Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · 23d

I’ve never had the chance to write such a big feature for a publication like Newcity before, and I’m so excited to share it with you. My editor Todd and the team knocked it out of the park with the print edition, so if you can get it, get it! I’m honored and amazed. Thank you for reading.

Chicago's New Golden Age of Magic

A magic mansion with major funding enters a city where the art form already flourishes.

www.newcitystage.com

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · 23d

In the social and political moment we’re all in right now, feeling like a kid for 60 minutes and just basking in amazement was the best gift I didn’t know to ask for.

Chicago's New Golden Age of Magic

A magic mansion with major funding enters a city where the art form already flourishes.

www.newcitystage.com

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · 23d

Feeling invigorated and excited and open to possibility like a kid is sorely missing for a lot of people. I didn’t realize that how I felt watching these shows was going to be such an important highlight of the writing process for me.

Chicago's New Golden Age of Magic

A magic mansion with major funding enters a city where the art form already flourishes.

www.newcitystage.com

1

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · 23d

“Let’s just be grown-up and pretend magic is real.”

I interviewed several of Chicago’s biggest magic acts to write this in-depth story of today’s magic performance scene. Magic shows appeal to the kid in all of us, which I mean in the least dismissive way possible.

Chicago's New Golden Age of Magic

A magic mansion with major funding enters a city where the art form already flourishes.

www.newcitystage.com

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Aug 14

Micro review of “Paper Money” by Winshen Liu!
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8B16wSB/

“Can you love someone if you don’t know their birthday?” from “Paper Money” by Winshen Liu - eat these poems up!#sealeychallenge #poetrytok #booktok #review #poetrytiktok

TikTok video by Robert Eric Shoemaker

www.tiktok.com

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Aug 11

www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8kv9oxN/

“Feasting” from “Post-Eclipse: A Queer Home” by Jo Christian - youthful queer poems about (being) cryptids! ##poetrytok##sealeychallenge##booktok##review##queer

TikTok video by Robert Eric Shoemaker

www.tiktok.com

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Aug 4

Bill Knott: Beat poetry, but make it short
A micro review
#poetry #sealeychallenge

www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...

The Naomi Poems, Book One: Corpse and Beans

“Bill Knott writes stunning poems in which he wires the…

www.goodreads.com

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Aug 3

A stanza, too, is a “room for slaughter” (24) and poetry is a field like all others assimilated into the college for production. Nothing is sacred, nothing is safe. This is a plant for processing, a plan for process. You are a unit, a reader, and this book a bag for red meat.

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Aug 3

Ever adjuncted? Read this and fear for your kidneys (if you haven’t had to sell them yet)!
First book of August: “this abattoir is a college” by Orchid Tierney
#sealeychallenge

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 31

Subscribe to my newsletter at reshoemaker.com! This month's installment includes thoughts on AI as well as announcements.

Hello/Goodbye July!

What I've been up to this month!

reshoemaker.com

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 29

Say you’re teaching African American lit—which I may or may not be saying myself—what is your must read book from the last 20 years?

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 26

What are you most excited to read during this August’s #SealeyChallenge?
Convincing myself I’m gonna do it by continuing to ask others about it. Accountability!?

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 18

I’m intrigued!

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 17

Thank you! Glad to be here for the RevolutioNA #nonalcoholic

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 15

Roses, such deep heat
Wall of poems, each frame a friend
Time stands still, staring

#poetry #haiku #poem #amwriting #letterpress

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 14

The issue of Spoon River in question #indiepublishing #poetry

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 14

Join me and the other contributors for a virtual launch reading on Friday, July 18 at 4:30 p.m. CDT. You can register for the Zoom event here!
illinoisstate.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: SRPR 49.2 Launch Reading. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

illinoisstate.zoom.us

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 14

I’m beyond pleased to be featured in Spoon River Poetry Review 49.2 - even though my “Hex on Elon Musk as a Portrait of Humanity” is so unfortunately ever-relevant!

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: SRPR 49.2 Launch Reading. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

illinoisstate.zoom.us

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 13

Anyone else quit or reduce drinking by swapping in nonalcoholic drinks?

I’m 4 years sober today and it feels great!

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 13

Just joked with my best friend who helped me get here that my sponsor was Heineken 0.0 and my twelve step was 6 packs of NA.

#sober #sobriety #nonalcoholic #NAbeer

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 13

Just Buffy floofin out
#cat #floof

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 11

I now have a window unit
Which dehumidifies
I must bleed it twice daily
To let out the bad waters
Please any god
Send central air
I sacrifice this condensation to you

(again, maybe a poem)
#amwriting #lifeupdate #amnotcryingyouare

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 11

AC broken
Rain outside
If I can’t sleep anyway, why not take a shower?

(a poem, maybe, but also very real life)

Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 11

#poem #amwriting #amnotsleeping

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Robert Eric Shoemaker @roberteshoe.bsky.social · Jul 11

AC broken
Rain outside
If I can’t sleep anyway, why not take a shower?

(a poem, maybe, but also very real life)

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