Ask A Poet

I am solving problems through poetry at TheSmartSet.com. Here's my first column:
http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article07290802.aspx

A Snarkful Takeover

Emerson students are almost ready for their total and complete takeover of The Weekly Dig. You Know Who got another beer gig in a column that should have been titled "Be Sure to Chew Your Beer," but wasn't. She also has a standing offer for good beer and good beery food from the amazing chef, but will be ethical and all that crap and at least *try* to pay when she visits The Publick House next. Also, check out the Soapbox! Who would've guessed...?

Aug/Sept. BUST magazine

Just a friendly word to let you all know that I've written a feature story in the latest (Aug./Sept.) issue of BUST magazine. It's about being a landlady--I know, so glamorous!--and it's part advice, part tale of tribulation and redemption. Perhaps, should you desire to be a landlady or landman, you will find something of use. Totally gave Emerson a shout-out in my contributor bio, btw!

I'd love it if you'd read it and let me know what you think: vikki.warner [AT] gmail.com.

Oh yeah, and this blog-like thing I'm working on is at http://oddstripe.blogspot.com/. It's in early days, but there's more to come.

Thanks,
Vikki

Real Simple Life Lessons Essay Contest

Real Simple magazine has posted details about a "Life Lessons" essay contest here. Deadline is September 9, 2008, for online entries.

Oy!Chicago--Living Jewishly

Hello column/personal essay fans. I just wanted to let you all know about Living Jewishly, Oy!Chicago's personal essay section. Check in Tuesday evenings for new stories! And if you happen to be Jewish or Jew-ish and have a Chicago connection, please feel free to send me ideas.

Strawberry Grace

I finally placed the piece I wrote in 687 about nurturing strawberries in Appalachia as a child. Targeted originally for Greenprints (subtitled the Weeder’s Digest) it was rejected as not carrying enough emotional weight. (I thought the piece the correct emotional tone for a story about growing fruit). I then submitted to the color glossy Birds and Blooms, and received an acceptance letter from their sister pub, Backyard Living. It made the July 08 issue. The treatment is lovely. Inside back cover, glossy, and photographed to look like a page from a spiral-bound gardening journal. It’s a sweet pub.

Oh, and I was paid in windchimes…

Here is a pdf of the piece
http://www.lockiehunter.com/clips/BackyardLiving.MagicStrawberryGrace.pdf

Lockie

Mike and Peeps go to China...

So, yeah, that's me and Mao (and my stuffed traveling companion) in Tien'anmen Square. I'm in Beijing for the next two months to work for the Olympic News Service, covering Track & Field at the National Stadium. Basically, it's my job (there are 18 of us) to interview athletes as soon as they've stepped off the field, collect quotes and upload them to a wire service so journalists around the world don't have to actually work to get their soundbites.

It pretty much rocks.

I'm blogging about it here on my site and also am a featured blogger for www.STAtravelers.com

Dreaming of Squash Blossoms

I wrote this Cravings column on edible squash blossoms for last week's Sunday Magazine in the Boston Globe. Yum!

Private Icon: The Wackness

Happy summer, alums!

I've seen this movie twice now. I didn't think I liked it the first time. And then I saw it again and completely changed my mind (almost cried, too). But the flick was the inspiration for the next Private Icon fashion feature (Nylon Magazine). I believe The Wackness is in limited release right now, but picking up steam. It's worth a watch if you're looking to detox from the big blockbusters.
http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=article&parid=1690

Hope everyone is having a safe and air-conditioned July!
~JL