Bereavement Notice Update

Society Members,

It is with deep saddness that I inform you that Lupe Gonzalez's son, Michael, has passed away. As you're aware, Lupe is a founding member of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio, and is currently serving as Vice President.

A rosary for Michael has been scheduled for this evening at the Castle Ridge Mortuary, beginning at 7 p.m.

A funeral mass will be held tomorrow at St. Rose of Lima, at 2 p.m.

Please join me in keeping Lupe and her family in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to contribute to a fund to help Lupe offset some funeral expenses, please call me at (210) 845-4582 or mail a check to:

The Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers
PO Box 1040
San Antonio, TX 78294-1040

Here is a copy of the obituary that ran in yesterday's and today's San Antonio Express-News:

Michael Alexander Gonzalez
GONZALEZ
Michael Alexander Gonzalez, born on May 23, 1989, passed away on December 26, 2008, at the age of 19. Michael was a 2007 graduate of John Paul Stevens High School. He was preceded in death by his uncle and godfather, David S. Garcia. Survivors include his mother, Lupe Morales Gonzalez; father, Cruz A. Gonzalez; brothers, Albert Daniel Gonzalez and Fabian Gonzalez; maternal grandfather, Alberto M. Morales; aunt and godmother, Amelia Garcia; aunts, Nora Morales, Dora Calderon and her husband, Javier; uncles, Guillermo Gonzalez, Oscar Gonzalez, Hector Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, and Cesar Gonzalez; special cousins, Cosme (Lulo) Ramirez, III and Guillermo (Memito) Gonzalez, Jr.; numerous other cousins and friends. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 28, 2008, and Monday, December 29, 2008, at the Castle Ridge Mortuary, from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. A rosary will be recited on Monday at 7:00 p.m. The funeral procession will depart the funeral home on Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. for a 2:00 p.m. Funeral Mass at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery at Cordi-Marian. Flowers or memorial contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Make A Wish Foundation are welcomed. Services under the direction of the Castle Ridge Mortuary.

Thank you,
Vince

Best Books of 2008

If you haven't had a chance yet, please check out the following article "Area book lovers share their choices for the top read of 2008" in today's San Antonio Express-News.

Please allow me to share with you five books by Hispanic authors that I have enjoyed reading in 2008:

Mexican Enough by Stephanie Elizondo Griest
Names on a Map by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Suckerpunch by David Hernandez
Next Stop: Growing Up Wild Style in the Bronx by Ivan Sanchez
Crazy Loco Love by Victor Villasenor

Thank you,
Vincent Bosquez, President, Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio

SLHW Bereavement Notice

It is with deep saddness that I inform you that Lupe Gonzalez's son, Michael, has passed away. Lupe is a founding member of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio and our current vice president.

According to Lupe's sister, Michael passed away early yesterday morning. A rosary has been scheduled for Monday at the Castle Ridge Mortuary, beginning at 7 p.m.

The funeral mass will be held on Tuesday at St. Rose of Lima, at 2 p.m.

Please join me in keeping Lupe and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Poetry Submission Opportunities

P.C. McKinnon has sent me the following poetry submission opportunities:


CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: MERIDIAN EDITORS’ FICTION AND POETRY PRIZE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Award: $1000
Deadline: January 7, 2009

The $16 entry fee includes a subscription to Meridian. Submit electronically through www.manuscripthub.com.

Poets can upload four poems per entry. Fiction writers may submit one story of 10,000 words or fewer per entry. Please do NOT put your name on the work you submit so that it stays "blind" to our readers. ManuscriptHub links the submission to your contact information, so there is no need to put your name or address on the submission itself.

********************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SIXTEEN RIVERS PRESS ANTHOLOGY
Deadline: March 1, 2009.

For a forthcoming anthology, Sixteen Rivers Press is seeking poems of place set in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. We interpret place broadly: it may be natural, cultural, or psychological space. And we interpret the region broadly as well, to include the cities, suburbs, towns, rural and wilderness areas that make up the entire Bay Area watershed.

