Event Report: Assaracus 27 Launch

Look at these smiles, y’all. That’s Theresa Davis, Jai Dulani, Al VanSickle, Alex Gildzen, Mickie Kennedy, and Drien Thompson, who joined us for a launch reading for Assaracus 27, which you can watch here. Because Assaracus has always been all about community, I love the concept of hosting a gathering of voices from each issue. I hit record to share it afterward, but as for the gathering itself, I keep it without a live audience because I want the poets to feel at ease—chill, like we’re sitting at a table together. What happens is spontaneous and magic. Nothing planned, no pressure, nothing showy or performative. Queer community supporting queer community.

I told the poets of this issue (and the last) that they are my guinea pigs, my test pilots, as I figure out what design I want for this resurgence and—here’s a biggie—remember how to edit again. Some of it came back naturally, and some I’ll need to practice as I retrain my eyes on how to proof, correct, make uniform, etc. But I’m giving myself grace and thank these authors for doing the same. And thanks to them, by the next issue, I think I’ll be back in the proverbial saddle, riding bareback.

Order Issue 27 here.