Forrest Fest 2009 Expands to Austin

April 30, 2009

by Neil Kahn

This Saturday, May 2, Forrest Fest arrives in Austin where an all-day poetry and cultural celebration will be held at the Austin Baha’i Center (2215 E.M. Frankline Avenue). Our own award-winning poet Ric Williams is highlighted as a featured artist and will read his poetry aloud on Saturday night.

Founded in West Texas, and now in its ninth year, Forrest Fest is an annual poetry, music, and art festival held in the city of Lamesa each year, until now. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday with an early bird Round Robin reading, followed by a half dozen featured poets sharing their work in a reading hosted by Robin Cravey. Everyone is invited to share in a potluck feast, then participate in poetry workshops and other ongoing activites, such as scrapbooking and creating an instant anthology. Saturday evening promises music from Chris Van Loan and at 7 p.m. popular Texas poets will perform their original work aloud. Sharing the bill with Ric Williams are well-knowns in the poetry community like Herman Nelson, Dr. Chuck Taylor of Texas A&M University, Connie Williams, John Levacy, Kathleen Romana, and Thom the World Poet, as well as less known, emerging poets. The day long event comes to a close with a Round Robin Open Mic session.

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Dalton Poets to Read Texas Poetry

November 12, 2008

Please join us at Barnes & Noble Sunset Valley on Sunday, November 23 at 4pm for a reading series, entitled “Texas Poets Reading Texas Poetry,” hosted by the Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review. Our own award-winning poet Ric Williams (the secret book of god) and long-time Austin poet W. Joe Hoppe (Galvanized) will be featured among a brilliant stable of Texas poets at this one-time event. Other poets on the bill include: Bob Ayres, Ken Fontenot, Ralph Hausser, David Meischen, Scott Wiggerman, Nancy Fierstien, Zara Houshmand, Cindy Huyser, Marcelle Kasprowicz, Judy Jensen, Christa Pandey, and Deb Akers.

What: Texas Poets Reading Texas Poetry
Where: Barnes & Noble Sunset Valley (5601 Brodie Lane)
When: Sunday, November 23 at 4pm

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Latest News: The Dalton Gang Readings are Back!

June 16, 2008

Dalton Publishing and BookPeople Present
The 2nd Annual Dalton Gang Readings

Brought to you by the bizarre amalgam that is The Dalton Gang— seven flagrant Austin authors! The Second Annual Dalton Gang Readings features the dangerous yet delicate poetics of W. Joe Hoppe (Galvanized); the poignant and riotous humor of Owen Egerton (How Best to Avoid Dying); Les McGehee’s improvisational genius (Plays Well With Others); and Joe O’Connell’s resilient wisdom of happenstance and finality (Evacuation Plan). As if that weren’t enough, readings ensue from authors of upcoming titles—the fantastical realities of Robert Stikmanz (Entranscing); the through-it-all brilliance of Ric Williams (Woman in the Tower); and the esteemed histories of Gary Kent (Shadows & Light / Journeys with Outlaws in Revolutionary Hollywood).

Who: The Dalton Gang
What: The Second Annual Dalton Gang Readings
Where: BookPeople (603 N. Lamar)
When: Tuesday, July 15 at 7pm

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Latest News: the secret book of god Wins 2007 Best Poetry in Texas Award

January 28, 2008

Robert Bonazzi, critically acclaimed author and Poetic Diversity Columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, announces Ric Williams’ the secret book of god as the best book of poetry by a poet living in Texas in his 2007 Poetic Diversity Awards. These awards intend to bring recognition to significant books that have been overlooked. Previous winners of the Poetry in Texas award are Paul Christensen (Hard Country, Thorp Springs Press) and Naomi Shihab Nye (You & Yours, BOA Editions, Ltd.).

Bonazzi praises Williams’ ability to take “the lyrics into intuitive depths” and the way that he “strokes colors with a vivid sensuality.” Bonazzi calls the poems “passionate,” and he finds in them both celebration and the author’s own self-critique.

Check out Ric Williams in the Austin American-Statesman

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