Archive for the ‘General’ Category
March 9th, 2010 | 
Author: The book for Tuesday, April 6th will be “The Color of Water” by James McBride. A memoir written by a black man as a tribute to his white mother. Bonnie has kindly agreed to be the facilitator for the group next month in my absence (I’m traveling to WY to visit my daughter). Thanks Kathy for arranging with Moby dickens for some extra copies to be available…. Happy reading.
Jan M. Smith
For more info about this group:
Posted in 
Cultural Energy will be airing the last SOMOS Winter Writers Series reading by dg nanouk Okpk & Cathy Strisik on KTAO 101.9 FM a little after 8 pm
Thursday, March 11th. and will post it online at http://www.culturalenergy.org/somos.htm by Wednesday of this week.
Cultural Energy
A Non-Profit Organization Creating Media Voices
for Youth, Arts & Activism for Northern New Mexico
192 Blueberry Hill, HCR74 Box 21912, El Prado, NM 87529
575-758-9791 energy@culturalenergy.org
http://www.culturalenergy.org
(Thanks Robin & Mike!!!)
We are pleased to announce the 2010 Board
President: Alan Macrae
Vice President: Janet Webb
Secretary: Phyllis Hotch
Treasurer: Billy Knight
Members-At-Large: Kathy Fitzgerald & Cherie Burns
Thanks to all of our dedicated board members for their service last year, and special thanks to Steve Fox (who has resigned to pursue other commitments) for his dedication and many contributions to SOMOS.
This Story by Lyla Johnston appeared on the front page of last week’s Taos News. I’m sure many Taosenos are praying for her strong recovery. She says it all in this brief essay. Please read through the link. I wish her message were the headline of every front page in the world. 
Editor’s note: Lyla June Johnston, a Taos resident who is a student at Stanford University, was studying in Santiago, Chile, when that country endured a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake Saturday (Feb. 27). She emailed this account.
SANTIAGO, CHILE; Sometimes you just feel it. All day long before the quake hit, I felt something coming. Of course, I didn’t act on this hunch or stow myself away in a bomb shelter. I just laid my head down for the night in my 12-story apartment complex.
For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
http://www.taosnews.com/articles/2010/03/05/news/doc4b911ef173db5433243175.txt
WRITE TO THE FINISH
With Sean Murphy and Tania Casselle
Taking registrations now for an April start, spaces limited.
A 9-month, long-distance course for writers working on a book-length
project. The group works by email and phone, so you can take part wherever
you are. Write to the Finish supports you with craft, community, focus and
feedback. Includes a full manuscript critique. Led by award-winning writers
Sean Murphy (www.murphyzen.com) and Tania Casselle (www.writeondeadline.com
& www.tcwriter.com). For full outline and details email:
shouthootu@garrifulio.mailexpire.com
Thank you Jan Smith, curator of the Winter Writers series; all the writers who participated; and our dedicated volunteers for making the 2010 series a success.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010!
7 PM at Caffe Tazza, 122 Kit Carson Road
$8 – members / $6 – Seniors / Free to high school students
LAUREN BJORKMAN will read from her recently published young adult novel, My Invented Life, a spirited and adventurous tale of teen angst, gender issues and relationships. My Invented Life explores the challenges of being your true self and the effect that secrets have on the people who keep them. Bjorkman grew up on a sailboat, sharing the forecastle with her sister and the sail bags. She currently lives in Taos and is working on a new novel about an advice blog gone awry, friendship, Mini Coopers, fake IDs, unplanned pregnancies and fortune cookies.
MARTHA EGAN, the author of two previous novels, Clearing Customs and Coyota, as well as numerous nonfiction books will read from her new collection of short stories (Fall, 2009), La Ranfla and Other New Mexico Stories. She will read from the short story, “Granny”, the last story in La Ranfla. It is about a college graduate on his way to California whose car breaks down in a small, dusty southern New Mexico town and through his attempting to get his car fixed he discovers two kids who have busted their grandmother out of a Mexican jail.
MUSICAL GUESTS, Taosenos Brooke Zanatell and her husband, Phillip Handmaker, members of the band Zanagroove will play and sing from their selection of funky and zany originals.
Due to weather conditions, this evenings program has been postponed.
Details on rescheduling will be available soon.
Stay safe and warm
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010!
7 PM @ The Mabel Dodge Luhan House
240 Morada Lane, Taos
Two fun and fabulous short story writers share their work!
David Perez – writer, editor, consultant and actor will read from one of his short stories, “New Life and Alien Life: A Journey Begins.” David is locally known for his previous readings from his memoir-in-progress, “WOW”, about growing up in the South Bronx, his many roles as an actor, and his editorial consultant work with accomplished writers.
Monique Parker – teaches English composition, creative writing, and yoga therapy at UNM – Taos, where is also serves as the Yoga Program Coordinator. Her Yoga of Writing workshops were recently featured in Writer’s Digest and Poets & Writers magazines. She will read from a short story, “The Mantra Business” from her collection-in-progress, “Mating on the Web: Internet Stories.”
Taos, New Mexico has long been a haven for the creative soul. Since the arrival of literary notables Willa Cather and D.H. Lawrence in the early twentieth century, literature has played a prominent role in the area’s rich cultural landscape. As the literary arts flourished, the need for formal community support became apparent, which ultimately led to the non-profit incorporation of SOMOS in 1983. Today, it has expanded into its present role as a respected resource center whose outreach extends to the greater community of Northern New Mexico – and beyond. Our live readings, workshops, conferences, and festivals are designed not only to showcase accomplished writers, but also to encourage creativity in novice writers from all walks of life.
SOMOS is a membership organization. The generosity of our supporters allows us to honor our commitment of presenting the very best of the literary arts to the Taos area at no cost, or for a minimal fee. We cordially invite you to join us in answering the call of the Muse of the Southwest.
SOMOS projects are made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, A Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts; Mag Dimond; The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation; The Peter and Madeleine Martin Foundation for the Arts; Healy Foundation; and Taos County Lodgers Tax.