Upcoming Bad Mouth Reading in Albuquerque

Gary and I will be returning to one of our hometowns for Rebecca Aronson’s Bad Mouth poetry reading series in just under two weeks.

We can hardly believe it has taken twelve years for us to return to Albuquerque.

Leaving the mountains, the high desert, and our good friends that summer twelve years ago was heart wrenching and we thought for certain we would get back to visit often, even made promises to do so, but building careers and navigating hurricanes with limited funds and, of course, dealing with the Covid Pandemic all bent our futures and our wills to other priorities.

Actually, I was scheduled to do a live Bad Mouth reading back in 2020, but lock-down conditions required we do a virtual event instead. I think one person has viewed it in all these years, probably because I am terrible at self-promoting, but I read poems from my first collection, Flint & Fire (Word Works Books) for that reading, which you can view here, as a kind of teaser, if you are interested: 2020 Bad Mouth Reading with Lisa Hase-Jackson.

I have since published my second collection, Insomnia in another Town (Clemson University Press), from which I will be reading on September 6.

Gary will be reading from his newly published collection, Small Lives (UNM Press), as well as from his previous two collections, Origin Story (UNM Press) and Missing You Metropolis (Graywolf Press). This is the first time he will be reading from Small Lives, so I guess that makes this a kind of book launch. Appropriate, since UNM Press is locating in Albuquerque.

Now that I think about it, Gary and I read together at a salon-style gathering in Rebecca’s home that last week we were in Albuquerque, so I guess this means we’ve come full circle. Or at least completed one of the many circles we find our selves a part of.

So, if you’re in Albuquerque on September 6, please do try to come by. As the flyer mentions, most of the proceeds from donations will go to support NM Dream Team, which I’ve linked here so you can get a sense of the good work they do.

If you are unable to make the Saturday reading, Gary will also be interviewing with Sara Daniele Rivera at Beastly Books (yes, the bookstore owned by George R.R. Martin) up in Santa Fe the night before, Friday September 5, from 5-6:30 PM.

Or, better yet, come to BOTH readings!!

It’s so cool that we get to promote our newest books and do a mini book tour together. Please come out and help us celebrate. We’re excited to get to see everyone again!