Check out my buddy's new blog

If you've never heard of  Vicente Lozano be patient. You will. He is one of the most talented writers I know, so I'm thrilled he finally decided to launch a blog (click on his name).  He is the second, among my most talented writer friends to launch a blog and let me say, it's long overdue.

This may sound snarky, but it seems to me that the first rush to blogging was made by those who were pushed into it by book P.R. folk, or by those who approached the process with the breathless anticipation of a teenage boy about to get some. Neither of those make for good blogging or writing, for that matter. So, it's cool to see writers—good writers—taking the form seriously. It may be going the way of MySpace, but I trust that after a fallow period, the form will emerge anew. How do I know this? It's just a hunch. In this restless media climate, I think the chips are still falling and I have to believe that good, solid writing will eventually survive.

Vince only has two posts. But please read and comment. It will encourage him and I'm all for encouraging good writers!

CantoMundo Comes to Austin

Read my feature about CantoMundo, the new Latino poets collective HERE.

Sadly, it's one of the last books features to be published in the Austin Chronicle, the alt-weekly where I've worked for the last ten years. The books section is going away, as are several staff members, me included. Times are rough out there for print media. The good news is I have more time to write! The bad news: more hustling, less stability.  I had thought about taking a drawing class, maybe now is the time.

I'm thinking about changing the title of this blog. Not sure to what. Will give it some thought and announce.

'What You See in the Dark': my review

My brief 300 word review in my home publication, The Austin Chronicle, cannot capture the full breadth of my astonishment over what Manuel Muñoz has accomplished in his debut novel, What You See in the Dark.  I have always found his work to be austere and beautiful, like Shaker furniture, and he delivers more of the same in this carefully constructed novel that links three, seemingly disparate women, whose stories are told before the backdrop of a film production (the iconic Psycho). The official pub date is Tuesday, March 29, but a little bird told me you could find it in bookstores now, as well as online.

Muñoz is one of those writers I feel blessed to have read, like Cristina Garcia and Helena Maria Viramontes (who Muñoz studied with). If I'm lucky, I'll get to spend some time with Muñoz and Viramontes at this summer's Macondo Workshop. Better start saving my pennies now!

Please click on the title above to read my review. What do what you think? I'd like to know.

Iréne in el Valle!

Iréne Lara Silva reading

Check out fellow Macondista and amazing poet, Iréne Lara Silva as she reads from her work, Furia, in el Valle. I heard her read at Resistencia Bookstore in Austin. I had forgotten what a gifted poet she is. Check her out! You can click on the link above the photo to watch. Unfortunately, it's only one poem, and I'm not too thrilled with the angle, but hey! It's better than nothing.

Congrats to Iréne! You really threw yourself, mujer!

A shout out from Sandra Cisneros— How cool is that?

San Antonio-based Sandra Cisneros and Austin-based writer David Rice spoke about the world Chican@/Latin@ writers find themselves creating in, in this installment of National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation, hosted by Neal Conan. Click on this link to read the transcript and listen to what what said. The remarks at the end of this interview are also illuminating.

Going to San Anto, Baybee!

New in 2011

For those of you wondering what I do when I'm not writing books—in other words, what do I do for a living?— I write for this fine alt-weekly, the Austin Chronicle. This is the cover of a new anthology of music writing gathered over three decades. While I am not a music writer (it's freaking hard!), I managed to get three pieces in here. Maybe more. The small, crowded print in the online Table of Contents made scanning hard. I'm thrilled, because one of the pieces I'm most happy with is included, a review of of Charanga Cakewalk's Chicano Zen. 

The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology is available from the University of Texas Press next month. To pre-order or to get the deets, click here.

Oh! I can't wait!

This is priceless! You're welcome.

Las Bernsteinistas en Austin

In this photo, poet,  translator, and all around hot mama, Liliana Valenzuela, Julia Alvarez, y yo at the Big Read Event held at the Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin, Texas. You can't tell from this photo, but the joint was packed!  Oh—we call ourselves the "Bernsteinistas" because we all have the same agent, Stuart Bernstein. We heart him mucho.  :-)

Uniendo Talentos--A huge success!

Here are a few photos from Uniendos Talentos (a Big Read event) that occurred at Dominican Joe's in Austin. As participant and moderator, I was pleased with how the assembled writers worked together to realize the spirit of the panel: an artistic "jam session," if you will, talking about how we approach our genres from various perspectives.

