WEALTH OF IDEAS

I just finished reading Orhan Pamuk's essay "The Implied Author" in which he discusses his writing process. Having just reread Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" I liked Pamuk's reference to automatic writing, when the author makes himself available to a story that's raging to be written. Perhap not raging, but that which is within range. He concludes his short piece by arguing that just Wolfang Iser argued that each novel has an implied reader on account of whom it will reveal its meaning, there is also an implied author for each novel. Thus to "writer a novel is to open to [the work's available] desires, winds, and inspirations, and also to the dark recesses of our minds and their moments of mist and stillness". Pamuk's mention of the implied author got me thinkin again about Wolfang Iser's "implied reader" for each work. Then I realized that I have read many books, all of which have revealed their meaning as I read them, a me...

'Together', a collaborative book by John Eppel and Julius Chingono, will be released by the University of New Orleans Press. The book is co-published with Zimbabwe's 'amaBooks, which is based in Bulawayo and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). I look forward to this work. Julius Chingono (1946 -2011) was born on a commercial farm near Harare. He spent most of his working life as a rock blaster in the mines. He wrote in both Shona and English, and won awards for poems written in both languages. He had five books published: one play, Ruvimbo; one novel, Chipo Changu; two poetry collections, Flag of Rags and Kazwi; and one collection of short stories and poetry, Not Another Day. His poem They are picked was chosen by New Internationalist for their collection Fire in the Soul, of the best 100 human rights poems from across the world over the last 100 years. Julius read his poetry at various international festivals, including the Poetry International Festival i...

In celebration of Black History Month, Cosumnes River College is holding a Poetry Festival featuring award-winning poets Noah Hayes, and Terry a O'Neal, CRC student Takitha Buford, and Delta College student Shenae Crain. The event starts at 12:00 and ends at 1:30 pm. I will host in the Recital Hall. Noah "Supanova" Hayes is a multifaceted entertainer from the Sacramento area that blends his love of musical story telling and social consciousness to spread an uplifting message. Over the past 10 years, he has has the opportunity to perform in the British Isles, México, Canada, and Hawai'i. He was a member of the Sacramento Slam Team 2005-07 representing the Capital City in Albuquerque, NM and the following year in Austin, TX. Over the years, he's toured the nation performing at some of the premiere venues including Mic and Dim Lights (IE, CA) and Cafe Nuba (Denver, CO). In 2008 he earned his BA in Theater from Sacramento State. As an actor, he's performed with t...

On Monday, February 14, Sacramento Poetry Center will present Francisco Alarcon, whose latest work has just been published by Swan Scyth Press. I am honored to host this dynamic poet. Francisco X. Alarcón, award winning Chicano poet and educator, is author of twelve volumes of poetry, including, From the "Other Side of Night: Selected and New Poems" (University of Arizona Press 2002), and "Snake Poems: An Aztec Invocation" (Chronicle Books 1992) His latest book is "Ce-Uno-One: Poems for the New Sun" (Swan Scythe Press 2010). His book of bilingual poetry for children, "Animal Poems of the Iguazú:" (Children’s Book Press 2008), was selected as a Notable Book for a Global Society by the International Reading Association. His previous bilingual book titled Poems to Dream Together (Lee & Low Books 2005) was awarded the 2006 Jane Addams Honor Book Award. He has been a finalist nominated for Poet Laureate of California in two occasions. He teaches a...

A Tripartite Dialogue on Zimbabwean Literary Culture: Emmanuel Sigauke, Tinashe Mushakavanhu & Christopher Mlalazi Sentinel Literary Quarterly (SLQ) has published a roundtable discussion featuring Christopher Mlalazi, Tinashe Mushakavanhu, and me. The editor writes, "Three Zimbabwean writers ... discuss the state of Zimbabwean literature, writing from the Diaspora, what is African literature among other literary issues. In this candid roundtable discussion, they question the direct nature of literature and its suitability in chronicling moments of unique political and social significance. In a country like Zimbabwe, which exists to the West as a flurry of news reports and political upheavals, literature attains an importance that it rarely enjoys in Britain or America: it becomes a necessary thing, essential to the survival of the self. A sobering set of first-hand accounts accompanied by revealing anecdotes about writing and reading experiences influenced by the three writer...