A Review of My Chapbook

My friend Katherine Hoerth, who is exploring and educating about the poetry chapbook (what, why, and how) on her blog, posted a review of my book Entre la claridad yesterday.  I am still feeling so excited about this!

If you have been wondering what someone besides me has to say about this collection of poems, here is the start of her review.

“In her second poetry chapbook, Elisa A. Garza explores timeless questions of identity: Who am I? Where do I come from? And where am I going? Through the lenses of gender, culture, language and landscape, Garza paints a portrait of what it means to be a woman, a Chicana, in this contested space. She does so with both candor and lyricism – and as a reader, I couldn’t help but be drawn into this world, both the familiar and the foreign.”  The “contested space” Katherine refers to is the South Texas borderlands, the setting for most of the poems in my book.

Read more of the review here.  If you are now convinced you have to read my poems (and I hope you are), you can buy my chapbook directly from Mouthfeel Press.

I am so grateful to Katherine for the publicity, and for the enthusiasm she has for my book.  Mil gracias, Katie!

Katherine is also a poet, and her new collection, The Garden, Uprooted is on the printing press right now at Slough Press.  

It will be available for purchase at Amazon very soon.  You can learn more about Katherine Hoerth and her books here.  I plan to post a review of her first chapbook, Among the Mariposas (also from Mouthfeel Press) in a few weeks.

If you live in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, or Houston, you can hear Katherine read her poetry in person (and buy her book) at one of the reading events scheduled in the next two weeks.  I will attend her reading on July 24^th, 7 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble in Webster (Houston area).  I hope to see you there!  

You can find the details of the other readings in the right sidebar of her blog.

Have you liked the Entre la claridad page on Facebook?  I post notices about writing, readings, publications, and literary events there, including things that I don’t have the chance to blog about.  Do go like the page if you are interested in those topics, or if you just like my book!

Holly at A Life-Size Catholic Blog hosts a monthly Pay It Forward Link Up, so I am connecting there in July also.  Her link up is a great forum for sharing the inspiration you have found on other blogs, and she highlights one of her favorite bloggers this month.  I hope you will go see what others are paying forward this month at the link below.

L.L. at Seedlings in Stone hosts the weekly On,In, and Around Monday Link up, “an invitation to write from where you are… [with] a sense of place.”  I hope this post qualifies!  Please go visit the collection.

Jennifer at Mommy Y hosts a weekly Mom–Me Link up, encouraging Mom bloggers to write for or about themselves (and not their children at least once a week).  I think this is a great idea, and I am so glad I finally have a post that qualifies.  Please go read about how she starts her day in solitude and visit the other bloggers’ entries!

Karri at My Life’s a Treasure hosts a weekly My Favorite Things Link up, so I am linking there (just gotta love publicity for my writing).  I hope you will go see other bloggers' favorite posts this week.

My Book is on Sale at a Local Bookstore

We live in a new world that I as an author am still adjusting to: many people no longer read books for pleasure, the people who still read books often buy them on-line and are growing devoted to e-book readers.  Consequently, the number of bookstores is dwindling.  Even people in my own family asked why I published a physical book instead of an e-book.  I’m old school that way.  Poetry publishers and the books they print are old school that way too.  

However, the conditions of the new literature market make it harder than ever to see a chapbook (shorter than a volume or regular length book) of poetry with a limited run from a small independent publisher for sale at an actual brick and mortar bookstore.  Thankfully, the publisher of Improbable Worlds, Mutabilis Press, based here in Houston, has arranged for a special event and exhibit at our local literary bookstore.  In honor of National Poetry Month, which begins today, Brazos Bookstore will feature a display of books by Houston poets in their store.  

My two chapbooks, Entre la claridad and Familia, are included in the display and available for sale.  So, if you live in Houston, but have not yet bought either of my books, please visit Brazos Bookstore and buy your copy.  Because they are for sale on consignment, if all the copies sell, Brazos may choose to sell the books beyond the original contract.  That would make this old school writer who still hopes to see my work in an actual physical book very happy.

Of course, you can still order Entre la claridad directly from the publisher, Mouthfeel Press.  Familia is only available directly from me or at Brazos Bookstore for a limited time.

Also in honor of National Poetry month, MutabilisPress is hosting another reading by the poets published in their anthology of spiritual poems, Improbable Worlds.  This event is at Brazos Bookstore this Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m.  If you are planning to stop by Brazos to buy my books anyway, this would be a good night to go.   

I’m going to read a poem from Entre la claridad titled “Stations of the Cross Park, Mount St. Francis Friary,” in homage to Holy Week.  Here is an excerpt, to tease you:

Ash and pine poke through sloped banks,

a vista of miniatures versus giants.

