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Your Favorite Regional Writer/Poet

Posted by freeatlast • 3/04/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: bill holm, louise erdrich, Poets, regional writers, writers

Regional writers/poets are on my mind since Bill Holm died suddenly last week. He made a big impression on my back in college and so I wrote briefly about it on my teandoranges blog. I no longer keep close track of regional writers, but have been thinking a lot about this.

Do you know of writers in your region that are known beyond the region? Louise Erdrich comes to mind as an example. How about writers known only to your state or region?

User Comments

3/04/09

roguedeals

There are so many! Depends on my mood. I usually get into a 'kick' with a certain poem for a few months and then move on. Last time I was into Poe for a while. Currently, I've been writing my own and getting ideas for bloggers and other poets a like... Oh, I missed the 'Regional' port of this question. I guess not... I don't really follow it that closely.

[reply]
3/04/09

aningeniousname

There's a couple of very famous poets from my city, Andrew Marvel who was a 16th century love poet and more recently there was Phillip Larkin who wrote these memorable lines

They fxxk you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fxxked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.

[reply]
1. 3/04/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  I LOVE this poem... and ended up quoting it in one of my first hotforjesus blog posts... what is your city?
3/04/09

IntoTheAzureSea

I always find it a delight to read Father Ronald Rolheiser's weekly articles. As a Roman Catholic, i feel that his writing style even appeals to Protestant Christians and really hits home the essence of what we believe in common. He plays a major influence in how i write my articles on my blog:

www.ronrolheiser.com/

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3/04/09

GabrielGadfly

As far as known beyond the region...

Caitlin R. Kiernan is a dark fantasy author from Leeds, Alabama. I've never read any of her stuff, but I know she was hired to write the novelization of the recent Beowulf movie.

Harper Lee, of course, is probably one of the best known authors of the region.

Mark Waid is possibly known among the comic book circles: he wrote a handful of story arcs for The Flash and Captain America comics.

And known only in the region...
Maybe myself?

I'm fond of the work of one of my former professors, Jim Murphy. He's a bluesy sort of poet.

[reply]
1. 3/04/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  harper lee... nothing to sneeze at.
3/04/09

legbamel

www.governor.state.nd.us/awards/rr-gallery/woiwode.html Larry Woiwode is not only one of the best-known North Dakota writers, he's also, in a vague way, a friend of the family. I very much enjoy his novels, and have autographed copies of a few.

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1. 3/04/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  will look him up, because he's poet laureate of NoDak... next door. Thanks for the suggestion! Are you familiar with Robert Bly?
3/04/09

geekchick

Serge Bec gets my vote. He writes in his native Provencal.

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3/04/09

Stillthinking

Chicago has had so many famous regional writers.

Upton Sinclair, Nelson Algren, Carl Sandburg, Theodor Dreiser, Studs Terkel, Dave Eggers, Raymond Chandler

The list goes on and on.

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3/04/09

freckledwriter

I live in Spokane, WA and I have two favorite: Sherman Alexie and Jess Walter

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1. 3/04/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  and I'm a huge fan of alexie... lucky you
3/04/09

cazywaz

Derek Walcott,

till we are left, with the silence that surrounds Beethoven's head

[reply]
1. 3/04/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  thanks for this reminder... I remember him from years ago, and liking him a lot... will dig him out again.
3/04/09

jefftompkins71

Carl Hiaasen

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1. 3/04/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  what region/place?
3/04/09

melindaville

Sam Shepard. He's actually a friend of mine and one of the best American playrights of the last 50 years.

[reply]
1. 3/04/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  and he acts... i like seeing writers who cross over into other genres
3/04/09

dosox

I don't know any regional poets.. people out here are so busy that they don't have time to relax, dream & enjoy their ecstasy.

[reply]
1. 3/05/09
  
  freeatlast
  
  thank you for bringing up this perspective... very true that poetry/writing/art is often a luxury of health, time, livelihood... which is unfortunate, because some of the most important voices are those who are living day to day, paycheck to paycheck. What region... world/country... are you from?