Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University assistant professor of creative writing and poetry Andrea Spofford is nearing the release of her first collection of poetry, titled “The Pine Effect.”
Spofford’s 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 phrase ‘the pine effect’ was actually inspired by a trip I took to the Southwest,” Spofford said. “On 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—the combusted pine—while I was assembling this collection.”
“The 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,” Spofford continued.
Spofford’s 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 “Everything Combustible” is available from Dancing Girl Press and her chapbook “Qikiqtagruk: Almost an Island” 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.
“The Pine Effect” will be released April 1st.
For ordering information, visit Red Paint Hill Publishing at www.redpainthill.com