In this photo: screenwriter MIGUEL ALVAREZ, novelist CRISTINA GARCIA, and singer/songwriter DAVID GARZA.

Me (standing) along with the panelists, after the event.

Cristina was sweet to message me on FaceBook to say how much fun she had. I responded: We should do it again, in another city--perhaps at AWP? Too soon to pull it together for February's conference, but maybe the next?

Isn't Cristina García darling? You won't meet a more generous, gentle spirit. Besides having her on our Big Read panel, I had the pleasure of having dinner with her and interviewing her for a piece that will run in my newspaper, The Austin Chronicle on Thanksgiving (the article should be posted on our website Nov. 25 or 26, 2010). She read from her newest novel, The Lady Matador's Hotel, but did you know that she's also released a new book of poetry this year titled, The Lesser Tragedy of Death? In a word, it's stunning. Deeply personal, heartbreaking, and beautiful, the poems talk about growing up with her troubled brother. Read more about this remarkable book and her other work in my Chronicle piece. I hope I did her justice.

García  has been teaching at the writing program I graduated from at the University of Texas at Austin this semester. If you're in Austin December 2, come hear her read, live and in person! Click here for more information.

Uniendo Talentos--A Writers' Circle at the Big Read

Have you heard of The Big Read, a National Endowment for the Arts supported project? Austin Community College is hosting local Big Read events, while similar projects occur across the nation over several months. The Big Read includes readings and related events meant to celebrate reading and literacy. This year's featured author is Julia Alvarez (who so kindly and generously blurbed my first book, Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz.)

As a writer, reading and literacy is one of my causes. So, I was thrilled when Dulce Bread and Bookshop owner Teresa Carbajal Ravet asked me to help her assemble a last minute addition to the Big Read line up. And thanks to our fellow comadre Myrna Cabello (who, regrettably, will  not be able to join us this time around),  I think we've assembled a fabulous event: Uniendo Talentos: A Latino Writers Creative Circle. This unusual event will feature a round table discussion with writers from several disciplines. I serve as the moderator, engaging this astonishing group of writers to talk about their work: Novelist Cristina Garcia, Austin-based singer-songwriter David Garza, and up and coming filmmaker, Miguel Alvarez. What will be unusual about this event is that the artists are invited to ask each other questions about their work:
How is a poem like a song?
What is the language of film?
How do we hear words?

Besides the talk, each participant will share a bit of their work. So, all five senses will be covered: the aroma of fresh coffee and the taste of goodies from the host venue, the music of spoken word by Garcia and myself, the sound of music by David Garza, and a short visual treat from Miguel. I'm excited! I hope you are too!

Uniendo Talentos takes place at Dominican Joe's Coffee Shop, a cozy coffee shop at the corner of Riverside and Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas. Click here for the details. Hope you can make it.

On the road & back again

I was honored to be invited to the Hispanic Corporate Women's Institute in Phoenix October 21. Here I am with my comadre panelists Marisel Herrera-Anderson, Reyna Grande, and Lisha Adela García. (I'm standing). Our panel was moderated by La Reyna de Las Comadres para las Americas, Nora Comstock. It was thanks to her that I was invited to attend the Institute to begin with. She prompted our discussion of the writerly life and we fielded questions from the inquisitive and eager audience—all Latinas! This photo is us after the panel in the Las Comadres booth, signing books, answering questions, getting photos taken.

The next day, I returned to Austin after being on the road for three weeks (San Diego, Los Angeles, Tucson, Phoenix). But no time to rest! I had to gear up for the Dulce Bread & Bookshop event, an evening of song and story to celebrate the soft opening of the new bookstore in Dripping Springs, Texas (minutes from Downtown Austin). Teresa Carbajal Ravet is the owner of this unique, independent bookstore featuring a wide array of culturally diverse books. This is me, admiring her small shop. Future plans are to open a larger store in Austin. Where? That's the big question. Teresa is carefully weighing her options and looking for just the right location. In the meantime, you can order from her online! Click here to shop Dulce online.

Next on the calendar: working with Teresa on a Big Read event scheduled November 12. We've organized a "creative circle," where several writers from various disciplines talk about how they approach their work. Musician David Garza, filmmaker Miguel Alvarez, novelist Cristina Garcia, and I will be on hand to chat, sing, read, and show our work. It will be lovely, lively event. More details as they are firmed up.

