Heroes Walk the Halls of Palo Alto College

Purple Heart Recipient—Dr. Dan Rodriguez, Director of Student Activities (L), presents Army Specialist Jose L. Montanez, a PAC student, with a Veterans Day memento, Nov. 11, 2008. Montanez was awarded his second Purple Heart Medal during a ceremony held at Brooke Army Medical Center, Feb. 17.

Commentary

Heroes Walk the Halls of Palo Alto College

By Vincent Bosquez

For more than 225 years, our nation’s armed forces have served as the world’s premier “force-in-readiness.” Each November, Americans around the world take time to honor its military service members by remembering the sacrifices of veterans who have fought so gallantly in times of war and have served so faithfully in times of peace.

The legacy of our military’s veterans has produced a solid foundation upon which today’s Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen can march forward and add their names to the courageous deeds history books have recorded from past wars.

While Veterans Day only comes once a year, we are fortunate at Palo Alto College to be reminded on a daily basis that there are those among us who have answered our Nation’s call for service in “every clime and place” by exceeding all expectations of military service and coming home as true American heroes. More than 400 veterans currently take courses at PAC, and I’m proud of every single one of them.

One veteran I would like to bring to your attention is Army Specialist Jose L. Montanez, a pre-nursing student at Palo Alto College. Specialist Montanez was awarded his second Purple Heart in a ceremony at Brooke Army Medical Center by Brigadier General James K. Gilman, Commanding General, Great Plains Regional Medical Command, Feb. 17.

Specialist Montanez was assigned to Bravo Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armor Division, serving as a combat medic in Iraq. On Sept. 25, 2006, while treating a fellow soldier, an improvised explosive device exploded near him resulting in combat injuries. SPC Montanez required hospitalization and received a medical discharge as a result of his injuries. Although SPC Montanez requires the use of a cane to get around campus, his injuries have not slowed down his determination to earn a degree and continue to serve the community he loves in the medical profession.

As SPC Montanez will attest to, no one really goes into war with the intent of being labeled a hero. There aren’t any special training courses one can take, no secret military job specialty, no magic pill or background traits that solely prepares a select few for such lofty a title. Most times, it’s simply “the luck of the draw,” and the determination not to let a buddy down.

During my 23-years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, I saw young men and women, the majority of them who looked like the students I see every day on campus, transformed into the finest fighting force in the world. They, like SPC Montanez, go beyond the call of duty because they want to make a positive impact in their life and in the lives of others. Not everything they do is “great,” but then great things aren’t always needed. It’s taking care of the little things, or your buddy, that counts.

When America needs a hero, it doesn’t need to look beyond its military and her veterans. I know, for I have proudly served with them and continue to meet them as they walk the halls of Palo Alto College every day. Thank you SPC Montanez and the more than 400 military veterans who are now students at PAC for your service. Your duty and commitment to our Nation will not be forgotten.

Lupe on Nita Wick's blog--Friday

--Sent by Lupe Gonzalez (center, holding book)

Please check out Nita Wick's blog on Friday. I'll be a guest blogger. Thanks. You get a chance to win prizes!

http://nitawick.com/blog/
Lupe M. Gonzalez
http://www.freewebs.com/lesmora
http://www.myspace.com/lesmora
Writing stories by and about Latinas and their lives and loves.
Too Late For Romance? (Debut Book, Jun 2008 The Wild Rose Press) http://www.thewildrosepress.com

Spanish Group Meeting

Hola a todos,
Tendremos nuestra junta del grupo de español el día 2 de Marzo del 2009 a las 7:00 pm en Barnes & Noble de De Zavala.

Con gran tristeza les comunico que Barnes & Noble de De Zavala cerrara sus puertas a finales del mes de Marzo del 2009.
El día 21 de Marzo del 2005 fue nuestra primer junta del grupo de español y por cuatro años ese fue nuestro punto de reunión.

Por consiguiente será nuestra última junta en ese lugar, PERO CLARO QUE NOS VAMOS A SEGUIR REUNIENDO CADA MES!!!

