Sunday, July 21, 2024

New Poem, "After You Go" appear in Ibbetson Street #55

 

     I was thrilled that my poem, After You Go, was selected by editor Harris Gardner, for issue #55. Also in this issue, is work from  Ted Kooser, Marge Piercy, Steve Ratiner, Hilary Sallick.

(You can buy it HERE)

What I love from an acceptance from Harris Gardner is that he lets you know what he liked about the submission. In this case:

"Although it is rather short, nevertheless it is poignant and compelling. It has a universal appeal for anyone who has suffered the loss of somebody close. (I must admit, it brought tears to my eyes.) The closing lines were espescially powerful. This is a well crafted creative effort."

This poem will also appear in the Blue section in my upcoming book of poetry, Almost Bluing for Xtra Whiteness from Big Table Publishing.



Monday, July 15, 2024

Book #20, The Shadows of the Seen, deal is sealed.

     


     Two days ago I announced that book #19 Almost Bluing for X-Tra Whitening a book of poetry, was in production with Big Table Publishing, and that my novel The Shadows of the Seen was looking for a home. 

A lot has happened in two days, but as of today The Shadows of the Seen is under contract with Pierian Springs Press.  Is it coincidence? I don't think so. 

***

The Shadows of the Seen, is about the persistent issue of gun violence in our society, examined through the intertwining narratives of three central characters, a politician, a shooter, and a reluctant hero.

After the contract was sent back, Kurt Lovelace, Executive Editor at Pierian Springs said: 

We are very excited to be your publisher for your novel, “Shadows of the Seen”—and it is crucially timely. However, I fear gun violence in America isn’t going anywhere good anytime soon. Ergo, this topic will remain timely for a very long time.  

If only this topic could suddenly stop being timely, or at least some progress made to decrease this type of violence.  While writing this novel, I always felt the subject matter was of extreme importance. I still feel that way and I'm honored, and with boundless gratitude to be able to announce that it has a home. 

***

 

"Timothy Gager weaves a narrative story that is entertaining and addresses the gun crisis in our country. Politicians, lobbyists, and our mental health system are shown to need a cleansing in Gager's upcoming book. "

--Barbara Legere, Author of Keven’s Choice, and Talk to Me, I’m Grieving

 

"Guns don't kill people, people kill people." However, as Timothy Gager's nasty little parable will demonstrate, the people who kill people are the very people who should not have access to firearms. In case you've been living under a rock and the national carnage has escaped your notice, it's just too easy for a lunatic to get a gun.

-Gregory Gibson, Author of Gone Boy and other books https://goneboy.com/

 

“Timothy Gager is a writer who has written about gun violence as it needs to be written. He goes past the quick “post” or “reel” that we see after each shooting that we hear about in the news. We get the sound, the smell, the feel of what gun violence leaves behind. Sometimes, it hurts to read his words, but then again, it hurts to be the victim of gun violence, so get over it and read on. We can’t imagine the pain, but Timothy can. “Big men, big guns, big egos to fill, they don’t even need a reason, got a license to kill…”  from my song “Standing Your Ground””.

-Kemp Harris, Songwriter, Actor and Storyteller

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Two new books coming down the pike....#19 on the plate, #20 still in the kitchen

A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:       

Big Table Publishing will be putting out Almost Bluing for X-Tra Whitening , my tenth book of poetry, sometime soon, looking at before the end of the year. The title covers the multiple themes held withing the page: aging, pop-culture, music, feeling blue.

The book will be divided into four sections:

1) Blue

2) X-Tra White

3) Re(a)d

4) Blu-ing


Here's are the ver first two blurbs from Jennifer Martelli and Gloria Mindock




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I have blurbs for my next novel, Shadows of the Seen, but no publisher as of yet---I've sent it out to quite a few, now it's time to play the waiting game. My vision for a cover is below and please note, I am not a graphic artist. 


UPDATE: (7/15)The Shadows of the Seen now also under contract

As for the covers, I've done a mock-up to suggest a style, (just a suggestion), but what I'm looking for is a wink toward: