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LITERANEW VOICES AUSTIN invites authors of poetry and short fiction to make their public reading debuts. This is a low pressure, celebratory event and a chance to have your work appreciated in real time by fellow artists. Throw off those chains of fear and join us. RSVP Rip at 444-4919. Fri, Sept 19, 7-9pm at BookPeople, 6th & Lamar.
THE UNPROTECTED POETRY WORLD TOUR features L.A. poet L.G. Jaffe reading selections from his collection dedicated to the eradication of oppression. Jaffe will be joined by Austin's Dr. Marvin Kimbrough and Floyd Freeman. Sat, Sept 20, 4pm, followed by a reception at 5pm, in the Heritage House Diverse Arts Little Gallery, 810 E. 13th. 346-7773.
AUSTIN POETRY JAMS culminates with a special program on Sat, Sept 20 that features music from Blue Haiku (poetry by Jeff Parker Knight); The Ripe `N' Ready Poetry Performance Troupe; The Unprotected Poetry World Tour from L.A. with L.G. Jaffe; and local poets Patricia Fiske, Frank Pool, and others. Admission is free. Every Saturday in September at 7pm in Quackenbush's on the Drag, 2120 Guadalupe.
RIPE `N READY presents Prime Pickings, a performance poetry extravaganza, combining music, dance, and dramatization, to showcase original works by Albert Huffstickler, Patricia Fiske, Marlys West, Suzanne Vance, Eric Schimel, Barbara Carr, Deanna Shoemaker and others. Featured performers include Rachael Lieck, Michael Dalmon, Gina Mears, Sharon Stuart, Dottie Smith, Douglas Taylor, and more. $6 at the door. Sun, Sept 21, 7pm in Hyde Park Theatre, 511 W 43rd.
THE AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL is looking for two volunteers to coordinate the 1998 festival. A volunteer coordinator is needed to interview prospective volunteers and assist in placing them in roles within the organization. They are also asked to maintain volunteer forms, publicize for openings, and assist with volunteer appreciation. Also needed is a poet correspondent which entails maintaining mailings for some 300 poets, invitations to read, registration, and release forms, etc. Email a must for both positions. Other volunteers needed include publicity, membership, and festival volunteer staffing. Christina Sergeyevna at 918-AIPF.
POETFEST II is the Central Texas Live Poets Society and Temple Cultural Activities Center answer to the Austin International Poetry Festival. It takes place Sat, Oct 25, 11am-7pm so I know this is early warning but they are looking for sponsors to help fund, volunteers to help with the event, and they will happily take advance ticket orders. To purchase $5 tickets in advance contact More Green at 817-778-2843 or Joy Owen at 512-246-9352. If you want to volunteer contact Andy Berry at 817-939-3296. Corporation and Advanced Sponsorships are $500, Associate Sponsorships are $100, and Basic is $25 or more. Send checks payable to: Central Texas Live Poets Society, 3001 Oakridge Dr., Temple TX 76502.
JAMES MAGNUSON, director of the Texas Center for Writers at UT, is the featured guest lecturer at the Austin Writers' League monthly meeting. Free and open to the public. Thurs, Sept 18, 7pm, in the First Unitarian Church, 4700 Grover. 499-8914.
Seminars & ClassesTHREE SPECIAL-TOPIC SEMINARS are offered by Elizabeth Garton, a local teacher, former Michener fellow, and literary editor. Each topic will be taught and practiced over three consecutive Tuesday nights. Discounts offered for multi-class registration. Reading for Writers, Sept 16-30; Writing Within Poetic Form, Oct 7-21; and Landscape as Metaphor, Oct 28-Nov 11. Private conference courses available. 441-2490.
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP led by Maria Veres Homic, M.A., welcomes writers of all ages, genres, and skill level. Tuesday evenings, Sept 30-Nov 11. 312-0908.
GEMINI INK has 19 writing classes this fall. Instructors/moderators include Naomi Shihab Nye, Rob Walsh, Marion Winik, Carolyn Osborn, and others. Tuition ranges from $45 to $85. For details write: Gemini Ink, PO Box 461106, San Antonio, TX 78246 or call 210-826-6559.
AUSTIN WRITERS' LEAGUE registration for its fall workshops and classes is ongoing. Three evening informal classes and eight half-day Saturday workshops are set for September and October. Also an intensive novel workshop taught by Virginia Watkins offers an opportunity for six students to polish their work-in-progress or develop a first draft in the course of 14 two-hour weekly sessions beginning Wed, Sept 17. Also John Herndon teaches Publish Your Poetry on Sat, Sept 27, 9am to noon; Trevor Romain teaches Writing for Children on Sat Sept 27, 1-4pm; plus many more including The Personal Essay, Writing Well to Sell, and Playwrighting. Classes and workshops will be held at the AWL Library/Resource Center, 1501 W. Fifth, Ste E-2. For details: 499-8914.
