Summer 2013

Welcome! In the Look, Read, and Listen areas, you will find artwork, articles, reviews, and videos for my poetry books Pretend the World and Dark Lake and my anthology Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers.

Recent Praise for Pretend the World:

"Balancing the delicate acts of loving and grieving, Kathryn Kysar microscopes the world of   modern woman/motherhood." Poetry Foundation

"Lovely chronicles of everyday life." Minneapolis Star and Tribune

"The gems in this collection are plenty and shiny." Hazel and Wrenn

"Her poems here, like Whitman's, are at once deeply personal and expansive." Knight  Foundation

Summer Readings:

 Friday, May 31, 2013. Quarter/Quarter, 25 Center Street East, Harmony, Minnesota. Happy Hour Poetry and Prose reading sponsored by the Harmony Arts Board. 3:30-5:00 p.m. With Kris Bigalk, Beth Mayer, and Amy Weldon.

Friday, June 21, 2013. Eagan Resource Center Food Shelf. 3904 Cedar Grove Parkway, Eagan, Minneasota, 55122. Cracked Walnut Summer Solstice Reading. 7:30 p.m. With Anh Hoa Nguyen, Victoria Peterson Hilleque, Sarah Rosemary, and Carolyn Williams-Noren.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Piragis Northwood Company Bookstore, 105 North Central Avenue, Ely, Minnesota, 55731. 6:00 p.m. With Heid Erdrich, Catherine Holm, Jean Gendreau, and Polly Carlson-Voiles. 

Thursday, August 8. Coffee Hag. 329 Riverfront Drive, Mankato, Minnesota, 56001. With Rachel Hanel.

Friday, August 16, 2o13. Minnesota Center for Book ArtsMinnesota Center for Book Arts, Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415.  Collaborative show and reading. With Jessica Lee Shimek. Time TBA.

Summer Writing:

 My Minnesota State Arts Board grant is supporting three wonderful weeklong writing retreats at Crestwood Country Cabin, Tofte Arts Center, and the Oberholtzer Foundation’s Mallard Island. In addition to writing, I will be making a C.D. of poems for distribution to libraries around the state. More on that project in the fall!

Please contact me if you have questions or suggestions for readings or creative projects!

"Balancing the delicate acts of loving and grieving, Kathryn Kysar microscopes the world of   modern woman/motherhood." Poetry Foundation

"Lovely chronicles of everyday life." Minneapolis Star and Tribune

"The gems in this collection are plenty and shiny." Hazel and Wrenn

"Her poems here, like Whitman's, are at once deeply personal and expansive." Knight  Foundation

Spring 2013

Welcome! In the Look, Read, and Listen areas, you will find artwork, articles, reviews, and videos for my poetry books Pretend the World and Dark Lake and my anthology Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers.

Kathryn Kysar Spring Events

Thursday, March 7. Room 308, Level 3 Hynes Convention Center, Boston  10:30-11:45 a.m. Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference. “Preparing for Liftoff: The Launch Event.” Panel discussion with Kevin Fenton, Nichole Bernier, Kris Bigalk, and Lightsey Darst.

Thursday, March 7. LIR Irish Restaurant, Boston.  4:30-6:30 p.m. Festival of Language experimental reading/performance. With Jenny Ferguson, Beth Gilstrap, Sonya Huber, Kathryn Kysar, R.B. Moreno, Ted Pelton, Erin Rhodes, Anita Schmaltz, Ben Tanzer, Meg Tuite, Sarah Stonich, and Robert Vaughan.

Friday, March 8. Room 110, Plaza level Hynes Convention Center, Boston.  10:30-11:45 a.m. Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference. “Blurring Boundaries: Motherhood and Writing From Home. Panel discussion with Susannah Schouweiler, Leslie Adrienne Miller, Keli Stewart, and Patricia Smith.  

Saturday, March 16: Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis. Barrie Jean Borich’s book release party for Body Geographic. Reading original work in response to “The Map that Made Me.” With Lori Stee, Aundria Morgan, Doug Federheart, Morgan Grayce Willow, Ellen Lansky, Patrick Scully, Katrina Vandenberg, Pat Crumbie, Sun Yung Shin, and Sheila O'Connor.

Thursday, March 21:  Subtext Bookstore, 165 Western Avenue, Saint Paul.  7:00 p.m. Cracked Walnut Lit-Reading Festival.  With Kris Bigalk, Colin McDonald, Pam Schmid, Peter Stein, and John Wodarz.

