WEALTH OF IDEAS

“QUILOMBO COUNTRY,” New Documentary about Black Rebel Villages of Brazil, In Debut Run at the Pioneer Theater in NYC, September 19-25, 2008 – Narrated by Public Enemy’s Chuck D WHAT: Debut run of “Quilombo Country” WHEN: Fri, Sept 19 – Thurs, Sept 25, 2008. Most shows at 7 pm. WHERE: Pioneer Theater, Ave. A & 3rd Street, NYC PLUS: Q&A with director Leonard Abrams after Fri & Sat shows. CONTACT: Leonard Abrams at 212-260-7540, leonard@quilombofilm.com or Marjorie Sweeney Publicity at marjorie.sweeney@mac.com "Quilombo Country," the award-winning documentary about Brazilian villages founded by escaped and rebel slaves, will have its premiere theatrical run at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater from Friday, September 19th to Thursday, September 25th every evening at 7 pm. The film is narrated by Chuck D, the legendary poet, media commentator and leader of the iconic hip hop band Public Enemy. The Pioneer Theater is located in the he...

The new season of submissions to journals starts on Monday, September 1 and ends in March/April/May 2009. This is the the time to send your works to most of the journals that matter, like AGNI, Granta, and others.

Sacrament Poetry Center Presents An Evening of Comedy And Poetry with Carol Louise Moon, Michael Rowe, Brad Buchanan and Tim Kahl: Monday, Sept. 1 , 2008 at 7:30 PM 1719 25th Street The night will feature discussion of the relationship of comedy and poetry, including examples of comedic poems, improv, and a brief lecture on the cross-fertilization of both. Carol Louise Moon has been published in Brevities, Rattlesnake Review, Poetry Now, Updrafts and Poets Forum Magazine. She has a new littlesnake broadside (Mindfully Moon) due out recently from Rattlesnake Press. She is also the author of a new chapbook/comic book entitled Some Roman Alpha Letters Make Good Friends. Michael Rowe is a member and organizer of the improv group at The Geary Theater at 22nd and L in Sacramento. Brad Buchanan teaches Modern British and American Literature and Creative Writing at California State University, Sacramento. His work has appeared in the U.S. in American Poets and Poetry, The Comstock Review, C...

Farafina Magazine has announced that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is organizing a reading and panels session on Friday 29th of August, the last day of her ten day workshop in Nigeria. This session is open to the public and Dave Eggers, Marie-Elena John and Binyavanga Wainaina, among others,will be reading. The venue is Oceanview Restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Lagos. Time 3pm prompt. Copies of her books will be on sale at the venue. For further information please call the numbers below: Nkemjika Ojiji Kachifo Limited 8th Floor SIO Towers 25 Boyle Street Onikan, Lagos. +234 - 8034097613 +234 - 7028203315

Uche Peter Umez, a Nigerian writer who has consistently reinforced his presence in the literary arena of Nigerian literature, is one of the participants of the 2008 International Writing Program in Iowa City , USA . He is the author of the children's novel Sam and the Wallet (2007), the collection of short stories Tears in Her Eyes (2005), and of two volumes of poetry, Aridity of Feelings (2006) and Dark Through the Delta (2004). He was the winner of the 2008 Bath Spa University Creative Writing Competition, UK , and in 2007, he was the Finalist and Runner-up for both the Nigerian LNG Prize for Literature and the ANA/Lantern Prize for Children¢s Fiction. The young Nigerian writer is enthusiastic about his inclusion in the prestigious program which assembles over 30 writers from various parts of the world for a 3-month period. Writers from Iran, Macedonia, Greece, Israel, Italy, South Africa, Uganda, Cameroun, Argentina, Venezuela, Lebanon, Bangladesh, China and Hong Kong, to ...

Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights invite you to their monthly poetry forum, this month themed: “Talks, Unity, Democracy”. The forum will feature poetry recitals and discussions. If you are a poet or writer this is a great place to meet fellow artists of the pen . Tuesday 26th August 2008, 3pm US Embassy, Public Affairs Section Auditorium 7th Floor, Goldbridge, Eastgate, Harare You may contact them on cadetshoes(at)gmail.com for more information.

English Adjunct Faculty member at Cosumnes River College, Rosa Mizerski, has won the West-Pacific – Best Regional Fiction Silver medal at the Independent Publishers Book Awards for best fiction for her latest novel, The Stillness of Love and Exile

The South African writer Bridget McNulty recently signed signed an international book deal with St Martin’s Publishers in New York. Strange Nervous Laughter will be published in the USA in Spring 2009.St Martin’s publish Jeffrey Archer, Augusten Burroughs, and other notables. Thrilled, McNulty's reaction is: "I am now extremely exceedingly most enormously excited!"

In a posting on her blog, Petina Gappah has announced, and confirmed, the news that she has secured a two-book deal with Faber & Faber in the UK and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux in the US. The first book, An Elegy for Easterly , a story collection, comes out in April 2009 in the UK and June 2009 in the US, while the second, The Book of Memory , her first novel, comes out in 2010. In addition, writes Gappah, "Mouria, Gyldendal Norsk and Bonniers, three of the classiest and most respected publishers in Europe have bought the rights to both books in The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, so the books will come out at the same time in Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish." "I am so thrilled, both for myself, but also for Zimbabwean and African writers," stated Gappah in an email message. This is the first such joint deal offered to any writer by Faber-FSG. If you have read any of Gappah's fiction and other writings, especially her political commentary at such forums as the ...