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. $90 four-week course on Wednesdays beginning Sept 24, 7-9pm; $260 eight-week course on Tuesdays beginning Sept 30, 7-9pm. Applications must be received by Sat, Sept 20. 835-7639.
JIMMY AND THE RUNAWAY is another heartrending set of poems by Austin's Larry Thoren. His compassionate, lyrical embrace of the non-hip outcast, of the bums in the making and the bums who always were and ever will be, of the needy, husk of a stranger in us all, is breathtaking. There is always some part of us that refuses salvation, whose only solace is the grave of inutterable despair. Thoren wisely doesn't offer these people a way out for he knows this would deny them their one dignity, that of refusal. He simply lays it out and watches everything roll inexorably away.
ReviewsMETEORS is a new book of poetry by Robert René Galván. He is a conductor by trade and a poet, Unitarian philosopher by heart. Let me just quote from the jacket: "Through the imponderable, the improbable, and the uncertain, life is explored with... mesmerizing metaphor by which a leaf becomes a parasol, a rag, a return passage to childhood make-believe, and bits of stars our own flesh."
THE BOSTON THOM PARTY by Thom the World Poet (who else?) is, first of all, legible (he says he's sworn off the scrawl and the astigmatized typeset) and best of all very much a fun read. Though a few somber moments lumber by, these are mostly fun swipes at our little cultural foibles we all so love to ignore. Listen to the titles: Fool Stop; Turn That Turtle Over; Men Without Women; Cosmic Kismet Karma; Hey, Don't Worry. The best philosophers have always been comics at heart.
MAIDENWORKS is accepting monologues and short plays that have not been previously produced. These may be on any subject and should be no more than 15 minutes in length. After entries are reviewed performers will be called to audition for the Sunday showcase at Hyde Park Theatre on Nov 9. Theater space, technical support, publicity, and production management will be provided. Artists who are willing to take full creative responsibility for their work are desired. Deadline is Mon, Sept 22. Send submissions to: Maidenworks, PO Box 143313, Austin, TX 78714
Call for EntriesDATES FROM HELL will be the title of a book currently being compiled by Victoria Jackson (not the actress) and Mike Harris. For info about submitting stories get to that monitor and type http://www.datesfromhell.com
TV HOLE (http://www.tvhole.com) seeks submissions from freelance writers, graphic artists, and programmers. They are looking for a unique take on sports, art, movies, music, news, and web culture. Funny is good; edgy graphics good, too. This is about glory, folks, not the big moolah, eh? Doug, 452-7708.
CONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN HERNDON, now an established talk radio program, (past guests include Gary Snyder, Bill Paxton, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Kerry Awn, Marion Winik, Jo Carol Pierce, Peggy Kelley, Sue Littleton, and John Cutaia) airs Sundays, noon-2pm on KJFK-FM 98.9. Poet, journalist, and teacher, John's show focuses on books and authors, the arts, ideas, and culture. Send books, CDs, schedules, and other material to: John Herndon, 3616 Far West Blvd. #101-145, Austin, TX 78731-3074.
JOIN GENEVIEVE VAUGHAN, author of For-Giving: A Feminist Criticism of Exchange, in an on-going discussion group on her work and other culturally pressing concerns. For women only. Every Sunday, 5:30-7pm at WEBB, 107 B Johanna. 262-2300.
Ongoing ReadingsBOOKPEOPLE has many writers signing and/or reading this month, so go to BookPeople and check their schedule or get on their mailing list. 603 N. Lamar. 472-5050 or 459-8081. Book People's Reading Group's subject for Sept and Oct is "Life During Wartime." The books are: Sept 24, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien; Oct 8, A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot; Oct 22, Beloved by Toni Morrison. All discussions will take place 7pm-8:30pm in the Community Room, third floor. By signing up at customer service participants receive a 10% discount on all featured titles. Rena Korb leads the discussion group 371-1910 or Renakorb@flash.net. 603 N. Lamar. 459-8081.
AIR SALON, is still the current poetry and theatre radio show from KVRX-FM, with hosts Caitlin Wood and Phil West. Tue, 7-7:30pm. Send submissions: Air Salon c/o KVRX-FM, UT, PO Box D, Austin, TX 78713.
* Weekly *THE AUSTIN TOASTMASTERS meet to promote and improve public speaking skills. Tuesdays at 5:45pm, 21st floor, 100 Congress. 458-9427.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON LIVE POETS! Note the new time! Saturdays, 4pm, Quackenbush's on Guadalupe.
LAUGHING AT THE SUN ART GALLERY invites artists, poets, writers, and musicians to create, perform, and meet one another. Sundays, noon-5pm, 2209 S. First St. 326-4410.
