News & Reviews

Choral Symphony Concert
In Search of Peace: A Concert of Remembrance and Hope for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

Sunday, September 11, 2011, 4 p.m.
National Presbyterian Church
4101 Nebraska Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
Music by Gary Davison to a text by Margaret B. Ingraham performed by Choralis
choralis.org

Author Talk and Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet

Sunday, March 27, 2011
3 p.m.
Mathews Memorial Library
251 Main Street
Mathews, VA
(804)725-5747
mathewslibrary.org

Author Talk and Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet

Sunday, March 6, 2011
3 p.m.
Davis-Kidd Booksellers
387 Perkins Extended
Memphis TN 38117
(901) 683-9801
contact: Ashley Dacus
daviskidd.com

Author Talk
This Holy Alphabet

Sunday, March 6, 2011
9:45 a.m.
Covenant Keepers
Second Presbyterian Church
4055 Poplar Avenue
Memphis TN 38111

Author Talk
This Holy Alphabet

Sunday, February 20, 2011
“All That is Necessary”
9:00 a.m.
Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church
4755 North Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30338
(770)455-6523
stpat.net

Reading and Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet

Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Institute for Ministry and Theological Education
of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
“Awakening in God’s Love: Exploring the Christian Spirituality of Evelyn Underhill”
11:45 a.m.
St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church
1790 LaVista Road
Atlanta, GA 30329
episcopalatlanta.org

Author Talk
This Holy Alphabet
Saturday, January 29, 2011
12 noon
Joseph Beth Booksellers
Spotsylvania Towne Centre
One Towne Centre Boulevard
Suite 5800
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
josephbeth.com

Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet
Saturday, December 11, 2010
1 to 3 p.m.
Borders
6701 Frontier Drive
Springfield, VA 22150
Contact: Kelly O’Connell, 703-924-4894

Author Talk
This Holy Alphabet

Sunday, October 31, 2010
“Acting on Belief”
11:00 a.m.
Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church
9820 Nesbit Ferry Road
Johns Creek, GA 30022
678-336-3000
mountpisgah.org

Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet
Thursday, October 28, 2010
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and
Friday, October 29, 2010
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
ECW Fall Festival
The Cathedral of St. Philip
2744 Peachtree Rd NW
Atlanta, GA
Contact: Sue Tierney
Cathedral Book Store
404-237-7582
cathedralbookstore.org

Author Talk
This Holy Alphabet
Monday, June 14, 2010
11:00 a.m.
St. Anne’s Terrace
3100 Northside Parkway NW
Atlanta, GA

Author Talk and Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet
Monday, June 14, 2010
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Toco Hills – Avis G. Williams Library
1281 McConnell Drive
Decatur, GA
Contact: Lesley Barber, 404-679-4404
dekalblibrary.org

Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet
Saturday, April 2, 2010
4 to 6 p.m.
Books A Million
503 King Street
Alexandria, VA
Contact: Enid A. Borden, 703-209-2775

Book Launch, Reception and Book Signing
This Holy Alphabet
March 2, 2010
7:30 p.m.
Addison Academic Center, Virginia Theological Seminary
Alexandria, VA

Exhibitor: Book Sales and Signing
This Holy Alphabet
February 12-14, 2010
Diocesan Council, Diocese of Southern Virginia
Williamsburg Lodge
Williamsburg, VA
Contact: Enid A. Borden, 703-209-2775

“If paper, ink and words can be jewel-like, this small book is a jewel. . .One might conclude that a stringent form would constrain the psalmist or, in this case, the poet. But here practically every movement of the human heart is represented. Contrition and complaint, praise and perplexity, laud and lament, terror and trust, faith and fear—all find expression in Ingraham’s poems. . .her use of rhythm and rhyme enhances the work’s prayerfulness and gives many of her poems a musical quality.”

—Bonnie Bowman Thurston, The Anglican Theological Review, Fall 2010



“This book, while light enough to slip in your pocket, covers a great swathe of spiritual territory. With erudite prefaces from Jewish and Christian scholars, one enters another world where truth meets beauty as Psalm 119 is explored in fresh language which remains faithful to the original text. The graphics display the Hebrew alphabet engagingly, with a hint even, of whimsy. The reader is invited to marvel at an ancient Judaic vision where a sacred sound or letter could call matter into being. The translations themselves are many faceted jewels, inviting the reader to return to them again and again. The book can be read for pleasure, for study or for meditation. Here is poet who understands the tradition of canticle and psalm, as she writes in her introduction: ‘Hallelujah.’ Hallelujah indeed.”

—Dana Littlepage Smith, author of Women Clothed with the Sun


“How soul-satisfying it was to ingest this wonderfully crafted reshaping of this Psalm of meditation. Reading This Holy Alphabet with the Psalm open alongside made the artistry and poetry the more powerful. Succinct yet accurate rephrasing evokes a clearer sense of the Psalmist’s emotion. For ‘May Your unfailing love be my comfort’ we read, ‘Let mercy, Lord, console me’. ‘In the night I remember your name, O Lord, and I will keep your Law’ becomes ‘Recalling Your holy name, O Lord, as the evening comes/ has drawn me with comfort into your keep.’ Ingraham’s understanding of the Hebrew language of poetry has throughout her offering allowed us to be transported into what seems the depths of the Psalmist as he originally penned his lyric poem. Only a student of both Judaic text and the God of His Word could fashion such beauty: ‘Pull from your pouch of justice/ the lot of grace for me’! Indeed. I highly recommend this memorable and edifying work.”

—Donal Broesamle, Church Relations Director, Mount Hermon, CA


“Margaret Ingraham’s reading of her new book, The Holy Alphabet, was one of the best programs we’ve ever had at our library. It was a pleasure to hear Ms. Ingraham’s beautiful and moving poetry. Her discussion of Psalm 119 and the Hebrew alphabet intrigued many in the audience. I hope Peggy will return for a visit whenever she’s in the Atlanta area.”

—Lesley Barber, Branch Manager, DeKalb County Public Library, Toco Hill – Avis G. Williams Library, Decatur, GA


“In her introduction to This Holy Alphabet, Ms. Ingraham argues that what Hebrew poetry shares with English, ‘and indeed poetry in every tongue, is rich imagery and allusion.’ Having come to this collection as a reader and writer of poetry, but with no prior understanding of Psalm 119 or the Hebrew alphabet, I was delighted and amazed to discover for myself just how right she is. These adaptations speak with such an astonishing directness and ease that I often wondered by poem’s end how such simplicity and restraint can carry such power. Ingraham has forged an illuminating, enlightening and uplifting collection that is both profoundly spiritual and eminently readable. This book of lyric poems is a treasure.”

—Jason Schossler, Award-Winning Poet