When Miss Jill Santopolo invited me to create an "Extras" supplement for Undercover, my novel about a rising young poet and her escapades, I thought a while before concluding that I wanted to tell Elisa's' going-forward story through a letter and a series of new poems. Elisa's story didn't end for me just because I happened to stop writing it. She had always kept growing up in my mind—I'd find her in my imagination, I'd see her out in the streets—and creating the Extras gave me a chance to put down some of where she's traveled.
Yesterday, when I returned home from teaching the next generation of young writers, the Extras were here in my electronic mailbox, waiting for a final review. The timing was Jill-like—creating an intersection between the poet I'd conjured (and partly been) and the poets and writers I'd just left in a light-filled room on the second floor of a coffee shop.
Here is Elisa, then, from the letter that introduces her new book of poems. Undercover, with its Extras, will be available as a paperback in May.
I've gotten interested, I'm saying, in all the ways that language bruises itself. In things that bump and collide. The past against the present. The want against the need. The truth against the lie. The weird against the regular. The smell of red against the color of a song. Poems do not explain, but they do suggest. They mean the most when they buck up and buckle.
new posts in all blogs
By: Beth Kephart ,
on 2/25/2009
Blog: Beth Kephart Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: young writers, Jill Santopolo, UNDERCOVER paperback, The Gryphon, Add a tag
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: The Gryphon, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 1 of 1
By: Beth Kephart ,
on 2/25/2009
Blog: Beth Kephart Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: young writers, Jill Santopolo, UNDERCOVER paperback, The Gryphon, Add a tag
13 Comments on Undercover and the Paperback Extras, last added: 3/3/2009
Display Comments
Add a Comment
How exciting. I do so love the extras in books.
That's beautiful, Beth, and today I have used the wonderful comments on my blog that you left yesterday to hopefully enable even more people to see them - You write so wonderfully, thank you for sharing your talent so generously with others!
Oooh! I'm dying to read Undercover...
Just discovered your blog (from Anna's) and didn't wish to lurk. I've just started working with a local published author and hope to draw on her experiences. I appreciate you putting yours out there as well.
Now I'll need my own copy, the new edition, since this passage of Elisa's intuitive way of seeing is as delightful as the all that came before. Yay!
Ladies (all)
You make me smile at this day's end. How do you always always always manage to do that? CDB, it's so sweet that you are here. Maya: I'm about to leave you a message.
How shall I send it to you? I haven't got your email...
I've got an idea. Why don't you email me at my alternate email,
poet.1234 [at] gmail [dot] com
and then I'll email you back from my real email address.
Congrats on the forthcoming "Extras!" That's wonderful!
And your excerpt is a delightful teaser...love it.
XO
Anna
This makes me so happy, since you know how I love UNDERCOVER.
Beth,
I finished Undercover last night. You are an artist! Looking forward to the paperback with extras in May.
Anna, Vivian — You've been such kind, kind souls toward my work, and I thank you.
Andrea, your note makes me smile this early morning. I'm grateful (and, as always when hearing from a reader, relieved).
I can't wait to see the extras! Does the paperback have the same cover. I hope so...it is so beautiful.