“Poet Gene Twaronite knows that words are powerful stuff. They can shape our experiences and relationships in ways we can’t predict—until adventure strikes. John Bazukas-O’Rielly-Geronimo-Li Choy- Echeverria, or B.O.G.G.L.E. for short, has a problematic family. If home is where the heart is, he wants a new home… and soon. It’s not easy having a Venusian […]
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The Burping Seal A lone Tupperware with sky blue lid, it lives on in my kitchen, a reminderof all it once held—loving leftovers of Mom’s greasy kugel or kielbasa,mincemeat cookies, coleslaw or apple pie. Its skin is worn soft from fifty yearsof washing and handling. Back and forthit went from her place to mine. I
All poets are storytellers, and one of the oldest kinds of storytelling is the fable. They can be found in the literature of most countries and are a prominent part of the folklore of many cultures. Fables have been passed down both written and orally throughout human history. Simply put, a fable is a brief
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I’ve decided to reissue my book The Family That Wasn’t (originally published in 2010) in a revised edition. Though I’ve tweaked the text a bit, it’s still the same great story. Originally I set out to write a short novel that would appeal to middle grade readers. All the wonderful comments I’ve received over the
I stare at the photographof a bare-chested 18-year-oldtrying to look brutish,crouching as ifready to pounce,projecting his masculinitylest the image fade. Our cells are no longer the same,but he still lives inside me,staring out fromhis secret chamber,where in one corneris a small tablewhere he praysand gazes upwardat Jesus in agony—a votive candle flickers. What would we
The Pima County Library asked me to write about my experience as a Writer in Residence. The three months went by all too fast, and I found it deeply rewarding though exhausting. And I was inspired by the many local writers I met who shared their precious work and dreams with me. Here’s my post
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My two poems “Murdered” and “Could Be Lovely” were just published in Tipton Poetry Journal Issue #56 (Spring 2023). You can read them here (pages 4-5). https://issuu.com/tiptonpoetryjournal/docs/tpj56 Here I’ve used an Albert Bierstadt painting for the backdrop of “Could Be Lovely,”
I will be leading a free workshop on “Demystifying Poetry” as part of my Writer in Residence for Pima County Public Library, on Wednesday, June 7, from 2-3:30 PM, at Dusenberry-River Library in Tucson.(https://pima.bibliocommons.com/events/64484d6d73e31d2900b46643) Geared for a general audience of poets, poets-to-be, or those who simply wish to find out more about this deeply imaginative
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I am honored that the Pima County Libraries have selected me to be their new Writer in Residence from May through July, 2023. As part of my duties, I will be offering free consultations to area writers and will lead two workshops on writing poetry as well as a final event in which local poets
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