Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Spring 2010 Creative Writing Course at PAC

CREATIVE WRITING
ENGL 2307


Tuesday / Thursday 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Sect. 001 (11993)
Location: AT 206
Professor: Doyle Avant

This will be an action-packed, thrill a minute class covering a wide variety of creative writing forms: personal-reflective journal, short fiction and non-fiction, poetry, monologues, dramatic (plays and films), and even the perfect email guaranteed to get a date with that special someone (optional assignment).

If you think you can’t write, think again. If you think you have nothing interesting to say, get ready to change your mind and create something powerful. We’ll do a bit of reading and a lot of writing – but none of that boring English 1301 five paragraph essay stuff about something you don’t even want to think about, complete with MLA citation – no!

There will be no MLA citation in this class. In fact, anyone who even mentions MLA will be in serious trouble. You will be writing things that YOU want to write, learning and experimenting with new forms to express yourselves.

Part of the class will operate like a workshop, lots of sitting in circles, everyone talking at once and constructively critiquing each other’s work. Always constructive. And lively. Lively is good.
If you have dreams of being a poet, novelist, playwright, screen-writer, editorialist, humorist, or just a blogger posting brilliant observations on your wildly popular web sight – Spring 2010 is the time to get started and English 2307 is the place.

Doyle Avant is a playwright, screenwriter, fiction writer and solo performer. He has presented work in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and with Jump-Start Performance Company right here in San Antonio. He drinks a lot of coffee.

Any questions? Email me at doyleavant@earthlink.net (Please put "creative writing" in the subject line.)

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Trinidad Sanchez Poetry Contest

Voices de la Luna: A Quarterly Poetry & Arts Magazine
http://www.voicesdelaluna.com/

Presents
Trinidad Sanchez Poetry Contests
Two quarterly poetry prizes of $100 each will be given to a poem in any form of no more than 28 lines by an adult writerand the second one to a poem by a middle and high school student. The poems of the five finalists will be considered for publication in all four formats of the magazine.Please send your poem(s) only online as attachment with a short email that includes your full name, address, email, phone, a short, short bio of no more than 30 words to the following:
Please use paypal icon to pay the entry fee of $15 which entitles the participant to one hardcopy issue of the magazine
Co-Editor
Voices de la Luna

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Lupe Ruiz-Flores in Express-News

Lupe Ruiz-Flores had an article published in today's San Antonio Express-News in the "Sunday Journal" section.

I hope her article inspires our writers to consider writing a 500-word entry and submit it to the Express-News for consideration.

Click HERE for the article.

Friday, December 25, 2009

National Latino Writers Conference




Thursday, December 24, 2009

Ninfa Ruiz in Conexion

Those of you who attended last week's Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers "Cinco Minutos with You" Holiday Extravaganza heard me speak highly of Ninfa Ruiz and her recently published memoir.

Then you had the opportunity to actually hear Ninfa emotionally read from her book with her family and friends present.

For those of you who were not able to attend the meeting, today's issue of Conexion contains a write-up about Ninfa and her book. Please take a moment to read the link and then consider purchasing her ebook from Onda Publishing!

Conexion article

Remembering Angela De Hoyos

From Juan Tejeda:

Carnalas y Carnales: As you probably know, Angela De Hoyos, a great lady of Chican@ letters and a personal friend and mentor to me and many of us here in San Antonio and other parts, passed away on September 24, 2009. In her honor and memory, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and many of her friends from the Chicano literary and arts community and various organizations are producing a special tribute to be held on Saturday, January 9 at 7pm at the Guadalupe Theater in San Antonio (see attached invite). The event is free and many of Angela's camaradas will be there to remember her, read from her works, and just to celebrate her life that impacted us all. Among some of the writers, artists and cultural activists that will be there are Carmen Tafolla, Vangie Vigil, Antonia Castaneda, Norma Cantu, Rosemary Catacalos, Rolando Hinojosa-Smith, Reyes Cardenas, Rosie Castro, Josie Casarez, Bryce Milligan, Juan Rodriguez, Enedina Casarez-Vasquez, Pedro Rodriguez, Patty Ortiz, Ramon Vasquez y Sanchez y muchos mas. Of course, Angela's husband, Moises (Sandy) Sandoval will be there and there will be a ceremonia de la danza Azteca, musica, an exhibit and display of photos and Angela's work, tamales, chocolate y pan dulce and it's free. This is a special invite to you and all of Angela's friends. Spread the word. Gracias. Angela De Hoyos, presente. juan

