Words On A Wire

Ben & Daniel present the 3rd and final presentation of their conversations with writers at the 2013 AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) Annual Conference & Bookfair.  Jose Gonzalez, editor of "Latino Boom: An Anthology of U.S. Latino Literature" (http://latinostories.com) talks about his upcoming book of poetry; Steven Church, author of "The Guinness Book of Me," talks about working on a new collection of essays and about the online Normal School Journal (http://thenormalschool.com), of which he is founding editor; Celeste Guzman Mendoza, a poet and CantoMundo Fellow, talks about her new book-length poem about family violence; Eddie Gonzalez, a fiction writer & poet, talks about receiving his MFA at the University of Houston, and how he works as a chaplain for a hospice program; Kristin Dykstra talks about her latest project with the University of Alabama Press, and about Alabama's writer exchange program with Cuba; Bojan Louis, a poet and fiction writer talks about being a member of the Navajo Nation, and about his work as an electrician and English instructor (http://bojanlouis.com/); and Sherwin Bitsui, also of the Navajo Nation, talks about his recent move to Albuquerque (http://www.bitsui.com/)

For this week's Poem of the Week, Daniel Chacon reads his own poem, "Father's Writing." 

Aired May 19, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Alex Espinoza, author of "The Five Acts of Diego Leon," a novel which follows a Mexican-born actor who breaks into Hollywood at the dawn of the era of the "talkies" in the 1920s & `30s.  Espinoza explains how the story grew out of an interview he read about actor Ricardo Montalban and the struggles he faced in being typecast in TV and film.  Espinoza also talks about the extensive research he did for the novel, and how a Mexican mask maker inspired him to draw a parallel between acting and the wearing of masks to reveal or conceal who we really are. www.alexespinoza.com

For this week's Poem of the Week, Ben reads e.e. cummings' "somewhere i have never traveled, gladly beyond."

On this week's Poetic License, Lauren Espinoza talks about Latino identity in poetry.  Espinoza is currently a graduate student in the M.F.A. Program in Poetry at Arizona State University where she is the Teaching Artist for the Young Writers Program.  She is a CantoMundo intern, and an inaugural member of the Letras Latinas Young Poets Initiative (where the text for this Poetic License comes from).  http://www.enthuse.me/lauren_espinoza

Aired May 12, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Alex Espinoza, author of "The Five Acts of Diego Leon," a novel which follows a Mexican-born actor who breaks into Hollywood at the dawn of the era of the "talkies" in the 1920s & `30s.  Espinoza explains how the story grew out of an interview he read about actor Ricardo Montalban and the struggles he faced in being typecast in TV and film.  Espinoza also talks about the extensive research he did for the novel, and how a Mexican mask maker inspired him to draw a parallel between acting and the wearing of masks to reveal or conceal who we really are.  In this online-only extended interview, Espinoza talks about how the Mexican town of Morelia in Michoacan served as an inspiration for the novel.  He also talks about how he chose the name “Diego Leon” for his main character.  www.alexespinoza.com

Aired May 12, 2013.

Daniel talks with writer Denise Duhamel, author of "Blowout," a collection of poems inspired by the breakup of her marriage.  She talks about why the poems in the book were actually harder to lay out and put in order than they were to write.  The poems in "Blowout" tend to depict emotions that shift throughout the book, passing through the stages of grief to acceptance.  She and Daniel, who also went through a recent divorce, also talk about writing as a therapeutic device.  Denise contributes this week's Poem of the Week: "My Strip Club" from "Blowout."

In today's Poetic License, Daniel offers insight into his recent divorce.

And...Daniel talks about a recent documentary which inspired and moved him, "Searching for Sugar Man."

Aired May 5, 2013.

Daniel talks with writer Denise Duhamel, author of "Blowout," a collection of poems inspired by the breakup of her marriage.  She talks about why the poems in the book were actually harder to lay out and put in order than they were to write.  The poems in "Blowout" tend to depict emotions that shift throughout the book, passing through the stages of grief to acceptance.  She and Daniel, who also went through a recent divorce, also talk about writing as a therapeutic device.  Denise contributes this week's Poem of the Week: "My Strip Club" from "Blowout."  In this online exclusive extended interview, Denise talks more about the healing power of writing and how the end of "Blowout" brings her experience to an emotional conclusion.

