The nine-year-old had entrusted her best thoughts to a poem copied from a Big Chief tablet into her diary. “Bonnie Mae Buckley” read the golden letters on the diary’s leather cover. I could not read itto anyonebecause diary wordsare a […]
This month, instead of a Poetic Micro Essay, I offer you a bit of mystery and excitement from my dreamworld with a poem that takes place in the heart of the Gila Wilderness. This poem first appeared in The Journal of Radical Wonder, March 28, 2023. (Link to the journal is provided below the poem.) […]
SWWF: Friday, October 27th, 3:30 – 4:30 pm MDT I would have loved the first book launch I attended after our Covid lockdown, no matter what book it presented. After all, that was my initial chance to be out, not […]
From Heather D. Frankland, Kris Neri, and John Macker, with Music from MoonShine
Strategies in Weaving Story from Oral History, Archival Research, and Creative Expression
Author Catalina Claussen will lead the upcoming session in The Write Stuff writing series, a 2-hour discussion titled “The Fabric of Our Lives: Strategies in Weaving Story from Oral History, Archival Research, and Creative Expression.” This event is scheduled for […]
Saturday is always our biggest day, and tomorrow, Saturday, October 28, in this year’s fiesta, is no exception. You’ll find so many great presentations, you’ll have a tough time choosing. Click here to see Saturday’s schedule.
Click here to see Sunday’s schedule
“The Lost Ones: Recovered Memory and Creative Storytelling.”
The 2023 Felipe de Ortego y Gasca Lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct 4, 5:30-7:00 MDT, at WNMU’s Miller Library. This year writer, poet, performer Tim Z. Hernandez will deliver the talk: “The Lost Ones: Recovered Memory and Creative Storytelling.”THIS […]
Writing Workshop
On Friday, October 27, from 3:30-4:30 pm MDT, authors Steven F. Havill & Lif Strand will provide tips to avoid the fundamental mistakes that beginning writers make. They will also discuss the potential perils of self-publishing. Venue: Bear Mountain Lodge. […]
ONE TRUE SENTENCE #32 WITH TIM O’BRIEN
Tim O’Brien, the author of The Things They Carried, Dad’s Maybe Book, and America Fantastica, shares his one true sentence from The Sun Also Rises. Toward the end of the episode, we also reflect on Tim’s riveting speech at Dominican University during the 2016 Hemingway Society conference in Oak Park, Illinois.
The Chihuahua Hill Story and the importance of community, self-representation, and remembrance.
“Aye, como pasan los años.” This was a phrase that my maternal grandmother’s adopted tia, Rosa V.Castillo, would voice in bittersweet reminiscence as my generation, unbothered and uninterested by theconversations of our elders, played and grew before their wistful eyes. Rosa Castillo was born in Silver City, New Mexico, in 1917, just five years after New Mexico wasadmitted into the Union as a full-fledged state. She lived in […]
The LULAC Book Award, established by the Southwest Word Fiesta, honors the best book by an author of Hispanic descent who lives in the Southwest. The book must have been published in the last two years, that is, since the last Southwest Word Fiesta book festival. The winner is chosen by LULAC’s Council 8003 of Silver City, and the award is […]
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Saturday is always our biggest day, and tomorrow, Saturday, October 28, in this year’s fiesta, is no exception. You’ll find so many great presentations, you’ll have a tough time choosing. Click here to see Saturday’s schedule.
Click here to see Sunday’s schedule
The Chihuahua Hill Story and the importance of community, self-representation, and remembrance.
Writing Workshop
On Friday, October 27, from 3:30-4:30 pm MDT, authors Steven F. Havill & Lif Strand will provide tips to avoid the fundamental mistakes that beginning writers make. They will also discuss the potential perils of self-publishing. Venue: Bear Mountain Lodge. […]
Strategies in Weaving Story from Oral History, Archival Research, and Creative Expression
Author Catalina Claussen will lead the upcoming session in The Write Stuff writing series, a 2-hour discussion titled “The Fabric of Our Lives: Strategies in Weaving Story from Oral History, Archival Research, and Creative Expression.” This event is scheduled for […]
ONE TRUE SENTENCE #32 WITH TIM O’BRIEN
Tim O’Brien, the author of The Things They Carried, Dad’s Maybe Book, and America Fantastica, shares his one true sentence from The Sun Also Rises. Toward the end of the episode, we also reflect on Tim’s riveting speech at Dominican University during the 2016 Hemingway Society conference in Oak Park, Illinois.