These towers crowd and disperse,

segregate one turn, one station

of the path from another,

one solemn moment from the next.

Garden update:  In my last post, I wrote about what we planted in the garden last weekend.  All of the transplants have survived, and either the broccoli or kale seeds have sprouted in droves.  If you want some herbs or some of the new sprouts, let me know!

My Book Has Arrived: Enter the Drawing

Yesterday, I received my copies of Entre la claridad, and I am so happy to have my new book in my hands.  This also means I can give one away to you, so please read on about how to participate in the drawing to win your very own copy.

This time, there are multiple ways to enter, which means you can have multiple entries.  Someone in my family will draw the winning name on the evening of Tuesday, December 27, so even if you are super busy this Advent and Christmas season, you have time to enter.  

In case you have missed my earlier posts, this book is my second chapbook of poetry, an achievement that has taken me ten years to realize.  Of course, I have not been writing the book for all of those ten years; I took time away from my writing career to marry and start a family.  While the delay was certainly worth all the rewards of married and family life, I am grateful that I now have some time to devote to writing again.

Early this year, I made a commitment to write at least once a week, and after I was asked by a friend to submit to Mouthfeel Press, many of those weeks were devoted to choosing poems to appear in the book, placing them in order, revising the poems, choosing a title, and reconsidering which poems should be in the book.  Then I sent the manuscript to Mouthfeel, and waited for a response.  Seeing the book in print is a lovely reward for my writing efforts this past year.

For those of you unfamiliar with poetry, a chapbook is a small book, so reading a chapbook is a good way to familiarize yourself with poetry in general, or a particular poet.  My chapbook contains twenty poems, mostly about my and my family’s experiences living in South Texas, a border community with a culture enriched by two languages, two cultures, and a strong sense of family history.

Here is what a few others have to say about the poems:

“One lives in the zone of clarity when one lives in two worlds, versus living in one culture where there is only one set of ideas/beliefs instilled...When one lives entre la claridad, one lives a full life of various experiences as noted in your poetry collection-- so much richer, open and wide. Here, there are no boundaries or border or mapas.”       —Maria M.

“I loved your poems with the mixture of English and Spanish and hearing about the letters your parents wrote each other.  Funny now to think that your grandmother thought her daughter moving to Dallas was not a good idea.  Really lovely work and words.”          —Beverly M.

If you have read either of my chapbooks, heard me read in person, or listened to the radio broadcasts (listen to the archives here), let me know what you think.  I would like to post a round-up of comments in the future.  I may even host a future drawing especially for those who write a short review about my poetry!

There are multiple ways to enter this week’s drawing, so you can enter more than once.  The key to each of them is to let me know after you have completed the action(s) requested below that you wish to enter the drawing.  Just leave a comment, or send an e-mail.

• Follow this blog using the blue button in the left sidebar, or by subscribing via e-mail at the top of the right sidebar.  New followers or subscribers get two entries!
• Announce the book on the social media platform of your choice.  The easiest way to do this is to use the Facebook, twitter, or Google Plus One buttons at the bottom of this post or in the right sidebar.  Or, get creative.  My publisher quoted from the end of this blog post when she posted a link to the blog with a picture of the book on Facebook.
• Like the Entre la claridad page on Facebook.  

If you already follow or subscribe to this blog, have announced the book on social media, or have liked the FB page, all you have to do to enter is tell me you want to participate in the drawing!

Here is another teaser from the book, to build your interest.  You can read a teaser from the first poem in the book here, and from the second poem in the book here.  These lines are from “Aguacate,” a poem in the middle section of the book:

Slippery flesh that melts in my mouth,

yellow green color of new leaves,

when I squeeze your oval body

after slicing you in half,

your insides chunk off

the smooth underside of your skin,

If you want to buy Entre la claridad, it is available for $7.00 from Mouthfeel Press.  Take a look at the other books from the press while you are there; you’ll see a selection of books by innovative and talented poets.  

Also, my poem “Bat Bridge” is included in the new collection of poems about the sacred by Mutabilis Press, Improbable Worlds.  Reading an anthology is another good way to familiarize yourself with poetry.  You can read about and buy that book here.

Book Release Information

Mouthfeel Press is working hard this week to bring my new chapbook of poems, Entre la claridad, to completion.  Today, Maria sent me the blueline copy for final proofreading.  She and I will both read it over very carefully two times before she sends it to the printer tomorrow.

These final proofreads are only a small part of the many dozens of careful readings both Maria and I have made of the manuscript this year.  Two other writers, who also generously wrote promotional blurbs for the book, read the manuscript carefully and provided important corrections: Karen Braucher and ire’ne lara silva.  You will find their kind words about the book on the back cover.  Thank you Karen and ire’ne for your work!

