Cinco Minutos with You

The final "Guaranteed" spot has been taken for the Society's August meeting of "Cinco Minutos with You." All that remains now are two "stand-by" spots--first come, first served--which means if someone doesn't show up, or the other readings fall way below the five minute reading, you can read!

I know you will be pleased with the members who have signed-up to read in August; a couple are old-time favorites, some haven't shared their writings with us in over a year; and for four of them, it will be the first time they have ever read a story to our Society!

I would also like to take the opportunity to use the meeting to officially, although belatedly, celebrate the third anniversary of the Society's founding with a piece of cake. I hope you can make it to "Cinco Minutos with You" on Monday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble (San Pedro Crossing). It's free and all of San Antonio is invited to attend!

Noche de Macondo

From Centro Esperanza & Sandra Cisneros:

5th Annual Noche de Macondo
featuring Joy Harjo

A night of poetry and performance with writers from Sandra Cisneros' Summer Macondo Writers Workshop.

Friday, August 3, 2007 at 8 p.m.
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
922 San Pedro Ave.
210.228.0201

$10 (mas o menos) suggested donation

MC'ed by Tammy Gomez

Readers:
Joy Harjo
Monica Palacios
Yael Flusberg
Carlos Cumpian
Liz Gonzalez
Jackie Cuevas
Daisy Hernandez
Angie Chau
Alex Espinoza
Sandra Cisneros
Visit www.esperanzacenter.org for bios and more information.

Books by readers will be on sale.

Please arrive on time; standing room only is expected.

La Bamba

Conexion is hosting "Latino Movie Nights" at the Alamo Drafthouse. On Wednesday, July 25, the movie classic "La Bamba" will be shown in celebration of its 20th anniversary of its original release.

*Pre-Events and Live Guitarist from 6-7 p.m.
*1/2 off General Admission
*Movie starts at 7 p.m.
*Panel discussion to follow. On the panel will be Bob Morales, brother of Ritchie Valens; Veronica Rodriguez, filmmaker; Carlos Acosta, professor of Mexican-American Studies at Northwest Vista College; and Melissa Renteria, Conexion Staff Writer.

Cinco Minutos with You

We are down to the final two spots for August's meeting of "Cinco Minutos with You" August 13, at Barnes and Noble--San Pedro Crossing, at 7:30 p.m. As usual, we must limit readings to under 5 minutes, and they can be in English, Spanish or a combination of the two.

If you are interested in reading, please email me at Vincent_bosquez@yahoo.com. It is first come, first served!

Even if you're not scheduled to read, I do hope you will come out and attend this wonderful event to hear the latest stories and poems by our members. I would also like to celebrate our Society's 3rd anniversary (unfortunately a month late!) at this meeting and hope you can attend to join us during this wonderful celebration. Remember, our meetings are free and open to the public!

Chanticleer Performs "Jalapeno Blues"

The following notice is from Regina Chavez y Sanchez:

Composer, Gabriela Frank, wrote music using Trino's last book "Jalapeno Blues". The Grammy award winning group Chanticleer is performing around the country. I attended the premiere in St. Paul. Below is the link to listen to the performance. This type of music is a different spin to Trino's work and will expose him (he'd love that) to a whole new audience:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/ongoing/video/?category=classical.xml&vid=209&popup=1

I'd love to get your feedback. I plan to attend one of the performances in San Francisco.

Regina Chávez y Sánchez
827 Park Avenue West #203
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 954-0954

Poetry in the Express-News

How many of you have tried to submit poetry for publication in the San Antonio Express-News Sunday edition? I have spoken with one of their Poetry Editors who has offered me, and you, the following piece of advice: If you submit a work of poetry that falls within the guidelines and it doesn't get published--do not give up on it! It could really be simply a matter of taste, and while one poetry editor may not like it enough for publication, the next one probably would.

Therefore, my advice to you would be if one poetry editor does not select your poem, save it until a new poetry editor comes on board (I believe it rotates every couple of months) and re-submit it. Simply keep reading the Sunday paper and when you notice a name change with the poetry editor, re-submit it. There are no guarantees, but it never hurts to try!

