press:

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Unfortunately not all press can be linked to due to lack of links for every article (why don't you archive, online New Yorker!). However, we'll do our best.

February 20, 2010: In their review Everything is Everything, The Legendary Editors John Hancock and Katie Moore writes, "Cristin O'Keefe Aptowitcz's new poetry collection, Everything is Everything, from Write Bloody Publishing, offers an insight few collections of verse accomplish; combining carefully crafted allegory, nerd-pop observationalism, and the footnotes you could only hope to find scribbled on the pages of a dusty library history text. To read the entire review, please check here.

February 15, 2010: In their review of the Winter 2009 issue of Rattle, The New Pages spotlighted Cristin's work, noting, "It’s hard not to be curious about nearly two-hundred pages of poems that begin, as this issue does, with Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz’s oh-so-American-current-preoccupation: I can now confirm that I am not just fatter / than everyone I work with, but I’m also fatter / than all their spouses. Even the heavily bearded / bear in accounting has a little otter-like boyfriend. Many of this issue’s poems are much like this one by Aptowicz, sarcastic, edgy, and conversational, sometimes surprisingly self-revelatory and/or critical." To read the entire review, please check it out here.

February 4, 2010: In his review Everything is Everything, decomP Editor Jason Jordan writes, "Aptowicz always finds something interesting to say. And that's why her poetry is so endearing. Often quirky, funny, and downright bizarre, Everything is Everything addresses numerous topics via confessional free verse... If you're looking for a read that enchants in spite of its occasional flaws, buy Everything is Everything. On the whole, your time and money will be well spent." To read the entire review, please check here.

January 17, 2010: In his review of Everything is Everything in Small Press Reviews, Marc Schuster calls Cristin "a master of juxtaposition" and spotlights several of his favorite poems in the book, including "L'Chaim" where he write that a parallel found in the poem "demands further examination, as it implies that we are all, in some way, dying as we appear to celebrate, committing small suicides as we force ourselves to go through the received motions of daily life. Is there anything more than preserving the culture of our ancestors, the poem all but demands?" To read the full review, please click here.

January 14, 2010: What To Wear During an Orange Alert editor Jason Behrends asks Cristin questions about day jobs, poetry slams, Write Bloody and whether there will be an illustrated poetry books in her future, and Cristin responds by talking about giraffe rape, road trips, medical oddities and her obsession with President James Buchanan and his "wife," Senator William Rufus King. To read the full interview, please click here.

December 10, 2009: Fantastic online literary journal Danse Macabre has published an early review of Cristin's latest book, Everything is Everything, which is scheduled for a mid-January release. Reviewer Jaq Greenspon begins his review by saying, "The hardest thing about reviewing Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz's latest poetry collection, Everything is Everything, is not falling immediately, irrevocably, hopelessly in love with her right from the beginning..." and ends it by writing "Amidst it all, Everything is Everything is everything a book of poetry should be. It reflects life and makes us think. It exposes truths and hides secrets. It's the book you should buy your friends who don't like poetry." To read everything that comes between, please check out this extremely generous review here.

December 7, 2009: Fantastic indie lit blog What to Wear During an Orange Alert has published the first review of Everything is Everything, which is scheduled for a mid-January release. Reviewer Jason Behrends writes "When Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz says 'everything' she means everything. What is so remarkable about her latest collection of poems is that her life is not all that remarkable, and she likes it that way. I mean when she is not writing about all of the harm man has inflicted on animals over the years (crack squirrels or giraffes trained to rape), she captures the commonplace with humor and wit. From office dynamics to subway stereotypes to the typical life of a writer, she shares this experiences that many have shared, but in a way that only a few can." To read the rest of this awesome review, please click here.

November 30 - December 4, 2009: In preparation for the release of Cristin's latest collection of poetry, Everything is Everything, writer / editor / brilliant lady extraordinaire Roxane Gay is publishing her five-part interview with Cristin on the fantastic HTML Giant blog. To read the interiews, please click the following links for Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four and Part Five.

November 26, 2009: Cristin is among a selection of writers -- including Stephen Elliot, David Lehman and Robbie Q. Telfer -- were asked by Powell's special guest blogger, Daniel Nester, what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Read all the answers here.

November 15, 2009: The immensely readable PANK blog interviews Cristin, asking her questions about Elvis Costello, reasearch in poetry and just who is the foxiest president. Read the interview here. But don't forget to read the whole November issue here.

June 30, 2009: In their article about teaching spoken word / poetry slam in the class, School Library Journal spotlights Cristin's book, Words In Your Face noting that the book is "incredibly informative and well-paced work" and that "teens that aspire to find an outlet for their spoken poetry will find tons of inspiration here." To read the full article, click here.