Por el momento Vincent Bosquez y Barnes & Noble están trabajando en designarnos otro espacio para nuestras juntas mensuales. Tan pronto tengamos información se los comunicamos, pero RECUERDEN VAMOS A SEGUIR CON NUESTRAS JUNTAS CADA MES!!!

Breve reseña de nuestra junta del mes de Febrero
Asistieron a la junta:
Alejandro Rengifo, Gloria, Lilia W., Ma. Gabriela Madrid, Patrizia Ortiz y Martha Curcio.
¡Gloria bienvenida a nuestro grupo de español! ¡Y Lilia que gusto verte de nuevo!

Todos los participantes compartieron sus escritos. Escuchamos poesía, novela, cuentos cortos. Incluso tuvimos la oportunidad de hacer un ejercicio de escritura, el cual disfrutamos.

Dedicamos parte de la junta para hablar de diferentes proyectos que nos gustaría tener en nuestro grupo y se nombro un Comité piloto (gracias Alejandro por el título de este comité) los miembros de este Comité fueron todos los asistentes: Gloria, Gaby, Patrizia, Alejandro, Lilia y Martha.
Sabemos que hay miembros del grupo que no pudieron asistir a la junta y que les gustaría participar más y ser parte de este Comité.
Si desean pueden enviarme un correo NOS INTERESAN SUS IDEAS Y NECESITAMOS DE SU TIEMPO Y DISPOSICION PARA ENTRE TODOS LLEVARLAS A CABO.

Decidimos también dividir la junta en dos segmentos:
El primer segmento lo vamos a dedicar a compartir nuestros escritos. El tiempo puede variar tomando en cuenta la cantidad de asistentes de ese día, pero siempre con el respeto de darle oportunidad a los demás también de participar.

El escritor antes de compartir, brevemente va a decir en que le gustaría que se concentrara más la crítica constructiva de ese escrito que va a leer, gramática, credibilidad de la historia, personajes, diálogo, ritmo, descripción, acción, metáforas, adjetivos, uso del tiempo,etc.
Además puede decir en que etapa se encuentra el escrito, si sigue trabajando en el, si todavía es un borrador, si piensa enviarlo a concurso, incluso si solo quiere leer y no desea crítica.

Vamos a entregar un pequeño cuestionario "hoja de crítica" (cada uno va a llevar sus copias a cada junta) en donde podemos anotar nuestros comentarios después de haber escuchado al participante. Las únicas anotaciones que se permiten cuando un escritor esta leyendo su escrito son las que se hacen en la "hoja de crítica" y todas y cada una de esas hojas se van a entregar al escritor para que tenga la oportunidad de revisarlo después.

En orden uno a uno (brevemente) va a leer sus comentarios y sugerencias y entregar su hoja al escritor.
El escritor escucha en silencio los comentarios y al final tiene oportunidad de expresar brevemente su opinión y/o agradecimiento.

Platicamos de la importancia en la manera en que hacemos nuestros comentarios hacia el escrito. Necesitamos ser directos para ayudar al escritor, pero siempre recordando el respeto al escritor y a su escrito.
Nos vamos a concentrar en el contenido literario no en el tema o si nosotros personalmente estamos de acuerdo o no en el tema de que trata la historia.
En nuestro grupo como en muchos grupos existen escritores de diferentes niveles de experiencia, vamos a hacer lo mejor para apoyarnos mutuamente y con mente abierta para aceptar las críticas constructivas. ¡RECUERDEN QUE YA ES MUCHO VALOR TAN SOLO EL HECHO DE LEER EN PUBLICO!

Comentamos de la importancia de no preguntar al escritor ¿ ESO ES FICCION O A TI TE PASO? Somos escritores y también escribimos ficción y si la historia parece real ¡HICIMOS UN BUEN TRABAJO!