From Heather D. Frankland, Kris Neri, and John Macker, with Music from MoonShine
To those who value the written word, it’s always exciting when a new book is born or when it’s introduced to new readers. We’re ending the 2023 Southwest Word Fiesta with a special gathering of words and music. On Sunday, October 29, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm MDT, three authors will share readings from their books — two of the authors will read from newly-debuted books — and the group MoonShine will play for us. Venue: Miller Library; Seminar Room B. The authors will include Heather D. Frankland, who will read from her new poetry chapbook, Midwest Musings. Midwest Musings is about the inspiration and the confusion of home, the roots that anchor, and the scattered thoughts on place and […] Read More
“The Lost Ones: Recovered Memory and Creative Storytelling.”
The 2023 Felipe de Ortego y Gasca Lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct 4, 5:30-7:00 MDT, at WNMU’s Miller Library. This year writer, poet, performer Tim Z. Hernandez will deliver the talk: “The Lost Ones: Recovered Memory and Creative Storytelling.”THIS EVENT WILL BE PRESENTED ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4.The lecture series is named in honor of former WNMU scholar-in-residence. Dr. Felipe de Ortego y Gasca was a legendary figure in Chicano/a studies and the pioneer of the Chicano Renaissance in literature. Besides being a prolific writer, Ortego was an actor, musician, activist, university professor, and a U.S. Marine who saw action in three conflicts and served in the U.S. government. The son of migrant farmworkers, Ortego went on to earn a […] Read More
The LULAC Book Award, established by the Southwest Word Fiesta, honors the best book by an author of Hispanic descent who lives in the Southwest. The book must have been published in the last two years, that is, since the last Southwest Word Fiesta book festival. The winner is chosen by LULAC’s Council 8003 of Silver City, and the award is administered by the SWWF’s steering committee. The first winner is Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz for her book Earth Medicines: Ancestral Wisdom, Healing Recipes, and Wellness Rituals from a Curandera, published by Roost Books in November 2021. Roost Books is an imprint of Shambhala Publications, a counter-cultural publisher since 1969. Their books are distributed by Penguin Random House. Last year Earth Medicines received a Reading the […] Read More
The Southwestern state was central to the development of nuclear weapons. When the testing ground for the first detonation recently reopened for visitors, a writer decided to confront that difficult history.
They say the sun rose twice over a corner of southern New Mexico on July 16, 1945. The first sunrise was produced by the detonation of a new weapon its makers had nicknamed “the gadget.” The actual sun rose 10 minutes later, dawning on a new era in human history. The world’s first atomic bomb […] Read More
Scott Park Golf Course, Silver’s Hidden Gem
Warming weather means one thing for local golfers — tee time! And now that the town of Silver City is once again managing the municipal course known as Scott Park, many of those golfers are singing the praises of town […] Read More
Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry, consisting of three lines with a syllable count of 5-7-5 and inspired by nature. Fill out the submission form with your name, email, and text of the poem, making sure it is well-written and formatted. Your haiku will be reviewed and, if accepted, added to the Haiku section of the website for all to enjoy.
ONE TRUE PODCAST PRESENTS: One True Sentence #30 with Oscar Hokeah
Oscar Hokeah, winner of the 2023 PEN/Hemingway Award for Calling for a Blanket Dance, shares his one true sentence from The Old Man and the Sea.