Please send up to three unpublished or published poems, plus an SASE, to Anthology, Sixteen Rivers Press, P.O. Box 640663, San Francisco, CA 94164. For published poems, please include the place and date of publication and the name of the copyright holder.

***************************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: NEW PLAINS REVIEW
Deadline: February 17, 2009

The New Plains Review seeks writing on the theme of Service for its spring issue. We interpret "service" broadly: military and community service, school service requirements, jury duty, all forms of volunteering, religious services, food service, customer service, serving a subpoena, etc. We're interested in poetry, fiction, essays and creative nonfiction that is thoughtful and compelling, and we'll reprint previously published (provided the author controls the copyright).

New Plains will also run a "letters" column of short, informal pieces relating experiences of "service." The editors are looking for detail, honesty and brevity in these letters.

Submit by email (as a Word attachment) to Executive Editor Douglas Goetsch at doug@janestreet.org, or send hard copies to New Plains Review, Submissions, Box 184, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK 73034. Please put email, phone and postal contact on the first page of each piece you submit.

**************************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: RED WHEELBARROW LITERARY MAGAZINE

Postmark deadline: February 1, 2009

Red Wheelbarrow, De Anza College’s Student literary magazine features fiction, poetry, drama, creative nonfiction, and visual art, invites you to submit for their spring "national" edition.

Email submissions are preferred, but snail mail is possible. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. Please include a brief bio and your email, even if you are submitting by snail mail.

Also, the magazine is put together as a course at De Anza and students help edit it. They are looking for student editors. There is still time to register for winter quarter of Red Wheelbarrow course.

Ken Weizner
weisnerken@fhda.edu

Red Wheelbarrow
c/o Language Arts Division
DeAnza Community College
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014

http://www.deanza.edu/redwheelbarrow/
****************************************************
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: WHILE THE HE/ART PANTS, AN ON-LINE ANTHOLOGY

Theme:Poetic Responses to the 2008 American Elections

Artistic representations, responses, and interrogations of electoral events are very important expressions of the endless conversation between art and historical experience. The 2008 American elections stimulated a lot of artistic responses and there were, in the campaign discourses, some subtle invocations of the postures of presidential aspirants to literature and cultural productions generally. What, as a poet (defined broadly), is the meaning of this whole experience of the 2008 elections?

Send us your previously unpublished works (poems, paintings, manipulated photographs, etc) about the 2008 US elections for inclusion in While the He/Art Pants (a title derived from Walt Whitman's poem reproduced below), to soon appear on the Poet's Corner, Fiera Lingue. Images should be on Jpeg format. As this promises to be a very interesting project, we request that you send up to five of the most uncompromising and stylistically surprising of your works and a short bio. Other works that do not necessarily focus on the 2008 US elections but are relevant to the dialogue between art and democratic politics will be considered.

Submissions are to be made electronically to: Obododimma Oha (Guest Editor) obodooha@gmail.com , udude@full-moon.com
or:
Anny Ballardini (Editor, The Poet's Corner)
anny.ballardini@gmail.com
Link to the main index of the site:
http://www.fieralingue.it/modules.php?name=Content

******************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: POPPYSEED KOLACHE, FOR THEIR SECOND ISSUE

Seeking strong visual poetry of the human experience from everyday life; poems that move both the heart and the mind that connect a reader’s life to the lives of others.

Please send up to 5 typed poems (plus SASE) to:

MaryAnka Press
P.O. Box 102
Huffman, TX 77336
www.maryanka.com

Dos Gatos Press Calendars

THE FOLLOWING NOTICE IS SENT ON BEHALF OF DOS GATOS PRESS:

Dear Poets,

Like every other company, Dos Gatos Press sales are down this year and we find ourselves with a small surplus of 2009 calendars. With the new year less than two weeks away and retail orders at a standstill, we've decided that our loss will be your gain. Frankly, we'd rather sell the calendars at cost than see them languish on our shelf. Therefore, we've decided to offer the remainder of the 2009 "Texas Poetry Calendars" at the cost of only $7.00 a copy, a price whichincludes taxes and shipping-while supplies last.