Saturday, April 6: The Clown Lounge, Turf Club, Saint Paul. Sarah Stonich’s launch party/meat raffle for Vacationland. With Danny Klecko, Martin Kihn, and others.

Sunday, May 5:  Magers and Quinn Bookstore, Minneapolis. 4:00 p.m. Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers Reunion reading. Kathryn Kysar, MC. Readers: Heid Erdrich, Sheila O’Connor, Taiyon Coleman, Ka Vang, Shannon Olson, and Sun Yung Shin.

Thursday, May 9: Subtext Books, Saint Paul, Minnesota. 7:00 p.m. Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers reunion reading. Kathryn Kysar, MC. Readers:  Sheila O’Connor, Morgan Grayce Willow, Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, Taiyon Coleman, Carrie Pomeroy, Ka Vang, Shannon Olson, Sun Yung Shin.

"Balancing the delicate acts of loving and grieving, Kathryn Kysar microscopes the world of   modern woman/motherhood." Poetry Foundation

"Lovely chronicles of everyday life." Minneapolis Star and Tribune

"The gems in this collection are plenty and shiny." Hazel and Wrenn

"Her poems here, like Whitman's, are at once deeply personal and expansive." Knight  Foundation

Winter 2013

Welcome! In the Look, Read, and Listen areas, you will find artwork, articles, reviews, and videos for my poetry books Pretend the World and Dark Lake and my anthology Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers.

I had a wonderful fall. I was honored to participate in two community-driven poetry projects--100K Poets for Change and the St. Paul Almanac. In addition, I was the featured poet in the Two Rivers Reading Series, had a poem included in the photography/writing anthology Intimate Landscapes and art exhibit, and got to hang out at the Holy Cow! table at the Twin Cities Book Festival. 

This winter I am looking forward to several readings in the Twin Cities as well as the annual AWP conference in Boston, where I will present on two panels and participate in an experimental reading at an Irish Pub!

Kathryn Kysar Winter Events

Tuesday, January 15: University Club in Saint Paul 7:30 p.m. Carol Connelly’s Readings by Writers. With Bill Cavanaugh, Jane Dickerson, Claudia Hampton Daily, Kevin Featherly, Stan Kusonoki, and Paul Mohrbacher. Marcus Young will emcee.

Thursday, February 28: The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis. 6:30-8:30 p.m.  “Publishing Poetry: A Discussion and Reading by Minnesota Women.” With Cary Waterman, Katrina Vandenberg, Leslie Adrienne Miller, Heid Erdrich, and Sierra DeMulder. Moderated by Kris Bigalk.

Thursday, March 7. Room 308, Level 3 Hynes Convention Center, Boston  10:30-11:45 a.m. Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference. “Preparing for Liftoff: The Launch Event.” Panel discussion with Kevin Fenton, Nichole Bernier, Kris Bigalk, and Lightsey Darst.

Thursday, March 7. LIR Irish Restaurant, Boston.  4:30-6:30 p.m. Festival of Language experimental reading/performance. With Jenny Ferguson, Beth Gilstrap, Sonya Huber, Kathryn Kysar, R.B. Moreno, Ted Pelton, Erin Rhodes, Anita Schmaltz, Ben Tanzer, Meg Tuite, Sarah Stonich, and Robert Vaughan.

Friday, March 8. Room 110, Plaza level Hynes Convention Center, Boston.  10:30-11:45 a.m. Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference. “Blurring Boundaries: Motherhood and Writing From Home. Panel discussion with Susannah Schouweiler, Leslie Adrienne Miller, Keli Stewart, and Patricia Smith.  

Thursday, March 12:  Subtext bookstore, 165 Western Avenue, Saint Paul.  6:30-7:30 p.m. Cracked Walnut Lit-Reading Festival.  With Kris Bigalk, Colin McDonald, Pam Schmid, Peter Stein, and John Wodarz.

"Balancing the delicate acts of loving and grieving, Kathryn Kysar microscopes the world of   modern woman/motherhood." Poetry Foundation

"Lovely chronicles of everyday life." Minneapolis Star and Tribune

"The gems in this collection are plenty and shiny." Hazel and Wrenn

"Her poems here, like Whitman's, are at once deeply personal and expansive." Knight  Foundation

Autumn 2012

Welcome! In the Look, Read, and Listen areas, you will find artwork, articles, reviews, and videos for my poetry books Pretend the World and Dark Lake and my anthology Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers.