Jump-Start, Macondo Foundation Presentation

Jump-Start Performance Co. and the Macondo Foundation present:

Two or Three Things I Know For Sure

An evening of storytelling, music and performance featuring

DOROTHY ALLISON

Award-winning author of Bastard Out of Carolina

With special introductions by Sandra Cisneros

Other featured guest include Pat Little Dog (Afoot in a Field of Men), Baldemar Velasquez and Jump-Start Performance Co.

Saturday, August 4

8 - 10 p.m.

Jump-Start Performance Co.

108 Blue Star

San Antonio, TX 78204

$50 Table Seating (Includes drinks)

General Admission $25

Reserve Now

For more information, please email: brinkleym@earthlink.net

Sunday's Book Review

I have received a lot of favorable comments on yesterday's book review which appeared in the San Antonio Express-News. Please remember that it's the author of the book who deserves all the praise; I just read the book and report my thoughts. It's the author who collects information, uses imagination, searches for the right words and phrases, and makes the commitment to put word on paper day after day until the project is complete.

Here's a link to the review in case you missed it: Ricardo's Race/La carrera de Ricardo.

Yesterday's review makes it four Sundays in a row that I had a review in the Express-News and I would like to thank Steve Bennett, the paper's book editor, for allowing me this wonderful opportunity. I have one review I'm writing this week, and have started reading another book (military) to review.

SA and NY Teens Collaborate

The following is from Vincent Toro at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center:

From July 14th to July 27th, The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Teen Arts Puentes Project will be collaborating with The ACTION Project on site at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

The Teen Arts Puentes Project, based in San Antonio at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, and The ACTION Project, based in The Bronx, New York, are two multimedia arts programs for teenagers that emphasize the use of the arts to build social awareness, interpersonal skills, individual growth, and community activism.

The ACTION Project will be bringing 20 teen artists and 4 professional artists to San Antonio and will be housed at Our Lady of the Lake University. Together with the Teen Arts Puentes Project, they will participate in workshops in Theater, Poetry, Visual Art, and Video Art, visit local San Antonio arts institutions, and create original community-based art works to perform and present at the culmination of this two week on-site collaboration.

The Teen Arts Puentes Project and The ACTION Project have already begun their collaboration long distance through the internet and the use of video and teleconferencing. The teen artists have chosen “Borders and Bridges” as the unifying theme for their project and final performance. The show will take place on Friday, July 27th at 7:00 PM at the Guadalupe Theater (1300 Guadalupe Street). The show is free (with a suggested donation) and open to the public.

Additionally, members of the press and the greater San Antonio community are invited to take a peek at the workshops in progress throughout The ACTION Projects two week stay in San Antonio. The program will be in session Mondays through Thursdays 10AM to 4PM, and Fridays 10AM to 1PM. Please call in advance to arrange a visitation time.

Every youth accepted into the Teen Arts Puentes Project is given full scholarship to attend. To make this happen, the GCAC relies on sponsorship and donations to cover expenses. If anyone is interested in making donations or offering other support to the program, please contact Vincent Toro, Theater Arts Director, at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, at (210) 271-3151 ext. 26.

Apology

Greetings Everyone,

I would like to extend my apologies for missing last night's Society meeting. You cannot imagine how bad I feel missing last night's meeting which represented the 3rd anniversary of our founding!!

Unfortunately, I had a car being worked on in a garage deep in the southside, and at first it was supposed to be ready by 6 p.m., then 7:30 p.m. and then "just a little longer." It was 10:45 p.m. by the time I left!

I received an email from Nanette this morning thanking me for the hospitality you all showed her last night. THANK YOU--You all make me so proud!

Upcoming Contests

From "The Latinidad Newsletter" published by Marcela Landres:

PEN EMERGING VOICES ROSENTHAL FELLOWSHIPS: Deadline: September 7. Six to 10 fellowships of $1,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers from minority, immigrant, or underserved communities. Emerging Voices is an intensive eight-month program involving writers in the early stages of their literary careers. For more information, please visit http://penusa.org/go

SHORT STORY COLLECTION PRIZE: Deadline: August 29. A prize of $1,000 and publication by the University of North Texas Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. For guidelines, visit http://web3.unt.edu/untpress/potential_authors.cfm#subkap

CREATIVE NONFICTION PRIZE: Deadline: September 10. A prize of $1,000 and publication in Hunger Mountain is given annually for a work of creative nonfiction. For guidelines, visit http://www.tui.edu/hungermtn/nonfiction.asp

PERSONAL ESSAY AWARD: Deadline: September 15. A prize of $1,000 and publication in Literal Latte is given annually for a personal essay. For guidelines, visit http://www.literal-latte.com/contest_new.html#essay

Don't Forget Monday's Meeting!