We know that most of you on this mailing list have already started enjoying your 2009 "Texas Poetry Calendar," and we truly appreciate the many copies you've purchased, but why not share the joy of Texas poetry with someone new? What better way to start out the new year than with an outstanding poem each week? We'll even ship it directly to an address of your choice-at $7.00 a copy, you can hardly go wrong!

This special offer is only being made to members of the Dos Gatos Press mailing list and is not available at our website or by credit card. Simply send a check to Dos Gatos Press at the address below with a note as to where you want the copies of the calendar sent-and if you hurry, we may still be able to get the calendar to its destination by January 1. Thank you for your support of our efforts to promote Texas poetry!

Happy holidays!

Scott Wiggerman
Dos Gatos Press
1310 Crestwood Road
Austin, Texas 78722
editors@dosgatospress.org
www.dosgatospress.org

Poetry Opportunities

THE FOLLOWING POETRY OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO ME BY P.C. MCKINNON, WHO HAS COMBINED THEM FROM FORWARDS SENT TO HIM:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: MERIDIAN EDITORS’ FICTION AND POETRY PRIZE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Award: $1000
Deadline: January 7, 2009

The $16 entry fee includes a subscription to Meridian. Submit electronically through www.manuscripthub.com.

Poets can upload four poems per entry. Fiction writers may submit one story of 10,000 words or fewer per entry. Please do NOT put your name on the work you submit so that it stays "blind" to our readers. ManuscriptHub links the submission to your contact information, so there is no need to put your name or address on the submission itself.

********************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SIXTEEN RIVERS PRESS ANTHOLOGY
Deadline: March 1, 2009.

For a forthcoming anthology, Sixteen Rivers Press is seeking poems of place set in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. We interpret place broadly: it may be natural, cultural, or psychological space. And we interpret the region broadly as well, to include the cities, suburbs, towns, rural and wilderness areas that make up the entire Bay Area watershed.

Please send up to three unpublished or published poems, plus an SASE, to Anthology, Sixteen Rivers Press, P.O. Box 640663, San Francisco, CA 94164. For published poems, please include the place and date of publication and the name of the copyright holder.

***************************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: NEW PLAINS REVIEW
Deadline: February 17, 2009

The New Plains Review seeks writing on the theme of Service for its spring issue. We interpret "service" broadly: military and community service, school service requirements, jury duty, all forms of volunteering, religious services, food service, customer service, serving a subpoena, etc. We're interested in poetry, fiction, essays and creative nonfiction that is thoughtful and compelling, and we'll reprint previously published (provided the author controls the copyright).

New Plains will also run a "letters" column of short, informal pieces relating experiences of "service." The editors are looking for detail, honesty and brevity in these letters.

Submit by email (as a Word attachment) to Executive Editor Douglas Goetsch at doug@janestreet.org, or send hard copies to New Plains Review, Submissions, Box 184, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK 73034. Please put email, phone and postal contact on the first page of each piece you submit.

**************************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: RED WHEELBARROW LITERARY MAGAZINE

Postmark deadline: February 1, 2009

Red Wheelbarrow, De Anza College’s Student literary magazine features fiction, poetry, drama, creative nonfiction, and visual art, invites you to submit for their spring "national" edition.

Email submissions are preferred, but snail mail is possible. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. Please include a brief bio and your email, even if you are submitting by snail mail.

Also, the magazine is put together as a course at De Anza and students help edit it. They are looking for student editors. There is still time to register for winter quarter of Red Wheelbarrow course.

Ken Weizner
weisnerken@fhda.edu

Red Wheelbarrow
c/o Language Arts Division
DeAnza Community College
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014

http://www.deanza.edu/redwheelbarrow/
****************************************************
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: WHILE THE HE/ART PANTS, AN ON-LINE ANTHOLOGY

Theme:Poetic Responses to the 2008 American Elections

Artistic representations, responses, and interrogations of electoral events are very important expressions of the endless conversation between art and historical experience. The 2008 American elections stimulated a lot of artistic responses and there were, in the campaign discourses, some subtle invocations of the postures of presidential aspirants to literature and cultural productions generally. What, as a poet (defined broadly), is the meaning of this whole experience of the 2008 elections?

