Happy Birthday! Today would also have been my great grandmother's birthday --- she was a poet and wrote a novel but was a single mom as her husband died very young in a horse accident, so she never got the time until much later in life. At age 53! she decided to go to college with her youngest kid (my grandmother). The only place that would let her in along with grandma was Oberlin! So, my Ohio roots....
I should have mentioned that she lived to be 98 .... depending on who you talk to she was either incredible, or "difficult." She taught for many years at Berea College, in KY. All her papers are there ...
Happy Birthday and so glad I found you! I am reading "You Could Make this Place Beautiful" by Maggie Smith and loving it. ;-) . I am also reading "Postcard " by Anne Berest which is not a romp, but a quick read for such a long book. I am reading with the Brandenburg concertos by Bach playin in the background on my firs record player. Yes, my first LP player - I did grow up with vinyl; I'm 67 (so you are a teen to me!). Quite a long wait to have my own record player and not have to listen to what the boys want to play. Hope it's a grand year, Maggie and best of luck with the lovely children's book.
Oh, happy, happy birthday, Maggie! Both my parents' birthdays were a couple of weeks ago and my brother's birthday is tomorrow. So many Aquariuses in my life! (Aquarii?)
Actually, I've been rereading your memoir recently, since you are coming to a class I'm taking with Amanda Montei next week. I was reflecting to the group over the weekend that it makes perfect sense to me that as a poet, you've also become a children's book author because the great thing that poetry and children's books offer is the ability to leave out extraneous words and get to the heart of things succinctly. My mother (my favorite Aquarius), who is a long-time lover of all things children's lit has been known to say that the problem with adult books is "all the extra words." Ha! I should probably send your new children's book to her as a belated birthday gift.
Happy birthday, Maggie! My daughters and I cannot WAIT to read your beautiful children's book. And I also watched "Good Grief" and "C'mon C'mon" this month and loved both. That scene in C'mon C'mon...."I'm fine and that's a totally reasonable response!" I've been thinking about that constantly lately.
Usually preorders come the day of pub or the day after, so if you don’t see them by tomorrow, I’d track the order or contact the bookstore/retailer. Fingers crossed! And thank you. 🙏
Marvelous, you! HBD2U! Eager to order and read your new gem of a book, I'm sure. My 81-year-old partner fellow sends his best on your day, which he shares with you. Wishing you as many decades as he's had of creative work!
I trust you will have a beautiful day. So glad you got to rock it with your fellow poets and writers at the AWP conference! That poem, "Will You," reminds me of Good Bones. Lovely and rueful.
I will think of you when I am sitting in a coffee shop trying to finish an ecopoem for a group I'm in, enjoying the thrill of a deadline when you are almost finished but not quite. You have definitely inspired me since I took the plunge into Instagram one day when I wanted to find out more about the writer of Good Bones. And that's led to many more poets discovered. And then, your For Dear Life has really "thickened the story" for me, since there is a way to engage about the craft without having to come up with a new emoji every five minutes!
Cheers to you and to birthdays and to new books and to a new playlist and to poems and to colors and to another year! I may borrow your practice of a birthday playlist; I've got 6 months to pick the right 48 songs for this year :)
Happy Birthday, Maggie! A hearty congrats to you on the release of your new picture book; haven’t bought a copy yet, but I intend to do so soon—slowly building a little library for my now 8 day old niece and I know that your lovely book will soon become a part of it. And thank you for sharing such an awesome and fun playlist! Wishing you a day filled with unexpected delights. ✨🥳💫🌞
Wow, which to say first—Happy Birthday or Happy Pub Day? How fabulous for you Maggie. That photo on stage is precious—all those smiles. And yes, in a bar with 200 people! Thanks for sharing your Spotify playlist. I'm guessing it embeds like that in Substack with the hyperlink? Now I'm off to try for my next post. Hah! I love technology. Cheers! Happy Valentine's Day—I love your work. ❤️
Happy Birthday! Today would also have been my great grandmother's birthday --- she was a poet and wrote a novel but was a single mom as her husband died very young in a horse accident, so she never got the time until much later in life. At age 53! she decided to go to college with her youngest kid (my grandmother). The only place that would let her in along with grandma was Oberlin! So, my Ohio roots....
She sounds incredible! I feel lucky to share her birthday. 💗
I should have mentioned that she lived to be 98 .... depending on who you talk to she was either incredible, or "difficult." She taught for many years at Berea College, in KY. All her papers are there ...
