OUTREACH PRODUCTIONS will put together a book of poetry and other writings by the youth of Austin entitled The Youth Have a Million Voices. The book will be published in the spring of 1999. Outreach will hold readings through March 27 to collect works from the youth who wish to have their works published. For a complete list of the events, locations, and dates call Deborah Orr, director of Outreach. The next reading will be held at the Ebony Sun Java House. Sat, Feb 20, 1-3pm, 1209 E. 11th. 912-8571.
THE 2ND ANNUAL SALUTE TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS Celebration and tea features Camika Spencer, Anita Bunkley, and Shia Shabazz Barnett. Admission is free, but donations are accepted for the Austin Writers' League Project Wise and the Austin Area Urban League's Dream Team 2000 Program and the "I Am ..." project. The evening will include a poetry slam, readings, book signings, African storytelling, raffles, door prizes, and jazz. This event, held at the Meeting Place, is in honor of Black History Month. Sat, Feb 20, 6-9pm, 2100 Northland. 323-9500 or 499-8914.
AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL is holding a fundraiser at the home of AIPF chairman Frank Pool. Featured are refreshments, round robin poetry, door prizes, and an auction of gift certificates and merchandise donated by authors and Austin supporters such as Waterloo Records, Vulcan Video, Manuel's Restaurant, City Grill, Positive Images, The Lamp Shoppe, Katz's New York Deli, Academy Sports and Outdoors, DiverseArts, and more. All proceeds go to AIPF '99 scheduled for April 15-18. For details and directions you know what to do. Sun, Feb 21, 3pm. 346-8717 or e-mailaipf99@aol.com.
THE PUPPET THEATER presents the traditional children's folktales, The Little Red Hen and How the King's Daughter Lost Her Hair, in the Carver Library as part of the "I Can Read" program. Mon, Feb 22, 3pm, 1161 Angelina.
JAMES ELLROY, author of The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, and L.A. Confidential, is the featured guest at a reception sponsored by the Austin Writers' League. The reception will be in the Maloney Room of St. Ed's University's Main Building. Mysteries and More Bookstore hosts a reading and booksigning of his latest novel, Crime Wave, following the reception. Free and open to the public. Tue, Feb 23, 6pm (7pm reading), 301 S. Congress. 499-8914.
POET AUGUST KLEINZAHLER, Guggenheim fellow, author of six volumes of poetry, and contributor to The New Yorker, The Paris Review, American Poetry Review, Harper's, and numerous other journals, will read from his work in the fourth floor auditorium of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center on the UT campus. Kleinzahler is currently a visiting professor of poetry for the Michener Center for Writers. Free and open to the public. Thu, Feb 25, 7:30pm, 21st & Guadalupe. 471-1601.
POETRY FRINGE FEST runs April 8-14 this year. They have their usual international welcome BBQ April 11. 416-7435 orworldpoet@rocketmail.com.
THE HOLOCAUST MEMOIRS of Charlotte Delbo are the focus of a Gemini Ink writing workshop entitled "Writing the Unimaginable: Memory and Imagery of Charlotte Delbo." Presented by writer Elizabeth Duvert, Ph.D. in literature and art history from Emory University. Suggested reading is "None of Us Will Return," part one of Delbo's trilogy Auschwitz and After. Sat, Feb 20, 9am-noon, 121 West Woodlawn in San Antonio. $40 for Gemini Ink members ($45, nonmembers). 210/734-WORD.
THE OPEN FIELD CREATIVE WRITING CENTER offers non-academic seminars/ courses for all ages and levels. Poetry, fiction, performance poetry, and bookmaking for journals and poems. 1315-B W. Sixth. 481-9812 or 280-6595.
YOUNG WRITERS' WORKSHOPS are open to middle and high-school students. Now through April. A public reading will be held at the Austin International Poetry Festival at the end of the project. Call for dates. Saturdays, noon-3pm, 810 E. 13th. 476-7248.
FICTION, POETRY, MAGAZINE ARTICLES Screenwriting evening classes are offered in the spring by University Extension. College credit or not: your choice. 471-2900 or http://www.utexas.edu/dce/univext.
BAD NEWS BINGO, one of the oldest ongoing 'zines in town, will have another issue in bed and ready for your perusal the end of this month at Cafe Mundi. It's: Hope and Despair. Welcome 1999. Which side of the bed did you get out of this millennium? Facts is facts and have no value other than the meaning YOU put to them. Hope or Despair? They're at your service or are you at theirs? The release features music by Earth-Goddess band Gallus Mag. Sat, Feb 27, 8-10pm, 1704 E. Sixth.
UTTER Issue 2, edited by Virginia Watkins, features poetry, fiction, essays, and photographs. The American frontier still exists and it's where it has always existed. Wanna see it? Just give me a push. Many of these poems do not overtly proclaim that edgy domain of the American threat, but in every one of them violence lurks like a cancer waiting for its cue. Available for $7 and the tax bite at Book People, Barnes & Noble Guadalupe, and Borders.