I must also sing Maria’s praises: she has been busy these past few weeks, reading and rereading the manuscript, making suggestions about reordering the poems and dividing them into sections, encouraging me to revise a couple of the poems, considering and consulting about titles, and working on the cover.  She also transferred the manuscript file, my photo, and my bio into the publishing software and made the adjustments required for pagination, revised the Table of Contents, and edited my over-zealous biography.  All while battling migraines, caring for three children and a husband, and tending to the other duties of the Press.  Gracias, Maria.

For those of you ready to buy a copy (please do), the price will be $7.00 plus sales tax, and you can purchase from the press directly starting on Saturday.  Shipping is included, and you can remit payment via PayPal.  I will also have copies to sell in person, but not right away, so please support Mouthfeel by purchasing direct.  Don’t forget to check out the other titles while you are there.  

Once I have my copies, I will be giving some away right here, so keep reading the blog if you can patiently wait for a chance to win a free copy.  If you haven’t done so already, you can follow this blog by clicking on the blue button in the left sidebar, or subscribe to the blog via e-mail in the upper right sidebar.

Here is another teaser, from the second poem in the book, “All Señoritas Get Married,” which is dedicated to my mother:

She carries this knowledge

deep, in her gut,

the way she will one day

carry her babies, hidden and small,

Read the first teaser here and one more here.

Also, my poem “Bat Bridge” is included in the new collection of poems about the sacred by Mutabilis Press, Improbable Worlds.  One of writers mentioned above, ire’ne lara silva, is also published there.  You can read about and buy that book here.

Book Release Date: December 9th

I am thrilled to announce that my publisher, Mouthfeel Press, has informed me that my book will be released one week from today!

Maria and I have been making some final edits, including a change to the title.  Instead of “Fronteras” the book is titled Entre la claridad.  While I was very attached to “Fronteras” and even mentioned it on this blog and on a couple of recorded radio programs  (see the Audio page to listen), Maria feels the new title “opens a poetic space.”  Hopefully, you and other readers will agree!

Just to tease your curiosity about the book, I’ll quote from Maria’s musings during the editorial process: “One lives in the zone of clarity when one lives in two worlds, versus living in one culture where there is only one set of ideas/beliefs instilled...When one lives entre la claridad, one lives a full life of various experiences as noted in your poetry collection-- so much richer, open and wide. Here, there are no boundaries or border or mapas.”

I hope you look forward to “entering the zone of clarity” when you read my book.  I welcome those of you who have already heard some of the poems over the radio broadcasts or in person to leave  your thoughts and comments below.  One of my colleagues at the university, Beverly, said this about my radio broadcast last month on KUHA: “I thought you did a great job. I loved your poems with the mixture of English and Spanish and hearing about the letters your parents wrote each other.  Funny now to think that your grandmother thought her daughter moving to Dallas was not a good idea.  Really lovely work and words.”

If you blog, please consider reviewing or mentioning my book in a post (I’ll return the favor by mentioning your book or other work).  Same for Facebook.  The economic downturn has really taken a financial toll on publisher budgets, bookstores, and community literary events.  Most of the avenues I used to promote my first book ten years ago are no longer available, so I have to think about creative ways to bring attention to Entre la claridad.  Let me know if you have ideas.  I’ll be making a strong marketing push for this book on-line, and I ask for your help!

On that note, please consider my book as a gift while you are doing your Christmas shopping this year.  The title of my book is in Spanish, but the primary language of the poems is English.  As Beverly mentioned, the poems mix in some Spanish, reflecting the bilingual nature of South Texas life, a life lived in Spanglish.  The poems also discuss the experiences of women across three generations, living in two cultures.  I will post about how to purchase the book as details become available, so stay tuned.  

In the meantime, go see the other titles available from Mouthfeel Press, just in case you might want to purchase them along with mine!

Here are some of my creative book promotion ideas that you can look forward to:

• giveaways
• teasers
• a round-up of your reviews and comments
• cover image

Here is the first teaser, from the opening poem of the book, “Border Sonnet”:

When you live in South Texas, you hear como

que no as often as why not and your ears

don't notice when the tongue speaking to you

slides over, flúido, smooth as wax paper

to say: bueno, bye; see you mañana.

Read more teasers from the book here and here.

 

Tonight, I’ll be visiting the reception for the launch of the anthology Improbable Worlds from Mutabilis Press.  You can join us from from 6 to 9 p.m. at the The Jung Center of Houston, 5200 Montrose, or look for details about this event in a future post.  My poem, “Bat Bridge” is included in the collection.  You can read about and buy that book here; click on the “Purchase” link in the menu on the left.