El segundo segmento lo vamos a dedicar a hacer ejercicios de escritura, estudiar reglas gramaticales, leer y discutir el trabajo de escritores famosos, practicar diálogos, como formar personajes, como describir lugares, situaciones, como enviar escritos a concursos, etc., etc. Todos vamos a participar cada mes y la facilitadora para este mes es Ma. Gabriela Madrid y en el mes de Abril será Patrizia Ortiz.

Todos estuvieron de acuerdo en seguir recibiendo las fotografías mensuales. Y aquí les estoy enviando la del mes de Marzo. ¡QUE SE DIVIERTAN!

Y recuerden ¡LO IMPORTANTE ES SOLTAR LA IMAGINACION Y A DISFRUTAR ESCRIBIENDO!

Los esperamos, ¡AHI NOS VEMOS! ¡Espero nos acompañen para ofrecer nuestro agradecimiento a Barnes & Noble!

Escríbelo o se pierde,
Martha Curcio

San Antonio Poetry Fair Contest

The Twelfth Annual San Antonio Poetry Fair Contest now has a national contest with awards totaling $400, as well as contests for Bexar and adjoining counties. Free to ALL students (K-College level). Cash awards, trophies, publication in the anthology Voices Along the River, read poem on stage at Fair in October.

Sponsored by UTSA Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Entries may be submitted online or by mail. The deadline is June 15, 2009. Details at www.sanantoniopoetryfair.com.

Poetry Reading at Trinity

Stephen Burt presents

“Poetry Reading”

Thursday, Feb 26th @ 7pm

Dicke Art Building

Trinity University

The event is free and open to all poets and readers.

OLLU Literary Benefit III

From Marian Haddad, MFA

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE

LITERARY BENEFIT III

AFTER THE FIRE

FEBRUARY 22, 2009

2:00 p.m.

atOLLU

Providence West Building in

The Providence West Social Room (PWSR)

Entry is free

Suggested donations are: what you can afford

(every dollar helps)

There will be a donation box set up. Your donations are between you and the box.

If you cannot donate monetarily, your presence at this community event

is a most valuable donation.

Less than a month after the fire at OLLU, Naomi Shihab Nye and myself gathered approximately 35 poets and writers to read at a literary benefit for Our Lady of the Lake's English Department, held at The Southwest School of Art & Craft. We had an audience of approximately 200 people and raised some much-needed monies for the English Department.

Carmen Tafolla hosted the second successful benefit reading "at" Our Lady of the Lake in the beautiful quad area underneath the trees in the autumn of 2008 and hosted between 20-25 poets and writers, also for the purpose of a community gathering around a worthy cause and an historic San Antonio institution, The Lake . . . raising monies for some of the departments damaged or entirely lost by the fire.

And now, I am pleased and honored to host the third in the series of readings. I am taking the opportunity to showcase many journalists and non-fiction writers this time around, as well as poets and fiction writers. A dozen SAN ANTONIO-BASED writers and poets (most of which have not read at previous benefits), have agreed to offer their time and talent as readers for this benefit; as a group, all of us are hosting three featured guests who come from nearby surrounding areas and schools such as Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, and all the way down I-35 to the heart of Austin, Texas.

--Marian Haddad, MFA

Gemini Ink

From Jennifer at Gemini Ink:

CALENDAR ITEMS FROM GEMINI INK:
ONGOING
Registration for spring classes at Gemini Ink is ongoing during February through April. Visit https://mail.accd.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.geminiink.org/ for more information.

WRITING THE UNFAMILAR
It takes courage to create characters whose race, gender, or experiences are different from our own. Participants will study several published pieces to see how each author quickly establishes voice and the story’s underlying conflict. The class will discuss dialogue, the importance of word choice, how to avoid character stereotypes, the value of research, and how to use details to our advantage. Participants are encouraged to submit up to five double-spaced pages of their novel or short story for private feedback.
INSTRUCTOR: Ann Weisgarber
DATE: Saturday, February 28; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (break included)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, February 20
WHERE: Gemini Ink, 513 S. Presa, San Antonio, TX 78205
COST: $76.50 (an additional $10 registration fee is due upon registration)
CONTACT: (210) 734-9673, http://www.blogger.com/, https://mail.accd.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.geminiink.org/

