Exit, Stage Left…

I don't know how many readers here are old enough to remember the old Snagglepuss cartoons (or maybe they've shown them on Cartoon Network or something). Anyhow, whenever Snagglepuss was poised to flee, he'd talk in stage directions: "Exit--stage left!" And off he'd shoot, accompanied by that little gunshot echo they love to use as sound effects in animation.

I'm too old and creaky to dash off in a blur, and I'm not that dramatic. So pardon me if my exit is a little more restrained.

As I mentioned in this post, I'm leaving my position as Poet's Market editor. Fortunately, it turns out I'm moving into another editor position in an area about which I'm extremely enthusiastic (although far outside the world of poetry and writing). That puts me in a better place, pragmatically and emotionally, than I thought I'd be today; but that's not to say I don't have regrets about leaving Poet's Market behind.

I tallied up, and Judson Jerome and I are tied for the most times our names appeared on the spine of Poet's Market as editor (seven). In addition, I came in toward the end of the production cycle for the 2001 edition, and I've already done considerable planning and hands-on work on the upcoming 2009 edition. So it's nice to think I was here long enough to leave my mark on the book.

I hope that mark was a positive one. I started right in trying to improve Poet's Market based on my own experiences using the book as a consumer. I tried to give equal consideration to readers and to the editors and publishers listing their activities in the book. I wanted Poet's Market to be valuable to as wide a range of poets as possible. I probably didn't always succeed, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

I have a farewell message in today's edition of the Poet's Market newsletter; I've decided to repeat it here because it does already say what I wanted to express in this last post:

Robert Brewer will, of course, continue his great posts on Poetic Asides (the blog is his brainchild, after all). And the Poet's Market newsletter will continue on a monthly basis. (Go to the Poet's Market website to sign up, if you're not already a subscriber.) You can still go here for information about listing in the 2009 edition (and to download listing questionnaires for each section of the book). Any questions about poetry, publishing, or Poet's Market? This e-mail will take your inquiry to the folks who can get you squared away.

And now--exit, stage left! (Hey, did you hear that little gunshot echo?)

--Nancy