APSU professor Andrea Spofford to release first collection of poetry, titled "The Pine Effect"
Austin Peay State University assistant professor of creative writing and poetry Andrea Spofford is nearing the release of her first collection of poetry, titled 鈥淭he Pine Effect.鈥
Austin Peay State University assistant professor of creative writing and poetry Andrea Spofford is nearing the release of her first collection of poetry, titled 鈥淭he Pine Effect.鈥
Spofford鈥檚 collection of poetry examines the intersection of person and place. Addressing themes of history, transformation and youth, this collection explores the idea of poet as alchemist and scientist, explorer and observer. The book represents years of experiences and the landscapes span from the coasts of California to the Gulf Coast of Texas and many places in-between.
鈥淭he phrase 鈥榯he pine effect鈥 was actually inspired by a trip I took to the Southwest,鈥 Spofford said. 鈥淥n this particular trip, I noticed many of the trees in the national and state parks I explored had almost self-combusted; they stood as burned stalks in the middle of an otherwise green landscape. I kept returning to this image鈥攖he combusted pine鈥攚hile I was assembling this collection.
鈥淭he title poem fits this manuscript because, in many ways, it is the self-combusted pine: charred but still standing upright. I think these combusted trees scattered throughout the book become something else and I hope the landscape replaces, or accounts for, or in some way becomes more important than the actual situation that inspired each piece,鈥 Spofford continued.
Spofford鈥檚 poems and essays appear in The Portland Review, Sugar House Review, Vela Magazine, Revolver, Kudzu Review, Composite: Arts Magazine, Puerto del Sol, Redactions and Red Paint Hill Quarterly. Her chapbook 鈥淓verything Combustible鈥 is available from Dancing Girl Press and her chapbook 鈥淨ikiqtagruk: Almost an Island鈥 is available from Red Bird Chapbooks.
The Tennessee-based Spofford earned her Ph.D. from The University of Southern Mississippi. In addition to teaching, she also serves as a poetry editor for Zone 3 Press, the literary press of Austin Peay State University.
鈥淭he Pine Effect鈥 will be released April 1. For ordering information, visit Red Paint Hill Publishing at www.redpainthill.com.