TALK THAT WALKS: VOICE AND VERNACULAR IN FICTION
Fiction writers strive hard to develop a convincing and compelling voice. In this course, participants will see how everyday speech (vernacular) is central to the construction of voice, and how voice directs certain choices involving narration, point of view, dialogue, style, and structure. To explore this dynamic, participants will complete some short writing exercises.
INSTRUCTOR: Jeffery Renard Allen
DATE: Saturday, March 7; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (break included),
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, February 27
WHERE: Gemini Ink, 513 S. Presa, San Antonio, TX 78205
COST: $81 (an additional $10 registration fee is due upon registration)
CONTACT: (210) 734-9673, http://www.blogger.com/, https://mail.accd.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.geminiink.org/

FROM THE PERSONAL TO THE POETIC
Confessional poetry has been dismissed as therapy or pathological documentation that is effortless writing if not print’s version of exhibitionism. In this workshop, participants will examine the master practitioners of Confessional style (Plath, Sexton, Lowell, et al.) and perform imitation, word-play, and satire, as a way to understand how poems based on personal experience endure even with a fragile skeleton, a broken flesh.
INSTRUCTOR: Rigoberto González
DATE: Saturday, March 7; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (break included)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, February 27
WHERE: Gemini Ink, 513 S. Presa, San Antonio, TX 78205
COST: $71 (an additional $10 registration fee is due upon registration)
CONTACT: (210) 734-9673, http://www.blogger.com/, https://mail.accd.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.geminiink.org/

FRIDAY, MARCH 6
First Friday Reading: Poet Rigoberto González and fiction writer Jeffery Renard Allen will read from their works. For more information, call 210-734-9673 or visit https://mail.accd.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.geminiink.org/
6:30 p.m., Gemini Ink, 513 S. Presa


Thanks!

Jennifer Herrera
Communications Associate, Gemini Ink
513 S. Presa
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.734.9673 p
210.737.0688 f
https://mail.accd.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.geminiink.org/

