My website receives a lot of spam blog “comments,” but I’ve never gotten one as good as this:
“Hypnosis is another product. And furthermore, her pussy was lousy and it stank.”
Furthermore, would people start leaving some blog comments so there’s something for me to look at other than this crap?
I’m finally settling from the excitement of the release party and the trip up to the bay area I took last weekend, so I wanted to send out a big official thank-you to everyone who attended the release party, and to post some photos from the event. It couldn’t have gone better, as far as I’m concerned, and both my publishers and I were thrilled by the turnout. It was a great crowd, filled with old and new friends, family, and everything in between. I really appreciate everyone coming out, and it was a special treat to see some old friends I haven’t seen in quite some time. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful, supportive people, and am excited to be back in L.A., with its amazing community of writers and artists.
Thanks also to all of those who contributed and helped make our night possible: Keith at La Cita for setting everything up, La Cita itself (and our wonderful bartenders), Jimmy Kwon from Sandwich Shop for donating food (check him out at www.sandwichshopla.com, so you know where to go when you’re hungry in downtown), Justin and Mike for reading with me, and, of course, Chiwan and Judy of Writ Large Press for making it all happen.
So check out the photos from the party, and other random photos on my gallery!
If you saw me at any point before I read, you may have noticed I was a bit nervous, but once I got started, I relaxed into the moment and really enjoyed myself.
I’ve received a number of emails from those of you who bought the book and are enjoying it—so thanks, too, for all the positive feedback. If you didn’t get a chance to buy the book at the release party, or couldn’t make it, you can purchase it through my publisher, Writ Large Press, or through Amazon (just hit the link over —> where the picture of my book cover is). If you want it signed, email me at mypalbeckett[at]gmail[dot]com, and we’ll make it happen.
Of course, this is just the beginning. Over the next few months and beyond, I’ll be doing a number of readings to promote the book and will keep everyone up to date through the website, so please be sure and check in to see what’s coming up (I’ve got plans for Betalevel, a gallery in downtown, the Echo Park Film Center, a fancy house in the Palisades, and Good Hurt bar), and to see what’s happening on my blog. I’ll be posting the section of my new work-in-progress “prison-house,” that I read at the party soon, since many of you were curious about that piece, as well as a few poems from the book. I also review books, let you know about things I think are awesome, and other things of that nature. See you all soon!
A big thanks to those who attended the reading!
A week after the reading at Tongue and Groove last Sunday, things have finally settled down enough for me to sit down and reflect on it.
Firstly, I just want to express my appreciation for all the support. It was a great turnout—and it was wonderful to look out in the crowd and see so many familiar faces.
The night as a whole was just amazing. Conrad has really done a bang-up job organizing, promoting, and making Tongue and Groove a fantastic monthly event. It’s a cut above what many of us have come to expect from spoken word in L.A., and the talent I shared the stage with blew me away.
What an entertaining and memorable group. I’ll be laughing about the moment in Josh’s piece where the little Mormon boys in shorts were chasing the energy drink van for a long time, Dana’s short story was a treasure, and I’m still listening to Izzy Cox’s CD.
For me, the reading marked the first step in the long road to getting my book out there. It also marked a personal triumph—overcoming my terrible fear of reading publicly. For the first time, I really felt able to relax into the pieces and to connect to them while on stage. I feel like, finally, I gave them their due.
It helped a lot to feel all the love in the room. So, again, thanks for coming. See you all at the release party!
On the publication of who’s to say what’s home.
I’m beyond excited to announce that my first collection of poems will be available next month!
It’s strange how these things come about.
My life in New York in 2006 was fairly routine—-at 4 am, I’d leave the bar, get on the subway, and manage to make my way home (eventually, due to the frequent “naps” I often involuntarily took on my return journey). One such night, after crawling my way up five flights of stairs and into my apartment, I sat down at my computer, clicked the wrong icon on my desktop, and accidentally signed into an ancient instant messaging application I hadn’t used in years. Before I could remedy the error, a long-lost friend and fellow poet, Chiwan Choi, greeted me.
Chi told me he’d been trying to reach me for some time—-he and his wife, Judy, were launching a publishing company called Writ Large Press, and they wanted to publish my work.
I had no idea how much that night would change my life. Before I knew it, I was on my way home to L.A., and on my way to realizing a lifelong dream.
This is a book that means the world to me. I’ve come a long way, and through a lot, during its creation and publication. I’m delighted to be able to finally share it with the world, and so grateful to everyone who’s believed in me, inspired me, and helped to make this possible.
When Kim is not writing, she teaches writing workshops and works as a freelance editor. She lives in Los Angeles.
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