your local poet

and a burgeoning lit scene in Tucson

On the interconnectedness of the economy and federal courts and desert ecology and utopia as method and butch theory and border crossings — where to access such capacious, probing, critical discourse?

I’m finding it, at the moment, in Tucson’s lit scene. In prepping for an upcoming presentation at Tucson’s Desierto Books I’m reveling in beautiful, limpid, and locally-flavored belles-lettres. On May 30 I’ll be moderating a poetry chat between Raquel Gutiérrez and Susan Briante, I’m also currently prepping for a QandA with Logan Phillips, and I’m just coming off of publishing a short QandA with Caroline Tracey.

Is Tucson so special? Besides the afore-and-subsequently mentioned authors, Tucson is teeming in literary luminaries. It’s simultaneously humbling and inspiring to be a part of the community, as well as very frequently find new authors in town.

So here’s a paean and a plea: find and love your local authors. Buy and read their books. (And support your local journalists!)

Here’s my May 30 lineup for the Desierto book talk:

Meanwhile, my friend Joshua Rose has launched a zine series, this trilogy about, in part, the future, why we need to think about it, and how not to cede the “imaginative monopoly,” as he puts it, to the far right, the milquetoast center, or the nihilist left. It’s dense, challenging, important stuff.

So, if you happen to be in Tucson on May 29, 30, 31 come join the LOOKOUT crew for a series of events. Tickets available here.