Reading at Perfect Lovers on 11/5, Griot and Grey Owl Conference, and Looking for Representation/Publication

On November 5th at 7:30 p.m. I am performing the eleventh installment of a reading series called Evenings at perfect lovers in Durham. A few days later I will also participate in the Griot and Grey Owl Conference as part of their Editors, Writers, and Authors Publishing Roundtable on Saturday, November 8th at 11:00 AM at American Underground and as a featured storyteller at the Storyteller's Brunch on Sunday, November 9th. 

I've attended a few Evenings readings before including one where my friend Fred Joiner read his poetry with guitarist Tre Charles' accompaniment. I also saw my friend and colleague Nate Dixon read from his book a little while ago with bass player Casey Toll. Evenings is what Durham art should aspire to be—affordable, inclusive, diverse, and fun. I wrote a new book this summer that is loosely based on the rapture. This is what I will be performing at Evenings along with musical accompaniment from my fellow North Carolina School of Science Mathematics alumnus XOXOK. 

I recently parted ways with my agent at UTA. We'd been working together for two and a half years. Most of that time was spent editing my previous manuscript TOKEN. We were on submission with it for a year and got some interest, but no deals. I'm looking for a new agent, preferably one that is interested in publishing fiction (literary, speculative, or interstitial) by authors whose written work is the primary reason people pay attention to them. If you know someone or are someone, feel free to come out to my reading or reach out via the e-mail address listed on my contact page. That goes for editors too! NK Adjei Brenyah's Friday Black is one of the main comparison titles. I challenged myself with this work by trying to imagine extensions of our known world that say as much about it as the parts that we know do.

I'm excited to be a part of Griot and Grey Owl this year. I first attended the festival's poetry slam last year and reached out to them about participating a couple of months ago. It's fun to talk about writing and I think my journey in publishing, particularly lately, has opened my eyes to ways writers have to adapt and innovate in order to succeed.

I hope to see you at either or both of these events!