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"The library is a busy place and so am I." I love the visual of this. Chris La Tray. Not a person. Not an animal. A PLACE.

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A DESTINATION, even! 😂

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INDEED! A LANDMARK!

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Nov 10, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

The worst thing about your “events roundup” posts is that all the events are in Montana, and it makes me sad that I can’t go to them!

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I think when BLS comes out I'll hit some places outside Montana. That's the plan, anyway!

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Congrats on all of these things! Montana Poet Laureate sounds especially evocative and soaring and grand! It's nice to be recognized (I know we're not supposed to care, but it IS nice!)

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Well, I do care. If I don't make it a big deal, who will? And thank you!

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Nov 10, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

I can feel it, there's joy in 'them thar' words! Well wishes for all the exciting days ahead.

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Miigwech!

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So much great news! Congratulations! I can't wait to read the book.

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Thanks, Thomas!

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Thank you for linking us to all these resources/ideas, Chris. I especially liked your Daily Yonder interview. This idea is helping me:

"As an Anishinaabe person who’s not surrounded by Anishinaabe people and I don’t have elders to learn our culture from, I came to the realization that being outdoors and just trying to listen to the world speak to me the way it has spoken to my ancestors for thousands of years was the most direct way I could get to try and experience that."

I'd love to hear more about how the outdoors sometimes serves as our "elders" when we're separated from our people/culture. Or maybe the "outdoors" IS our elders in some spiritual way that’s hard to explain in our current surroundings?

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I think the last half of that last sentence is the way to view it. It's worth considering, isn't it?

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Yes, it is definitely worth considering — even when I don't completely understand it yet.

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Keep “going” Chris… Aho. 🙏🏽

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Aho!

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I love the idea of that workshop of making visual art in response to poetry! How cool. Would totally come if I lived closer

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Start one in your situation!

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Congratulations on being selected as Poet Laureate!! Enjoy!

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Thanks, Bill!

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Nov 20, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

Hi Chris!

Definitely sign me up for a copy of Becoming Little Shell. And if you would, please make a note to sign and personalize my book to me.

Would you prefer that I order through Fact and Fiction? Please let me know.

I hope that all of your events are going well. This is a special time in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Melissa

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Melissa, when the time comes it will be set up for preorder through Fact & Fiction just as JLB's books have been for years now. I know you are familiar with the process!

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Thanks Chris! Yes, I am familiar with the process!🤗

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Wonderful news about your book! Can’t wait to read it. And I love that you’re still revising the poem -- didn’t Marianne Moore revise “Poetry” for absolutely decades and sometimes it was quite lengthy & other times quite short? I feel like that’s a pretty meta commentary on the art form. 😁

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So looking forward to your next book. Please annoy us with pre-order info!

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Congratulations on all of this but especially the book. I know how long a writing process this was and that you persevered deserves all the hazzahs’ 🤗

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I can’t wait to be hassled to buy your new book Chris!

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Nov 11, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

I am so glad I read this newsletter this evening to learn that your book is with the copy editor now. Bravo, friend. What a milestone!

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Thank you, Holly! 💚

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Nov 11, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

The Library thing was really terrific tonight. Can you share a link to the video or audio recordings?

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I'm still reeling, Charlie. I'm happy to know you were there. I just checked the MCAT YouTube channel and there isn't anything there yet, but that's where it will show up. However, I DID find this, which I didn't expect: the video of a presentation I did at the library that was one of those things scheduled before I became MTPL but then happened after that was announced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQleGX3Rryg

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