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LITERA
VERBARRAGE presents Albert Huffstickler and W. Joe Hoppe, two of the finest poets Austin is honored to claim as citizens. Huff is 69; Joe is Xish; their spirits are timeless. Highly recommended. Hosted by David Jewell. Tue, Jan 28 at 8pm in the Cactus Cafe (in the Texas Union on the UT campus).JORIE GRAHAM, winner of the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, will read from and sign copies of her works as part of the Lindsey Literary Series at SWT. A reception follows the reading. A Q&A is held the following day. Worth a trip south. Thu, Jan 30 from 2-3pm in the Chatauqua Room of the LBJ Student Center on the SWT campus in San Marcos. On Friday the 31st the Q&A with Ms. Graham is from 11am to noon in Flowers Hall, Room 376 on the SWT campus. 512-245-2163.
TWO SCREENWRITING WORKSHOPS are being offered by Aubrey M. Horton (MFA UCLA film school). Horton has consulted on projects for Warner Bros., Paramount, and HBO. Classes are 7-9pm. A $90 4-week class, Tuesdays (2/4-2/25); a $280 8-week class, Wednesdays (2/12-4/2). Application deadline is Fri, Jan 31. 835-7639.
Classes, Misc.
BODILY FUNCTIONS is a riff about a woman's struggle to gauge the depth of her date's commitment while she tries to take an emergency dump in an alley on a carnival night. Ah, Huff and his metaphors on life. Then again, metaphors are the essence of poetry. The sly side of Huff, y'all. $1.50 to: Albert Huffstickler, 312 E. 43rd Apt 103, Austin, TX 78751.
ReviewsNOCTET: Tales of Madonna-Moloch by Albert J. Manachino is editor Michael Ambrose's gathering for the first time of the fantasist master's tales of the exploits of wizard-detective Virgil Hood on the impossible planet of Madonna-Moloch. Six of the stories are gleaned from long-unattainable magazines and two stories are new where everything is alive . . . and dead. If you like Weird Tales or Lovecraft with humor you'll love Manachino. Really, comparisons fail: he is Manachino. $14.95. To get a taste of the macabre world of Al Manachino, get on the web at http://www.eden.com/~carlos/noctet Order from: Argo Press, PO Box 4201, Austin, TX 78765-4201
AND LITERA'S TOP 12 of 1996 since it somehow got deleted from the Top Ten list a couple of weeks ago, in no particular order:
* Ken Hunt's Weapons on Premises
* This Year's Special: All Poems 100% Guaranteed edited by W. Joe Hoppe and Jim Walker
* Venus Envy by Kristi Sprinkle
* Cityscape Poems by Larry Thoren
* Vegetable Logic by Scott Wiggerman
* Robin Plan's Manifesto
* Sue Littleton's The Ranch on the Pecos
* The Hennessey Papers by Mark Smith and Albert Huffstickler
* outlaw by john wright
* la Que se Fue by Gilbert Garcia
* Those great and/or infamous anthologies: Bad News Bingo! Bitch Goddess Issue 12; 1920 Cig; Lost Armadillos in Heat and their perverted sister Grovee Chewawa; Nerve Cowboy;Borderlands Poetry Review; and Literally.
* Albert Huffstickler
CONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN HERNDON is a new talk radio program airing on Sundays, noon-2pm on KJFK-FM 98.9. Poet, journalist, and teacher, John's show will focus on books and authors, the arts, ideas, and culture. John promises lots of poetry and readings and interviews from and with authors, artists, scholars, and thinkers. (Congratulations and good luck, John. And, yeah, I'll be happy to sit in and chat one day -- say, after the Legislature leaves town.) Poets, authors, musicians, artists, and arts organizations are encouraged to send books, CDs, schedules, and other material to: John Herndon, 3616 Far West Blvd. #101-145, Austin, TX 78731-3074.
Call for EntriesTHE AUSTIN WRITERS' LEAGUE is taking entries for the Young Texas Writers' Scholarship program (open to all Texas high school students grades 9-12; subjects are poetry, short story, essay, and journalism) and the Teddy Award (underwritten by Toad Hall Children's Book Store) for the best children's book written and published in 1996 by an Austin Writers' League member (and you can pay your dues at submission). Deadlines: Jan 31. Guidelines: 499-8914.
ART-CORE is now accepting submissions of photos, drawings, paintings, video, et cetera. They support uncensored anarchistic art -- and have been doing so for quite some time now, kiddies. PO Box 49324, Austin, TX 78765. 323-0774.
MILE HIGH POETRY SOCIETY hosts a Winterfest Poetry contest with $500 in cash prizes. Send SASE: Mile High Poetry, PO Box 21116, Denver, CO 80221 or call 303/657-8461.
