WEALTH OF IDEAS

Last Saturday, June 23, I hosted poet Samuel Iniguez at the North Natomas Library. This was the first in a series of events to be held at the library until the end of July, co-hosted by Frank Graham and I. Sam Iniguez treated the audience to some of his best poems dating back to his graduate schools days in San Francisco. He was joined in the performance by two of his friends who are musicians. Samuel Iniguez and his wife arriving at the North Natomas Library for the inaugural reading of the 2012 International Poetry Tour. Iniguez's poetry deals with issues ranging from history, agency, self-determination, especially of his (Chicano) people, social justice, and they are search as well as a form of identitarian validation. As a teacher, Iniguez has been able to embrace for his poetry the unique experiences of his students, and he writes with a compassionate voice. Iniguez in action More information about the Series A set of five summer Saturday SPC literary eve...

Mother Rose, owner of Underground Books and mother of Sacramento Mayor, introducing David Covin, author  of "Princes of the Road" Underground Books hosted a book signing by David Covin today, June 9. The event featured a reading of Covin's latest novel, "Princes of the Road" by the author, which was followed by a discussion session. The audience was engaged, and found the historical and humanistic elements of the novel most intriguing. "Princesof the Road" is David Covin's third novel.  Book signing time. I enjoyed this gripping novel which starts, like the fast trains of its subject, in flight. It then hurtles down to its bitter-sweet end without losing its grip on the reader’s attention. This story about the famous Pullman porters is its author’s gift to readers seeking to know all about the role the porters played in the African Americ...

It seems that one thing gained in Zimbabwe's lost decade (2000-2010?), is the courage to write on diverse issues. And courage is just a preliminary step, a useless one unless you begin to write; and even then, a beginning is only a beginning. But the new crop of writers in Zimbabwe is doing more than beginning, it is now writing with courage and commitment. This is an interesting time in Zimbabwean writing. And a voice says, "What time hasn't been interesting?" Granted, all times have been interesting, some too interesting to yield any useful literature. Another voice says: "Useful literature?" Yes, a literature that speaks immediately to the world, with great themes, concerns and thrust. "Say what?" Zimbabwe's lost decade woke a lot of us up, took us out of a state of comfort. This statement is a lie, of course, because for as long as I can remember, there have always been things--big things--happening in our country. By 1990, I was al...

Presents Phillip Larrea and David Iribarne Monday June 11, 2012 at 7:30 PM 1719 25th Street at SPC Host: Emmanuel Sigauke Phillip Larrea was born and raised in Sacramento, attended UC Davis, where he studied under Thom Gunn and Karl Shapiro. After a brief stint in Seattle, he moved to New York, because that's where they keep the money. He is a wealth advisor and syndicated business columnist with Examiner.com. In 2012 his poems have appeared locally in Medusa's Kitchen and Sacramento Poetry Art and Music (SPAM), as well as nationally in Nostrovia To Writing , The Artistic Muse , and internationally in The Poetry Bus Magazine and Outburst Magazine . Phillip is the author of two Spoken Word CDs, "Loose Change" and "Scrapbook", from which he will be reading tonight.         David Iribarne has resided in Sacramento for 39 years. He has a B.A. in English and works in social service as a Mental Health Tech. His poet...

The Intwasa Short Story Competition is a Zimbabwean annual literary event seeking to promote original creative writing talent in English. The winning story will be awarded the Yvonne Vera Award which carries a $500 cash prize. Rules:  v There is no particular theme v Entries must be written in English v Entries should be previously unpublished v Only one entry per person v All work must be original v Entries must be typed. v Maximum words are 3000 words. v The competition is open to all Zimbabwe citizens and residents v Entries must be submitted by July 31, 2012 v Late entries will not be accepted. v Only the short-listed candidates will be personally notified Send stories to Intwasa Short Story Competition, Office 403, 4th Floor, LAPF House, Bulawayo or info.intwasa@gmail.com or info@intwasa.org                  Runyararo Cynthia Mutandi Festival Administrator Intwasa Arts Fes...

Mlalazi signing books at the Iso Won Bookstore in Los Angeles, 2010. We were co-featured at this event where African Roar 1 was launched. It was fun sharing the stage with Chris. Christopher Mlalazi has done it again. He has just been offered  a creative writing residency at the University of Iowa called the INTERNATIONAL WRITING PROGAM (IWP).   Running from August to November 2012 annually, this program is the oldest and largest multinational residency in the world and has been in existence since 1967. Over 1400 writers from more than 130 nations have taken part in the residency.   The goal of the IWP is to provide authors the time to write, read, translate, study, conduct research, travel, give readings, and also be part of the vibrant literary and academic community of the University of Iowa, a major American research instituiton in Iowa city, the only American city designated as a UNESCO City of Literature.   Christopher Mlalazi is a published author wi...