Bookseller.com has made the following report: Faber's global deal for Zimbabwean Faber's UK and US arms have made their first joint acquisition, obtaining the world English-language rights to a collection of short stories and a novel by Zimbabwean author Petina Gappah . A pre-emptive offer was made via agent Claire Paterson at Janklow & Nesbit. The short stories anthology An Elegy for Easterly will be published in the UK first, with an April 2009 launch, coming out in the US in June. The novel The Book of Memory has been scheduled for publication in spring 2010. Both works deal with issues faced by Zimbabweans, including the ongoing hyper-inflation and life under president Robert Mugabe's regime. Lee Brackstone, publishing director for fiction at Faber in the UK, described Gappah as "the voice of contemporary Zimbabwe". He added: "These stories and the accompanying pages for a novel in progress are exhilarating—unflinching in their portrait of a country...

South Natomas Poetry Workshop hosted by the Sacramento Poetry Center facilitated by Frank Graham on second Saturdays of the month and Emmanuel Sigauke on fourth Saturdays of the month beginning September, 2008 10-11:30 am at the South Natomas Community Center 2921 Truxel Rd. meeting in the lovely Natomas Room These workshops will bring poetry to Sacramento and Natomas in a new way, encouraging writers of all backgrounds and experience levels to begin, continue or renew their poetry and improve their writing skills Open to the public and free of charge Poets should bring 10 copies of their one page poem for critique. http://www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org http://sacramentopoetrycenter.blogspot.com

Above is an artistic impression of my poetry collection by Sacramento artist Mariana Castro De Ali. The head is a map of Zimbabwe, and the colors of the Zimbabwe flag. The book's covers, front and back: The first poem in the book, entitled "The Teacher & the Curtan", dealing with, to the best of my recollection, days at Ndima High School in Chimanimani, where I had a four-month teaching stint after UZ: Click on image to read poem. Another photo about Forever Let Me Go: The book is can be ordered through Amazon, target.com, and other places.

New short story anthology. Zimbabwe's Weaver Press has published a new anthology of short stories by women. The anthology features fifteen emerging and established Zimbabwean female writers of diverse styles. Some of these writers have appeared in previous anthologies by the same publisher, but the publication also features new voices, showcasing works by Zimbabwean women at home and abroad. Reconizable names like Petina Gappah, Zvisinei Sandi, and Valerie Tagwira, three hard-working authors now writing from abroad, promise a new insight in this collection's approach to Zimbabwean issues. In a telephone conversation, Zvisinei Sandi, who will be holding workshops on Zimbabwean literature in Stanford Univeristy's Comparative literature department, told me that this book is a significant and welcome addition to Zimbabwean literature, bringing an eclecticism of perpectives and approaches that enlightens readers on life in contemporary Zimbabwe. Sandi plans to use this new text...

Brad Buchanan, reading from his latest collection, Swimming the Mirror , which features poetry about his daughter. Wendy Taylor Carlisle and Brad Buchanan read last night to a great crowd at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Open mic followed. Wendy Taylor Carlisle, reading from her latest collection, Discount Firework, which won the Bernice Blackgrove award of excellence.

Good Mornin’ Glory By Terry a O’Neal Published by Motion Publications. Reviewed by Emmanuel Sigauke. When you open this collection, you will see three epigraphs, but I like the one by Ella Wheeler Wilcox: “With every deed you are sowing a seed, though the harvest you may not see,” which complements an earlier one: “Sow the seed.” With these initial messages, this collection by an Elk Grove poet often compared to Maya Angelou, promises hope and renewal. The first poem, entitled “my sister” is a call for universal unity, with the understanding that all humans are equal, and that unity is not optional: “My sister— / let me love you / grab hold of my hand.” Then, the persona advises the reader: “love your sister as you love yourself— / every shade—white, beige, brown, orange or black.” Common sense, right? It would be, if it wasn’t for our reluctance to embrace each other as fellow species. As hesitant brothers and sisters, we forget about kindness, “caught up in this ‘state of confusion’”...

Wordsbody has announced the following call for submissions: CAVALCADE literary journal, devoted to publishing original stories, poems,one-act plays, reviews, critical essays and art from an African perspective,will debut in October 2008 with a special edition. The tri-annual journal, a project of the Abuja Writers' Forum (AWF), is now seeking submissions for the second and third editions. Deadline: October 30, 2008 See more details here: Contribute to Cavalcade.

