Poetry Friday round-up is with Irene at Live Your Poem.
The time has come to let you all in on a very exciting adventure, my first poetry book for children, Bayou Song: Creative Explorations of the South Louisiana Landscape.
This unique book that combines poetry, nonfiction text, photographs, and illustrations with invitations to write and draw will be published by UL Press on June 18, 2018.
This week I wrote an anticipatory poem prompted by Amy VanDerwater’s exercise in writing striking words.
Publication Day
I’m flabbergasted
by anticipation,
dizzy with expectation,
nauseous
with nervousness.
I’m sidestepping
assumption,
antsy for predictions,
impatient
for beliefpower
to hurtle into
my psyche.
I’m dancing
with my destiny
with heebie-jeebies
and butterflies
splitting me into
a hive of many bees.The day of publication is near.
–Margaret Simon, (c) 2018
I am so pleased with my illustrator, Anna Cantrell. She was a delight to work with. She is young and enthusiastic. Follow her on Instagram at jarofpencils.
I’ve received a few awesome blurbs. Love this one from Ava Leavell Haymon, former Louisiana poet laureate. It’s probably too long for the back cover, but I want to savor every word regardless.
A love-song to the Bayou Teche, this inviting book creates its own universe. I suspect there are multiple paths for us to enter that universe, but I am drawn in immediately by Anna Cantrell’s luminous watercolor illustrations, a gift to us from her precise observation and quiet love for her subjects. And then Henry Cancienne’s photographs add another layer of beauty and understanding. Then I come to brief paragraphs of information, enough to arouse curiosity but press me with too many facts. Then — what a treasure box this little book is! — Margaret Simon’s poems, each one born of minute observation and winsome appreciation of this Bayou universe. And nestled into all of this are Simon’s suggestions for writing a poem of our own in the manner of the one we’ve just read, and a little space right there to do so. Experienced teacher, she suggests with a light touch and offers inviting tricks to make our writing easy.
This is a generous, generative book that gives and gives and does not make demands. My fingers were itching to hold a pencil, a canoe paddle, a watercolor set, a camera. I leave its universe a little sad to go, but refreshed in my love of the Louisiana bayous and with my own creativity restored. Ava Leavell Haymon
If you would like to participate in a blog tour, please fill out the form below. Select a date that works for you (between June 18-August 18) In the comments, let me know your ideas for your post as well as your snail mail address. I will make a schedule and send you a pdf of the book.
Reflections on the Teche 
Congratulations Margaret! Your love of place and craft shines through.
Congratulations, Margaret! The cover is beautiful! I’m happy you are dancing with your destiny, excellent dancer that you are 🙂
So exciting to see your new baby, Margaret! Congratulations!!
How exciting Margaret, many Congratulations!!! The cover is gorgeous and I can’t wait to read your book. What a fantastic review–maybe you can use a section of it.
Congratulations, Margaret, the blurb is something to savor for sure. I’m looking forward to seeing it all! Celebrating place is very special.
So exciting, Margaret! I’m happy dancing with bees and butterflies for you! The cover is warm and inviting, as, knowing you, I’m sure the approach to the whole book is. That blurb is amazing and I bet the second paragraph isn’t too much for the back cover. 🙂 I wish I was going to be around for your blog tour, but I will be overseas in June and TLD will be on hiatus until late August. I wish you the best of luck with its release, and look forward to catching up on the excitement when I’m back from my trip.
How exciting! Congratulations! That cover is gorgeous and the blurb just scrumptious–as I expect the book to be!
How beautiful!! And what a lovely blurb, well deserved.
How incredibly exciting this is. I love love love the blurb and how your suggestions are nestled at the very centre of it. Just wonderful.
Oh, Margaret, I know you are just busting your buttons! So very happy for you and your beautiful BAYOU SONG… such a perfect book for you to have written. And yay for this lovely cover!!!! I am still snowed under, but hope to peep my head out very soon! Happy Poetry Friday, xo
Such exciting news!!! Congratulations. One of our GT teachers is from NOLA and moved here after Katrina; I have her son in class this trimester. And my niece and her young daughter is over in Biloxi. I think this book would be wonderful for Bella, my niece’s daughter.
And your poem of anticipation is fantastic, too. The first stanza is my favorite.
Congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading Bayou Song 🙂
Oh, Margaret, I’m so happy for you! “Publication Day” is fantastic! …love: “I’m dancing / with my destiny.” Thanks for sharing Ava Leavell Haymon’s blurb. It is certainly one to savor.
Margaret, I couldn’t be happier for you. This is amazing news. The book cover, ideas in the books, and your anticipatory poem are all beautiful examples of the #poetrylove in your heart. Keep jumping for joy. I want to shout with glee myself for your wonderful contribution to the world of literature. I can’t wait to see your book.
Congratulations! How exciting – I know nothing about a bayou and think how informative and insightful your writing would be.
How wonderful, Margaret! Looking forward to seeing it!
Margaret, I am thrilled for you! The cover is beautiful and what a lovely blurb from Ava Leavell Haymon. You must be over the moon! I can’t wait to have this book in my hands. I’m so looking forward to sinking into it and enjoying your beloved bayou. Congratulations!!!
I am embarrassingly tardy joining in for this wonderful celebration, Margaret! After watching this adventure unfold from the sidelines, your cover reveal is making everything seem so much more exciting, and the realization that your book is about to be published is palpable. You truly are “dancing with your destiny,” my friend. The world is about to discover your incredible talent, and luckily will be able to try their own hand at writing poetry. You are the best guide I know for the job. 🙂
WOW! Huzzah! Congratulations!
Margaret, I am so happy for you that this dream is coming true. Anna’s cover illustration is gorgeous, and Ava’s thoughts are exactly right: “a generous, generative book that gives and gives…” Congratulations!