Episode #7: Donna Isaac

Poet Donna Isaac is a teaching artist who organizes community readings in the Twin Cities. Published work includes a poetry book, Footfalls (Pocahontas Press), a paean to American folk music and her formative years in the Appalachians; two chapbooks, Tommy (Red Dragonfly Press); Holy Comforter (Red Bird Chapbooks); and work in journals such as the Saint Paul Almanac, the Penn Review, and AvantAppal(achia).  Persistence of Vision, a chapbook focused on Donna’s love for movies, is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press, November 2019.

donnaisaacpoet.com

Events

Poets Dore Kesselbach, Sharon Chmielarz, Donna Isaac, and Ethna McKiernan will read work at Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN, November 5, 2019, 7:00 p.m. All poets have new books for sale.

Clapping Waters’ Reading Series will feature Donna Isaac, Nov. 13, 6:00-6:30 (open mic: until 8:00) at River Falls Public Library (lower level) in River Falls, WI.

Donna Isaac will read at Tillie’s Farmhouse, 232 Cleveland Ave., St. Paul, MN, November 20, 2019, 7:00 p.m. with poet Margaret Hasse. Books for sale. Come early for dinner and music by John Wenstrom and co.

Donna’s Readings

  • Unravelling – 10:12
  • Bloodlines – 27:45
  • For the Love of Dance – 45:20

Michael’s Beers

  • Oberon, Bell’s Brewery (paired to Unravelling) – 7:56
  • Rubaeus, Founders Brewing Co. (paired to Bloodlines) – 24:30
  • Let’s Dance, Urban Growler Brewing Co. (paired to For the Love of Dance) – 42:23

Interview Highlights

  • Childhood then & now – 12:11
  • Tommy Chapbook: Poems for Donna’s Brother – 17:47
  • Donna’s Background – 19:32
  • Donna’s Influences – 22:21
  • Influences of Growing Up in Appalachia – 31.26
  • Imagery of Ireland – 38:16
  • Interest in Family Research – 40:53
  • Writing About Joy and Beauty – 48:30
  • Themes of Donna’s Chapbooks Holy Comforter and Persistence of Vision – 55:09
  • The Value of Poetry – 56:37

NEXT MONTH: Author Sarah Stonich.

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.