Deviant Propulsion Introduces Poet CAConrad: A Writer Propelled by Dissidence

CAConrad takes the literary world by storm in 2006 with publication of his new book of poems, Deviant Propulsion, by Soft Skull Press in New York City. A Publisher's Weekly critic compared CAConrad's work to that of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

New York City (PRWEB) June 8, 2006 -- Poet CAConrad’s first full length book of poems, Deviant Propulsion, was recently released by Soft Skull Press. CAConrad’s poetry has already received some of the highest critical accolades from Publisher’s Weekly, where a reviewer compared his work to Beat poet Allen Ginsberg. Says Publisher’s Weekly, “Though he invokes celebrities and poetic mentors from Robert Creeley to Kevin Killian to Courtney Love, the best analogy for the Philadelphia-based Conrad is Allen Ginsberg, who also shocked America with his frankness, denounced hypocrisy in prose poems and in verse declamation, and who also hoped to embody the queer life of his times.”
   
CAConrad’s poetic roots are in the heart of Philadelphia, whereas Ginsberg’s are in New York City and San Francisco. Both have a talent for ‘rants’ against the established order accompanied by revolutionary calls to action against government waste and lies, authoritative hypocricy, repression, and the pretension, detachment and abuse which capitalism breeds.    

As a youth, CAConrad sold cut flowers on the side of the road, helped his mother shoplift, and traveled around the country following folk singers. He abandoned his family life to become a leader in the poetry community in Philadelphia, where he’s made his home for nearly two decades. Writer Anselm Berrigan says “I think of Philly, among other things, when I think of CAConrad, as he gets that city’s flavors into the letters of his poems.”
   
CAConrad’s poetry has that city speed and urban daring so many lack. Caught in the tempest of art, life, compulsion, dreams, sex, lack of money and poetry as lifestyle, it’s no wonder the Publisher’s Weekly reviewer begins with a description of him as “sexy and outrageous.” Visit http://seenoffstage.blogspot.com/ for a pictorial rendition of “Celebrities I’ve Seen Offstage” from Deviant Propulsion.

CAConrad’s poems give a nod to many muses, some who surround him on other projects such as http://PhillySound.blogspot.com, Frequency Audio Journal, coedited with Magdalena Zurawski, The Kelly Writers House at University of Pennsylvania, and past readings at La Tazza in Olde City, Philadelphia.
   
CAConrad has another book forthcoming: The Frank Poems, by Jargon Society. He is available to give readings of Deviant Propulsion. Visit http://CAConrad.blogspot.com or email CAConrad13@aol.com to schedule a poetry performance or book signing.

Deviant Propulsion is available on line at http://www.softskull.com/detailedbook.php?isbn=1-932360-87-5 or http://CAConrad.blogspot.com, through Amazon.com, local Booksense stores, and bookstores everywhere.

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