I had a wonderful summer. I was thrilled to read in the Midway, my childhood neighborhood, in the Cracked Walnut series and at the wonderful new bookstore Subtext in St. Paul. On magical Madeline Island, I swam, wrote, and mentored at MISA. 

The fall, I am honored to be participating in two community-driven poetry projects: 100K Poets for Change and the St. Paul Almanac. In addition, I will be the featured poet in the Two Rivers Reading Series, speaking at the Community College Humanities Conference in Iowa City, reading my poem in the photography/writing anthology Intimate Landscapes, and hanging out at the Holy Cow! table at the Twin Cities Book Festival. 

Here’s my Fall/Winter schedule:

Saturday, September 22: The Carlyle, Minneapolis. Writers United for All Families fundraising reading. 4:00-6:00 p.m. Registration required.

Saturday, September 30:  Black Dog Café, St. Paul. 10K Poets for Change. Event runs from 4:00-9:00 p.m. I will be hosting and reading from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 6: Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis. Co-Kisser Poetry Film Festival. Jes Lee’s video of my poem “Hand Sisters” will be shown. Exact time of film and possible reading TBA.

Saturday, October 13: Minnesota State Fair Grounds, St. Paul. Rain Taxi Book Fair. I will be signing copies of Pretend the World at the Holy Cow! table from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Monday, October 15:  Common Good Books, St. Paul. St. Paul Almanac group reading. 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 13: Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids. Speaking to Paige Riehl’s Introduction to Creative Writing class. 10:00-10:50 a.m.

Wednesday, November 14: Anoka-Ramsey Community College--Legacy Room, Coon Rapids.  Two Rivers Reading Series. Reading from and speaking about Pretend the World. 11:00-11:50 a.m. and 12:00-12:50 p.m.

Thursday, November 15: Metropolitan State College--Gordon Parks Gallery, St. Paul. Show and reception for Intimate Landscapes anthology. 5:00-7:00 p.m. (No author appearance.)

Monday, November 19: Claddagh Coffee, St. Paul. Saint Paul Almanac group reading. 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 6: The Maeve Sessions. Minneapolis. With Leslie Adrienne Miller and others. More information soon.

Monday, December 10: Hamline Branch Public library, St. Paul. With Leslie Adrienne Miller and Katrina Vandenberg. 7:00 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday March 6-9, 2013: Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston.  Association of Writers and Writing Programs annual conferene. I am presenting on two panels: “Blurring Boundaries: Mothers Writing From Home” and “Preparing for Liftoff: The Launch Event. Dates and times TBA.

Spring/ Pretend the World

Welcome to my website. In the Look, Read, and Listen areas, you will find artwork, articles, reviews, and videos for my first book of poetry, Dark Lake, my anthology Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers and my new book of poetry, Pretend the World.

Excerpts from some recent reviews of Pretend the World:

"Balancing the delicate acts of loving and grieving, Kathryn Kysar microscopes the world of modern woman/motherhood."/Poetry Foundation

"Lovely chronicles of everyday life."/Minneapolis Star and Tribune

"The gems in this collection are plenty and shiny."/Hazel and Wrenn

"Her poems here, like Whitman's, are at once deeply personal and expansive."/Knight Foundation

Here are my spring events for this spring in the Twin Cities and Chicago:

Through Monday, January 30th--Unity Unitarian, St. Paul--The Pretend the World art exhibit featuring the work of Jes Lee, Jan Elftmann, Philip Noyed, and David Malcolm Scott is on view

Wednesday, February 8--Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis--Ed Bok Lee's writing class

Friday, February 10--Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Minneapolis, 11:00-11:50 a.m.--Scott Stankey's Minnesota Authors class

Wednesday, February 29--Women and Children First, Chicago, 7:30 p.m.--AWP Women's Caucus Poetry Reading with Cynthia Hogue, Patricia Smith, Martha Collins, Keli Stewart, and Lois Roma-Deeley

Thursday, March 1 --Harold Washington College, Chicago, 7:00 p.m.--Two Year College Caucus Reading

Saturday, March 3-- AWP Bookfair, Hilton Hotel, Chicago, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.--Signing Pretend the World at the Two Year College Caucus Table

