It’s been pretty busy lately with admin work and teaching, and I’ve been trying to make time for some writing. This weekend should be a good time to start.  Last night, Aaron A. Abeyta gave an excellent reading here on the CSU-Pueblo campus for about 55 people.  An great turnout and reading.  I attempted to record the reading and hopefully we will start archiving all our readings on the English Department website, so people can listen to them.  Thanks to Aaron for coming to our campus and for letting us record him.  Let’s hope it works!

We have three more readings for the SoCo Reading Series, the next one being next Friday, February 20 at 2 pm in the CSU-Pueblo OUC Cottonwood Room.  Poet, former CSU-Pueblo professor, and good friend of mine David Keplinger will be reading!  I have seen him read several times before, and he never ceases to amaze me.  I’m hoping to hear some new poems like the ones I’ve read in recent journals.  If you are in the Pueblo area that day, I hope you can make it.  He will also be reading the evening before in Colorado Springs at Colorado College. 

 I’ve been reading a lot of blogs and literary websites about AWP, which starts today.  Obviously, I’m not going this year, and there’s a lot to be missed.  Hope everyone who goes has a blast at the book table, the Con Tinta event, and at all the panels and readings.  I’m looking forward to next year’s conference in Denver.  It’s a rare treat when something big like AWP comes within 100 of Pueblo, no?

The Southern Colorado Reading Series is proud to present our first reading for the spring semester.  Local, award-winning Poet and fiction writer Aaron A. Abeyta will be reading on Wednesday, February 11 at 7 pm in the CSU-Pueblo’s Cottonwood Room, OUC second floor.

Aaron A. Abeyta is the author of the novel Rise: Do Not Be Afraid.  He has also written two poetry collections: Colcha, winner of the Colorado Book Award and the American Book Award, and as orion falls. He teaches at Adams State College in Alamosa and his family home is in Antonito, Colorado.

The reading is free.  All books are on sale at the CSU-Pueblo Bookstore and will be on sale at the event.  For more information or questions, contact Juan J. Morales, Assistant Professor and Director of Creative Writing if you have any questions at 549-2082 or juan.morales@colostate-pueblo.edu.

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It’s been up since before Christmas, but Anti- has a new issue out, featuring a lot of great writers.  My poem, “Guaman Poma, Writing by Candlelight” is also featured in this issue.

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In other exciting news, The Acentos Review selected “The Abandonded Possessions of Garcilaso de la Vega” for a 2008 Pushcart Prize.  I’m honored and flattered 

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Times have been quite busy lately with one week done of a new semester and a slew of other projects under way.  My hope is to start incorporating some new features and updates this year.  I guess I’m evaluating what exactly I want to do with this webpage.  I want to include audio, more pictures, more writing (probably on process and current projects), and other elements, but how where’s the time?  I’ve been reading a lot of other writer’s blogs, and I get real immersed and swept up in discussions of process and insight into their techniques and methods.  Any thoughts out there?  In the meantime, it’s time to get some writing and grading done.

Finally, a quick run down of recent developments.

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Thanks to everyone in Chicago for the great experience and reading for Palabra Pura. I was there for a little less than two days, but I was able to see a lot of this great city thank to my gracious host and lots of walking. I have pictures, and I hope to post them soon.

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I got my contributor’s copies of PALABRA issue four with four new poems. I’m really enjoying the other writers in the issue and it’s a beautiful magazine! To learn where to purchase PALABRA, visit here.

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An old poem that I cut from Friday was recently accepted for publication; strange how you give up on a poem and then it smirks back at you.

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Right now, I’m trying to survive the final week of classes. Next week is finals week, entering the home stretch. It’s been a busy but good one. Once the piles of poems, fiction theory, and nonfiction shrink, it will be time to resume poems and work on this page.