Monday's Meeting marks the 3rd Anniversary of the formation of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio!

You are invited to meet Nanette Campos, contributor to “Fifteen Candles” at Monday’s meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers:

Fifteen Candles
15 Tales of Taffeta, Hairspray, Drunk Uncles, and other Quinceanera Stories
By Adriana Lopez

From HarperCollins: For the uninitiated, the quinceañera celebrates the passage of a fifteen-year-old girl into adulthood: It's a bit bat mitzvah with a dash of debutante ball, and loaded with the same potential for hilarity and adolescent angst. In this original anthology, fifteen of the brightest and funniest Latino writers, men and women alike, share their own memories of these moving and often absurd extravaganzas—tales of that unique form of familial humiliation that is borne of the best intentions, fierce love, and the infectious joy of parents finally allowing their little girl to grow up.

Monday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Barnes and Noble—San Pedro
FREE! Everyone is invited to attend!!


CINCO MINUTOS WITH YOU

Also, the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers will be featuring “Cinco Minutos with You” on Monday, August 13, at the Barnes and Noble—San Pedro Crossing at 7:30 p.m. Twelve Society members—Yes, YOU are eligible—will have the opportunity to read to us (5 minute time limit) from your work in progress. Spots for this event go fast, so sign up now by emailing me at Vincent_bosquez@yahoo.com! Remember, you must be able to read your work in under 5 minutes!!

If you have never read before, please consider reading at this meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear how the words you have written on paper sound spoken, plus you will be able to receive feedback from members in attendance. Please remember that due to time limitations, we must hold firm to the 5 minute rule. There are only 12 spots available!!!

Poetry Readings at Gallista Gallery

Everyone is invited to open poetry readings held the second Saturday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Gallista Gallery, 1913 South Flores. Participants are welcome to read poetry, prose poetry, or any short work of literature. If anyone would like to present a work, please contact Dario Beniquex at 831-2762. If unable to get hold of him, call Gil Dominguez at 497-0949 or e-mail at gil1948@earthlink.net and he will forward the information to Dario.

Frida's 100th Birthday Celebration

The Mexican American Unity Council (MAUC), celebrating 40 years of service to our community, is hosting a fundraiser in honor of Frida's 100th Birthday Celebration at the Pearl Stable, located in San Antonio's Historic Pearl Brewery, Thursday, July 5, from 6-9 p.m.

Price is $25, which includes 2 drink coupons, food catered by True Flavors and entertainment by Henry Brun & the Latin Playerz and Puro Tango Argentino.

For tickets or more information, please call 210.978.0523.

Laurie A. Guerrero

I received an email this morning from a former Palo Alto College student that I haven't met, but have heard so much about because in the Fall of 2005 she became the first PAC transfer student to go to Smith College on a full scholarship!

Her name is Laurie A. Guerrero and she is a good friend of Nanette Campos, our July guest speaker. Laurie currently makes her home in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she is an Ada Comstock Scholar and a Sophia Smith Scholar in Poetry at Smith College. However, Laurie is going to be making the visit to San Antonio in time to attend Nanette's presentation to us next Monday!

I am looking forward to speaking with Laurie, as she is an accomplished writer/poet/artist in her own right. Among her many accomplishments are having been published in the SA Express, Voices Along the River, Literary Mama, and The Texas Poetry Calendar 2007 & 2008 (forthcoming). She is a two-time winner of the Rosemary Thomas Poetry Prize, has been nominated for the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship, and her chapbook manuscript was a finalist in a competition sponsored by Kulupi Press. The most recent issue of The Palo Alto Review features her artwork on the cover and her poetry.

She recently finished a full poetry manuscript as part of an independent curriculum at Smith, and is sending it to publishers (contests) this summer. While she is in San Antonio for the month of July, she will be leading a poetry workshop funded by Smith College, and supervised by Linda Pritchett, an instructor at UTSA.

Looks like next Monday's meeting is going to be filled with talent!!! See you there!