June 3, 2009: In his article, "The Return of the Troubadours," Matt Woolsey tries to tackle the question about to make money with poetry, and spotlights Cristin alongside poets such as Derrick Brown, Buddy Wakefield, John S. Hall and Taylor Mali, among other. To read his article in Forbes, click here.

September 25, 2008: In her article, "Award-winning slam poet to visit MSU," Amanda Dyslin writes, "What becomes of a girl born into a family of government employees and scientists? She grows up to be a poet, of course. And not just any poet. A New York-based author of five books, founder and host of the three-time National Poetry Slam Championship venue, and an award- winning screenwriter... [Cristin] enjoys studying how people develop through art. Her poetry changes as her mood changes, from serious, funny, ranting, thoughtful or manic, she says. Her style is straight-forward, and she tries to convey her life as she lives it through poetry..." To read her article in Mankato Free Press, click here.

August 21, 2008: In her featured write-up of Cristin titled "Slam Poetry's Wonder Woman", Melissa Donovan writes, "[Cristin]'s got all the ingredients -- talent, spunk, and a penchant for performing. Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz is to slam poetry what Wonder Woman is to the Justice League. She can get down and dirty like a porn star and just as easily, she can wax literary about love..." To read her article on Writing Forward, click here.

August 18, 2008: In his review of Words In Your Face for City Limits, Curtis Stephen writes, "Words In Your Face combines rich oral history -- slam champion Saul Williams articulates the motivations that ultimately drive the performers -- with solid reporting to trace the genre's humble origin at the Green Mill Tavern in Chicago to its later prominence in New York City during the early 1990s... Aptowicz is as a witty, if not dispassionate, guide who accomplishes the challenging task of appealing both to regular slam attendees and those who have never been to a session..." To read his full review of it in City Limits, click here.

July 20, 2008: In his review of Words In Your Face for Galatea Resurrects, Michael Layne Heath writes, "A longtime mainstay of NYC's slam community, Aptowicz has constructed an objective yet passionate account of Slam's impact on New York's long reknown status as a prime energy center for poets... Aptowicz has done a most admirable job of getting NY Slam pathfinders, cheerleaders and exponents alike to talk candidly and honestly about about their experiences, and where they see it all headed in future. WORDS IN YOUR FACE may not inspire the detractors to check out their local Slam night, but for its equally legion fans, it is a vital window into that world, and as such, a perfect update and companion to 1996's masterful documentary SLAM NATION." To read his full review of it in Galatea Resurrects, click here.

May 27, 2008: In her BookSlut column Sticky Pages, reviewer Melissa Lion called Cristin's poetry collection Hot Teen Slut, "the greatest book of poetry ever written." She continues by writing: "It's funny and I understand the poems. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The language is linear and clear and I don't need to stare at a blank wall trying to muddle through a meaning, if there is one, or fight my need for a meaning if it's postmodern. And the poems are all about sex." To read the full review, check out the BookSlut column here.

April 20, 2008: In the Sunday 4/20 issue of the Washington Post, Cristin's book Words In Your Face was named one of 5 Notable Books "Exploring Poetry" of 2008. In the write-up, they note: "The author, a poet herself, offers this first definitive look at the origins of the now ubiquitous poetry slam, from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NYC to more mainstream outlets and a national audience." To read all the 2008 selections, check out the article here.

April 2008: Cristin's program with the Kelly Writers House, which was named as the Second annual Caroline Rothstein Oral Poetry Event garnered press in Philadelphia Weekly, Penn Current and the GSC / UPenn Newsletter.

April 2008: For the Best American Poetry Blog, Cristin is interviewed by novelist Janice Erlbaum. Cristin answers questions about slam, academia, and just how many poets made out with Courtney Love in 1994. To read the full interview, click here.

April 2008: In her review of Words In Your Face, Erica Varlese writes "Aptowicz seems like a cool older sister with the insider scoop on th hottest pop-cultural phenomenon this side of the 20th century... Words In Your Face is perfect for slam newbies and fans of the Big Apple's seemingly endless supply of alterna-history tales. And for established fans, Aptowicz's juicy info on teh competitive underbelly of slam gives an extra punch to an already perfectly researched read..." To read her full review in the awesome "Men We Love" issue of BUST, snag a copy at your local bookstore or better yet subscript here.

April 2008: In his review of WIYF, Matthew L. Moffett writes "Aptowicz uses anecdotes, stories, and interviews to chronicle the life of this unique art form. The general public holds an image of an aggressive, in-your-face poet shouting words on stage, but the author shows a movement with surprising levels of depth and diversity... Although many may know the backgrounds and names of the poets who made a big splash on popular TV programs like MTV's Spoken Word Unplugged and Def Poetry Jam, the stories of Slam’s beginnings and how it continued to grow in spite of its sudden popularity are what make this book so fascinating..." To read his full review, please see the non-fiction section of the online issue found here.

