Lisa Ebert

Spine Bookstore indy book festival 10-4 today!

This Saturday, come on out and browse all the independent literature. I'll have a booth where you can pick up copies of the journal I produce with my students aaaand.... (drum roll) I'll have copies of my poetry chapbook for sale! Plus I'll be leading a discussion on "Having Good Grammar like Edith Wharton. "

Sad that one of my favorite authors died today. Cormac McCarthy is finished searching for his horses....
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/13/books/cormac-mccarthy-dead.html

I grew up listening to a lot of Supertramp. Tonight I'm out listening to a Supertramp tribute band. Back when I was a kid, I never understood half the pain of their adult lyrics.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19785210/
Hey nerdy college teacher friends, here's a show you'll appreciate. It's loosely based on the book "Straight Man" by Richard Russo. I love academic humor. The title of the show made me confused about another academic humor book, "Lucky Jim" by Kingsley Amis, which I loved. It also calls to mind "Moo" by Jane Smiley, another gem. Anyhow, if you're an academic nerd, you'll get some laughs out of this show. I watched the first episode so far and I look forward to the rest!

Lucky Hank (TV Series 2023– ) - IMDb Lucky Hank: Created by Paul Lieberstein, Aaron Zelman. With Bob Odenkirk, Arthur Keng, Haig Sutherland, Shannon DeVido. An English department chairman at an underfunded college, Professor Hank Devereaux toes the line between midlife crisis and full-blown meltdown, navigating the offbeat chaos in his...

Today I had my creative writing students write a sonnet about whatever was on their mind, and I wrote along with them. I just got home a few minutes ago from a root canal -- ugh!

Meditation on My Teeth: A Sonnet

My dears appeared when I was just a babe,
Cut through my gums like pearls of sparkling white.
The decades passed and strength appeared to fade.
Alas, my teeth did break and dim less bright.
My dentist is a friend of mine indeed.
I tithe a tenth of dollars that I earn
To keep the priv’lege of an easy feed
And shameless smile so that the heads won’t turn.
The pain is kept at bay with revving drill,
Replacing broken bits with tooth-toned clay.
Avoiding gum disease that just might kill,
My teeth will live to shine another day.
I often praise the modern time:
Technology to keep the dental shine.

Time to start producing this year's journal! If you've taken a class at JC or worked there during this 22-23 academic year, you are eligible to submit.

Even though it's the worst picture of me ever (this was after 12 hours of being at a conference), I'm happy that the Jefferson County newspaper featured it. Other JeffCo people have been achieving things, too!

Here's a story I wrote that's published online:

The Accident-Prone Boy -for moms who get it. Insomnia is rough, not only because the middle-aged body needs the restoration of slumber, not only because the list of tasks ticks past the mind’s eye in restless censure, not only because of the suddenly imagined and creative retorts we should have used ten years ago when a...

I received this deliciousness in the mail today. If these books tear me up half as much as "The Road" did, then I'll be a happy reader.

October 20 is the National Day of Writing. I wonder if I'll write anything beyond a test I need to make.

​National Day on Writing™ - October 20 National Day on Writing — The National Council of Teachers of English has designated October 20 as the National Day on Writing.

Here's a historical cemetery tour in the Halloween spirit, for those who enjoy storytelling...

Spirit Reunion | ffrsg2 Come explore Missouri's oldest cemetery where visitors that night experience the stories of early pioneers of Ste. Genevieve by lantern light.  Although close to Halloween, the intent of the Spirit Reunion is not to be "scary", but rather educational, as you'll see local people in period costume st...

Lovely place for writing on a Sunday afternoon.

Summer evening. The sound of crickets. A fan whirrs on the screened-in porch. On Monday, I return to my teaching job. Each summer I hope will be the one where I'm adventurous and productive. This summer I just hoped for my body to heal from recent injuries. The time to be adventurous and productive is every day, not just during time off. I don't know what I'm feeling. Ennui, I suppose.

On the Easter celebration of re-birth, ask how you can do something to make your story the best ever.

National Library Week is April 4th - 8th. How do you library?

It's nice to hear this.

Oh hell, I searched through my recent poetry looking for something to share with my students' lit journal, and I'm dismayed at my low output the last few years. Dearth of poems = stable, happy life. On the other hand, I'm not writing much! Guess I better dredge up some emotion...

Happy birthday, Eddie!

Because of Anne's recent passing, I acquired three of the vampire books I missed. I finished "Blood and Gold" and now I'm reading "Blackwood Farm." When I was young, her books meant a lot to me. I'm enjoying revisiting my old vampire friends.

In honor of Anne Rice, I've dredged up the vampire movie I made as an undergrad. It stars my friends Kris, Kris's cat Tootsie, Steve, Michelle, and Bernie. (I hated working in the 16mm medium.)

https://youtu.be/ELRivmEKYag

Despondency In the 1980s, Anne Rice's vampire stories gripped the dark hearts of many. Here's a 16mm film project from 1988 that's inspired by Rice. The soundtrack is a ...

So proud that my former creative writing student has published his first book!

The Capgras Delusion The Capgras Delusion

I can't say I loved this book. The narrator Eileen wallows in self-pity and the story often drags, but it's still somehow a compelling character study. I would have ended it differently.

I just finished "Straight Man" by Richard Russo, which had me laughing all the way through. I was able to borrow it free on my kindle. It reminded me of other books that make fun of academia (Jane Smiley's "Moo" and Kingsley Amis's "Lucky Jim"). If you're any part of academia, read Russo's book poste haste to get yourself in a mirthful mood before classes resume.

Little things can be inspirational, like a Roman bust instead of a pencil cup.

I swear, I've read a few of these books. LOL.

I have new items on my Collage website! Click on "digital media."
https://lisaebert84.wixsite.com/collage

HOME | Collage Come into my parlor where I can ramble about my projects. If you like, you can ramble back on the forum page. Written and visual art begins as a kernel of emotion, shaped by the tapestry of life into a collage. We all have those moments: our darks and our brights.

Here's my very first documentary. It's about my tap dancing troupe's journey to Branson. I'm an amateur filmmaker and did this for a graduate class that kicked my butt.
https://youtu.be/liFu4IIhBQU

The Road to Branson This is a short documentary about my tap dancing troupe and our fearless leader.

I'll try a few of these... comment with any of yours if you're so inclined...