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Reading alert: If you’re in the Colorado Springs area tonight, I’ll be reading at 7 pm with Steven Wingate at Colorado College for their Visiting Writing Series. It’s an amazing series that I have always admired, featuring too many great writers to note. I’m looking forward to reading in my hometown again! A few friends of mine told me it was in the Colorado Springs Independent too. Here’s a link with more info:

I just wanted to try out this theme to see if the layout and flow would be better.  So far,  methinks I like this.

No other news for now…I hope to take lots of pictures in Chicago.  Maybe even post them?

I’ve had this song in my head lately: “Jigsaw Falling into Place”

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About two weeks ago, I had a great time in ABQ at the ACIS-West Conference.  My Boland paper was well received, and I was able to hear some amazing papers and meet some very kind people.  Looking forward to my next visit there, and I hope there’s time for a flea market.
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I stayed up late and watched some of the election results, including the two speeches.  Both were very eloquent.  I look forward to having a leader who knows how to speak to a crowd.

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A week from today, I’ll be in Chicago for the Palabra Pura Reading.  I’m looking forward to this experience: the community, food, and opportunity.  I haven’t read in a few months and I’m planning on reading some work from Friday and then some new work that’s been recently picked up.
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Right now, I’m pinned under stacks of grading, but I’m still finding time for new work.  The poems are getting polished from the Southeat Review’s Regimen (which they will run again starting on December 1), but I think the manuscript will need 20-30 more pages of poems to be complete.

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On an unrelated note, I can’t wait for January: Official Lost 2009 Trailer.

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Thanks to everyone who attended yesterday’s workshop sponsored by SCWP for the All Pueblo Reads Series.  It’s great to see thirty-three people who want to take time out of their busy schedules to explore their writing.  There should be another SCWP-sponsored workshop in the spring.

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On another note, I will be going to Albuquerque next weekend for the 24th Annual ACIS-West Conference at UNM.  I will be presenting a paper titled “Unpredictability in Eavan Boland’s Language of Violence.”  There are some impressive people presenting, and it will be great to visit my alma matter and see some friends.  It’s been too long.  I’ll have to make time to eat Krung Thai and Olympia Cafe too.  Maybe a little time to hit the indoor flea markets too?  I miss them.

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Next month on Wednesday, November 12, I’ll be in Chicago reading for the Palabra Pura series with Liliana Bilbao.  You can find details here.  I’ve only been to Chicago once for an MLA Conference where I only saw the airport and the inside of hotel ballrooms.  Looking forward to meeting some great people and taking in the city before it gets too cold.

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Slowly but surely I’m learning Wordpress and making updates in small bursts.  I’ll keep at it!

If you’re in or around Pueblo this weekend, I’ll be running a workshop in conjunction with the All Pueblo Reads Series.  Spaces are filling up fast!

October 18-SCWP Adult Writing Workshop “Creative Writing and the Exploration of Roots, Family & Self,” 10 am- 12 noon Ryals Room, Rawlings Library, Pueblo, CO. “During this workshop, author and director of creative writing at CSU-Pueblo, Juan Morales, will help participants explore creative writing through the lens of the family and personal identity. Whether it be family myths, personal memories or the preservation of timeless stories, writers can always discover great subjects through their own writing. Complete exercises, collaborate on activities, discuss process and themes, and most importantly, get some writing done! To reserve your spot, contact the Southern Colorado Writing Project at (719) 549-2595 or scwponline@gmail.com.”

I stumbled across this link this morning: 3,785 Page Pirated Poetry Anthology.  It’s a faux anthology with work of 3,164 poets, and my “likeness” was included.  Even though it’s obvious, just wanted to note the following is not my poem:

A sort of moment

Has he been voiced?

The moment of the wrestler, beyond

. the cold helm

He has been ivory

He has had one pilgrim, they

. have had only themselves

Juan J. Morales

On another note, all is well, and I’m almost done with a productive Writing Regimen courtesy of The Southeast Review.  Twenty-four out of thirty days done.  I will be gradually updating and upgrading this website in the coming days.  Stay tuned.