In my new collection (several of the poems have gone into journals, although the majority are unpublished) the theme of praying came up. It wasn’t intentional but in our society, most of us send up solicitations via in our heads, meditations, smoke, temples and teepee meetings. In these violent and merciless times, at the end of the day or to start a day, for many, I imagine, it’s what gives strength. I’ll be signing books…
Continue readingSo, a handful of the new poems in MY BOOK OF THE DEAD are in Spanish. Here is an excerpt from one, published, citation below. Algo de ti [An Ekphrastic Exercise] Algo de ti me recuerda a casa; no la de hoy, la de otros tiempos– Las tortillas de la abuela sobre su comal ardiente; el perfume de la bugambilia en el jardín. Tus pestañas estrelladas– de niñez como las estrellas mismas que contemplaba yo,…
Continue readingSummer ends for many in the U.S. A day doesn’t go by in These Times when we are not affected by the politics, climate change and the dominance of violence. Much of this has been converted into fuel for my new poems. I include here the start of one of the poems. It was published in Fifth Wed. Journal: A Storm Upon us. There is a lot of interest amongst activists and academics involved in…
Continue readingBooks have lives. My first novel was born to the public in the 1980s, when recognition of U.S. Latinas started. My short novel was written in the 1970s when I was in my twenties. As a self-taught writer, a brown “American” woman of Mexican background, even as I worked on the story I never expected it to be published. Thirty-three years after it was first printed it remains in publication.
Continue readingBesides re-reading Naula O’Fallain’s two memoirs, I delved into other books. One was by my bedside for a while: And, I did a review of two books for the Women’s Review of Books by an Argentine writer, Silvina Ocampo. I have another book at the ready, which I read, re-read, at my bedside to read again and recommend. Sometimes new writers think they are being transgressive and breaking new ground on the subject of gender,…
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