Local listing ...

Manayunk Art Center (MAC) located at 419 Green Lane (rear) presents “Four Foothills Press Poets: Karen Bashkirew, Michael Czarnecki, Peter Krok and Lou McKee” on Sunday September 7, 3:00 to 5:30 PM. $4 Donation requested. Light Refreshments available. That afternoon there will also be an art show Opening at the MAC from noon to 3:00 PM with the theme "The Art of Politics."carol

Michael Czarnecki is the publisher of FootHills Publishing and his book Never Stop Asking for Poems has just published. The three other poets in the afternoon also have books recently published recently by FootHills: Louis McKee - Still Life ; Karen Bashkirew – Sanctuary; and Peter Krok - Looking for An Eye. The poets will read from their work. Also, Czarnecki will talk about publishing and what he looks for in selecting a manuscript.

Karen Bashkirew is a poet, editor, and tutor.&n bsp; She received Byline Magazine’s 2005 Poetry Award. Her poem, “Sounds,” set to music by Suzzy Roche, is featured on the CD, Zero Church. She is author of three chapbooks, Standing In The Sky, Naming The Colors and Sanctuary.

Peter Krok is the editor of the Schuylkill Valley Journal and serves as the humanities/poetry director of the Manayunk Art Center where he has coordinated a literary series since 1990. Because of his identification with row house and red brick Philadelphia, he is often referred to as “the red brick poet.” In 2005 his poem “10 PM At a Philadelphia Recreation Center” was included in Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania.

Michael Czarnecki has been writing poetry for over 40 years and, as the owner of FootHills Publishing, has been a publisher of poetry since 1986. In 1994 he gave up other work to devote his life entirely to making a living through literary endeavors. His latest book is a collection of selected works from over 40 years of writing, Never Stop Asking for Poems.

Louis McKee has had poems in APR, Connecticut Review, and Brooklyn Review, among others. His work is Included In The New Geography Of Poets, and his book Near Occasions Of Sin appeared in 2006, and Adastra Press will be publishing a limited edition, letterpress volume of his translations of Old Irish monastic poems "any day now."

Copies of the their books will be available. Peter Krok hosts and coordinates the Sunday series, which is now in its nineteenth year. A $4.00 donation is requested. Light refreshments will be served.

For information about the program please call Peter Krok,

Humanities Director of the Manayunk Art Center, at 215-482-3363.