Aired May 5, 2013.

Ben & Daniel once again take their microphones to the 2013 AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) Conference & Bookfair, which took place this past March in Boston MA.   In this 2nd of 3 AWP shows, Ben & Daniel talk to a number of writers:

Rich Villar talks about his latest projects; M. Evelina Galang talks about "Her Wild American Self, and Patrick Rosal talks about an ongoing project using excerpts from interviews to create poetry;  Jose Skinner, author of "Flight and Other Stories," talks about his latest project;  Xanath Caraza de Holland reads an excerpt from a poem from her collection "Conjuro," and Denise Low, former Kansas Poet Laureate stops in for a brief moment;  Juan Luis Guzman and Liz Scheid talk about how to get into AWP on a budget;  Mark Brunetti talks about his underground literary magazine, The Idiom Mag;  Juan Ochoa talks about his book "Marijuano," Joe Haske talks about his latest book on the working class, and poet Rodney Gomez talks about a manuscript he is shopping around;  Dan Vera, author of "Speaking Wiri Wiri" talks about winning the Letras Latinas/Red Hen Poetry Prize and his upbringing in South Texas;  Fresno poet Andre Yang talks about being a founding member of the Hmong American Writers Circle;  and Antonio Farias, an army veteran, talks about a program which introduces poetry to cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard.

Aired April 21, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Natalie Goldberg, an influential author of books on writing.  Her latest is "The True Secrets of Writing."  Goldberg talks about the "True Secrets Retreats" she holds in Taos, New Mexico, which inspire writers to sit, walk, and write.  Her philosophy of writing is very Zen and spiritual, and she encourages writers to just write and to "get out of the way" to allow the creative process to take place without the interference of discursive thinking.  http://nataliegoldberg.com.

For this week's Poem of the Week, Daniel reads Frank O'Hara's "Ave Maria"...a poem inspired by some of the thoughts shared by Natalie Goldberg in the interview.

In this week's Poetic License, MFA candidate at UTEP, Jonathan Nehls, shares his thoughts on how being bilingual has affected his poetics in the entry "Cacography."

Aired April 14, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Natalie Goldberg, an influential author of books on writing.  Her latest is "The True Secrets of Writing."  Goldberg talks about the "True Secrets Retreats" she holds in Taos, New Mexico, which inspire writers to sit, walk, and write.  Her philosophy of writing is very Zen and spiritual, and she encourages writers to just write and to "get out of the way" to allow the creative process to take place without the interference of discursive thinking.  In this online extended interview, Goldberg talks more on her writing workshops and how she ended up in New Mexico after starting out in New York. 

Aired April 14, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with Bobby Byrd, poet, essayist, and owner & publisher with Cinco Puntos Press with his wife Lee (www.cincopuntos.com).  Byrd talks about some of the poems in his latest collection, "White Panties, Dead Friends and Other Bits and Pieces of Love" and reads some selections from his upcoming release, "Talking to My Wife While She's Away at Church."  He also talks about whether the recent drug wars in Mexico have affected his poetry, and why he decided to start a publishing house, Cinco Puntos Press.

For this week's Poetic License, UTEP graduate student and teaching assistant Sylvia Aguilar Zéleny shares 3 stories that explain how she became a writer and translator.

Plus, Ben & Daniel talk about their summer travel plans.

Aired April 7, 2013.

Ben & Daniel take the "Words on a Wire" microphones to the Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Conference in Boston MA.  We'll hear them talk with Tino Villanueva,  a Boston resident who has written 6 books of poetry.  He was honored at AWP at the Con Tinta celebration by Letras Latinas. 

