Uphilling it, and an AWP 2014 retrospective

Here's the state of things right now in Akron, OH: uphill. Returned from AWP Seattle feeling a lot better about AWPs in general (though it was still no AWP Denver, this one was among my favorites). I think it does my mind good to be near water and mountains. Managed to handle the time change without too much trouble. Returned with some good stuff for my students.

Our Barn Owl Review & Thrush Poetry Journal offsite was pretty magnificent, even in light of being super tired from having flown in that same day. This will be much easier for AWP Minneapolis. Our venue, Re-Bar, was one of my faves ever from any AWP offsite.

Typically the book fair has its hectic times and its quieter times, but not this year. It made me reminiscent of my days working as a barista during the Ann Arbor Art Fair. So I didn't get to do much wandering, but I did get to make a lot of sales, which was great. The time change gave me a good excuse for not staying up late, which was key to surviving this AWP (especially when you open every day).

My favorite part of any AWP is hanging out with our authors. Emilia Phillips sold copies of Signaletics like hotcakes, and John Gallaher brought typewritten papers of Michael Benedikt to display along with Time is a Toy: Selected Poems of Michael Benedikt. Here I am with Emilia. This may be my favorite photo of the whole conference!

Even with all the book awesomeness, this is still how I will remember Seattle. I'm not sure I'll have reason to go back any time soon, but I would like to, if only to see these mountains in the distance. 

Farewell, Seattle, and thank you for changing my mind about AWPs. Thank you for letting me defrost for a few days. Now onward into the chilly winds of March.