An Ekphrastic Poem by me on youtube, yo.

I wrote a poem in response to Trinda Love's oil painting, "View from the Golden Rooms." Poet Hans Ostrom created a youtube video/reading of my poem and incorporated images from Trinda's painting. It's worth a visit, yo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea1QSGgpbaM

Robacker on youtube: My Money Is Broke

One of my friends, Hans Ostrom, is a professor, poet and amazing reader of poetry.

Check out this cool youtube video he made out of one of my 'recession' poems! His reading voice doing 'my' work sent shivers down my spine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFfatU9f8RA

Join Me On An Author's Panel, Saturday in Sumner!

WRITE IN THE VALLEY--CHAPTER 2

September 25, 10 am ~ 2:30 pm
Sumner Senior Center
15506 62nd Street Ct. East – Sumner, WA 98390

All Readers, Writers & Wannabes are Invited: Join Poet Laureate and published poet, Tammy Robacker, along with 7 published authors for an informative, fun open forum and discussion at Sumner’s 2nd annual authors’ event.

Transforming Lives with Art, SHOWCASE Magazine, FALL 2010

Because I believe art and poetry can help heal the spirit and strengthen the soul of those who have been hurt by some of life's brutal forces, I am always interested in covering the arts as therapy in my journalism efforts.

It is a topic I love to write about. Mainly, because I get to meet and interview the most inspirational and creative people who are out in the world, saving the lives and healing the hearts of children and teenagers who have been neglected, abused and abandoned by their families or by society.

My heart and my art goes out to the people, the poets, and the artists who are courageous and willing to take what is terrible and spin it into gold.

Here is a recent article I wrote about Hilltop Glass Artists program that helps struggling youth: http://www.showcasemedialive.com/issues/fall2010/community/hilltopartists

Self-Publish? Agent? Small Press? Where will your writing fit?

Join me THIS sunday, august 1 for a writers workshop focused on Publishing!

In addition to the hunger many people have to publish their collection of poems, or write their first novel, they simply do not know where to start once the manuscript takes shape. It is daunting for writers and poets to consider the overwhelming world of publication options. Can you self-publish? Should you get an agent? What is the benefit of working with small presses?

To help answer these questions and offer publishing inspiration to Tacoma's writers and poets, I will be offering a class called, Indie Lit Chicks on Publishing: A Writers Workshop on Sunday, Aug. 1 from 2-4:30 p.m. for only $10 at Urban Grace Church. RSVP me directly: tamsugah@aol.com

Joining me to co-teach and host a Q&A session on topics such as self-publication, literary agents, funding, marketing and independent press publication will be two guest authors, Gina Frangello and Zoe Zolbrod. The authors will also read from their latest novels and books will be available for purchase and signing.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/entertainment/spew-blog/2010/07/Tacoma-Poet-Laureate-Tammy-Robacker-workshop/

Can Poetry Save the World? by TLR

Here is a very special editorial feature I wrote about Richard Gold's non profit Pongo Poetry Project helping troubled teens in Tacoma for City Arts Magazine: http://www.cityartsmagazine.com/issues/tacoma/2010/02/better-medicine-0

Is Writing a Book on Your Bucket List? Aug. 1

Many of us have a deep desire to write a book before we die.

Perhaps you have always wanted to write a book but don't know where to start. Or maybe you have chapters for a novel or a drawer full of poetry, and you just don't know what to do with them? Take your first step toward making a dream come true and attend my Poet Laureate workshop--open to poets & writers of all styles:

Indie Lit Chicks on Publishing: A Writers Workshop
on August 1, Sunday at 2-4:30 pm!
at Urban Grace Church, Tacoma, WA
Cost: $10 suggested donation.
Email Your Name to RSVP: tamsugah@aol.com

Join three published women writers and editors to get helpful publication information, encouragement, support, creative ideas and inspiration to write your own book this year! Come enjoy a rich, helpful lecture on how to publish your work by three women who were told no many times or rejected, but did it by themselves anyway! Enjoy a discussion, author lecture, author and poet readings, book signings and more. You will be an active part of the intensive Q&A we will be hosting about courage, commitment, funding, nuts & bolts, and creative marketing with writers just like you who started off with only a dream. You Can Do It!

Teachers & Guests include:
Tammy Robacker, Co-editor of In Tahoma's Shadow (2009), freelance editorial writer, 2010 Tacoma Poet Laureate and published poet, The Vicissitudes (2009); www.tammyrobacker.com
Zoe Zolbrod, Zine creator and author of newly released novel: Currency (2010); http://zoezolbrod.com/
Gina Frangello, small press editor and published author of newly released: The Slut Lullabies; www.ginafrangello.com