Category: A. Garnett Weiss

Here’s the link to the review written by Chris Fanning, literary maven and co-publisher of the Picton Gazette, Canada’s oldest community newspaper.

https://pictongazette.ca/post/poems-of-many-voices 

“I welcome this serious and in depth consideration of my new poetry collection, the second one published by Aeolus House under my pen name, A. Garnett Weiss, ” JC noted.

The 60+ five-line, found poems each take words and phrases unaltered from death notices and obituary articles published in the Globe and Mail over a six year period.

“These poems are more about life than about death, even though the words originate with notices about people no longer with us, ” JC explained.

“When I know that a reviewer is focusing on my work, I await the comments with bated breath.  The response to poetry is idiosyncratic, so personal to each reader. I recognize that what may appeal to one reviewer may not appeal to another.”

Chris Fanning’s take on Life, after life offers substantive analysis of and perceptive insights into the collection as whole as well as highlights his reaction to a number of poems, in particular.

“I thank Chris Fanning for his words which honour my work. I am grateful to The Gazette for giving Life, after life–from epitaph to epilogue such a fine reception.”

Copies of the book are available for purchase from this website and from these wonderful, independent bookstores: Books & Company (Picton), Perfect Books and Octopus Books (Ottawa) and Book City in the Beach (Toronto.)

In rob mclennan’s Periodicity Journal, prize-winning Ottawa poet Jean Van Loon gives Life, after life—from epitaph to epilogue a very fine reception. Here’s a link to the post: 

https://periodicityjournal.blogspot.com/2024/12/jean-van-loon-life-after-life-by.html

JC Sulzenko thanks Van Loon for her careful consideration of this collection of found poems, written under the pen name A. Garnett Weiss.

Van Loon comments on the collection of 60+ poems as a whole and shares her response to three poems in more depth. She concludes her review with these words:

“Though the elements used to write Life, after life are not drawn from poetry, they are drawn from accounts of real lives, each with its specific pleasures and griefs, adventures and disappointments, and Weiss has found the poetry in them. She has creatively selected and juxtaposed concrete and original images, spending time among the original fragments to allow her poetic imagination to discern a thread of story, feeling, mood. The tightly compressed poems she weaves with these threads, convey astute political commentary, emotional weight, and philosophical insight—all applicable to lives beyond those celebrated in the original obituaries. This book is a box of savoury bites to please a poetic palate.”

JC is grateful to rob mclennan for publishing this review on the heels of book launches in Toronto, Ottawa, and Picton.

 Copies of Life, after life—from epitaph to epilogue are available through www.jc.sulzenko.com and from these excellent independent book stores: Book City in the Beach (Toronto); Perfect Books and Octopus Books (Ottawa); and Books & Company (Picton).

JC Sulzenko’s new book of poetry, Life, after life—from epitaph to epilogue, was launched November 30 at the Prince Edward County Public Library’s branch in Picton. The hour-long celebration included readings by those in attendance and ended with refreshments.

Published under her pen name, A. Garnett Weiss, Life, after Life is JC’s third poetry collection. In this new book she turns words and phrases found in obituaries published in the Globe and Mail into over 60, five-line, singular poems.

“I read them all—for the stories, for what they say about life rather than about death,” JC explained. “ I liken these poems to an epilogue or afterword, since each one rounds out what I drew from my readings rather than recasts an obituary about any one person.”

Keys at the end of the collection provide the given names of each person about whom JC read.

JC thanked the Library for its interest in and support for her work. She expressed her gratitude to Prince Edward County artist Martin Soldat for allowing the image of his painting to appear on the front cover.

To see Martin Soldat’s fine artwork, go to: http://www.soldat.ca 

The cover of JC’s book appears on the top shelf of a jigsaw puzzle in three sizes displaying books by Canadian authors in a cozy setting. Through an innovative partnership, the Canadian Authors Association and its members benefit by showcasing recent publications.

Here’s how to buy a copy. Puzzle producer The Occurrence has in place solid arrangements to respond to every order. Go to:

https://www.theoccurrence.ca/product/canadian-authors-1008-504-192-pieces/168?cs=true&cst=custom

Copies of Life, after life are available through this website and at the following bookstores: Perfect Books and Octopus Books, Ottawa; Books & Company, Picton; and Book City in The Beach, Toronto.

JC thanks Editor Jenny O’Grady for selecting her to work with visual artist Vin Grabill for the 59^th  issue of The Light Ekphrastic (TLE.)

 “I have been paired with exciting creators through this online, innovative journal a number of times. This autumn’s experience proved challenging and rewarding.”

 The journal’s process allows each partner to select from three offerings submitted by his/her/their counterpart.

 “Vin Grabill’s three paintings struck me forcibly. I found it hard to choose on which one to focus. Once I’d made my decision, I wrote “Geometrics for beginners” with Vin’s arresting image, “Idea,” as my point of departure.

“From the three poems I put forward, Vin created the image “Head held high,” in light of my poem, “Do-si-do.” His work gives me a deeper understanding of the layers of intention in my own writing.”

JC enjoys the collaboration at the heart of ekphrasis. “Looking at the work of an artist and then allowing myself as a person and a poet to respond, whether directly to the artwork, or indirectly as to where that reflection leads me, involves exploration, discovery, and learning. As I begin to write, I find that the poem knows where it must go to respond.”

Here’s the link to the online journal featuring their ‘ARTnership:

https://thelightekphrastic.com

Aeolus House launched JC’s new book of poetry, Life, after life—from epitaph to epilogue, on Sunday, November 3, at the Free Times Café in Toronto. The book is published under JC’s pen name, A. Garnett Weiss.

The event celebrated how JC turned words and phrases found in obituaries published in the Globe and Mail into over 60, five-line, memorable poems.

JC explained that reading obituaries was uplifting, not a ‘down’ experience. “I read them all—for the stories, for what they say about life rather than about death.”  She likened the poems to an epilogue or afterword in the way each poem rounds out conclusions she drew from the prose articles and notices.

Keys at the end of the collection provide the given names of each person about whom JC learned. “Listing the names reflects my wish to honour the memory of each person about whom I read while respecting their privacy. The keys also acknowledge obituary articles to which I referred,” JC added.

The evening featured guest poets Donna Langevin and Kate Rogers reading from their own body of work in response to poems in Life, after life.

“I was honoured to appear on the same program with Kate and Donna. They chose their own poems with such care and attention and picked up on themes in the four poems from Life, after life that they read aloud. I am most grateful to them.”

Copies of Life, after life are available through this website, in Toronto at Book City in the Beach, in Ottawa at Perfect Books and at Octopus Books, in Picton at Books & Company.