Send us your previously unpublished works (poems, paintings, manipulated photographs, etc) about the 2008 US elections for inclusion in While the He/Art Pants (a title derived from Walt Whitman's poem reproduced below), to soon appear on the Poet's Corner, Fiera Lingue. Images should be on Jpeg format. As this promises to be a very interesting project, we request that you send up to five of the most uncompromising and stylistically surprising of your works and a short bio. Other works that do not necessarily focus on the 2008 US elections but are relevant to the dialogue between art and democratic politics will be considered.

Submissions are to be made electronically to: Obododimma Oha (Guest Editor) obodooha@gmail.com , udude@full-moon.com
or:
Anny Ballardini (Editor, The Poet's Corner)
anny.ballardini@gmail.com
Link to the main index of the site:
http://www.fieralingue.it/modules.php?name=Content

******************************************

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: POPPYSEED KOLACHE, FOR THEIR SECOND ISSUE

Seeking strong visual poetry of the human experience from everyday life; poems that move both the heart and the mind that connect a reader’s life to the lives of others.

Please send up to 5 typed poems (plus SASE) to:

MaryAnka Press
P.O. Box 102
Huffman, TX 77336
www.maryanka.com

San Antonio Voices

Here's an Austin event featuring some of our members:

Saturday Jan 3,2009
SAN ANTONIO VOICES!
featuring:
Eduardo Garza
Patricia Ortiz
Martha Curcio
Kayla Mire
Harold Warford
Tom Emrick
Donna Stewart
P C McKinnon
Cody James
Hosted by JIM STEWART

Bahai Center
2215 E.M Franklin Ave
512 926 8880
www.austibahai.orgwww.worldpoetry.orghttps://webspace.utexas.edu/gem/www/expressions.htmAdmission-Plate of food for the POT LUCK@interval-cans for POETS PANTRY

Another Tertulia Photo

Here's another photo from the Tertulia!

SLHW Tertulia

I am receiving a lot of reports that the Tertulia held Monday night was a great success! Above is the first picture I have received. I have been told that approximately 25 members were in attendance!

Alisha Paige Interviews Lupe Gonzalez

The following message is from founding member and Society Vice President, Lupe Gonzalez:

In a never-ending quest to push my writing career forward:. :) So... Alisha Paige offered to interview me for her blog, so please go check it out and leave a comment. I'm giving away an e-book copy of TOO LATE FOR ROMANCE? to a lucky winner.

http://alishapaige.blogspot.com

Issue 4 of PALABRA Released

Writing that floats, bangs, bounces, teases, wonders and hunkers deep in thought characterizes the latest issue of PALABRA A Magazine of Chicano & Latino Literary Art. As in previous issues, the fourth volume features wide ranging new work by award winning seasoned writers and promising new voices from throughout the country.

Contributors in poetry include David Domínguez, Magdalena Gómez, John-Michael Rivera, María A. Vega, Javier O. Huerta, Urayoán Noel, Carlos Martinez, Nydia Rojas, Juan J. Morales, Li Yun Alvarado, Mundo Rivera, Carolina Morales, Paul Martinez Pompa, Tina Schumann, Melina Draper and Ines P. Rivera-Prosdocimi. Fiction showcases the work of Aaron Michael Morales, Pedro Ponce, Stephen D. Gutiérrez, Paloma Martinez-Cruz and Steve Moncada Street. Rounding out the tasty offerings are a lyrical essay by John-Michael Rivera and a mordant fotonovela by Harry Gamboa Jr.

PALABRA A Magazine of Chicano & Latino Literary Art is a literary magazine dedicated to showcasing a spirited and eclectic palette of new Latino writing.

PALABRA is available through its website www.palabralitmag.com. For additional information, contact info@palabralitmag.com.