HUMAN BEING by Jack Myers is a slim volume of delightful Zen Buddhist-inspired poems. A wonderful, wise, wry read. Truly. Such simple poems are very difficult to master and Mr. Myers succeeds brilliantly. Classic. A real keeper. $8 at your finer readeries,http://www.amazon.com, or Rancho Loco Press, 1920 Abrams, #382, Dallas, TX 75214.
NERVE COWBOY, NO. 6, slacks on up to the bar and presents itself in its usual state of the bohemian nation way, a little cleaner perhaps than its ever-aging siblings, but still full of the "blow me" attitude that keeps us comin' back for more entitlement abuse. Available at Book People or for $4 to: NC, PO Box 4973, Austin, TX 78765.
E PLURIBUS ALUMINUM by Thomas Michael McDade won last year's second prize in Utter's yearly chapbook contest. McDade's is a dry, mostly unaffected take on the working-class life. He ain't bitter, ain't self-deprecating, ain't too romantic. Just offers observatory soundings from a perspective of three squares and a flop. Tough men. Tough women. The only real thread of sentimentality shown is for a stripper and a dead hooker. Just a practical American being philosophically observatory. Available for $4 through Nerve Cowboy, PO Box 4973, Austin 78765.
SIMPLE VOWS seeks submissions of 3-6 poems, one-act plays, dramatic monologues, literary criticism, short journal entries, or short stories of no more than 5,000 words. Hard copy is required with longer submissions accompanied by an IBM-compatible disc, preferably MSWord. Lyrical, free verse is preferred, but traditional, haiku, and other oriental forms are welcomed. No gratuitous sex or violence and rhymed, hymn-like religious verse will be returned unread. All submissions should be proofread and edited carefully by the writer. Both artless confessionalism and academic obtuseness are avoided by the editors. They also seek original artwork reproducible in a B&W format. SASE required. Send to: Kemp Gregory and DP Hymel, Imprimatur Press, PO Box 681597, San Antonio, TX 78268-1597.
CAFE MUNDI is now accepting poetry and fiction submissions for their monthly Nearsighted Readings. Featured readers receive 25 Mundi dollars and publication in A Year of Words, the first Cafe Mundi calendar. Submit up to 10 pages of poetry or 20 pages of fiction, a brief bio, and SASE to: Cafe Mundi, Attn. V.S., 1704 E Fifth, Austin, TX 78702. Deadline is Mon, Mar 15.
SUN POETIC TIMES, a literary and artistic magazine based in San Antonio, is seeking submissions for upcoming issues. One page in length typed, two pages handwritten (legibly). Visual submissions can be black-and-white art/photographs, line drawings, and halftones. Distributed in Austin at FringeWare Bookstore and Sound Exchange; in San Antonio at Blue Bean Coffeehouse, the Cheshire Cat, Clippership Bookstore, Twig Bookstore, Textures Bookstore, and Ventana Art Gallery. Guidelines are available at: 210/530-9849 orsunpoets@hotmail.com.
THE YOUNG TEXAS WRITERS AWARDS program sponsored by the Austin Writers' League is accepting registrants. Forms are available through the league. Deadline: Mon, Mar 1, 1501 W. Fifth, Ste. E-2. 499-8914.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL TEDDY BOOK AWARD is accepting entries. Forms are available through the league. Deadline: Mon, Mar 1, 1501 W. Fifth, Ste. E-2. 499-8914.
TROUT! MAGAZINE is seeking contributions for an irreverent monthly online magazine. Trout! is looking for quality fiction writers, columnists, photographers, and others. Submission guidelines are available at http://www.ccsi.com/~trout/
submits.htm. 416-8738 ortrout_editor@yahoo.com.
YOUNGER POETS AWARDS ANTHOLOGY is now accepting submissions from poets 25 and younger of up to three poems for possible inclusion in the Austin International Poetry Festival Younger Poets Anthology. Poets selected will be invited to read at the festival. Special awards will be given for poets 18 or younger. Send the poems with a phone number, e-mail, school, and age to: Austin Younger Poets Award, PO Box 204403, Austin, TX 78720-4403. Deadline Mar 1, 1999.
NOW FORMING: an independent critique group for women writers who are actively writing, rewriting, and submitting in any genre. Be committed. Bring copies, plan to read between meetings, offer supportive and thoughtful criticism. 326-5634.
BOOK PEOPLE has many writers signing and/or reading this month, so check out the store. They also have a reading group which meets every other Wednesday. All book discussions take place 7-8:30pm in the southwest corner of the second floor. By signing up at customer service, participants receive a 10% discount on all featured titles. Rena Korb leads the book discussion group. 603 N. Lamar. 371-1910.
