PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021 Red Kite, Blue Sky poems by Madeleine May Kunin ”Madeline Kunin writes effortlessly about moments, memories, and events. “ —Chard deNiord, former Poet Laureate of Vermont (2015-2019)

Cover photo © Kate Pond

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021 Red Kite, Blue Sky poems by Madeleine May Kunin

Red Kite, Blue Sky, the debut poetry collection from Madeleine May Kunin, celebrates life and the natural world, occasioned by the birth of grand-children, the memories of friendship and past birthdays/Bar Mitzvahs, a gift of plum-colored gloves from the poet’s daughter, the Sicilian sun which “melts my argument against myself," with sharp observations and humor. Like Emily Dickinson before her, Kunin does not shy away from death; rather she embraces the anticipation “before death drags me deep,” the gap in her life when her beloved husband dies, the fear of immigration to America during World War II with “an H for Hebrew, I found out later,” and the sadness of being isolated as an older woman living alone during the pandemic.

For years Kunin was caught in the tempo of politics — as governor, as a federal offcial, and as an ambassador — but as she eased into retirement from public life, she found a door that opened for her to explore the multi-layered language of poetry. She used this form she has dabbled in for years as a new outlet and, like her passion for promulgating women in politics, she was able to catalog her changing body and mind as she aged, the loss of late-in-life love, the quotidian details found in nature and home life, and ultimately dealing with COVID-19. Kunin explores the police brutality that lead to George Floyd’s death — “A black man couldn’t breathe/Because a white man/Pressed down on his neck/‘Mama,’ he cried, before/He died”— with the raw emotion of witnessing injustice and horrible wrong, with a unique and unbending power of her own political, life-affrming, poetic voice.

Poetry 116 pages; 5.5 x 8.5 / Softcover / $15.95 for Print ISBN: 978-1-9505849-8-7 / Publication Date: May 3, 2021 Distributor: IPG, Ingram, Baker & Taylor. Available on bookshop.org and local, indie bookstores. Rights sold: All rights available. Rights Contact: Dede Cummings, [email protected] Keywords: Nature, Poetry, Politics, Aging, Grief, COVID-19, Jewish, Racism, Vermont

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021 About the Author

Madeleine Kunin was the frst woman to be elected (three-terms), was also

U.S. Ambassador to and U.S. deputy secretary of education. She as written four previous books: Living a Political Life (Knopf), and The New Feminist Agenda: Defning the Next

Revolution for Women, Work, and Family (New York Times Editor's Choice), Pearls Politics and

Power, and Coming of Age: My Journey to the Eighties (GWP). She is currently James Marsh

Professor-at-Large at the , where she gives guest lectures on feminism and women and politics. She also serves on the board of the Institute for Sustainable Communities

(ISC), a nongovernmental organization that she founded in 1991, and she recently launched

Emerge Vermont to encourage and support women in politics. She lives in Shelburne, Vermont.

Author photo © Paul Boisvert

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021

Advance Praise

“In her frst book of poetry, Madeline Kunin writes effortlessly about moments, memories, and events that she then transforms into immense particulars, whether they be a cat scratch, a headache, or a secret joke. Her musings resonate with pathos, wit, and perspicacity, crossing generously over from her speaker to her reader with spare accuracy and refreshing honesty. In her poem ‘Understanding Beethoven,’ Kunin declares: ‘So many layers to dig through with my rusty spade/ before I fnd what I want./ I want details.’ Red Kite, Blue Sky is replete with details she ‘wants’ and although they are uniquely hers, she has found an artful, selfess way of bequeathing them to her reader.” —Chard deNiord, former Poet Laureate of Vermont (2015-2019)

“Following her long and accomplished career as a public servant and activist, Madeleine Kunin has turned inward in this collection of powerful poems. The elation of late-life love mixes with the sadness of its loss. A busy outward schedule is suddenly stilled by lockdown. But a profound new focus emerges from this solitude as Kunin begins to observe in minute detail the sky, a tree, the antics of a cat, her own aging body. Red Kite, Blue Sky is a beautiful, stirring, and often playful tribute to life itself. Its important insights, some delivered with a humorous twist, will resonate with me for a long time.” — Lisa Alther, NYTimes bestselling author of Kinficks (among others)

“The radiant poems in Madeleine Kunin’s startling Red Kite, Blue Sky offer a precious sanctuary of memories and wisdom. An enthralling light emanates from the center of these poems that reveal a life lived fully in love, laughter, joy and sorrows overcome. A hardwired sense of beauty throbs throughout the book as Kunin carries and divines her lineage and history with the kind of insight that is spectacularly fresh and tender.” — Major Jackson, author of The Absurd Man (among others)

“Madeleine May Kunin generously offers poetic gems brimming with insight. As the wise poet she is, she opens up her profoundly bittersweet y”ears of aging, caregiving, and living alone. Through memories of her rich and varied life experiences, she brilliantly gives us a path to joy imbued with love.” — Sharyn Skeeter, former poetry and fction editor of Essence Magazine and author of Dancing with Langston

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021 Media/Reviews

Madeleine Kunin trades politics for the poetry of change By Kevin O'Connor / May 2 2021 LINK TO ARTICLE Kunin, who also writes news commentaries, occasionally crafts poems sparked by current events, such as the George Floyd-inspired “I Can’t Breathe.” … I sit in my chair here at home Where I try to move close To where they march down pulsating streets Opening their red mouths to needle pointed smoke Choking on injustice “When I read about other lives and how much people overcome, I feel I haven’t done enough,” she says. “I still want to march.”