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Holdiay Gift Idea

From fellow member Anna Quevedo:

ONLY $10 in San Antonio - with personal delivery before Christmas!!! Excellent Holiday Gift!!! Enjoy FREE Shipping and a personal dedication of Nos Vemos En Purgatorio anywhere in the United States for $15. Go to www.contacto-latino.com or aquevedo@contacto-latino.com Phone orders: 210-346-1215

Nos Vemos En Purgatorio es una historia entretenida que revela las experiencias de una inmigrante en su primer trabajo en corporate America. Tiene drama, comentario politico, humor, escenas eroticas y mas.

Nos Vemos En Purgatorio is a very entertaining story that journeys the experiences of an immigrant in her first job in corporate America. It has drama, political commentary, humor, erotic passages and more.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Monday Night's Holiday Gathering

Thank you to everyone who attended our 5th annual Holiday Tertulia at Mamacita's Restaurant. We had more than 20 members and guests come together for fellowship, and to share in each other publishing and writing successes in 2009.

A couple of attendees enchanted us with their readings and the book exchange always adds a lot of fun to the evening.

For those of you who RSVPed but couldn't make it, please know we missed you and realized that sometimes life does get in the way of our best laid plans. For those of you who couldn't attend this year, please consider attending next year as this has really become an event that a lot of us look forward to at the end of the year.

A special thank you to Bertha Jacobson and Martha Curcio for putting this wonderful event together.

Friday, December 18, 2009

BorderSenses Call for Submission

BorderSenses invites all writers/ artists to submit their work for Volume 16 of its literary journal.

It only accepts on-line submissions, so please read the submission guidelines at www.bordersenses.com/submissionsRules.php before submitting.

Submission period: Oct ’09 to Feb’10. Tentative release: May- June 2010.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Gil Polanco--For Reals




For those of you who attended Monday's "Cinco Minutos with You" meeting, you heard a couple of fresh voices that had never read before to the group.

Today and tomorrow, I will be posting information about two of them, who have just had their books published.

Today's featured author is Gil Polanco. His book, For Reals, is available through Publish America. Here is the link: at http://www.publishamerica.net/product88091.html

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Cinco Minutos with You


Thank you to everyone who attended Monday's "Cinco Minutos with You" Holiday Extravaganza! We had more than 30 members attend to hear 5-minute readings by:
Ninfa Ruiz
Bertha Jacobson
Art Munoz
Patricia Ortiz
Gil Polanco
Martha Curcio
Claudia Alavarado
Daniel Weinfeld
Here is the information that Art Munoz mentioned recalling a "Call for Submissions"
Issue seven of Workers Write! will be Tales from the Courtroom and will contain stories and poems from the legal worker's point of view (lawyers, judges, court reporters, bailiffs, and so on) Your story should be set anywhere legal work is performed, but we are not looking for stories about court cases or whodunits.
Deadline for submission is Sept. 1, 2010 or until the issue is full.
Submit your stories via email to: courtroom@workswritejournal.com
or mail hard copy to:
Blue Cubicle Press
PO Box 250382
Plano, TX 75025-0382
Word count: 500 to 5000 words. Payment is between $5 and $50 DEPNEDING ON LENGTH AND RIGHTS REQUESTED. They will consider previoulsy published material.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

SLHW Christmas Tertulia

SLHW 2009 Christmas Tertulia
Mamacita’s Restaurant
8030 Ih 10 WSan Antonio , TX 78230-3811(210) 341-5424

Monday, December 21, 2009
7 P.M.

