tariff on CANADA? Pay 25% more for Joni Mitchell? I don’t think so, sir.

If there is ever an awkward silence in a conversation, don't worry, that's just where the guitar solo goes.

Could this headache have been caused by stress and bottling up my emotions (again): one woman’s cortisol soaked story.

Didn’t see Hocus Pocus until this year but felt deep affinity for the witches as a strange woman who is also always searching for my book.

Something I’ve learned as I’ve started reading a lot of fiction these past five years: the shorter the book, the weirder that little freak is gonna be.

Love this list, which has something for everyone, many books I loved reading this year, and many books on my to-read (or about to be added to it!). If you’re looking for holiday reads…

My new thing is to be super-offended when someone leaves me out of their starter pack

I have such fond memories of listening to Alice’s Restaurant on the radio in the backseat of my parents’ car in the 80s, on the way to Thanksgiving at my grandma’s. Maybe not kid appropriate but I had an uncle with bad PTSD from serving in Vietnam so it also made perfect sense.