“You don’t create major change without some risk,” Kunin said. Madeleine Kunin (b. 1933) served as governor of Vermont from 1985-1991 and as the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland during the Clinton administration. Her memoir Coming of Age: My Journey to the Eighties explores the joys and challenges of aging. A professor-at-large at the University of Vermont, Kunin has just published her frst chapbook of poetry, Red Kite, Blue Sky.

Article and upcoming PBS series by James Napoli and team. Photo courtesy of James Napoli.

LINK TO ARTICLE

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021 Events

From Politics to Poetry, May 5 Link As the frst woman governor for the State of Vermont, the ambassador to Switzerland for President Clinton, and the holder of other prestigious positions, Madeleine Kunin has inspired women and girls to discover their own voices as leaders. Governor Kunin will speak about her life in politics and read to us from her newest book of poetry, Red Kite, Blue Sky.

Northshire Live: Link Madeleine Kunin in conversation with Barbara Morrow— Red Kite, Blue Sky

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - 6:00pm

Next Stage Arts, Putney Vermont — info coming soon!

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021

Events/cont.

An Evening of Politics & Poetry With Gov. Madeleine Kunin Link

Tuesday, June 11, 2021 - 6:00pm

PARK MCCULLOUGH TALKS Series with this exclusive conversation and reading with former Vermont Governor and United States Ambassador, Madeleine Kunin. Well-known author and artist Sandra Magsamen will moderate this special online event which will be broadcast live from the Governor’s Parlor inside the Park McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion( via Zoom). Governor Kunin will speak about her life in politics, read to us from her newest book of poetry, Red Kite, Blue Sky and take questions from the audience. $25. Includes One Signed Copy of Red Kite, Blue Sky. Zoom Invites Will Be Sent Out To Registered Participants On June 10th. Proceeds Beneft Park McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion. Don’t forget to visit: www.BenningtonBookShop.com #ShopLocal REGISTER NOW

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021 Press Release

Giving Voice to Writers & Artists Who will Make the World a Better Place

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dede Cummings, publisher, Green Writers Press [email protected]; 802-380-1121

Dear Editors, Producers, Reviewers,

Green Writers Press is thrilled to announce pre-publication of Red Kite, Blue Sky, the debut poetry collection from Madeleine May Kunin, which celebrates life and the natural world, occasioned by the birth of grand-children, the memories of friendship and past birthdays/Bar Mitzvahs, a gift of plum- colored gloves from the poet’s daughter, the Sicilian sun which “melts my argument against myself," with sharp observations and humor. Like Emily Dickinson before her, Kunin does not shy away from death; rather she embraces the anticipation “before death drags me deep,” the gap in her life when her beloved husband dies, the fear of immigration to America during World War II with “an H for Hebrew, I found out later,” and the sadness of being isolated as an older woman living alone during the pandemic. For years Kunin was caught in the tempo of politics—as governor, as a federal offcial, and as an ambassador — but as she eased into retirement from public life, she found a door that opened for her to explore the multi-layered language of poetry. She used this form she has dabbled in for years as a new outlet and, like her passion for promulgating women in politics, she was able to catalog her changing body and mind as she aged, the loss of late-in-life love, the quotidian details found in nature and home life, and ultimately dealing with COVID-19. Kunin explores the police brutality that lead to George Floyd’s death — “A black man couldn’t breathe/Because a white man/Pressed down on his neck/‘Mama,’ he cried, before/He died” — with the raw emotion of witnessing injustice and horrible wrong, with a unique and unbending power of her own political, life-affrming, poetic voice.

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com PRESS KIT | Green Writers Press | Pub Date: May 3, 2021

I would be thrilled to not only further discuss this pitch with you, but the possibility of a feature and/ or a book review or author interview as well. I can send a digital galley or a hardcopy advance reader copy upon request. We have strong national interest in this debut poetry release. Thanks in advance for your great work and consideration.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Dede Cummings, publisher [email protected]

Green Writers Press, an independent, woman-owned, Vermont-based publishing company, is dedicated to spreading environmental awareness and social justice by publishing authors who promulgate messages of hope and renewal through place-based writing and environmental activism. In the past fve years, Green Writers Press has expanded signifcantly, publishing such authors as Julia Alvarez, Chard deNiord, John Elder, Dr. M Jackson, former Vermont Governor, Madeleine Kunin, and Clarence Major. Our mission is to spread a message of hope and renewal through the words and images we publish. Throughout we will adhere to our commitment to preserving and protecting the natural resources of the earth. To that end, a percentage of our proceeds will be donated to environmental activist groups and social justice organizations. Read more at www.greenwriterspress.com.

POETRY 116 pages / Softcover / Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 978-1-9505849-8-7 Price: $15.95 / Publication Date: May3, 2021 / Vermont virtual book tour scheduled. Distributors: IPG/Chicago. Also available from Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and on Bookshop.org Foreign rights sold: Available / Rights Contact: Dede Cummings, [email protected] Keywords: Nature, Poetry, Aging, Grief, COVID-19, Jewish, Racism, Vermont Coming April 22, 2021. Available wherever books are sold.

“A Red Kite, Blue Sky is a beautiful, stirring, and often playful tribute to life itself.” —Lisa Alther, NYTimes bestselling author of Kinficks, among others

“Red Kite, Blue Sky is replete with details she ‘wants’ and although they are uniquely hers, she has found an artful, selfess way of bequeathing them to her reader.” —Chard deNiord, former Poet Laureate of Vermont (2015-2019)

34 Miller Road, West Brattleboro, VT 05301 | 802-380-1121 greenwriterspress.com