Happy Birthday and so glad I found you! I am reading "You Could Make this Place Beautiful" by Maggie Smith and loving it. ;-) . I am also reading "Postcard " by Anne Berest which is not a romp, but a quick read for such a long book. I am reading with the Brandenburg concertos by Bach playin in the background on my firs record player. Yes, my first LP player - I did grow up with vinyl; I'm 67 (so you are a teen to me!). Quite a long wait to have my own record player and not have to listen to what the boys want to play. Hope it's a grand year, Maggie and best of luck with the lovely children's book.
Thank you, Joanne, and thanks for the recs! I have my own record player, too, that my kids rarely touch. Heaven.
Oh, to be 47 again and give birth to a book of dreams. My, much older, birthday is two weeks away. Thanks for reminding me to use my wings.
Happy almost birthday to you!
Oh, happy, happy birthday, Maggie! Both my parents' birthdays were a couple of weeks ago and my brother's birthday is tomorrow. So many Aquariuses in my life! (Aquarii?)
Actually, I've been rereading your memoir recently, since you are coming to a class I'm taking with Amanda Montei next week. I was reflecting to the group over the weekend that it makes perfect sense to me that as a poet, you've also become a children's book author because the great thing that poetry and children's books offer is the ability to leave out extraneous words and get to the heart of things succinctly. My mother (my favorite Aquarius), who is a long-time lover of all things children's lit has been known to say that the problem with adult books is "all the extra words." Ha! I should probably send your new children's book to her as a belated birthday gift.
Yes! And thank you, and I’ll see you soon.
Happy Birthday, Maggie. My copy of your new book is on its way…Yay. Enjoy everything.
Thank you!
That poem is magnificent!
She is incredible.
Happy birthday, Maggie! My daughters and I cannot WAIT to read your beautiful children's book. And I also watched "Good Grief" and "C'mon C'mon" this month and loved both. That scene in C'mon C'mon...."I'm fine and that's a totally reasonable response!" I've been thinking about that constantly lately.
Thank you! And yes, that whole movie got me. Whew.🥹😭
I ordered two of your books, but they have not been delivered yet. What should I do?
Usually preorders come the day of pub or the day after, so if you don’t see them by tomorrow, I’d track the order or contact the bookstore/retailer. Fingers crossed! And thank you. 🙏
Marvelous, you! HBD2U! Eager to order and read your new gem of a book, I'm sure. My 81-year-old partner fellow sends his best on your day, which he shares with you. Wishing you as many decades as he's had of creative work!
I love this! Happy Birthday to him. 💗🎉
Happy Birthday Maggie!
I trust you will have a beautiful day. So glad you got to rock it with your fellow poets and writers at the AWP conference! That poem, "Will You," reminds me of Good Bones. Lovely and rueful.
I will think of you when I am sitting in a coffee shop trying to finish an ecopoem for a group I'm in, enjoying the thrill of a deadline when you are almost finished but not quite. You have definitely inspired me since I took the plunge into Instagram one day when I wanted to find out more about the writer of Good Bones. And that's led to many more poets discovered. And then, your For Dear Life has really "thickened the story" for me, since there is a way to engage about the craft without having to come up with a new emoji every five minutes!
Happy Bookday, Happy Birthday!
I love this. Thanks so much, Lizzie! Sending all the good poem vibes your way today.
Cheers to you and to birthdays and to new books and to a new playlist and to poems and to colors and to another year! I may borrow your practice of a birthday playlist; I've got 6 months to pick the right 48 songs for this year :)
Thanks, Monica! Already looking forward to being able to add a 48th song to this playlist next year...
Happy Birthday, Maggie! A hearty congrats to you on the release of your new picture book; haven’t bought a copy yet, but I intend to do so soon—slowly building a little library for my now 8 day old niece and I know that your lovely book will soon become a part of it. And thank you for sharing such an awesome and fun playlist! Wishing you a day filled with unexpected delights. ✨🥳💫🌞
Thank you--and welcome, niece!
Wow, which to say first—Happy Birthday or Happy Pub Day? How fabulous for you Maggie. That photo on stage is precious—all those smiles. And yes, in a bar with 200 people! Thanks for sharing your Spotify playlist. I'm guessing it embeds like that in Substack with the hyperlink? Now I'm off to try for my next post. Hah! I love technology. Cheers! Happy Valentine's Day—I love your work. ❤️
Thanks, Maureen!
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day and a fantastic year ahead.
And from another Violet(a), thank you for linking to that article about the Impressionists! 😊
Happy birthday, Maggie! I just got my package from Gramercy on my way out the door and can’t wait to open your new book when I get home ❤️
I ordered my copies! I hope you had a beautiful birthday! 💚