Writer's Digest Competition

Self-Published Competition
17th Annual Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards Co-sponsored by Book Marketing Works, LLC
CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW MORE THAN $17,000 IN PRIZES!
ENTRY DEADLINE: May 01, 2009
Win $3,000 in cash! Gain international exposure for your book! Catch the attention of prospective editors and publishers!
Writer's Digest is searching for the best self-published books of the past few years. Whether you're a professional writer, part-time freelancer, or a self-starting student, here's your chance to enter the only competition exclusively for self-published books!
-->
THE PRIZES:
ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be awarded $3,000 cash and promotion in Writer's Digest and Publishers Weekly. The editors of Writer'sDigest will endorse and submit 10 copies of theGrand Prize-Winning book to major review housessuch as The New York Times and The Washington Post. In addition, Book Marketing Works, LLC will provide a one-year membership in Publishers Marketing Association, guarenteed acceptance in a special-sales catalog providing national representation through 1800 salespeople selling to non-bookstore markets, guaranteed acceptance by Atlas Books (a top distributor to wholeslaers, chains, independents and online retailers), six hours of book shepherding from Poynter Book Shepherd Ellen Reid and guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review.
10 FIRST-PLACE WINNERS will receive $1000 cash and promotion in Writer'sDigest. In addition, Book Marketing Works, LLC will provide a guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review, a one-year membership to Book Central Station, the eBook Beyong the Bookstore, a Publishers Weekly book by Brian Jud and a copy of Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers by Shel Horowitz.
Plus, all Grand Prize and First Place winners will receive book-jacket seals to promote the award-winning status of their book, promotion on the Writer's Digest Web site at writersdigest.com, a copy of The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, 4th Edition by Tom and Marilyn Ross, $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and a Notable Award Certificate.
HONORABLE MENTION WINNERS will receive promotion at www.writersdigest.com, $50 worth of Writer's Digest Books and a Notable Award Certificate.
All other entrants will receive Certificates of Participation, a brief judge's commentary and a listing with a link on the Writer's Digest Web site, provided an accurate URL is provided.
-->
THE CATEGORIES:
Mainstream/Literary Fiction
Genre Fiction
Nonfiction
Inspirational (Spiritual, New Age)
Life Stories (Biographies, Autobiographies, Family Histories, Memoirs)
Children's Picture books
Middle-Grade/Young Adult books
Reference Books (Directories, Encyclopedias, Guide Books)
Poetry
Humor
THE RULES:
1. The competition is open to all English-language self-published books for which the authors have paid the full cost of publication, or the cost of printing has been paid for by a grant or as part of a prize.
2. Entrants must send a printed and bound book. Entries will be evaluated on content, writing quality and overall quality of production and appearance. No handwritten books are accepted.
3. All books published or revised and reprinted between 2004 and 2009 are eligible. ( Writer's Digest may demand proof of eligibility of semifinalists.)
4. All books must be accompanied by an Official Entry Form. Photocopies of the Official Entry Form are acceptable. You may enter more than one book and/or more than one category; however, you must include a separate book, entry form and the additional fee for each entry. New for 2009: Register your entry online.
5. Check, money order or credit card payment for the required judging fee of $100 for the first entry, $75 for each additional entry must accompany submissions.
6. All entries must be postmarked no later than May 01, 2009. All winners will be notified by October 12, 2009. If you wish to receive confirmation that your entry was received before the deadline, we recommend using certified mail or some other tracking method to send your entry.
7. Judges reserve the right to withhold prizes in any category. Judges reserve the right to recategorize entries.
8. Books which have previously won awards from Writers Digest are not eligible.
9. Employees of F+W Media, Inc. and Book Marketing Works, LLC and their immediate families are not eligible.
10. Writer's Digest is not responsible for the loss, damage or return of any books submitted to the competition.
ENTRY FEES:
First entry: $100Additional entries: $75 each
ENTRY FORMS:
Click here to register your entry onlineClick here for a printable entry form
SEND books, entry forms and fees (if applicable) TO:
Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
ENTRY DEADLINE: May 01, 2009
-->

Guadalupe Center Seeks Conjunto Music Literature

PRESS RELEASE

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
1300 Guadalupe Street
San Antonio, Texas 78207
210-271-3151

Contact: Lorraine Pulido-Ramirez
210-410-6699

The Guadalupe Announces Call for Literature on Conjunto Music

Feb. 13, 2009 (San Antonio, Texas) – The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is looking for literature on Conjunto music for possible publication in a special edition of the program magazine for the 28th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio, 2009.

Literature can include scholarly articles, short stories, poetry, essays, interviews with Conjunto artists, or any other written work that incorporates some aspect of Conjunto music. Conjunto is an original American musical ensemble and style of music that was created by the Texas-Mexicans and which utilizes the button accordion and bajo sexto as its principal instruments.

Articles, poems, and short stories of any length will be accepted for review and possible publication. Submissions are being accepted through March 1, 2009. Literature should be e-mailed as an attachment to Juan Tejeda, director of the 28th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival and editor of this special edition of the program magazine for the festival at juantejeda@sbcglobal.net. He will be reviewing the literature submitted and making the selections that will be published in the magazine.

“I’m very excited about publishing this special edition of Tonantzin, the program magazine for the Tejano Conjunto Festival. This magazine has always been a very important educational source on Conjunto music, and an economic generator and promotional tool for the festival and the performing Conjunto musicians,” said Tejeda, who created the Tejano Conjunto Festival and directed it for the first 17 years while serving as the Xicano Music Program Director for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