News from Light Art Space
It’s likely that the least-popular candidate will win in Silver City’s District 3 council race. But before we get to why, here’s how I came to understand how little I understand local elections. About 45 years ago, I was a reporter covering an election in a town smaller than Silver City. The […] Read More
Look for a new post of Sunday Brunch every month on the first Sunday. This column features Tripod Poems, poetic micro essays inspired by three randomly chosen words. These words become the title of the piece, are contained within the piece and are developed into observations on life in the Southwest and beyond. Forestry – […] Read More
As a fan of newspapers, I live in fear that small newspapers like this one are doomed. It wasn’t that long ago that the Daily Press published five times a week and had a monthly arts magazine. Now we get three paper-papers a week. Still, our small paper is doing better than […] Read More
by SWWF
Author Catalina Claussen will lead the upcoming session in The Write Stuff writing series, a 2-hour discussion titled “The Fabric of Our Lives: Strategies in Weaving Story from Oral History, Archival Research, and Creative Expression.” This event is scheduled for Saturday, November 18, from 10 am to noon, and will be held […] Read More
Last week, the Biden administration announced it would encourage Medicare to bargain with drug companies on the cost of 10 expensive medicines. While others cheered or vilified Biden, I was checking to see if Flovent was on the list. No, the top three drugs subject to negotiation were Eliquis, Jardiance, and Xarelto. […] Read More
Painted canvas sky
Sunset’s blended perfection
Fleeting moment gone
Marilyn Alcorn
Evacuation
a time for hurried leaving
beats alternatives
T. A. nIles
Living loving light
Laughter lifts lower levels
Letting love linger
Dale Walker
Clouds gather dark skies
Lightening flashes thunder roars
Excitement-one drop
Marilyn Alcorn
(July 21,1899- July 2, 1961)
A literary lion, some say, others portray him as an author who had an understated style perhaps too economical. But we admit he had a strong impact on the writers of fiction of the last century and even today.. He was probably best known for his seven works of fiction: The Sun […] Read More
An Appreciation
The nine-year-old had entrusted her best thoughts to a poem copied from a Big Chief tablet into her diary. “Bonnie Mae Buckley” read the golden letters on the diary’s leather cover. I could not read itto anyonebecause diary wordsare a secret.Besides, someonemight laugh at me. The Buckley ranch where Bonnie and her […] Read More
Every day I drive the same highway to get into town. I have driven this route thousands of times and is my daily commute. I am lucky, I live in a small rural Southwest community nestled in the foothills of the Gila Wilderness. My commute is a beautiful drive through wild country […] Read More
Words in a Wire
Words on a Wire is a radio show about fiction, poetry, the writing community, and whatever other issues concern literary writers and readers of books. Hosted by Daniel Chacón and Tim Z. Hernandez. Originally broadcasted on www.ktep.org Write to us
Poetry Centered Podcast
Poetry Centered features curated selections from Voca, the University of Arizona Poetry Center’s online audiovisual archive.
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Mysteries to Die For
Hey, check it out – the newest episode of the “Mysteries to Die For” podcast is available! Ed Teja’s Mystery story, “The Death That Jack Died,” is in the spotlight. Don’t wait, tune in now.
Poetry Centered Podcast
Poetry Centered features curated selections from Voca, the University of Arizona Poetry Center’s online audiovisual archive.
Words in a Wire
A literary radio show hosted by Daniel Chacón and Tim Z. Hernandez covering fiction, poetry, the writing community and more.
Mysteries to Die For
Hey, check it out – the newest episode of the “Mysteries to Die For” podcast is available! Ed Teja’s mystery story, “The Death That Jack Died,” is in the spotlight. Don’t wait, tune in now
News from Light Art Space
Mangoes hit the roof
Announcing “breakfast is served,
Come and bring a friend”
Merri Lu Park
You were like the wind
that softly brushes my skin,
here, then gone again.
Jacqueline Blurton
Stoneware, pottery
flint, soil, free your tale of
one hundred seventeen.
Michael Shoemaker
A literary lion, some say, others portray him as an author who had an understated style perhaps too economical. But we admit he had a strong impact on the writers of fiction of the last century and even today.. He was probably best known for his seven works of fiction: The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, To Have […]
ONE TRUE PODCAST PRESENTS: One True Sentence #30 with Oscar Hokeah
Oscar Hokeah, winner of the 2023 PEN/Hemingway Award for Calling for a Blanket Dance, shares his one true sentence from The Old Man and the Sea.
Felipe de Ortego y Gasca was a man apart. His life was a picaresque tale – part Charles Dickens, part Great Gatsby. He was orphaned as a child, never graduated from High School but became a university professor, served his country in three conflicts, met James Baldwin and Richard Wright in Paris, published prolifically, acted […]