Ben & Daniel also conduct rapid-fire interviews with a number of writers attending the Con Tinta celebration.  Fred Arroyo talks about the future of American letters...Tim Z. Hernandez talks about an upcoming book about Kerouac's brief relationship with a Mexican girl...Sergio Troncoso talks about his essays on narco violence on the border...Melinda Palacio talks about promoting Tia Chucha Press at AWP...Aaron Michael Morales explains why he wants to revise his novel, "Eat Your Children"...Francisco Alarcon shares some personal stories with Ben and talks about breaking the news to Laurie Ann Guerrero that she had won the Andres Montoya Poetry Prize (Guerrero joins in the conversation)...and Francisco Aragon talks more about Letras Latinas and Con Tinta.

The first in a series of AWP-related programs.  Aired March 31, 2013.

Daniel talks with writer and performance artist Tim Z. Hernandez, author of the collection "Natural Takeover of Small Things."  Hernandez talks about his unconventional path to publication - he already had books published before he ever decided to pursue his MFA (Master in Fine Arts) degree.  He also talks about working in a theater group with California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, and how the late Chicano poets Andres Montoya and Omar Salinas influenced his poetry.  Hernandez talks about a new project which revealed the names of the forgotten Mexican deportees who died in a plane crash 65 years ago and were buried in a mass grave in Fresno.  Learn more about Tim Z. Hernandez and his latest project at http://timzhernandez.com/

Tim Z. Hernandez reads this week's Poem of the Week: "Brown Christ" from his new collection, "Natural Takeover of Small Things."

Aired March 24, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with W.S. Di Piero, author of the poetry collection, Nitro Nights.  Di Piero discusses whether his poetry gets easier or harder over time, and whether it is driven by pain and conflict.  He also talks about how he became an accidental art critic.

For this week's Poem of the Week, W.S. Di Piero reads "The Invention of Photography" from "Nitro Nights."

Plus, Daniel talks about some of the high-profile recognition that Ben has received for his latest short-story collection, "Everything Begins & Ends at the Kentucky Club."

Aired March 17, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with Alberto Rios, author of the poetry collection "The Dangerous Shirt."  Rios, a professor of English at Arizona State University, talks about how teaching feeds into his work.  He also talks about how the landscape of Arizona influences his poetry.  Rios, whose mother was English, reveals how he learned to see the world through her eyes as an outsider in predominately Hispanic surroundings.

For this week's Poem of the Week, Alberto Rios reads "My Dog, That Stranger" from his latest collection, "The Dangerous Shirt."

http://www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/

Aired March 10, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with Alberto Rios, author of the poetry collection "The Dangerous Shirt."  Rios, a professor of English at Arizona State University, talks about how teaching feeds into his work.  He also talks about how the landscape of Arizona influences his poetry.  Rios, whose mother was English, reveals how he learned to see the world through her eyes as an outsider in predominately Hispanic surroundings.  In this online-only extended interview, Rios also talks about the poem "The Cities Inside Us," which explores the worlds of imagination inside of us.

For this week's Poem of the Week, Alberto Rios reads "My Dog, That Stranger" from his latest collection, "The Dangerous Shirt."

http://www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/

Aired March 10, 2013

Ben & Daniel talk with Carlene Bauer, author of “Frances and Bernard,” a novel told in letters inspired by the lives of Flannery O’Connor and Robert Lowell.  Bauer talks about the inspiration behind creating a relationship between these two characters, and why she rather enjoys writing about 19th century characters instead of contemporary ones.  She also reveals how the religious beliefs she grew up with found their way into the book.

For the Poem of the Week, Benjamin Alire Saenz reads “First Love” by Edwin Rolfe, from his 1952 collection “First Love and Other Poems.”

And in this week’s Poetic License, Ben offers his reflections on the state of Western education.

Aired March 3, 2013.

The UTEP Centennial Lecture Series invites noteworthy speakers to the UTEP campus to share their perspectives on a broad range of contemporary issues that are likely to impact our society, culture, and lives in the years ahead. President Diana Natalicio and the College of Liberal Arts Honors Program and The Creative Writing Department present a UTEP Centennial Lecture by Philip Levine, 18th Poet Laureate of the United States, Tuesday, March 12, 5 p.m., Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 106, on the UTEP Campus. Reception to follow presentation

Ben & Daniel talk with writer Tara Betts, author of the new collection "Arc & Hue."  Betts talks about how her politics & passions find her way into her work.  She also talks about her early introduction to poetry and reading at open mics and poetry slams in Chicago.  Betts also talks about the people who influence her poetry.  http://tarabetts.net

Tara Betts reads this week's Poem of the Week: "What It's Like to be a Mixed Girl for Those of You Who Aren't," from her collection "Arc & Hue." 