April 1, 2008: Cristin and Shappy's appearance at the College of Saint Rose is promoted in The Chronicle,the weekly student newspaper of the College of Saint Rose). To read the article, click here.

March 30, 2008: In her article on both Words In Your Face and Shaptowicz's forthcoming appearance at the Frequency North reading series, journalist Amy Halloran writes "[Words In Your Face] covers the history of slam, which began at Chicago's Green Mill in 1986 when Marc Smith invented a competition format to get audiences into the bar. The habit spread quickly to New York City, where Bob Holman enthusiastically birthed the NYC slam, which in turn pushed poets into the national spotlight in a fashion that had not occurred since Edna St. Vincent Millay toured to sold-out crowds in the early 20th century..." To read the full article -- which features brief interviews with both Shappy and Cristin, please click here.

March 12, 2008: In his review of Words In Your Face, Nathan Logan writes "Aptowicz has put a wealth of information in Words in Your Face. First and foremost, she provides a history to this movement in New York City that is just as rich as any other poetry movement in the United States... Aptowicz should be congratulated for this rich collection. Anyone interested in poetry, of any kind, should give this book a good read." To read his full review of it in Galatea Resurrects, click here. here.

March 3, 2008: Cristin and Shappy's featured performance at the Mental Graffiti 10th Anniversary Party makes Time Out Chicago's life of "Five Things to Do" for March 3rd. You can check it out here.

December 22, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. To listen to the bonus show featuing Cristin performing the Pushcart Prize nominated, "All I'd Leave Behind," please click here.

December 21, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the ninth show featuring louderARTS champ and Queens Poet Laureate, ISHLE YI PARK, please click here.

December 19, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the eight show featuring Nuyorican Champ and Def Poet, MEYDA DEL VALLE, please click here.

December 17, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the seventh show featuring NYC spoken word icon and King Missile frontman, JOHN S. HALL, please click here.

December 14, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the sixth show featuring NYC slam poet and FiLatino Tour founder, EDWARD GARCIA, please click here.

December 12, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the fifth show featuring CELENA GLENN and the 2000 National Poetry Slam Championship Team, NYC-Urbana, please click here.

December 10, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the fourth show featuring louderARTS founder, GUY LECHARLES GONZALEZ, please click here.

December 7, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the third show featuring NYC Slam Poet and Queens Poet Laureate, HAL SIROWITZ, please click here.

December 5, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the second show featuring NYC Poetry Slam icon, MAGGIE ESTEP, please click here.

December 5, 2007: Cristin, along NYC Slam guru and BPC owner Bob Holman, will be interviewed live on the NPR show, "City Watch," which is broadcast live every Wednesday 10am - 11am on the NYC NPS station, WBAI / 99.5 FM. City Watch, as part of the Same Boat Coalition, invites guests who are involved with social, economic, political and cultural issues in New York City. For more information the show or to listen to an MP3 of the show, please visit the WBAI website,here.

December 3, 2007: Cristin, in collaboration with the spoken word podcast INDIEFEED, will be producing a month's worth of shows celebrating the voices of the New York City Poetry Slam in honor of Cristin's book Words In Your Face. New shows will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dec 3 - 21st! To listen to the first show featuring NYC Poetry Slam founder and guru, BOB HOLMAN, please click here.

December 2, 2007: An excerpted sub-chapter from Words In Your Face appears in the witty & political lit mag, November 3rd Club. Cristin joins other NYC poets such Marty McConnell, Oscar Bermeo, Keith Roach and Edwin Torres, among many many others. To read Cristin's section, please click here.

November 26, 2007: Cristin's poem All I'd Leave Behind, which was published in the premier issue of SPINDLE joins Willie Perdomo, Taylor Mali, Raina Leon, Liz Dolan and Patricia Smith in being nominated by SPINDLE editor-in-chief, Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, for a Pushcart Prize. For the official SPINDLE announcement, please click here.

November 18, 2007: SPINDLE magazine publishes an interview between Cristin and its own sly, too-clever-for-his-own-good editor Guy LeCharles Gonzalez. To read the interview -- in which Gonzalez rakishly grills Cristin on all things slam -- as well as to read other vital works being published throughout this emerging and amazing new literary journal, click here.

November 16, 2007: Cristin is interviewed by poet Victor Infante on his Internet Radio show, "The Eclectic Word" about her new books, the New York City Poetry Slam and the role of comedy in poetry, among other topics. To listen to the hour-long show, click here.

November 14, 2007: Cristin chats about all things slam on "Conversations with Keith," a wonderful and eclectic radio talk show hosted by the legendary Nuyorican slammaster and host, Keith Roach. To listen to the hour-long show or to check out archives of Keith's previous interivews, click here.