TEXAS NAFAS, as it turns, out will be the new name of the poetry show on the public access Channel 10 that used to be called Austin Lite but they had to change their name and so were going to premiere the new-named show in August but then didn't but it is now scheduled to really premiere Sept 20 and Sept 21 with a one-hour show featuring Pasha and Robert Bly. Confused? Ah, it just separates the real poets from the faddists. Hang in there, Farid. (Nafas means "breathing" in Farsi and is connected to spirit, soul: poetry, in other words.) Show airs on Channel 10, Saturdays, 11am and is repeated Sundays, 9pm (note the change of times).
SABERTOOTH SALOON is an open mike venue featuring poetry, prose, rants, chants, songs, and incantations or any other orally transmitted dreams, hosted by Hunter. Wed 8:30-10pm, signup 8:15, Rio Grande Coffeehaus, 2222 Rio Grande. 322-0922.
BORDERS hosts literary discussion groups every Wednesday at 7:30pm. Borders discussion groups: The Literary Discussion Group meets the 1st Wed of each month; the Mystery Group meets the second Wed; the SF folks meet the third Wed of the month; the Non-fiction meets the fourth Wed of the month. Wed, 7:30pm, Borders Books & Music, 10225 Research. 795-8410. Borders also features free poetry readings with special guests each month. Hosted by Barbara Carr. The fourth Wed of each month, 7:30. 795-9553 (Borders) or 343-7940 (Carr).
HYDE PARK UNPLUGGED features poetry and/or music with hosts Glen Alyn and Steve Brooks. Thu, 7-9pm, New World Deli, 41st and Guadalupe. 451-7170.
RUTA MAYA presents APAL open readings with Laura Moliter hosting. Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30pm, 218 W. Fourth. 371-1254.
* Monthly ** AUSTIN POETRY SOCIETY invites visitors and guests to their meeting the third Saturday of the month through May at 10pm in the Howson Branch Library, 2500 Exposition. 458-1485.
*SISTERS IN CRIME NEWS: The reading group meets the last Sun of the month, 2pm in Convenience Office Supply, 2600 Longhorn Blvd. (north of 183 off Burnet). 345-7224.
*BARNES & NOBLE at the Arboretum sponsors poetry the second Thu of every month, 7:30-10pm. Featured guest Sept 11 is John Berry. A round robin open mike follows. 928-0619 or 837-8693. Third Thu of each month, (Sept 18) 7:30-10pm, features a Poetry Workshop led by Jill Timmons. Bring 10 or more copies of a one-page original poem. 335-7078.
*BARNES & NOBLE at the Arboretum, 335-7078. Sat, Sept, 13, 2-4pm Ron Stone discusses and signs copies of The Book of Texas Days; Tue, Sept 16, 7pm James Hynes discusses and signs copies of Publish & Perish; Sat, Sept 20 6pm Jean Starnes reads from and signs copies of Hell on Wheels, her autobiographical tale of her struggle with cerebral palsy; Sat, Sept 20, 7:30pm, Jack Erdman discusses and signs copies of Whiskey's Children; Tues, Sept 30, 7pm poet, novelist, and translator Rosmarie Waldrop discusses A Key into the Language of America, The Reproduction of Profiles, and Another Language: Selected Poems.
*BARNES & NOBLE at the Arboretum, 335-7078. The Fiction Book Group meets the last Mon of the month, 7:30pm. September's selection is Acid House by Irving Welsh. 918-9636. The Women's Book Discussion Group meets the fourth Wednesday of the month, 7pm. 218-8199. Their Children's Storytimes are Wed, 10am and 11:30am; Fri, 7pm; and Sat, 11am.
*BARNES & NOBLE Westlake, 2757 Bee Caves. 343-7940: John Berry hosts poetry the last Thu of each month (Sept 25), 7:30-10pm. A Poetry Workshop is held the first Thu of the month, 7:30-10pm. Hosted by Barbara Carr. 328-3155. Children's Storytimes: Fri, 7pm, Wed, 11am, and Sat, 11am. Times subject to change; 328-3155.
More poetry. The children of the world are in immediate contact with the divine if they can only remember and see that everything is the divine revealed. It is all a wonderful dance, an unfolding of what was, is, and ever will be. They can even find joy in their stone stubbornness of ego that denies the fact of our common bond by knowing that it too is divine. Find joy. Remember joy. You are already there. Remember. Forget. Dance into your power. Follow the child. Vaya con dios.
Poem of the IssueTo no god in particular Jimmy prayed
"Please let me be still."
Here is where the story ends
Here
as the mother watches a swimmer lace the water
as a weekday breeze
whispers its own secret
to the sleeping child
- Larry Thoren ""Jimmy's Prayer" (an excerpt)