When I teach a fiction-writing course, the class reads samples of works by both students and established writers. This is in addition to the regular business of writing and critiquing each other’s works. The sample readings are an eclectic selection of works by authors from different countries. I usually bring my favorite writers’ works to class: Arundhati Roy, Divakaruni, Kazuo Ishiguro, Gunther Grass, Dambudzo Marechera, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Charles Mungoshi, Chinua Achebe (of course!), Memory Chirere, William Faulkner (any excuse I can get to use his work) and many others.The students read these stories, some of which usually cover unfamiliar terrain, a thing that helps them move out of their comfort zones; then we discuss the works' structural and thematic features. Last semester we read, among others, the Zimbabwean writers Memory Chirere and Dambudzo Marechera. Marechera’s short-short “Night on My Harmonica” and Chirere’s “A Game” are suitable for a quick reading and dis...

I am working on reviews of these three poetry collections: Discount Fireworks by Wendy Taylor Carlisle, published by San Jose's Jacaranda Press, 2008. Good Mornin' Glory by Terry a O'Neal, published by Motion Publications of Elk Grove. Swimming the Mirror by Brad Buchanan, the first publication of Sacramento's Roan Press. These are three strong poets whose readings I am hosting at the Sacramento Poetry Center. The reviews will appear in Poetry Now . Brad Buchanan and Wendy Taylor Carlisle read at the Sacramento Poetry Center tomorrow, August 11. Everyone who can should attend this reading, which, judging by the quality of the the poetry in the collections, is going to be fantastic. Terry a O'Neal, a hard working writer, will read on September 8. Her book is refreshing, showing that poetry does not have to be abstract or mysterious to convey its message and artistry. I like her no-exceptions call for universal unity, the essential message that humans are one and s...

I like literary blogs! It's my way to find out about what fellow writers are doing out there, and lately I have been looking to expand my African literature information base, to understand the new trends in African writing. Despite what might be said about lack of publishing opportunities on the continent, African writing is doing well. Believe me when I say this. Here are two of the best African literary blogs I discovered recently: One: Thoughts from Botswana . The blogger information says:"I'm Lauri Kubuitsile. I'm a full time writer living in Botswana. My love is fiction, but to make a living I write TV scripts, textbooks, news articles, lesson plans, radio scripts and anything else that requires words being placed in a pattern on a page." She has published a book entitled Murder for Profit. An American by birth, Lauri, now fully resident in Botswana, has a commitment to the literature of Botswana that's inspiring. Thoughts from Botswana : Informative, in...

Sacramento Poetry Center Presents Wendy Taylor Carlisle and Brad Buchanan Mon. Aug. 11, 2008 at 7:30 PM 1719 25th Street Host: Emmanuel Sigauke Wendy Taylor Carlisle lives in East Texas. Her poems have appeared in Monserrat Review, Cider Press Review, Borderlands, Passager, Prairie Dog, Maverick and on-line at 2 River View, Unlikely Stories, Perihelion, The Astrophysicist’s Tango Partner, Isibongo, Conspire, Tintern Abbey, Zuzu's Petals, Three Candles, and Pig Iron Malt. She has won The Lipscomb Award from Centenary College, a Passager Poetry Contest Award, and has been three times nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her first book, Reading Berryman to the Dog, was published by Jacaranda Press in 2000, her second book Discount Fireworks (Jacaranda, 2008) won the 2008 Bernice Blackgrove Prize. Her work also appears in Athens Avenue: A Collection of Poetry (Funky Dog Publishing, 1999). Brad Buchanan teaches Modern British and American Literature and Creative Writing at California St...

Just a reminder to Tuku fans that he will be performing at Yoshi's SF this weekend (August 9 & 10). Tuku's performances have become an annual treat for me, and to show my appreciation of the artist's talent, I wrote a poem(which is included in my recently published collection: Forever Let Me Go ). Here it is: HURRY, TUKU IN CONCERT! If you were with me You too would have seen Tuku at Yoshi’s. Premier jazz stylist, giant of Southern Africa, Tuku has a voice that rouses the dead, a consciousness that slaps one from the sleep of forgetfulness. He lit sparks of memory; then as we swayed to songs about aging and not aging, about going away and coming back (especially coming back), about stunted love, betrayal, Limpopos of tears, stories of learning to forget, about forgetting to learn, we coalesced with the stone soul, the pride of our homeland. This Zimbabwean musician, years upon years of rearing the young and the old alike: Tuku, the King of Shauro, unbruised by Time and ...

kwani? Poetry Open Mic with featured poet Neema Ngwatilo Mawiyoo www.myspace.com/ngwatilo live music by "ANTO" hosted by Cindy Ogana 7pm, Tue 5th August 2008 Club Soundd

A News Report from The Herald (Zimbabwe): THE Budding Writers' Association of Zimbabwe is launching a new HIV and Aids awareness project targeting young artistes. The programme, titled Youth HIV and Aids Confidence Building Project, will be launched next month to educate upcoming writers on how to protect themselves from the incurable condition. BWAZ programmes manager Mr Beaven Tapureta noted with concern the high prevalence of the disease among budding writers, saying it was ironic since most of them write about HIV and Aids. "It's sad that it is the very same artists who write and sing about issues concerning the pandemic who are dying from the disease. Our artistes should begin to practice what they preach and we hope to empower young artistes through this initiative," he said. The programme will also be carried out through workshops, writing competitions and poetry performances in schools to equip young people with prevention skills at grassroots level. BWAZ int...