Greetings! If you're looking for books, poetry, movie reviews, random thoughts, strange observations, or the Holy Grail, then stay for awhile. Afterwards, I hope we can still be friends.

If you're interested in buying my cancer memoir or one of my poetry books, you can do that at most online sites or right here. If you buy directly from me, you'll get a signed first edition. I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do. My gift is my crappy penmanship, and this one's for you.

Antidotes & Home Remedies, my new poetry book, will be available in mid July, 2008 (yea!), but you can now preorder it on this site. The first half is a collection of health related poems (for example see the poem "In-side Effects" in the poetry section) and the second half is a smorgasbord of other poems from my journal. It includes some of my best known poems, like "On Remembering Poetry" (aka You Won't Remember this Poem). I'm excited and am planning to launch the book at the Depot in Norman on Sunday, July 13. Please come!

I Survived Cancer, but Never Won the Tour de France is also available at: OKC (Full Circle Bookstore); Norman (Borders, Crazy Ladies); Edmond (Best of Books); Tulsa (Steve's Sundry); Austin (Bookpeople); most online sources; and various bookstores throughout the universe.

Like Some First Human Being is also available at Full Circle Bookstore, Crazy Ladies, Best of Books, and my mom's living room.

The song you're hearing is by my friend Mark Erelli, an excellent singer/songwriter from Boston. Mark took a poem from my cancer memoir and turned it into this song. Visit www.markerelli.com.

If you're interested in reading about my latest health saga, please go to the blog at my Odds & Ends page.

Upcoming events

Saturday, July 12, 2008 1:00 pm

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

Methodist Church, 202 N. 3rd Street, Okemah, OK, USA (MAP)

I'll be joining 19 other poets, collectively the Woody Guthrie poets,
for a reading at the spoken-word portion (that's code for poetry) of this one-of-a-kind folk festival.

Sunday, July 13, 2008 2:00 pm

Second Sunday Poetry Reading

The Performing Arts Studio (Santa Fe Train Depot), 200 South Jones, Norman, OK (MAP)

I'll be the featured reader at the Depot's monthly poetry celebration. This will also be a book launch party for my new poetry book, Antidotes & Home Remedies!! Food, fun, friends, music (by my son Ford) and a little poetry. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 19, 2008 7:30 pm

The Funky Poet's Review

Kang's Asian Kitchen, 2080 E. 2d Street, Edmond, Oklahoma (MAP)

Nathan Brown and I will do a reading at the monthly poetry night for this cool sushi bar. (And the sushi is excellent, by the way.)

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Read About It

Oklahoma City, OK (MAP)

I'll be the guest on this Oklahoma television show to talk about my new book, Antidotes & Home Remedies. It airs at various times in the bigger metropolitan areas of the state during the following week.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:00 pm

Jim Chastain in Concert!

St. Gregory's University, Shawnee, OK (MAP)

Okay, that's not the real name of this event, but it sure sounds impressive. I've been invited to speak at this Shawnee university. The first hour will be a presentation about my memoir and cancer experiences. The second hour will be a poetry reading from my two and a half poetry books.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Lines & Lyrics

Journey Imperfect Faith Community, 3009 Industrial Terrace, Austin, Texas (MAP)

Another night of music and poetry with my good friends Beth Wood and Nathan Brown. More details later. Come on out and we'll all get credit for going to church!

Thursday, November 20, 2008 7:00 pm

Woody Guthrie Poets Reunion

Benedict Street Marketplace, Southeast corner of Pottenger and Benedict-, Shawnee, OK (MAP)

I'll read at the Woody Guthrie Poets "reunion," an Open Mic at the Benedict Street Marketplace in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Contact Jim Spurr at 405-919-6155. 7:00 pm.

Previous events

Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:00 pm

House Concert

Houston, Texas, United States (MAP)

A fun house concert of music and poetry with friends Nathan Brown and Beth Wood.
Wooooooohooooooo! as Beth would say.

Sunday, April 20, 2008 2:00 pm

Reading, Writing, Singing

Cheyenne, OK (MAP)

I'll be reading at this fun poetry celebration put together
by my good friend Dorothy Alexander.

Saturday, April 12, 2008 9:30 pm

Oklahoma Symposium

Quartz Mountain Resort, north of Altus, Oklahoma (MAP)

Nathan Brown and I are honored to be moderating the poetry portion of this yearly gathering of people who meet to discuss ideas, celebrate their passions, and laugh, a concept created by Socrates and other Greeks some 2,400 years ago. I'll also be on a film panel.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Scissortail Creative Writing Festival

East Central University, Ada, OK, USA (MAP)

I'll be one of the featured readers at this cool three-day festival. I'm reading between 10 and 11:15 a.m.on the festival's last day, Saturday. Be sure to check out the other readers, Nathan Brown, Rilla Askew, Dorothy Alexander, Jeanetta Mish. Thanks to Ken Hada for bringing me on board!

Sunday, March 9, 2008 7:00 pm

When Music & Poetry Meet

The Santa Fe Train Depot, Jones Street, Norman, OK (MAP)

Many of you have asked when the next Oklahoma event in this music & poetry series will take place. My friends Nathan Brown and Beth Wood are the headliners at this Sunday's Winter Wind concert, but I'll drop by for a poem or two.

Friday, February 29, 2008 5:00 pm

Book Signing

Crazy Lady Books, Lindsey Street, near Berry, Norman, OK (MAP)

A book signing with my friends poet Nathan Brown and children's author Molly Griffis.

Thursday, February 21, 2008 7:00 pm

Third Thursday Poetry Reading

Benedict Street Marketplace, corner of N. Pottenger and Benedict Street, Shawnee, OK (MAP)

I'll be the featured reader for this dedicated poetry group.
Great fun!

Sunday, February 17, 2008 10:00 am

Guest Speaker -Morning Star Center for Spiritual Living

Norman Senior Citizens Living Center, South Peters, Norman, OK (MAP)

I'll be the weekly speaker at this center for spiritual living.

Thursday, December 6, 2007 12:30 pm

The Writer's Voice

Oklahoma City Community College, 1-240 and May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK (MAP)

I'll be meeting with a fun college poetry group for a reading over lunch. This is what it's all about!!

Monday, November 19, 2007 2:00 pm

Guest Reader

Wilson Elementary, 22nd and Walker, Oklahoma City, OK (MAP)

I'll be reading poetry to 56 second graders and talking to them about poetry, my books, and my always challenging health. Love it!

View all previous events (40 more)

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