NERVE COWBOY is accepting submissions of poetry, short fiction (up to five pages), and black-and-white artwork for issue #3. They would especially like subs from Texas. So torpedo yo' hoagie-burritoed schtuff along with a SASE to: Joseph Shields and Jerry Hagins, PO Box 4973, Austin, TX 78765.
LITERALLY, Austin Monthly Journal of the Liberal Arts, is accepting submissions of art, cartoons, photography, fiction, and poetry, etc. Send to: Terry R.W. Whisenant, 1700 Burton, #423, Austin, TX 78741.
PATCHWORK POEMS Submissions must be received by the full moon each month. Send to: New Moon Publishing, 1528 W. Contour, Suite 103, San Antonio, TX 78212. Fax: 210/684-3050.
SHORT FICTION GROUP meets twice a month for friendly critique sessions. Beginners to professionals welcome. Austin History Center, O. Henry Room. 467-2588.
Ongoing Readings & Misc.BOOK PEOPLE, 603 N. Lamar, reading group meets every other Wednesday, 6:30-8pm on a new topic every two months. Call for a schedule and get on their mailing list. 472-5050 or 459-8081.
*Deepak Chopra signs his The Path to Love: Renewing the Power of Spirit in Your Life on Fri, Jan 24, 7pm; Whitley Streiber signs Secret School: Preparation for Contact, a prequel to the book most responsible for the wonderful but never can get a two-part episode right X-Files, the one and only Communion. 472-5050 or 459-8081.
*Book People's Book Group meets from 6:30-8pm in the Community Room on the 3rd floor. The January-March session of Book People Book Group will be Granta magazine's best young American novelists. (Jan 29 Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?; Feb 12 Reservation Blues; Feb 26 Bone; Mar 12 Krik? Krak!; Mar 26 Iona Moon.) For the schedule/to reserve a spot call 472-5050. Questions? Ellyn Lem. 603 N. Lamar. 459-8081.
WRITING FROM THE HEART, North Village Branch Library, 2139 W. Anderson, writing group, every other Sat, 11am-1pm. 445-6573.
* Weekly *STORYTELLERS OF AUSTIN performs traditional and original stories at Koffee `n Ice Cream, 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd. Guest tellers welcome. Mondays, 6:30-8pm. 453-0665.
ALTERNATE CURRENT ART SPACE, 2209 S. First, features poetic events on Tuesdays at 7pm. 443-9674.
THE 1997 AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL is set for April 4-6. Planning meetings are held every Tuesday night at Soma. Festival volunteers are needed and anyone interested is welcome to attend and participate. 212 W. Fourth, 6-7pm. 335-8599 or e-mail at AIPF97@aol.com
HYDE PARK UNPLUGGED features The Rude Mechanicals and Thom the World Poet plug on Jan 23. Hosts are Glen Alyn and Steve Brooks. Thursdays, 7-9pm. Joel T's Cafe, 41st & Guadalupe. 453-8482.
JUDGE ROY'S BEAN EMPORIUM presents poetry each Tuesday from 8-10pm or later. Open mike and guest stars each week. Jan 28 features Clebo Rainey who is a notoriously entertaining fellow. 604 Brazos (the Sixth St. entry of the Driskill Hotel). 928-0619 or 837- 8693.
MOJO'S DAILY GRIND, 2714 Guadalupe, features gibberish @ 10pm every Fri. Sign up before 9:30. Bring some, make some up, or just listen. Poets, storytellers, ranters, rêvers. They're flexible. Hosted by Naomi Frye. 477-6656.
SOMA CoffeeHouse presents Somos! poetry Tuesday nights, 7-9pm, (note the change of days) with two or three poets featured round-robin style. Hosts are Sue Littleton and Thom the World Poet. Austin International Poetry Festival Volunteer meetings are held every Monday, 6-7pm, just before the readings. Volunteers are needed so be a part of the March '97 Festival. 212 W. Fourth. 335-8599.
WORDSNIGHT The Blue Pearl, 129 E. Hopkins, San Marcos is a new open-mike poetry reading, held every other Sunday, 7-9pm. Storytellers are also welcome; limit three poems or stories per person. Hosted by Bob Clark. 369-1689.
POETRY UNDER THE TREE is a weekly reading on Wednesday, 6-8 pm in the Spiderhouse, 2908 Fruth, just east of Guadalupe between 29th & 30th. The Austin Poets at Large meet before the reading at 6pm to plan various and sundry poetrying deviltry and all are welcome to the meeting and to the reading. Call 371-1254.
