A Really Cool Project

On October 26, the Sacramento Poetry Center celebrates its 30th anniversary and launches a book entitled Keepers of the Flame: The First 30 Years of the Sacramento Poetry Center. The book features my interview with the founder of the Sacramento Poetry Center, Theresa Vinciguerra. It was a pleasure interviewing Theresa. She has a great love for poetry and her great sense of humor shines through the interview.

Working on the projects with Mary Zeppa and Kate Asche was a wonderful experience. We spent several months on it, meeting at Mary's house on Wednesdays, and each time I drove away, I had learned so much that all I wanted to do after the meeting was stop at a Borders or a Barnes & Noble and just be in the company of books, aware that on these shelves a great book would find its place one day.

For the last 30 years, Sacramento has done a lot in keeping the flame of poetry going, and I feel honored to have been allowed a glimpse into this rich past.

As I type this I am stealing glances at a proof of the book on my lap, not believing that we did it! But we did. Wait until you see the cover design, the photography, the personal stories by founding founding members, and other collectible pieces of information. like early editions of the Center's publication, even announcements, information about readings. No wonder the book is going to be referred to as "A Literary Resource."

The book is being published by Sacramento's own Rattlesnake Press, which also publishes the Rattlesnake Review, a journal that has featured three Zimbabwean poets as "Our Guest Poets from Overseas." It's one of the fastest growing small presses of Sacramento.

For those in the Sacramento region, go to the Sacramento Poetry Center for this important event, a celebration of the power of poetry.