Big Poetry Giveaway 2015!

Posted byAllysonPosted inUncategorized

The sixth Big Poetry Giveaway is up and running! The fabulous Kelli Russell Agodon is hosting again. And I’m looking forward to another great year of meeting new poets and sharing poetry.

This year, I’m giving away two books. First up is my chapbook, We’re Smaller Than We Think We Are (Finishing Line Press, 2013).

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I wrote the poems that became this chapbook after I had lived in Texas for about two years. It’s about finding place, falling in love with geography, taking journeys.

The second book I’m offering is an anthology called America Zen: A Gathering of Poets. You don’t have to be a Buddhist to love this anthology. The poets in it are Buddhists, but their meditative, spiritual, joyful work transcends a single spiritual label.

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So how do you win? Just leave a comment with a name and email address anytime between now and 11:59 p.m. on April 30th. I’ll randomly select a winner in May!

For details on how to join BPG, see Kelli’s post here.

Since Big Poetry Giveaway always draws new readers here, I like to take a cue from Kelli and do a little introduction of sorts. Kelli gave herself some great interview questions this year, so I’ll be using those.

Welcome! My name is Allyson Whipple. I run the Austin Feminist Poetry Festival and am co-editor of the 2015 Texas Poetry Calendar. I have a black belt in Hung Gar Kung Fu and am training to become an instructor. I also teach business and technical writing at Austin Community College.

Last year I: Saw my favorite band twice in two days, earned my black belt, got divorced, got some of Kay Ryan’s poetry tattooed on my arm, and applied to an MFA program (I am still waiting their decision).

I believe in universal healthcare.

I like sunshine, red wine, tacos, steak, the ocean, silver tequila, and jeans.

I am always looking for ketchup potato chips, which are nearly impossible to find in Texas.

People think I am not interested in hip-hop or country music, when in fact I like both.

I recently: perfected my homemade bagel recipe.

If I could live anywhere: I would stay where I am, except in a house that didn’t have foundation problems or a roommate.

I do not buy bread from the grocery store. I’ve gotten too spoiled from my own baking.

I am thankful for the amazing poetry opportunities that have come my way in the past few months.

I cheer for Cleveland and Ohio State (on the rare occasion I pay attention, which is almost never).

To me, success is actually pretty much 100% what Kelli said: “being able to control my own time and schedule.”

My writing process is all up in the air right now, as I’ve turned my attention to getting my first full-length collection prepared for publication. (Hopefully this year, but we’ll see.)

I am most like: an agave.

31 thoughts on “Big Poetry Giveaway 2015!”

  4. Hi, Allyson. It’s hard to not like country music living in Texas. I’m here, too (southeast TX). I’ve not heard of ketchup potato chips but they sound yummy.

    Please enter me in your drawing- Laurie Kolp lkkolpbmt@yahoo.com. Thanks.

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  13. please count me in the giveaway!
    Linda Hofke
    Lnshofke(at)yahoo(dot)com

    I’ve seen ketchup potato chips here in Germany but the most popular is paprika. It’s interesting to see how each country has a preferred flavor.

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  19. Thanks for sharing these wonderful books through the giveaway, Jessica… both titles sound fabulous. Please enter me in your drawing.

    Jo Lightfoot – wayaclan [at] yahoo.com

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  20. I had trouble leaving a comment and kept recopying my message. I’m pretty sure the last time I did that I copied a similar message with a wrong name. If that’s so, I apologize.

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  23. Thank you for participating in this giveaway! I just love the idea behind it. And it’s such a great way to discover new poets.

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