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Alex Ness and I teamed up to write a new book, and it is available now! Tales of Lost Kingdoms is a book of poetry and essays, focusing on vanished civilizations from history and mythology and folklore. Alex did the vast majority of the work, writing 114 poems and 8 essays, and finding public domain artworks to illustrate the text. Indy comics artist Josh Howard contributed a great cover artwork. I wrote 4 poems, and then I did the book layout and editing. The release date for the paperback first edition is this Sunday, September 1st, 2024, and the Kindle ebook version is live today!

Here’s the Amazon description:

Tales of Lost Kingdoms Kindle Edition
by Alex Ness (Author), Peter Urkowitz (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

Atlantis, Lemuria, Mu, Thule, Hy-Brasil, Shambhala, Easter Island, Nan Madol, and other mysterious places have fired our imaginations for millennia. Two published poets believe that the known past and the past of imagination and legend can be entertaining, can be true in some lights, can offer new ways to consider the world we live upon. With poetry and essays, Alex Ness and Peter Urkowitz explore these lost kingdoms.

The Kindle edition sells for $6, and the paper copies will be $12. Both Alex and I will have author copies for sale at discounted prices soon, as well!

The release of the new issue of Meat for Tea was celebrated on Saturday, March 7th, 2020, at Sonelab in Easthampton, Massachusetts, at the fabulous Cirque des Tartes. There was music by Dan Whitley and his amazing band, art by Jennifer Coates, video shorts by Luke Jaeger, food and drink in abundance, and readings of poetry! I have three new poems in this latest issue, and of course the new chapbook of Fake Zodiac Signs!

Drew Hutchison was there to film the festivities, and that video should be available soon!  In the meantime, here is his video of me reading at the last Cirque event in December 2019. The two poems being read are “The Library of Atlantis” and “Zeno Tell’s Arrow.” Thanks, Drew!

 

We had a great first feature reading at Walnut Street Cafe in Lynn, MA on Jan. 29th, 2020! Thanks so much to them for their warm welcome!  What a pleasure to read on the same stage with some of my favorite poets!

photo by Micaela Campbell Hill 

Upcoming Events:

Les Cirque des Tartes: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 7pm at Sonelab and Abandoned Building Brewery, 142 Pleasant St, Easthampton, MA. ($5 at the door) – 14th Anniversary Celebration of Meat for Tea: The Valley Journal!  I will be there to read the Fake Zodiac Signs and other poetry, in the company of many fine writers, musicians, comedians, and other creative types! Get the new issue of Meat for Tea! Always a good time!

[EDIT: CANCELLED!] And on Thursday, March 12th, 2020, 7:30pm I’ll be the featured reader at The Cellar Continues…, down in the cellar of the Beverly Depot Restaurant, 10 Park St, Beverly, MA! Starting with one of the finest open mic nights on the North Shore, with fine food and beverage options available! Do not miss it! [EDIT: CANCELLED — out of an abundance of caution and a desire to be responsible public citizens regarding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this event will be rescheduled when we can more confidently ensure the safety of all participants and of the community. We love you all!]

The Fake Zodiac Signs chapbook has now been published by Meat for Tea Press!

You will soon be able to get it directly from them at Meat for Tea. EPUB versions will be available soon as well.

You can get printed copies now on Amazon!

And it will soon be available at retail establishments in the Salem, Massachusetts area, throughout New England, and worldwide, wherever fake astrology is sold! Ask for it by name!

 

Under construction. Watch this space for the online home of the Fake Zodiac Signs. It’s not a system, it’s not consistent, and you can’t tell the future from it! But it might be just what you need.