WRITING FROM THE HEART (and other places) is open to anyone interested in practicing writing and overcoming writer's block. They meet every other Saturday. Sat, Feb 27, 10am-noon, at the Little Walnut Creek Library, 835 W. Rundberg. 907-1821.
EASTSIDE BLACK & WHITE Poets features Ramona Toines at the Ebony Sun Java House with host Stazja McFadyen. First-time readers are welcome. Thu, Feb 18, sign-up 7:30, 1209
E. 11th. 989-8585. ebonysun@yahoo.com.
POETIC MOODS AND FREE EXPRESSION is a new weekly open mike poetry venue hosted by Jazzy Poet Ivan Miller at the Whole Beans Coffeehouse. "This is Love Jones at its best, a poet's paradise." Tue, 7:30-10:30, 4101 Guadalupe. 896-9239.
SATURDAY POETRY ON THE PORCH at Quackenbush's Coffee House features an APAL open mike. Hosted by Stazja McFadyen. Donate five books to Quackenbush's library and get a free cup o' joe. Sat, Feb 20, sign-up at 3pm, 2120 Guadalupe. 346-7773.
BYOB: Blast Your Own Breath poetry readings with the fabulous Tammy Gomez hosting continues that yogic poesis inhale and exhale thang as they be here now and now and now. Wed, Feb 24, 9-10:30pm, at Movements Gallery, 211 E. Sixth. 441-POET.tejana.tongue@mail.utexas.edu.
TEXAS NAFAS, the poetry show produced at Austin Community Access Center, seeks to honor the soul through poetry on television. Professor Paul Gray at the University of Texas organized a graduate seminar on poetry of the Nineties. The program includes readings of American poetry by Sharon R. Eisner, Katy Carpenter, Maribeth Cole, Alison Hill, Blake Powers, Gay Ann Davis, Phillipe West, and Alison Hill. Other students involved in the show are Susan B.A. Somers-Willett, Stacy Holman Jones, and Nancy Bandiera. This isn't boring academic poetry, and the performances are lively, so don't miss February's show. The producers would like feedback from their TV audience. Send e-mail to poetry10@juno.com or write to: Farid Mohammadi, 1221 Algarita, #224, Austin, TX 78704. Sat, 10am & 10pm, cable channel 16.
RUTA MAYA COFFEE House presents an APAL open mike hosted by Sara Sutterfield Winn and Mark Maslow. Reading poets can display and sell their chapbooks. Tue, Feb 23, sign-up 6:30pm, 218 W. Fourth (Fourth & Lavaca) ormaslow@flash.net.
ELECTRIC LOUNGE holds its usual weekly slam. Get there early because they promise lotsa other good schtuff! Tue, Feb 23, 8:30pm, 302 Bowie. $2. 476-FUSE.
BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC features Hill Country author Cynthia Sterling reading from her first published romance, Patchwork Hearts:Thu, Feb 18, 7pm. Borders also has regular reading groups that meet on Wednesdays at 7:30pm. The newest group is the Celtic Culture Reading Group hosted by Lucio Benedetto with emphasis on the legends, myths, and heritage of the Celtic peoples: Wed, Feb 24, 7:30pm. 10225 Research (near Home Depot). 795-9553. BORDERS-ON-THE-WORD, presents free poetry on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Borders Books & Music store. Barbara Carr hosts with featured poets Dr. Marvin Kimbrough and Floyd Freeman. A round robin open mike follows. Wed, Feb 24, 7:30pm, 10225 Research. 795-9553 (Borders) or 343-7940 (Carr).
BARNES & NOBLE ARBORETUM The Poetry Workshop at the B&N shop at the Arboretum is led by Jill Timmons. Bring 10 or more copies of any one-page original poem. Thu, Feb 18, 7:30-10pm. 837-8693 or 928-0619.
Children's storytimes are Wed, 10:30am and Sat, 11am. 418-8985.
More poetry! "Breathe gently. No struggle. A soft, playful breeze. The meadow's wide and thick with lush grass, splashes of bright flowers, the comings and goings of butterflies and honey bees. At the edges where tall birch, regal ash, mighty oak stand side by side in silent vigil to the ever-present mystery of being, young deer graze and fawns gambol. Rabbits and squirrels twist and tumble and zigzag between forest and meadow. Songbirds flit among the branches. In the distance on a purple mountain a waterfall sprays the air with rainbows. And behind the mountain is the night filled with stars beyond imagining, a sea deeper than the wellsprings even of your heart. Breathe gently. No struggle. Smooth brows with sweet water. Breathe gently, my dying friend." Vaya con Dios.
That woman in the State Hospital
who lay there while another patient
tore her eyes out never made a
sound. I kept asking myself why,
why didn't she call for help.
There's only one answer. Because
she didn't think anybody would come.
-- Albert Huffstickler, "Despair"