You and your significant other are cordially invited to celebrate the season
with your friends from the writing group.
If you would like to participate in a book exchange,
bring a new book in a gift bag/wrapped.
Hope to see you there!
Please R.S.V.P. So we can tell the Restaurant how many to expect.
e-mail Bertha Jacobson at
con_lula@hotmail.com
by Friday, Dec. 18
Thank you!
Friendly Reminder: We pay for our own meals and drinks

Monday, December 14, 2009

Cinco Minutos with You

Just a friendly reminder that tonight is the 6th annual Holiday Extravaganza, Cinco Minutos with You! Please join me in listening to some wonderful writers (three or four have never read to us!) at the Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing, tonight, Monday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Please join us and bring your family and friends.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

SLHW's List of Top 10 Hispanic Books of 2009

Here is the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers' list of the Top 10 Hispanic Books in 2009:

1. Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez
2. GI Bones by Martin Limon
3. Dancing with Butterflies by Reyna Grande
4. The Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis
5. B as in Beauty by Alberto Ferreras
6. Amigoland by Oscar Casares
7. Damas, Drama and Ana Ruiz by Belinda Acosta
8. Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Bejamin Alire Saenz
9. Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
10. Tell me Something True by Leila Cobo

With regards to new Latino Authors, here are some that have come across my desk:

1. Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa, Daughters of the Stone
2. Belinda Acosta, Damas, Drama and Ana Ruiz
3. Julia Amante, Evenings at the Argentine Club
4. Leila Cobo, Tell Me Something True
5. The Invisible Mountain, Carolina De Robertis

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Gaby Update

Thursday, December 10, 2009

32nd CineFestival Call for Entries

For Immediate Release
Contact: Lorraine Pulido
210-410-6699

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Announces 32nd CineFestival Call for Entries

Dec. 4, 2009 (San Antonio, Texas) – CineFestival en San Antonio, the nation’s oldest Latino film festival, is seeking films for its 32nd anniversary celebration, which will take place from February 4-7, 2010 at the historic Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas.

CineFestival is seeking the best Latino features, shorts, documentaries, animation, experimental films and youth works for its 32nd annual festival.

The CineFestival call for entries deadline is Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, and there’s no application fee.The four-day event, which kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, will feature screenings, workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, gala celebrations and musical performances. Innovative uses of new technology will also be highlighted through competitions, demonstrations of new cameras and software, and the involvement of youth filmmakers from video programs throughout San Antonio.

CineFestival will also feature the prestigious Premio Mesquite audience award and juried awards for Best Feature, Best Short, Best Documentary, and Emerging Artist.

CineFestival is ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS postmarked thru December 18th. For information on how to submit a film or to download the Call for Entries, visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org . For more information, contact Manuel Solis at manuels@guadalupeculturalarts.org.

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is 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 or call 210-271-3151.

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Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Featured Member: Jackie Mendez

From Jackie Mendez:

Hi Everyone!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, surrounded by friends and family. The month of November seemed to have flown by in a flash. I can't believe that we are now in December just three weeks before Christmas. Where did the time go? Either I'm doing too much or I'm trapped in some type of time warp capsule. I'm gonna go with the first option, and for that reason, I have set a goal to just chill for December and relax with my little family, put my homemaker hat on, cook lots of homemade meals, catch up on my cuddles with my little one and finally finish reading the last Harry Potter book that I've been postponing for the last two years.

As for my prequel, I am now on chapter 8 of the novel and will soon be posting drafts of the first few chapters on my website. I'll Twitter it (writingjax, profile name) when it's up if you'd like to give it a read. I do want to give you an update about my previous news regarding the Black Belt publication. The editor granted my Krav Maga instructor permission to post the article on his site. If any of you are interested in reading it, simply go to this website and scroll down to the Black Belt magazine picture and click on the article link: http://krav-maga-san-antonio.com/news

You may have to double-click on the article to zoom in on the words. Feel free to pass the article along to every woman you know as it sends a vital message about the need to learn some type of self-defense. I hope that you are all well and find yourselves in good health. Take this month to slow down if you can and reflect on this past year's shortcomings and blessings. I try to use my shortcomings as a way to grow and learn from my mistakes and appreciate the blessings that come my way.

