Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Cover for the Poetry Chapbook

They usually aren't nearly as sexy as full length books, but my 2nd chapbook, Without Such Absence, will be in color--which is like having black tulips in the garden. We all know how black tulips are. Don't we. Oh yeah.

So below is an approximation of the cover. Prepub sales aren't until August, and the book itself won't appear until late October, but you may want to start saving up now for the $14 cover price. I feel like a writer for a little while. (Now someone please publish the full length poetry collection and the memoir!)


















That image would be of the chicken coop from my dad's very early boyhood homestead in Oklahoma. No chickens in there now, just rolls and rolls of barbed wire (which could be reproducing--it's likely, actually).

21 comments:

Les said...

Congratulations! I really like the photo choice. Rural decay is very photogenic.

Town Mouse said...

How exciting! Now really, I think anyone can get a Ph.D., but getting a book published is special!

Benjamin Vogt said...

I don't know TM, I think gettinga book published is just as easy, if not easier. A lot of crap gets published, and leaves me confused and bitter as to my seeming stagnation. Publishing a book is like winning the lottery, getting a PhD is showing up and doing the work.

Liza said...

Good thing there's barbed wire, you wouldn't want anyone making off with the coop. Seriously though, congratulations!

Carol said...

I love the Title and photo... just perfect! Congratulations and Best of Luck!!

Layanee said...

So, will you autograph a copy for me? Love the cover and the title.

Anna Flowergardengirl said...

Looking good--love the comment about the barbed wire. Congrats on the book and just think--people will be seeing it in color on Ipad!

kate smudges said...

This is good news! I hope you sell loads of books. I'll start saving my $$ now. The cover is beautiful. Reminds me of what I see near me.

I was interested to read of your research of Mennonites in Oklahoma. Years ago, I spent untold hours in the provincial archives tracking Mennonite settlement patterns in Saskatchewan and neighbouring provinces.

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Benjamin, congrats on the new book. That cover holds so much emotion that I know the poetry inside will be wonderful.~~Dee

Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said...

Hi Benjamin

Last time I said something complimentary here you accused me of brown nosing.

That said I can take it.

Anyway, here goes, I really like the cover, it's got atmosphere.

Good luck with it. That barbed wire, ha, don't turn your back on it.

Benjamin Vogt said...

Liza--Good point. Maybe that's why it's all in there?
Carol--Really? I was iffy about the cover but everyone I show it to really likes it. Huh.
Layanee--For you I will autograph in 18k gold!
Anna--Geeze I hope not. That means I don't make any money, kinda like google books.
Kate--Well, if you ever want to know more about ym next book, lemme know. It's about mennonites and my love / hate realtionship with Oklahoma, history of OK, Native American tribes, and the ecology of the state.
Dee--Ah ha. See, the cover is supposed to trick you and beleive the poetry is good.
Rob--You are like my wife, always remembering the small "bad" things I do and say. Run with that accusation, my friend.

debsgarden said...

I like the cover. I tend to like old, broken down houses and such. I know there is history there, and i want to know what it is. Congratulations!

Victoria said...

Gorgeous cover..! And Congrats !
Kiki~

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

It looks great, congratulations. I love the photo on the cover, it's so evocative. Also, I congratulate you on winning the Seed Keeper Kit. You're on roll.

Bethany said...

Wow. Congrats. I am looking forward to reading it. I am curious as to how you manage to teach, research, garden and write! I seem to struggle balancing all of my responsibilities, and writing is the item that always seems to go on the back burner.

Benjamin Vogt said...

Bethany--I don't manage. I am continually on the verge of losing all molecular cohesion. Seriously. It's insane.

Rosemarie said...

Congrats on your book -- and I really like that cover photo as well. Feels very "salt of the earth." That's a good thing.

Adrian said...

So, Woody Guthrie and William Stafford come to mind...

Benjamin Vogt said...

Rosemarie--Salt of the eath if good, indeed. I know I don't exude that state of mind in people who know me, but I try to in my writing.
Adrian--Woody Guthrie? Stafford, yes, love Stafford.

Benjamin Vogt said...

Rosemarie--Salt of the eath if good, indeed. I know I don't exude that state of mind in people who know me, but I try to in my writing.
Adrian--Woody Guthrie? Stafford, yes, love Stafford.

Adrian Ayres Fisher said...

Woody Guthrie:

Way down yonder on the Indian Nation
ridin' my pony on the reservation
in the Oklahoma hills where I was born
way down yonder on the Indian Nation
cowboy's life is my occupation
in the Oklahoma hills where I was born

...and all those dust bowl ballads

(Having not read your poems, but only seeing the cover and reading your post. I now see links to your poems, so shall read.)