Parallel Press releases ‘How Dumb the Stars’

Francine Conley, who earned her Ph.D. in French literature and theater at UW–Madison, is the author of the 12th chapbook from the Parallel Press, “How Dumb the Stars.”

Conley’s poems are gifts of substance and truth wrapped in tantalizing metaphors. She is thoroughly at home in the quirky mysteries of experience where there are many meanings, often best spoken in parables. Rich moments of connection and understanding are not so much captured as revealed.

A chapbook is a small-format literary work, usually of poetry or essays. The chapbooks are published by the Parallel Press, an imprint of the UW–Madison Libraries.

Conley has adapted and performed her poetry into four one-woman shows. She has also received awards including the George B. Hill and Therese Muller Creative Writing Award (1996), and a Fulbright grant to write and do theater work in France (1998-99).

Each Parallel Press chapbook is $10; annual subscriptions for six are $50. Titles may be ordered by writing: The Parallel Press, 372 Memorial Library, 728 State St., Madison, WI 53706.

For information, call (608) 262-2600.