Toni Partington reads poems from "Wind Wing" at St. John's Booksellers this Saturday at 2pm

Toni Partington
Photo by Anni Becker

Toni Partington reads poems
from her new book
Wind Wing

THIS SATURDAY at 2pm

St. John’s Booksellers

2pm, Saturday, February 20, 2010

8622 N. Lombard St.

Portland, OR 97203

503-283-0032

www.stjohnsbooks.com

WIND WING
Poems By Toni Partington

Upcoming Readings

In Other Words (special reading and free workshop with Eileen Elliott, author of Prodigal Cowgirl)
2pm, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8 NE Killingsworth St.Portland, OR 97211
503-232-6003


Paper Tiger Coffeehouse
7pm, Thursday, April 15, 2010
703 Grand Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98661
541-400-8389

WIND WING is a collection of poetry inspired by the lives of women. The poems provide a glimpse into life on the edge of mental illness, transition and discovery. In three chapters, the poems expose the life of an only child with a mentally ill mother, the transitions of life, love and loss, and the societal and personal observations that lead to self discovery. Partington wrote the book over the past ten years as a way to reveal the stigma associated with mental illness and its impact on families.


At Frenchman’s Bar

Egrets assemble
levitate in slow motion
perfectly
above the Columbia’s glass top
framed by fifty-foot twigs
upright to the sky

in silhouette

parked barges resemble a life
stopped abruptly
await permission to dock
unload the steerage of this long journey

when will it be time for you
to sail toward unknown ports
where women gather in flocks
lean into each other and
beckon you to land

BIO: Toni Partington is a poet, editor, and life/career coach. Her poetry has appeared in the NW Women's Journal, Selected Poems of the River Poets' Society, The Cascade Journal, VoiceCatcher (editions 3 and 4), OutwardLink.net and others. She is the author of a poetry chapbook, Jesus Is A Gas (2009). Her latest book of poetry WIND WING (2010) is now available for $10. She also serves as an Associate Editor for VoiceCatcher, an annual Pacific Northwest anthology of women writers.

As a life/career coach, Toni loves to work with writers and artists interested in exploring ways to integrate lifestyle and work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Chapman University, an MA in Humanities with a major focus in Literature and Literary Editing from the California State University, Dominguez Hills, and post graduate work at the University of Oregon to become certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator. Before embarking on other adventures Toni spent over ten years teaching and advising women in transition returning to college.

Toni is involved in promoting poetry, writing and art in Vancouver, WA with a lively group of friends and peers. She facilitates Life In The Moment, Poetry & Other Riches, which can be found on the web at www.poettone.blogspot.com. Her circle includes poets, friends, family, and dogs, not in any particular order.

Book Launch for Eileen Elliott's Prodigal Cowgirl Tonight at Cover to Cover Books in Vancouver, WA

I am honored to present the book launch for

Eileen Elliott’s debut poetry collection

Prodigal Cowgirl.

Please join us this evening for this very special event: Open Mic Poetry hosted by Christopher Luna 7:00pm Thursday, September 10, 2009 & every second Thursday Cover to Cover Books http://www.covertocoverbooks.net 1817 Main Street, Vancouver McLoughlin Blvd. & Main Street “always all ages and uncensored” For more info call 514-0358 or 910-1066 With our featured reader, Eileen Elliott: Eileen Davis Elliott came from a 1950's Midwest isolation still reeling from the Great Depression and World War II, and has been a time traveler ever since. She has explored the emerging Eastern Europe, women moving from school marms to combat pilots, and her own spirituality, stopping at Buddhism, shamanistic ideas, and revisiting the wisdom of the Golden Rule. She is a psychologist, (PhD from University of Missouri), artist (self-taught), and writer of prose and poetry. She also makes a passable apple pie and has recently taken up mah jongg. Prodigal Cowgirl is a collection of 120 poems summarizing a lifetime of seeking and occasional resolution with the world including the rural midwest, Central Europe emerging from the Cold War, and the guy on the freeway off ramp. This book asks the questions of who we are and what we might want to do about it. Prodigal Cowgirl is available for $14.99 (or $10 download) from Lulu.com or by e-mailing the author at: eileenelliott1@hotmail.com

Here is Toni Partington's review of the book,

which appeared in a recent issue of the Vancouver Voice:

http://www.vanvoice.com/article/19973-farm-life-foreign-and-back

From farm life to foreign and back By Toni Partington Published September 02, 2009

Vancouver continues to provide creative outlets for artists, writers and musicians and, if I dare say, we’re drawing a regular crowd from across the bridge. A big nod to our local music scene and the steady growth of arts at the First Friday events. The addition of the Uptown district has expanded First Friday into a full night out with plenty of free entertainment, food, lively characters and a variety of art for all sensibilities. What has me most excited though, is the inclusion of poetry via spoken word opportunities around town. July’s Friday event included a poetry open mic in Uptown Village, broadcasted live on KOUG radio. In September, words that inspire art and art that inspires words will be featured at the Angst Gallery in downtown. Writers and poets are making the creative scene in a much-awaited public way.

This leads me to the biggest literary news this month. For several years I have made open mic rounds (both on this side and the other side of the river), attended local poetry workshops and tried every avenue to meet and work with other writers. I noticed early on that we have major talent in this town. I’ve experienced an improvement in my craft as a result of knowing and working with folks. Now, one of our own, whose work has enticed me for years, has put together a collection of ninety-nine poems that encompass a life well lived. The book is Prodigal Cowgirl and the poet is Eileen Davis Elliott. This beautiful book covers the years 1944 to present in four sections. The first, Looking Backward Into My Own Back Yard, 1944-66, is a rich, unvarnished exposé of farm life. Section two, A Life Of Exploration, The Larger World, 1966-2000, includes worldwide travels and startling observations while capturing the magnificence of self-discovery in foreign lands. Section three, Exploring the Inner World, touches on a life hard-lived and hard-loved, and section four, Homecoming, reminds us that life is full of hope, reflection, and disappointment. Reading these poems I thought: I know that, I’ve felt that, I’ve lived that.

It is not easy for any writer or poet to come this close to the essence of humanity. Yet, Ms. Elliott, after four decades as a psychologist, two as an artist and one as a poet, has a style and punch that grabs the reader by the throat and screams, “Pay attention, this is real!”

Do yourself a favor: attend the book launch for Prodigal Cowgirl on September 10, at 7 p.m. at Cover To Cover Books in Uptown Village, Vancouver. The author will read from her book and answer questions. There will be an open mic afterwards if you feel inspired. For more information call Cover To Cover Books at 360-514-0358.

Toni Partington contributes to life as a poet, editor and life/career coach. Her poetry has appeared in VoiceCatcher 3 & Anthology of the River Poets’ Society, NW Women’s Journal and others. She is involved in promoting poetry, writing, and art in Vancouver with a lively group of friends and peers. She facilitates Life In The Moment, Poetry & Other Riches, which can be found on the web at www.poettone.blogspot.com.