And a last one from "In Search of Geishaghost"

An Understanding Love

And there’s a rain coming down

all around us tonight

where we go doesn’t matter--

no direction is right. 

The engine is running, and the radio’s on

and you ask who will miss us

when we’re gone.

And there’s a storm coming in

from the ocean tonight

and the wind won’t stop running,

like a thief taking flight,

from the scene of a crime

that she didn’t do

and the fear in its footsteps

is the fear that’s in you.

And wherever we are, where no poetry is heard

take shelter in my vision, take shelter in my word.

And I will bring

an understanding love

when your heart lies as empty

as the church late at night.

When some notes on a napkin

hold all of our dreams,

an understanding love

is closer than it seems

to be.

A stranger can hold

the answer to the quest.

But only a true love

can hold the helplessness.

In the rain, in the storm,

on deserted streets we drive,

let me navigate this journey

let me keep us alive.

And wherever we are, when every turn is wrong

take shelter in my vision, take shelter in my song.

And I will bring

an understanding love

when your heart lies as empty

as the church late at night.

When some notes on a napkin

hold all of our dreams,

an understanding love

is closer than it seems

to be.

And I will bring

an understanding love

when you say there’s no answer

there’s no reason to fight.

When you know that we’re tired,

but forget what that means,

an understanding love

is closer than it seems

to be.

A song from "In Search of Geishaghost"

Never in Love With You

           

You say you’d never hurt me.

You say you’d never leave

if you were with me.

But you can never be with me…

And I know the sun will never rain.

The moon will never fall.

A stone will never cry.

And I will never be with you.

I will never be with you.

And I know that

if never means the same to you

as never means to me.

Then we can be never together

never in love

And I’ve never been as happy

with all that never can be

never wake up in the morning

never kiss you goodnight

and I’m never in love

never in love

never in love

with you.

If I were someone else

If this were another time

If no one else was watching

If no one else was watching

We’d take each other

take each other

take each other…away.

And I would never hurt you.

And I would never leave

if I were with you.

But I can never be with you…

And I know that

if never means the same to you

as never means to me.

Then we can be never together

never in love

And I’ve never been as happy

with all that never can be

never wake up in the morning

never kiss you goodnight

and I’m never in love

never in love

never in love

with you.

Another song from "In Search of Geishaghost"

Riding with Angels

And there’s a mountain so high

That angels run out of sky

Their wings can’t fly them any higher, so they fall

Like I have fallen, fallen from the sky

Fallen from eye.

There is an ocean so wide

That angels never dare to cross

They fly in circles, afraid they might get lost

Like I am lost, lost out at sea

Lost within me.

I’m looking out, like a traveler looking in

at wedding bells and back to schools and all that might have been

and I would pick some daisies that would make our house a home

instead of passing through this town alone.

I’m sorry for complicating everybody’s way

an extra empty chair on a cousin’s wedding day

And I may never whisper to a lover on the phone

or lullaby a child of our own.

(harmonica)

I’m on a never-ending train

That runs on whiskey, tears, and shame

There's no destination, there’s just stops along the way

And I am riding,

Riding with angels

And I am riding,

Riding with angels

Fallen, lost, hidden, riding.

Riding with angels.

--Ryka Aoki 

On an Active Readership

The more I tour, clearer that two things become--First, as a writer, I have more impact upon people and readers than I thought possible. It takes a stretch to understand that in the small press world, the people who encounter you are often a self-selecting readership, and are so grateful when they connect with a story, poem or book. It's humbling to get feedback from across the country. I am so grateful. Thank you.

The second truth that has become more evident is even more important. One reader. Seriously--ONE reader who blogs or posts, or spreads the word to others about a book impacts an entire press. Small press world is not like Random House, where readers are thought of statistically. I track myself. AJ at Trans-Genre tracks everything. Tom Leger at Topside, ditto. If you like something and tell people about it, it matters.

I think that this is one of the less-publicized, but extremely important functions of small presses. They not only give power to writers. They also give power to readers. Say a book sells 500 copies. Seriously--that's not a bad run at all. If one person blogs about it, and 8 people buy it for a reading group, or a teacher orders 25 copies for a class, that is a major major impact. As for that blogger--of course sie will be noticed, and perhaps sie may even get a review copy of the next book later.

Active readers, active writers, active publishers and editors all involved and engaged and enthusiastic. Darned good world, dontcha think?

From a reader of The Collection from Topside Press

From a reader, on reading To the New World" by Ryka Aoki. 
"I identified with Millie Wong more than any other trans woman character I've read (admittedly a tiny pool of candidates): the little politically-incorrect pleasures she takes in being a woman, the unsureness and loneliness behind her tolerance of her offensive lesbian friend Sierra."

Wow. I am really happy with Topside Press and The Collection. I was wondering where I would place that story, and they were so easy to work with. Check it out!

Good News from Ireland!

Wow! Just found out I was a commended author for the 2012 Sean O'Faolain Prize. It's an international literary battle royal. Almost 1000 entries and my latest short story, "Like Bits of Broken Glass," was one of the top 24. Just giddy right now. I think I can play with the big boys! More here! :)

A quick word on my audience for Seasonal Velocities and every other gollydarned thing I write.

It is absurd to assume lessons learned from being trans, female, queer, or a person of color should only be useful to trans, female, queer people of color. If we hope our words can make this world a wiser and more compassionate place, then we must send our words with blessings to reach everyone in this world. If we say our stories are just as indispensably human as anyone else’s, then they must thrive as other stories do—in new and novel readings by readers who live far beyond whatever curvature our own horizons follow.

Order Seasonal Velocities from Trans-Genre Press! :)