AWP

I’m back from an exciting and exhausting time at the AWP in Chicago. My head’s still reeling, and my poor body’s trying to recuperate.

Some quick highlights:

A wonderful selection of panels dealing with Latino and Native American themes and issues, especially “Diverging Lines” (new directions for Latino poetry), “Something to Declare?” (America’s internal borders and writers’ experiences in crossing them), “Las Mocosas Gritan” (wonderful reading by a group of Macondistas), “After Magic Realism” (new directions in Latino writing), “Speaking Of and To Others” (Indigenous Poetics).

Con Tinta. WOW! Great pachanga of Latino writers in a great venue with delicious food.

Palabra Pura: Special Edition “One Poem Reading.” Fabulous venue, great crowd, wonderful and wonderfully diverse poems by poets from all over the country.

Getting to meet writers I’ve admired for years—Linda Hogan, Simon Ortiz, Lorraine Lopez, Cornelius Eady. Getting to meet new writers I’ve just started reading and admiring in the last year or so—Lisa Alvarado, Carlos Cumpian, Daniel Olivas, Paul Martinez Pompa—and new writers I’d not been aware of—Aaron Michael Morales, Johanny Vasquez Paz, Juan Manuel Sanchez. Making new friendships with some of them that I hope to continue.

Getting to see old friends, such as Diane Glancy, Robin Becker, Marilyn Kallett.

Coming away with editors who want to see my next manuscript, with promises to review my book, with promises to adopt the Collective’s anthology in courses, and more.

More later.

Palabra Pura at AWP in Chicago Next Week

Next week, I'm heading off to the AWP (Associated Writers & Writing Programs) national conference in Chicago, February 11-14. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of old friends and attending their panels and meeting lots of new people. Most of all, I'm looking forward to reading in the special Palabra Pura "One Poem Festival" on Friday night and visiting with lots of interesting folks at Con Tinta the night before.

Friday, February 13
Special Edition: "One Poem Festival"

(AWP off-site event)

6:00 - 7:30 PM
@Jazz Showcase

Lisa Alvarado
Carlos Cumpian
Silvia Curbelo
Gina Franco
Gabe Gomez
Irasema Gonzalez
Maurice Kilwein Guevara
Gabriela Jauregui
Olivia Maciel
Carl Marcum
Valerie Martínez
Orlando Ricardo Menes
Achy Obejas
Daniel A. Olivas
Johanny Vázquez Paz
Paul Martinez Pompa
Linda Rodríguez
Jacob Saenz
Jorge Sánchez
Juan Manuel Sanchez
Rich Villar

co-sponsored by Poetry magazine

Thursday, February 12

6:30PM-8:30PM

Con Tinta Celebration
Location: COCO Restaurant, 2723 W. Division St, CHICAGO 60622
Cost: Free Buffet / Cash Bar
Website: http://www.cocochicago.com/
Fourth Annual Pachanga for the Chicano/Latino Literary community and its allies. Event will include special recognition of Patti Hartmann, presentation of Achievement Award to Carlos Cortez, and readings/tributes by Carlos Cumpian, Lisa Alvarado, and Ray Gonzalez. For more information, contact Richard Yañez (ryanez4@epcc.edu).