I Got Some Fan Mail

I was very happy to receive this note earlier today. It’s from someone who read my book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War. Please allow me to share it with you here.

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Scott,

I received the book between 4:30 and 5:00 this afternoon. Once I got a few minutes to pause, I read the first 35 pages before I absolutely had to put it down.

Scott, this work is excellent! Have you ever served in combat? I have, and the sensual and emotional nuances you’ve captured here are genuine.

On the other hand, for the very reasons I’ve stated, it’s a gut-wrenching read, and that, my friend, is maybe the highest accolade I can give you.

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A nice Christmas gift.

Related articles

• I Wonder as I Wander – Why? (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
• Private Hercules Nominated for a Pushcart Prize (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
• Sunday Poem: Peace (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)

Private Hercules Nominated for a Pushcart Prize

My book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War, was recently nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

The following is from the Pushcart website – http://www.pushcartprize.com/

“The Pushcart Prize - Best of the Small Presses series, published every year since 1976, is the most honored literary project in America. Hundreds of presses and thousands of writers of short stories, poetry and essays have been represented in the pages of our annual collections.

Writers who were first noticed here include:
Raymond Carver, Tim O’Brien, Jayne Anne Phillips, Charles Baxter, Andre Dubus, Susan Minot, Mona Simpson, John Irving, Rick Moody, and many more. Each year most of the writers and many of the presses are new to the series.

Our Pushcart Prize editions are found in most libraries and bookstores. Each volume contains an index of past selections, plus lists of outstanding presses with addresses.

The Pushcart Prize Fellowships is the endowment for The Pushcart Prize, and appreciates contributions in any amount. For more information contact Bill Henderson at Pushcart Press.”

Needless to say, I am honored and terribly excited!

Voices From History

My friend, poet David Vincenti, and I are going on tour, a poetry tour. Our program is titled Voices from History: Where Poetry and History Collide. In the program Voices from History, a study of history through poetry, I provide a tour of the battlefields and camps of the Civil War through the eyes of Confederate soldier Hercules McGraw (via my book Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War), and David Vincenti offers a view of the life of Galileo Galilei that will surprise many who think they already know the famous astronomer. Through our compelling verse and discussion of the times about which their poems speak, Vincenti and I will entertain fans of poetry and fans of history alike.

Thus far we have scheduled several dates. More events will be schdeuled soon. Here’s what we have thus far.

Chester Public Library
Chester NJ
Wednesday, October 3
7PM

Ridgewood Public Library
Ridgewood NJ
Saturday, October 20
2PM

Franklin Lakes Public Library
Franklin Lakes NJ
Wednesday, November 7
7PM

Port Jervis Public Library
Port Jervis NY
Thursday, January 3
7PM

West Caldwell Public Library
West Caldwell NJ
Sunday, April 14
2PM

Cedar Crest
Pompton Plains NJ
Sunday, April 21
2PM

Here’s a bit about Dave. You know enough about me. If not, there’s a link to my bio above.

David Vincenti is a father, husband, poet, engineer, accordionist, and project manager. His poems have appeared in the Paterson Literary Review, the Edison Literary Review, and The Journal of New Jersey Poets, and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His first chapbook, To The Ones Who Must Be Loved, was published in 2010. David curates the Spoken Word Series in Hoboken, NJ.

Hope to see you at a reading.