The Tejano Conjunto Festival will take place from May 5-9, 2009, at the Guadalupe Theater and Rosedale Park and will feature the Tejano Conjunto Festival Poster Contest; a Seniors Conjunto Dance; inductions into the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame; workshops for the button accordion and bajo sexto; a CD Release Party for the “Best of the 27th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival” (recorded live at the 2008 festival) at the Guadalupe Theater; and three days and over 20 of the very best bands in Conjunto music at Rosedale Park that includes a special Tribute to Esteban Jordan, one of the all-time great accordionists in the history of Conjunto music; plus food and beverage booths, accordion raffle, student recital and more. The Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio is produced by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. For more information, call 210/271-3151, or visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1980 to preserve, promote and develop the arts and culture of the Chicano/Latino/Native American peoples for all ages and backgrounds through public and educational programming in six disciplines: dance, literature, media arts, theater arts, visual arts and music. For more information, visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org.

SARA Merritt Contest

The deadline is this Saturday, however, if anyone has a story that's ready or at least have 30 pages and a synopsis, please enter. You'll have the opportunity to get your work in front of your target editor.

Just a few days left to enter the San Antonio Merritt Contest.

Don’t miss a shot at the Grand Prize:
Review of a manuscript partial by Kate Duffy, Kensington Books

Deadline: Feb 14, 2009, midnight—ELECTRONIC ENTRIES

The other great judges for our five categories

Final Round Judges:
Short/Long Contemporary Patience Smith, Silhouette
Historical Tessa Woodward, Avon
Romantic Suspense LaToya Smith, Grand Central
Paranormal Rose Hilliard, St. Martin ’s Press
Mainstream w/ Rom Elements Megan McKeever, Pocket

Entry Fee: $25 SARA members; $30 RWA members; $35 non-RWA members
Submission: 30 pages total, including a maximum 5-page synopsis
Finalists will incorporate preliminary judges’ commentsbefore entry is sent to Editor.

Check out the rules/submission guidelines on our website www.sararwa.net or send questions to sara_merritt09@yahoo.com

SARA Presents: Tracy Wolff

AUTHOR APPEARANCE AT SARA

Join San Antonio Romance Authors Feb. 18, for its monthly meeting featuring Harlequin author Tracy Wolff, speaking on "Finding Your Place in the Market." Now an English professor at her local community college, Tracy writes romance that runs the gamut from contemporary to paranormal to erotic suspense. Meeting place is Wah Kee Chinese restaurant @ 18360 Blanco Road. SARA business meeting starts @ 6:30 pm., presentation will began @ 7pm. Visit www.sararwa.net for more details.

OLLU Literary Benefit III

From Marian Haddad, MFA

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE
LITERARY BENEFIT III
AFTER THE FIRE

FEBRUARY 22, 2009
2:00 p.m
at
OLLU
Providence West Building in
The Providence West Social Room (PWSR)

Entry is free
Suggested donations are: what you can afford
(every dollar helps)

There will be a donation box set up. Your donations are between you and the box.
If you cannot donate monetarily, your presence at this community event
is a most valuable donation.

Less than a month after the fire at OLLU, Naomi Shihab Nye and myself gathered approximately 35 poets and writers to read at a literary benefit for Our Lady of the Lake's English Department, held at The Southwest School of Art & Craft. We had an audience of approximately 200 people and raised some much-needed monies for the English Department.

Carmen Tafolla hosted the second successful benefit reading "at" Our Lady of the Lake in the beautiful quad area underneath the trees in the autumn of 2008 and hosted between 20-25 poets and writers, also for the purpose of a community gathering around a worthy cause and an historic San Antonio institution, The Lake . . . raising monies for some of the departments damaged or entirely lost by the fire.

And now, I am pleased and honored to host the third in the series of readings. I am taking the opportunity to showcase many journalists and non-fiction writers this time around, as well as poets and fiction writers. A dozen SAN ANTONIO-BASED writers and poets (most of which have not read at previous benefits), have agreed to offer their time and talent as readers for this benefit; as a group, all of us are hosting three featured guests who come from nearby surrounding areas and schools such as Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, and all the way down I-35 to the heart of Austin, Texas.

--Marian Haddad, MFA

UTSA Creative Writing Reading Series

Barbara Renaud Gonzalez

Friday, Feb. 20

7:30 p.m.

