So glad you have signed up to receive the For Random Learning Comes Newsletter! This is the ninety-third edition. Previous editions can be found on the blog's Newsletter page. I send it out weekly, so if you don't get my email on Saturday morning, please let me know! (Check your junk and spam folders too.) *** A have another poem for you this week called Imprecise. It compares a house with boxes everywhere, lying unpacked, with a first draft of a novel or short story. Sometimes things just need editing! This week, I received a copy in the mail of the softcover poetry collection Border Beats: Writing Across Boundaries, which contains my poem "Choice" about Ukraine. The entire collection is focused on the topic of immigration and emigration and crossing borders in various ways and at various times. It's about two hundred pages long, so lots of poems and stories to feast on. Another local poet, Chris Bodor of St Augustine, is also included in the collection. The other collection I have appeared in so far, with my poem "August," is called Moss Gossamer: Poetry of NE FL, put together by Johnny Masiulewicz, a local poet, storyteller and impressario. It includes many of my favorite local writers. I am still waiting for the publication of the Jane Austen Collection by Wingless Dreamer. It is going to include stories and poems inspired by the old dame herself. I'm very excited to unveil, so to speak, my very modest poem "Us Maids." Fans (no pun intended) of Jane will enjoy it, I think. I have also sent in a story to be considered for the local JaxByJax event taking place in early December. If it is accepted, I will have a chance to read it aloud at the event. I have submitted in years before and not been so lucky as to be chosen, but perhaps this time is the charm. If not, I still plan to go. JaxByJax is a great place to hear the literary voices of this area and their amazing creations. I also have a few poems and stories hanging out there in limbo: a short story for a contest (to be announced in April), a poem submission for the South Florida Poetry Journal (which should be commended, if for nothing else, for its marvelous nickname, SoFloPoJo!) and a poetry chapbook for a contest (to be announced at the end of the year, I think.) I also have poetry under submission at Culinary Origami and The Florida State Poet's Association (FSPA).So, fingers crossed! (Or press your thumbs, as they do in Germany!) A few of my Florida-inspired poems were turned down for the Blue Monday Litzine called "Summer in the Swamp" but I understand many local writers got in, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Lastly the Florida Writers Association (FWA)is having a convention the 19-22 of October near Orlando and will unveil their collection which includes my poem "Narrow." There will be a small ceremony for those who were included in the collection. They also had an option to table at the event, but I don't actually have anything to put on a table, so I declined. Maybe next year. Still working on my garden epic. I have around 21,000 words so far. Seems like it's been a quiet summer, but I guess I have been busy after all! Hope I haven't bored you with my latest antics. I'm so glad you've come along for the ride! Hope you all have had a marvelous summer. It is finally starting to feel room temperature outside in the mornings here, which in my mind is an improvement. Perhaps the cool weather will inspire me to walk more and, Heaven forbid, unpack more boxes. Have a great week! Andrea

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