Love and blessings,
JAX,
Author of Heart of the Jaguar
www.heartofthejaguar.com

Monday, December 07, 2009

Congratulations, Diana Lopez

From a longtime supporter of the Society, Diana Lopez:

I just received wonderful news. My book was selected as one of Marcela Landres's top picks for 2009. Here's the link below with a complete list of her selections.

You can see the entire list by visiting:
http://www.marcelalandres.com/E-zine.html

Congratulations, Diana!

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Spanish Group Meeting Dec. 7

Hola a todos,
Les recuerdo que tendremos nuestra próxima junta del grupo de español el día de mañana Lunes Diciembre 07, 2009 a las 7:00 pm en Barnes & Noble de La Cantera 15900 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 3340, San Antonio, Tx. 78256 teléfono 210-641-1613

Bertha Jacobson gentilmente ofreció ser la facilitadora de este mes . Gracias Bertha! ¡NO FALTEN!!! ¡NOS VAMOS A DIVERTIR!!!

CUANDO VA A SER NUESTRA TERTULIA???????????????? HAY QUE HACER LOS PREPARATIVOS Y ORGANIZAR NUESTRA TRADICIONAL TERTULIA!!!!!!!!!!

Como siempre aquí les envio una fotografía esperando les inspire. ¡A ESCRIBIR SE HA DICHO COMPAÑEROS!

Y recuerden ¡LO IMPORTANTE ES SOLTAR LA IMAGINACION Y A DISFRUTAR ESCRIBIENDO!
¡Nos vemos en la junta!
¡Escríbelo o se pierde!
Martha Curcio
La Sociedad de Escritores Latinos e Hispanos de San Antonio

Recuerden visitar nuestro blog http://slhwnotes.blogspot.com/
Y TAMBIEN RECUERDEN VISITAR Y PARTICIPAR EN NUESTRO BLOG EN ESPAÑOL!!! http://escritoressat.blogspot.com

Gaby Update

From longtime member, Gaby--an update on her recent accomplishments. Congratulations, Gaby and thank you for mentioning the Society in your interview with the San Antonio Express-News!:

1) On Thursday December 3 came out an interview about me on San Antonio Express News-North Central News.

Here is the link to san Antonio Express News-North central News:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/north_central/north_central_news/Lifes_journeys_influence_Stone_Oak_writer_Madrid.html

A self-described “literary gypsy” is back home with her books, notes for new projects and a diverse community of writers.

2) The second news I would like to share is that last week I read a short story I wrote in English on NPR. In order to listen to it, double click on:

www.tpr.org/programs/texasmatters.html

Then, Scroll down toward the middle of the page and download the show.
Show #483, November 27, 2009 just by doble click on MP3Download
MP3 Download
Finally, the audio will appear,and my story, among other stories will be number four, called Why? It would be in the middle-toward the final of the audio.

3) The third news is that enclosed is the link of Mayra Calvani´s article about the presentation of my book in Caracas-Venezuela,as well as a description of my narrative, a review by Carmen Cristina Wolf (President of Circulo de Escritores de venezuela)and interviews by Mayra Calvani (Latino Book Examiner) and Martha Colmenares.
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Author--Maria-Gabriela-Madrid-presents-her-book-in-Caracas

4) The fourth news is that I was interviewed by Martha Colmenares from Diario las Americas.
http://www.diariodeamerica.com/front_nota_detalle.php?id_noticia=5622

5) Finally here in San Antonio, my book "Entre los surcos del recuerdo" (written in spanish) is for sale at "Regalo Gift Shop" Alameda Museum Phone number: 210 299 43 40. Address: 101 South Santa Rosa.San Antonio-Texas 78207.I t could be a great gift for Christmas. Also, I sell the book from home (just $10) without shipping and handling fees. If there is any person interested in getting it, they could contact me by e-mail: mariagmadrid@yahoo.com

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Becky at the Guadalajara Book Fair

From Becky:

Dear friends and family,

Please check out this site about me attending the Guadalajara Book Fair 2009.

http://www.poderedomex.com/notas.asp?id=51971

Thanks for your support.

Becky