Assembly Room

John Peace Library (4.03.08)

Barbara Renaud Gonzalez is the author of the novel Golondrina, why did you leave me?, the first Chicana novel to be published by UT Press (forthcoming in April 2009). Her children's book on the life of Willie Velasquez, founder of the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project, tenatively titled Willie and the Flood/Su Voto es Su Voz, is under consideration at Arte Publico Press.

This reading is sponsored in conjunction with the Macondo Foundation, which works with dedicated and compassionate writers who view their work and talents as part of a larger task of community-building and non-violent social change.

Houston Author Gwenolyn Zepeda

Just a quick reminder about tomorrow's meeting!

Please note that Gwendolyn Zepeda is making a special trip from Houston just to speak to our group. Her new book, Houston, We Have a Problema, is really generating some "buzz" and has been selected by "Las Comadres" as this month's Book Club feature. If you know of any "Comadres," please let them know that this is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet the author personally and to ask any questions they may have about the plot and characters.And of course, she'll be happy to sign any books.

Here's the information you can pass on to your friends:

Gwendolyn Zepeda, author of the recently released book “Houston, We Have a Problema,” will be the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the Barnes and Noble (San Pedro Crossing) located at 321 NW Loop 410. Free. New members are invited to attend.

Keep Writing,
Vince

Ha Jin: Gemini Ink Autograph Series

From Gemini Ink:

Internationally acclaimed Chinese author Ha Jin
to be featured at Gemini Ink’s Autograph Series

San Antonio, TX — Lauded Chinese American fiction writer and National Book Award winner Ha Jin will read from his work at Gemini Ink’s Autograph Series. The free public reading will be from 7-9 p.m, Sunday, February 15 at the San Pedro Playhouse.

Ha Jin, who emigrated from China to attend Brandeis University in 1985, is the critically acclaimed author of five novels, three poetry collections, three short story collections, and a book of essays. Choosing to write in English rather than his native tongue, he gained attention with his first collection of short stories, Ocean of Words (Vintage, 1996), which earned him the Hemingway/PEN Award for First Fiction. In 1997, he won the Flannery O’Connor Award for his second collection of short stories, Under the Red Flag (University of Georgia Press, 1997). He received the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award for his novel Waiting (Vintage, 2000) and the PEN/Faulkner Award and a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his novel War Trash (Vintage, 2005). He is the recipient of a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005. Currently, Ha Jin is a professor of English and Creative Writing at Boston University.

Gemini Ink’s Autograph Series presents writers of national and international stature. Past Autograph authors have included Margaret Atwood, Grace Paley, Tim O’Brien, and Peter Matthiessen.

Gemini Ink is the only literary arts center in San Antonio and South Texas. We nurture readers and writers through community-based workshops, performances, and other literary events. For more information please visit www.geminiink.org or call 210.734.9673.

Bryce Milligan

From Marian Haddad:

Bryce Milligan will read from new work at the Wednesday evening poetry gathering at the Fiesta Trails Barnes & Noble (I-10 at DeZavala) on February 4, at 8 p.m.

An open mic begins at 7.

Bryce Milligan is a prolific, award-winning author in numerous genres, ranging from children’s books to adult poetry and criticism. He is the publisher and editor of Wings Press, which was profiled in Poets & Writers Magazine in Sept. 2007. The San Antonio Express-News has referred to Milligan as a "literary force." Bloomsbury Review recently called him a "literary wizard." Critic Paul Christensen wrote of Milligan as "one of the principal writers of the region and a force at the center of the literary art movements of Texas.” His latest book of poetry is Lost & Certain of It (London: Aark Arts, 2006).

Jo Ann Hernandez in Blogcritics Magazine

Dear Readers,

One of our online members, Jo Ann Hernandez, author of The Throwaway Piece, has been interviewed for Blogcritics Magazine.

Please take a moment to read her fascinating interview and help me coax her into attending one of our monthly meetings! Please click on the link below to read the interview:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/01/31/180546.php