Forgotten Patriots: A Book Review

Thank you to everyone who has commented on my book review of "Forgotten Patriots," which appeared in yesterday's San Antonio Express-News.

In case you missed it, here it is: Forgotten Patriots

Nothing Like the Holidays

Greetings,

Irete Lazo, the author of "The Accidental Santera" has asked me to send you the following message:

Hi,
I am writing to shamelessly beg all of you to go see "Nothing Like the Holidays" this weekend and take everyone you know. The movie stars Elizabeth Peña, who wants to direct the film adaptation of my novel, THE ACCIDENTAL SANTERA. It is not only the first mainstream holiday movie to feature the story of a Latino family, it also looks like great fun. I hear the family's Puerto Rican food has its own role in the movie. I can't wait to see tostones (fried green plantains) on the big screen! Opening weekend box office numbers count for a lot in Hollywood and, I for one, would like to make it easier for Elizabeth to get the support she needs to make her directorial debut! Homero and I have booked the babysitter, have picked out a Cuban restaurant (the closest thing we have here in San Jose) and can't wait to be first in line! I hope you'll do the same where you are.

Abrazos y Gracias,
Irete Lazo
p.s.You can see a trailer at NothingLikeTheHolidays.com.

Poetry Readings at The Twig

The Weight of Addition, an anthology of Texas Poetry
edited by Randall Watson

A reading featuring:


Wendy Barker
David Bart
Stella Brice
Stan Crawford
Carolyn Florek
Wayne Lee Gay
Laurie A. Guerrero
Ken Jones
Judith Kroll
Naomi Shihab Nye
Mary Gomez Parham
Dave Parsons
Barbara Ras
Rebecca Spears
Carmen Tafolla
Randall Watson
Scott Wiggerman


Saturday, December 13

3 pm

The Twig Book Shop
5005 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78209

Chapbook Contest

DEADLINE APPROACHING!

Adagio Verse Quarterly's Chapbook Contest is winding down. There's less than two weeks left to get your submission in. Visit the contest page for details and instructions.

Tertulia

Fellow Writers!

Thank you to everyone who attended last night's meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio's 5th Annual "Cinco Minutos with You." We had close to 30 members in attendance listening to 10 members read to us short stories and poems in English and Spanish!

On Monday, Dec. 15, I would like to invite you to a tertulia at Mamacita's Restaurant at 7 p.m. While a traditional tertulia usually calls for readings, the noise level in the restaurant does not lend itself to readings so we will be doing a book exchange instead. Participation in the book exchange is not required.

Simply bring a "wrapped" book to the festivities. At the end of dinner, we will distribute numbers. The person with the number 1 will pick a gift first and open it. The person with the number 2 will be next--that person can either take #1's gift or pick a new gift. If #1's gift is taken, he/she can get another gift, but it can still be taken away from future numbers.

Please RSVP letting me if you will be attending by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Of course, everyone pays for their own dinner.

ONE MORE THING:

Please click on the link to read an article on the Society. It is on page 5. Thank you to our vice president, Lupe Gonzalez, for arranging the interview!

http://www.hillcountryexplore.com/dec2008.pdf

Thank you and keep writing,
Vince

Monday's Meeting

Happy Holidays!

On Monday, Dec. 8, we will be having our 5th Annual Holiday Reading Extravaganza during the monthly meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio at Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing at 7:30 p.m.

We have some talented members scheduled to read up to 5 minutes of their works in progress. Highlighting our "Cinco Minutos with You" event will be one of San Antonio's top authors--Diane Gonzales Bertrand! Along with being an award-winning children's book author, Diane has served as our Honorary Chairperson this year! Please join me in hearing Diane's work on Monday.

I am also trying to gauge interest in continuing our holiday tertuila. If you would like to attend, please let me know by the end of the meeting on Monday so that I can start looking for a location. It will probably be scheduled during the week of Dec. 15. It would be greatly appreciated if someone would like to assist me in putting the event together.