Wednesday, March 7--North Hennepin Community College, Minneapolis, 10:00 a.m.--Meet the Authors reading series

Thursday, March 8--University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, 3:25-5:00 p.m.--Roseann Lloyd's class to discuss my food essays and poems

Thursday, April 12--ArtStart Gallery, St. Paul, 7:00 p.m.---A reading with Philip Bryant; Pretend the World photographs and videos by Jes Lee

Tuesday, April 17--Century College, St. Paul, 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 25--Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Minneapolis, Legacy Room, 5:30-6:20 p.m.--Spring English Department Faculty Reading with Susan Dunn, Scott Wrobel, and Kathie Weihe

Saturday-Sunday, May 19-20--Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis-- Poetry Festival--Panel on collaboration

During the last week of July, the height of summer, I will be teaching a poetry workshop entitled Writing the World Around Us at Madeline Island School of the Arts. We will write in the morning, then bike, hike, swim, kayak, and lay on the beach (with notebooks, of course) in the afternoon. I hear the food is fantastic--meals will emphasize fresh and local food-- and the accommodations affordable. Undergraduate and graduate credit available through UMD for the workshop.

And in the fall, I am honored to be the guest poet for the Two Rivers Reading Series at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. (Date TBA)

Contact me if you'd like to add an event to this list!

Autumn Events

September was an amazing month: the Pretend the World art exhibit received great fanfare with articles in Knight Foundation website, Minnesota Public Radio, Minneapolis Star and Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, ABC Newspapers, the Fridley Patch (photos), ABC Newspapers(again), and many other places. My deepest thanks to Philip Noyed, Jan Elftmann, David Malcolm Scott, Jes Lee, and Peter L. Johnson for making the most stunning artwork in response to my poems, and my gratitude to Lia Rivamonte at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts for hosting the show. I was honored to read at Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais, Magers and Quinn with Jim Moore, and Birch Bark Books with Denise Low in Minneapolis.

The collaborative synergy continues. Jes Lee has created videos of my poems "Japanese Garden" and "Hand Sister," He Shuman has composed a song to "Holding Her," and I will be recording poems with jazz clarinetist Sean Egan. I also look forward to teaching a one week poetry workshop for Madeline Island School of the Arts next July.

Here are my upcoming events:

• Jes Lee and I will be appearing at the Co-Kisser Poetry Film Festival at Minneapolis College of Art and Design on Saturday, October 8.
• On Saturday, October 15, I will be signing books at the Holy Cow! Press table at the Twin Cities Book Festival Saturday, October 15 from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
• I'll be leading a book club discussion at the Hennepin County Southdale Library on The White Tiger on Monday, November 14.
• On Tuesday, November 15, I'll join Poets for Peace for a reading at the St. Paul Athletic Club for Carol Connelly's Readings By Writers at 7:00 p.m.
• Ellen Lanskey and Morgan Grayce Willow will read with me at the Blue Moon in Minneapolis on Friday, November 18.

Wild and Wonderful Events in September

Pretend the World continues to be blessed with wonderful press, including Susannah Schouweller's review on the Knight Foundation website, which you can find in the Read area here.

The Pretend the World art exhibit is up through the month at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts. It is open daily from 11:00-4:00 p.m. at 6666 East River Road in Fridley, Minnesota.

Here is a quick listing of all of the September Pretend the World events:

On September 11th, I will be discussing the collaboration process with several Pretend the World artists at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts in Fridley at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, September 14th at Birch Bark Books in Minneapolis, I have the honor of reading with Denise Low, President of AWP and ex-Poet Laureate of Kansas, who is the author of over twenty books. She will be reading from her new book Ghost Stories of the New West. A delicious and optional dinner will be served at 6:00 at the Kenwood Cafe; the reading starts at 7:00.

On Sunday, September 18 at Magers and Quinn in Minneapolis, I will be reading with Jim Moore, whose new book Invisible Strings is receiving national attention. The reading is at 4:00 p.m.

On Saturday, September 24th, I'll be reading at 5:00 p.m. at Drury Lane books in Grand Marais on the shores of Lake Superior.

And on Friday, September 30th, we will celebrate the closing of the Pretend the World art exhibit with a reading at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. The program will include videos by Jes Lee, music by jazz clarinetist Sean Egan, and an original song by Chinese composer He Shuman to be sung by Kris Bigalk.

Hope to see you at one of these events.