When you're "in the trenches" (as they say), working on producing and selling books, it's always great to have a real flesh-and-blood author visit the office. After all, without their oustanding poems and stories, there's no reason for us to be here every day! It's especially a pleasure when the author is a really cool person. Such was the case with today's visit by Christopher Kennedy - a brilliant poet and all-around good guy. Chris' last BOA book, Encouragement for a Man Falling to his Death, was awarded the 2007 Isabella Gardner Poetry Award. His next book, Ennui Prophet, is forthcoming in 2011. Here's Chris standing in front of the BOA bookshelves with his editor Peter Conners. And one of Peter's favorite Chris Kennedy poems which is included in Encouragement for a Man Falling to His Death: Riddle of Self-Worth

By cannibal standards, I'm dinner for six.

My pet vulture has the disconcerting habit of staring

at the clock and then at me. In terms of sun,

I plan for a long Alaskan winter. Insurance salesmen

slink away from me at parties. A stiff breeze

blows away my weight in gold. In the world of before

and after, I remain steadfastly before. Last session,

my psychiatrist shook my hand and thanked me

for curing his insomnia. If I had a nickel for every time

my name was associated with greatness, I would owe

someone a quarter. My mother called recently and asked

for her umbilical cord. Yet I'm resilient, a human cockroach.

I'll be here for awhile, blocking progress in a black leather jacket,

switchblade quick and ruthless as a jar of pennies.