See you on Monday! And keep writing,
Vince

Gemini Ink and First Friday

From Gemini Ink:

FIRST FRIDAY READING
Join Gemini Ink for a reading with poet and NPR commentator Stephen Kuusisto and nonfiction writer Stephanie Elizondo Griest. Afterwards, enjoy a night out with Southtown's other art events, restaurants, and galleries. When: Friday, December 5, 6:30 pmWhere: Gemini Ink, 513 S. PresaFor more information: Call 210.734.9673

EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

From Vince:
If you have not had a chance to listen to Stephanie read, I urge you to do so as fast as you can! She gives a great reading that will leave you wanting more!

Call for Submissions: Poetry

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WOMEN, LAS MUJERES, DURING THE BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE SYMBOLIZED BY THE ALAMO?
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE YELLOW ROSE?
WHAT DOES THE ALAMO MEAN TO YOU?


Call for Submissions:

Poetry/YELLOW ROSES: EMILY MORGAN AND THE MYTHIC AND HISTORIC WOMEN OF TEXAS

Bihl Haus Arts seeks poetry that confronts the untold stories of the Alamo as a way of examining the violent history of war in Texas – and the price we’ve paid for “freedom.” We want poetry that examines slavery, the colonization of mexicanos, and the oppression of women, lesbians, rich and poor, from both sides of the border. We are seeking poetry that is high quality, original, but also accessible to the public at large. No slam poetry, please, unless it is literary. Established poets and new poets are welcome.

Poetry should be no more than forty lines. Two entries per person. Give us your best work. English/Spanish/Tex-Mex/Whatever

Most of all, we are seeking poetry that challenges conventional perceptions about the Alamo and that invites the public to read more poetry.

Deadline for submission is Friday, January 30, 2009. Poems must be emailed or postmarked on this day. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Selected poets will read with featured poet, Celeste Guzman Mendoza, on Saturday, April 4, 2009, for the closing ceremony of the Yellow Roses exhibit at Bihl Haus Arts and to commemorate National Poetry Month. Selected poems (as space allows) will also be published in the Yellow Roses brochure, included in the visual arts exhibit that opens on Friday, March 6, 2009 (the final day of the Battle of the Alamo).

Please email your poems to: Kellen McIntyre at kellenkee@swbell.net
Or snailmail to: POETRY/Bihl Haus Arts, P.O. Box 100806, San Antonio, Texas 78201

The curators for this event include poet/playwright Celeste Guzman Mendoza, writer/journalist Bárbara Renaud González, and writer Denise McVea.

If you have any questions, please contact Kellen McIntyre at 732-3502.

Kellen Kee McIntyre, PhDExecutive Director Bihl Haus Arts
P.O. Box 100806 2803 Fredericksburg Rd. San Antonio, TX 78201 (210) 383-9723 (cell)
(210) 732-3502 (off)kellenkee@swbell.net
www.bihlhausarts.org
www.RxArtSA.org
www.OnAndOffFred.org

Spanish Group Meeting Tonight

Hola a todos:
Los invito a que asistan a nuestra reunión del grupo de español el día de hoy Lunes primero de Diciembre a las 7 p.m. en Barnes & Noble de De Zavala.

Ya estamos en Diciembre ¿Que les parece si comenzamos a organizar nuestra tradicional TERTULIA ?

Y para no perder la costumbre aquí envio una fotografía a ver que les inspira.
Recuerden, lo importante es ¡SOLTAR LA IMAGINACION Y A DISFRUTAR ESCRIBIENDO!
¡LOS ESPERAMOS EN LA JUNTA!

¡Escríbelo o se pierde!
Martha Curcio

Congratulations, Martha Curcio

I hope everyone had the chance to see Martha Curcio's poetry--in Spanish and English!--in yesterday's San Antonio Express-News.

Over the past three years, I have had the pleasure of seeing Martha grow in her abilities as a poet and short story writer, as well as an artist. Please join me in extending congratulations on her success!

In case you missed Martha's poem, here's the link to it: 'La Fuerza de Tu Abrazo'