In this week's Poetic License, El Paso poet & musician Gene Keller talks about the pain, both physical and emotional, he has endured and imposed, and how music & poetry are "The Best Happy Pills."  Keller is the author of the poetry collection "Tongue Tied on the Border."

And...Ben & Daniel are looking for the "Words on a Wire" listener who is the farthest from El Paso, geographically speaking.  Let them know where you are when you listen to our show!  Email bsaenz@utep.edu or danchacon@utep.edu.

Aired Feb. 24, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with writer Tara Betts, author of the new collection "Arc & Hue."  Betts talks about how her politics & passions find her way into her work.  She also talks about her early introduction to poetry and reading at open mics and poetry slams in Chicago.  Betts also talks about the people who influence her poetry.   In this online-only extended interview , Betts also talks about her musical & artistic influences, and how social media affects her poetry.  http://tarabetts.net

Tara Betts reads this week's Poem of the Week: "What It's Like to be a Mixed Girl for Those of You Who Aren't," from her collection "Arc & Hue." 

Aired Feb. 24, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with Matthew Dickman, author of the poetry collection "Mayakovsky's Revolver."  Dickman talks about how Frank O'Hara and a dream inspired the title to his newest collection.  He also explains how he got interested in poetry (a girl played a part in it), and how an old photo of beatnik poets persuaded him to pursue his interest.  Dickman also talks about starring with his twin brother (and fellow writer) Michael Dickman in the Steven Spielberg sci-fi drama, "Minority Report."

Matthew Dickman reads the Poem of the Week: "Gas Station" from "Mayakovsky's Revolver."

In this week's Poetic License, Sasha Pimentel-Chacon shares memories from her childhood and her homeland in the Philippines, and how she relates those memories to light & dark spaces in the poetic form.

Aired Feb. 17, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with Matthew Dickman, author of the poetry collection "Mayakovsky's Revolver."  Dickman talks about how Frank O'Hara and a dream inspired the title to his newest collection.  He also explains how he got interested in poetry (a girl played a part in it), and how an old photo of beatnik poets persuaded him to pursue his interest.  Dickman also talks about starring with his twin brother (and fellow writer) Michael Dickman in the Steven Spielberg sci-fi drama, "Minority Report."  In this online-exclusive expanded interview, Dickman also talks about his "day jobs," which include working as Poetry Editor of "Tin House Magazine," and freelance writing for a Portland advertising firm. 

Matthew Dickman reads the Poem of the Week: "Gas Station" from "Mayakovsky's Revolver."

Aired Feb. 17, 2013.

Ben & Daniel talk with Robin Scofield, author of the poetry collection, "Sunflower Cantos."  Scofield talks about the long road she encountered in getting her collection published, and about finding it a home with Mouthfeel Press.  Scofield also is February's artist in residence at the Tumblewords Project every Saturday from 12:45-2:45 p.m., at the Memorial Park Library.  http://robinscofield.com

Robin Scofield reads today's Poem of the Week - "Ballad" from "Sunflower Cantos."

In this week's Poetic License, Bobby Byrd of Cinco Puntos Press shares some exciting news about Benjamin Alire Saenz's latest young adult novel, "Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe."

Plus, Ben & Daniel discuss their classes this semester, and why Daniel's goatee makes him think he looks like his father.

Aired Feb. 10, 2013.

Ben & Daniel present a special show all about Happiness.   Ben reflects on happiness as he makes his way through his 58th year of life.  Daniel presents an audio essay on things that make him happy, in particular, buildings and homes.  Ben & Daniel also read a few poems that make them smile.  Aired Feb. 3, 2013.