June 20, 2007: Cristin is interviewed live on the NPR show, "City Watch," the local NPS should which is broadcast live every Wednesday 10am - 11am on the NYC NPS station, WBAI / 99.5 FM. City Watch, as part of the Same Boat Coalition, invites guests who are involved with social, economic, political and cultural issues in New York City. For more information the show or to listen to an MP3 of the show, please visit the WBAI website, here.

September 12, 2006: Cristin Sept 11th Lecture at the University of Pennsylvania's Kellys Writers House is covered by the Daily Pennsylvanian, with ample info (and even a quote or two) provided by Cristin's mom. Check it here.

September 6, 2006: Cristin Sept 11th Lecture at the University of Pennsylvania's Kellys Writers House is one of Philadelphia Weekly's "Editor's Picks." Check it here.

August 4, 2006: "Mother," one of Cristin's earliest spoken word piecs, is featured on one of the internet most popular spoken word show, Indiefeed with host Mongo. Cristin's poem joins great work by poets such as Taylor Mali, Steve Marsh, Jared Paul and Cin Salach, among many others. Check it here, and check back often as more of Cristin's poems are scheduled to be uploaded.

June 8 - 14, 2006: Cristin Sept 11th Lecture at the University of Pennsylvania's Kellys Writers House made the Philadelphia City Paper's "Ultimate Summer Fun List." Check it here.

May 24, 2006: "****ing Made Easier," one of Cristin's bawdiest poems about her time working in the "adult interest" world, is featured on one of the internet most popular spoken word show, Indiefeed with host Mongo. Cristin's poem joins great work by poets such as Taylor Mali, Steve Marsh, Jared Paul and Cin Salach, among many others. Check it here, and check back often as more of Cristin's poems are scheduled to be uploaded.

March 6, 2006: "Lit," one of Cristin's most popular poems, is featured on one of the internet most popular spoken word show, Indiefeed with host Mongo. Cristin's poem joins great work by poets such as Taylor Mali, Steve Marsh, Jared Paul and Cin Salach, among many others. Check it here, and check back often as more of Cristin's poems are scheduled to be uploaded.

March 3, 2006: Cristin's interview with The Angry Poet co-founder Kristyn Sherman Brown is featured on this month's The Angry Poet website. Showcasing the writer's process, the interview finally unmasks the connection between the "Star Wars" theme and Cristin's current poetry career. Check it out here.

October 26, 2005: Cristin's post-lecture performance at Hastings, Nebraska's Blue Moon Cafe is covered by Amanda Pinkelman for HC World News. Cristin's performance is sited as influencing students to start their own ppoetry slam, and one student is quoted as saying, "I was nice to hear humorous poetry. I have heard tons of serious poetry, and it was cool to see a poet use humor to relate to the audience." Huzzah!

November 10, 2004: Cristin is interviewed by Scene Missing Magazine, where she joins other pop culture netizens such as David Cross, Louis CK and Chuck Klosterman, on the latest online version of Scene Missing Magazine found here. The print version due out by Athens,GA-based art project is due out by the end of the year.

May 2004: Shaptowicz rocks the Def Poetry Jam website as the featured Poets of the Month!

January 26, 2004: The New York Times reviews the Chamber Dance Project's January performances, including the revival of Cristin's piece, Bowery Poetry et al.

October 17, 2003: Australia's ABC Radio interviews Cristin about her Sydney Opera House production, "Mouth Off!!".

September 11, 2003: The Philadelphia Inquirer writes up a quick blurb about Cristin's Philly-based "Mutter" film shoot.

June 3, 2003: The New York Times reviews Cristin's "hilariously spunky" performance with Chamber Dance Project

Summer 2003: For those Francophiles Out There: No one know if this French article on L'histoire du Mouvement Slam even mentions Cristin, but they used her sassy mug start it off!

April 7, 2003: The Philadelphia Inquirer write-up of Cristin winning the Grand Prize at the Philadelphia Film Festival

October 4, 2002: The brief Bucknellian write-up of Cristin's appearance there as a featured poet and host.

February 1, 2002: Xerography Debt's review of "Hot Teen Slut..."

April 26, 2001: The intreprid and Joe Quenan-esque columnist for Leisuresuit.net , Jordan Hoffman, muses lengthly about how Cristin's love of Starbuck's coffee was the catalyst for some deep soul-searching regarding personal ethics and Miles Davis.

October 11, 2000: Cristin joined the 2000 National Poetry Slam Championship URBANA slam team here on the NPR showThe Infinite Mind. Cristin's piece "Mother" was used, as was the Urbana Group piece, "Running a Race."

February 18, 2000: The Jin Moon review of Urbana (back when it was still at CBGBs)