NON-CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE and three-handed spades discussion club, every Tuesday, 7pm. 477-8042.
* Monthly **AUSTIN POETRY SOCIETY meets 10am on the third Saturday of each month through May 17. North Loop Library, 2210 Hancock Dr. 276-7858.
*THE ELECTRIC LOUNGE POETRY SLAM is hosted by Slamistress Genevieve Van Cleve on the first Tuesday of each month at 8pm. Monthly winners will qualify for the slamoff to determine next year's Austin Poetry Slam Team competing in the National Poetry Slam. And each monthly winner gets 50 green slims for their winning ways. 302 Bowie. 476-FUSE.
* TRIBES hosts Talking Drums Black Poets Reading and Discussion Group, W.H. Passon House, 1501 E. 12th. Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7-9pm. These gatherings focus on presentation and critiques. There will be a guest speaker at each meeting. 477-4247.
* BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC, 10225 Research, free poetry the fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:30pm. Hosted by Barbara Carr. Round-robin open-mike. For Jan '97, the venue will be held on Wed, Jan 29, featuring the women of Ripe 'N Ready. 795-9553 or 343-7940.
OTHER BORDERS BOOKS EVENTS: The Mystery Discussion Group meets the second Wed of each month at 7:30pm in the cafe; the Literary Discussion Group meets the second Wed of each month at 7:30pm in the Literature Dept.; the Gay & Lesbian Discussion Group meets the last Wed at 7:30 in the cafe (call for the selection) 795-9553.
Children's Story Time at Borders are 10:30am, Thursday for preschoolers and 2pm, Saturdays for 5 and up. 795-9553 or 343-7940.
*SISTERS IN CRIME NEWS: The reading group meets the last Sunday of the month at 2pm in Convenience Office Supply, 2600 Longhorn (North of 183, off Burnet). 345-7224.
*AUSTIN HISTORY SHORT FICTION GROUP meets in the O. Henry Room, first Sunday of each month, 1-3pm. 467-2588.
* BARNES & NOBLE, Arboretum Poetry the second Thursday each month, 7:30-10pm. Host Herman Nelson. Feb 13 features Michael Eaton with guest Herman Nelson. Hosted by John Berry. Round-robin open-mike follows. 928-0619 or 837-8693.
Third Thursday of each month, AWL and the Texas Commission on the Arts sponsors a Poetry Workshop at the B&N shop led by Jill Timmons, 7:30-10pm. Bring 10 or more copies of any one-page, original poem. 335-7078.
B&N Fiction Book Discussion, last Monday of each month, 7pm. 502-8468 or 418-8985.
* AND AT WESTLAKE Barnes & Noble at 2757 Bee Caves: A Poetry Workshop sponsored by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Austin Writers' League is held on the first Thursday (Feb 6) of each month from 7:30-10pm. Hosted by Barbara Carr. Bring 10 or more copies of any one-page original poem. 2757 Bee Caves. 343-7940.
Other events at the Westlake location: Children's Storytime at 10:30am.
Book Discussion Group idea? Seminar idea? Call Amy at Barnes & Noble 418-8985.
*Red Salmon Press continues its "Poetic Action" series with canto libre/open mike sessions and featured readings, second or fourth Thursdays of each month. Resistencia Bookstore, 2210-B S. First. 7:30pm. 416-8885.
*Turquoise Door Poetry reading and open mike every third Sunday of the month, 2-5pm. "Each Poet Is a Featured Poet." 10 minutes max, each poet for one round, then round-robin. Hosted by Sue Littleton. To schedule ahead of time or for better directions, call 480-0168.
* Women's Book Discussion Group every fourth Wed, 7:30pm (call 477-6318).
More roses on your breath! More razors in your tea! Cling to nothing. You don't and can't have a patent on wisdom, on the answer, on that one feeling moment of absolute lucidity and numinous connectedness; nor can you claim ownership on misery, on the nature of the abyss. You had it and it is gone or you will have it and it will go. Cling to nothing. Neither pity nor envy yourself or the self you would be or were. Practice and practice; remember and then let it go. Let it go and evolve. No tension. No complacency. Cling to nothing. Pay homage to the image and let it go. True homage to the image has no need of philosophy. The world is a dancer practicing her pirouette. Cling to nothing. Vaya con vaya con vaya...
Poem of the Issue
what is really said under all the words is
touch me hold me gently
let this moment come alive
let the future stay outside
let the past evaporate and die
what is really said under all the words is
why must you be so far away.-- David Jewell, "fist of innocence tongue of dread" (an excerpt) from This Year's Special All Poems 100% Guaranteed, edited by W. Joe Hoppe and Jim Walker