Ben & Daniel devote the entire program to an interview with poet David Shapiro.  Shapiro is also an art historian and musician, and much of the interview is interspersed with artistic and musical references.  He talks about meeting poet Frank O’Hara when he was only 15, and about publishing his first poetry at 13.  Shapiro’s latest collection, “New & Selected Poems (1965-2006),” features some of his earliest works.  Shapiro also talks about why the line between music & poetry is often blurred, and why lines of poetry can be compared to the brush strokes on a canvas. 

Shapiro also reads this week’s Poem of the Week – “Falling Upwards” – and plays the violin for us.

Aired Jan. 27, 2013.

Ben & Daniel devote the entire program to an interview with poet David Shapiro.  Shapiro is also an art historian and musician, and much of the interview is interspersed with artistic and musical references.  He talks about meeting poet Frank O’Hara when he was only 15, and about publishing his first poetry at 13.  Shapiro’s latest collection, “New & Selected Poems (1965-2006),” features some of his earliest works.  Shapiro also talks about why the line between music & poetry is often blurred, and why lines of poetry can be compared to the brush strokes on a canvas.  In this online exclusive extended interview with Shapiro, he also talks about Dutch artist Willem De Kooning as an inspiration, why all poetry is infused with truth, and more on the connections between art & poetry.

Shapiro also reads this week’s Poem of the Week – “Falling Upwards” – and plays the violin for us.  In this online exclusive interview, Shapiro closes the show with a performance of a Bartok piece.  Aired Jan. 27, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Melinda Palacio, author of the new poetry collection, “How Fire is a Story, Waiting.”  Palacio talks about the start of her career as a columnist for the Arizona Republic, and how her interest in poetry grew after the death of her mother.  She also talks about how her grandmother and other female ancestors inspire & influence her work.  http://melindapalacio.com

Melinda Palacio reads this week’s Poem of the Week: “How Fire is a Story, Waiting,” from the book of the same name.

In this week’s Poetic License, Benjamin Alire Saenz reflects on well-earned rest.

Aired Jan. 20, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Melinda Palacio, author of the new poetry collection, “How Fire is a Story, Waiting.”  Palacio talks about the start of her career as a columnist for the Arizona Republic, and how her interest in poetry grew after the death of her mother.  She also talks about how her grandmother and other female ancestors inspire & influence her work. In this online-only extended interview, Palacio explains how, as a child, she worked to sell items for her mother, and that experience gave her valuable insight into promoting her own work as a writer. http://melindapalacio.com

Melinda Palacio reads this week’s Poem of the Week: “How Fire is a Story, Waiting,” from the book of the same name.

Aired Jan. 20, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Lee Herrick, whose latest collection of poems is “Gardening Secrets of the Dead.”  Herrick talks about his experience as a Korean adoptee, and how he became inspired to fill in the missing pieces of his life. 

For the Poem of the Week, Herrick reads “Circle” from “Gardening Secrets of the Dead.”

This week’s Poetic License comes from Daniel Chacon.  In “Upside Down Broom,” he shares a memory from a relationship he had with a woman who was a complete contradiction to who he was at the time. 

Daniel & Ben also talk about whether they’ve already broken their New Year’s resolutions. 

Aired Jan. 13, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with Lee Herrick, whose latest collection of poems is “Gardening Secrets of the Dead.”  Herrick talks about his experience as a Korean adoptee, and how he became inspired to fill in the missing pieces of his life.  In this online exclusive interview, Herrick explains why he wants readers of the book to find a way to mine the dead for their secrets.  He also talks about the unique connection he has with the artist who created the cover art of the book.

For the Poem of the Week, Herrick reads “Circle” from “Gardening Secrets of the Dead.” http://leeherrick.com

Aired Jan. 13, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with author Gabe Gomez, whose latest poetry collection is entitled "The Seed Bank." 

Gomez talks about winning the Andres Montoya Poetry Prize for his first book, and how it coincided with his displacement from New Orleans after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.  Gomez also talks about the differences between his first collection and his latest, "The Seed Bank." www.gabegomez.com

For this week's Poem of the Week, Gabe Gomez reads "Clovis Culture" from his newest collection of poetry, "The Seed Bank."

Ben & Daniel also talk about the latest movies they've seen together.

Aired Jan. 6, 2013.