Right now, I'm tired but glad to be back home.

Latino Book & Family Festival, Los Angeles - 2010

I was there! And here's my name tag to prove it. It was a lovely, sunny day on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles. I was so pleased to see such a nice turn out, and even more pleased to be among friends, old and new. I got to visit with an old friend who I hadn't seen in 20 years. That was such a treat! I got to meet Reyna Grande (who it looks like I'll see again at the Latina Women's Corporate Conference in Phoenix), and catch up with my fellow Macondistas at the LBFF dinner.

Macondistas represent! Left to right: Liz Gonzalez, me, Amada Perez, Tatiana de la Tierra. We all appeared on or moderated panels. I spoke on the panel, "Through the Looking Glass: Using Your Life to Write Good Fiction."








Chola pose with Edward James Olmos. Not really. I was trying to tell him something when the person taking the picture decided to shoot. Olmos lends his name to the festival, several of which occur around the country. I would really like to get one going in Austin. Heard there's some movement in San Antonio—and it makes sense to have it there. But I think an Austin version would be awesome. On the other hand, I don't need any more distractions from writing. It's a constant battle.

Sandra Cisneros in China

Clique aquí

Save the Date! Oct. 23, 2010

 

Presents:  

A Sweet Evening of Song & Story

Oct. 23, 2010

(time TBA)

Dripping Springs, Texas 

minutes from downtown Austin

See what's cooking at the area's newest book store, specializing in cross cultural and bilingual books. Music by Myrna Cabello, reading by Belinda Acosta & other sweet surprises.

Much Awesomeness at Las Comadres Book Club!

Hello friends and fans! 

It's been a while. I am finally feeling like myself after the arthroscopic surgery this summer. I’m doing better and have graduated to a cane.

One of my first public appearances post-surgery was at the Las Comadres Book Club here in Austin. This is only one of many Comadres’ Book Clubs that meet monthly around the nation. (So much for the stereotype about Latin@s not reading. Who started that ridiculous idea, anyway?) My recent book, Sisters, Strangers, and Starting Over was the Las Comadres’ Book Club Selection for September, and the North Austin book club invited me to sit in on their discussion about the book.

The North Austin book club meets monthly at the Borders Bookstore at the Domain shopping center. Honestly, I don't travel up north much but this was well worth the trip. Do you know what it's like to sit with a group of women who read your book and have all kinds of things to say about it? It was amazing! Even their criticism was lively, offered with good humor, mucho cariño, and appreciation. I was truly, truly honored. Making time to read in this media-rich climate takes a special sort of diligence. It’s easy if you’re bibliophiles, as these women are. Listening to each of them talk, it's clear they devour books and are always on the lookout for more. In fact, they came up with three more books I should write based on their response to Sister, Strangers, and Starting Over alone!

I had a great time with these book lovers and am sure to have more fun this Monday (Sept. 27) during the Las Comadres’ Teleconference. As the featured writer for the month, I will be interviewed by Julia Amante, author of Evenings at the Argentine Club. And you can listen in. Go to the Las Comadres website for more information on how to participate in the teleconference.

Below are a few more photos from the evening, thanks to me comadre Liliana Valenzuela. Pictured above are Cynthia Ramos (c) the North Austin book club coordinator. To her left is Rachael Torres, the Las Comadres national book club coordinator. Sorry, I don't recall la comadre's name on the left. Perhaps someone will remind me.

The party's just getting started.

The sign in table. I was told these were the last of the books pre-ordered for book club!

Familial Diversity

Familial Diversity

BookPeople, Austin, Texas: July 23, 2010

Note the yummy cupcakes at my elbow. Thanks to all who came out, bought books, and celebrated with me. Mi amiga Myrna Cabello, who sang between reading selections, promises a video clip of the reading. I'll post when it comes in. Oh, and thanks to Perla Cavasos for letting me borrow this pic.

Reader Review: Paulet Smart, Austin, Texas

Paulet Smart of The Write Club posted this sweet review of Sisters, Strangers, and Starting Over on The Write Club blog. Check it out here.

I have a couple of other reader reviews to post, too. Forgive me. I'm still catching up after the knee surgery. Today, I discovered an entire page of emails I hadn't even opened the last week of June! Which just proves what I've always suspected: I do pretty well with pain, but anesthesia and painkillers—forget it! They make me completely, and utterly useless!

Be well!