Alan Squire Publishing

A Small Press With Big Ideas

Off the Cuff: The Writing Philosophy of Reuben Jackson "Part of what I try to do [is this]: you know how you go down to the mall and you see monuments to this war and this war, and that’s fine. But, a lot of my friends I think about constantly. Maybe, they’re forgotten in a way; but [what I try] to do, and maybe this is what you do as writers, is to capture people who had an impact on you." -Reuben Jackson Poet and jazz scholar, Reuben Jackson gave a talk in Rockville, MD on April 6th where he went into detail on his writing philosophy and read a few poems from his upcoming collection … [Read more...]

Poet and jazz scholar, Reuben Jackson, will be reading his poetry (old and new) as part of the "Words out Loud" series in Glen Echo Park. 7300 MacArthur blvd (see below) (parking lot on Oxford road) Room 302, third floor, North Arcade Building the entry is to the right of the neon POPCORN sign. ADA accessible … [Read more...]

University of DC Jazz Forum: A Conversation with Reuben Jackson In this University of DC forum, "Archivist, poet, writer, radio broadcaster/producer and currently Jazz Archives Specialist at the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives, Reuben Jackson, discusses his remarkable career with veteran jazz broadcaster and historian, Rusty Hassan." … [Read more...]

Poet and jazz scholar, Reuben Jackson, is leading a FREE writing workshop at the DC arts non-profit Split This Rock. Reuben Jackson served as curator of the Smithsonian’s Duke Ellington Collection in Washington, D.C. for over twenty years. His music reviews have been published in the Washington Post, Washington City Paper, Jazz Times, and on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Jackson is also an educator and mentor with The Young Writers Project. He taught poetry for 11 years at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Maryland and taught high school for two years in Burlington, Vermont. His poems have … [Read more...]

MLK Video: Reuben Jackson narrates "March" by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin Hear Reuben Jackson narrate from "March: Book One" in honor of MLK day. If the video is not working, you can follow THIS link to stream it. Happy MLK day! We are super excited to finally see Reuben Jackson's long awaited narration of March: Book One co-written by congressman and civil rights activist, John Lewis. And it does not disappoint. The narration above is paired with visuals from the graphic novel which was illustrated by Nate Powell. For more information, we did a story last week on … [Read more...]

Reuben Jackson Narrating Graphic Novel "March" for MLK inspired Concert On January 20th Reuben Jackson will be reading March: Book One by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin for a performance of the Vermont Youth Orchestra entitled "Beyond the Frame — Depictions of a Dream" and heavily inspired by the life and work of Dr. King (Pictured: The Vermont Youth Orchestra and director Benjamin Klemme) In-house ASP wordsmith and noted Jazz Scholar, Reuben Jackson, will be narrating March: Book One, written in part by sitting Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, for the Vermont Youth … [Read more...]

"On the Road, Columbia, South Carolina, Spring 1959" A Poem by Reuben Jackson "There's much said in what's not said in Reuben Jackson's poetry. His cleverly sparse style often convincingly veils the complexities of which he writes, just until the poet sharply corrects our deception." Linda Stiles Those deceptions Ms. Stiles refers to above often come from Reuben's use of the child's point of view. As a child, the narrator, and reader by proxy, is looking up at the absurdity of adult interests and actions with a renewed curiosity. The narrator misses the cut of the barber's words when asked … [Read more...]

Radio Nights by Reuben Jackson ASP is proud to premier the new Reuben Jackson poem, "Radio Nights."  From Reuben: As I mentioned during the interview with Rose Solari, my childhood love for radio was two fold: It was (and still is, kinda…) a gateway to new music, and it provided programmers a chance to work with the musical qualities inherent in what we now often refer to as the spoken word. This unpublished poem is a nod (or another nod) to the magic of the medium, and a curious child’s life in Washington, D.C.  Radio Nights  Left hand working the dial quietly ….  quietly (My parents … [Read more...]

Reuben Jackson Reads "Second Grade" "Reuben Jackson's poems are gateways to possible worlds. With the finesse of a real sleight-of-hand artist, he transforms the truly personal—hopes, dreams, desires—into universal memories." Richard Peabody Reuben Jackson is a treasure trove of memories. In his brilliant interview with Rose Solari over on the ASP Podcast, he recalls childhood with a fully-formed, grown-into clarity. As with his poem, "fingering the keys," there is a vivacity in the memories he shares with us about second grade which seems to extend beyond puberty, college, marriage, … [Read more...]