AIPF Success, BookWoman, & the Next Book

After a long and incredible weekend, I am finally sitting down to say a big THANK YOU to AIPF and all the attendees who welcomed me with open arms (and ears!) as a Featured Poet for this year's festival. I loved the opportunity to share my writing, lead a workshop on poetry, and indulge in the beautiful words of others from across the globe. The feedback I have received so far has been awesome, including a fellow poet's response (in verse) to a poem I debuted at AIPF this year. You can see it here: http://flowerwords.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/i-had-to-stop/.

If you attended this weekend and had a chance to see me read or participate in my workshop, please feel free to comment on your experience as well! I truly appreciate getting to be a part of this festival year after year.

One of my favorite readings, and one I had the privilege of participating in this year, was the Woman Read at BookWoman. I was able to share my work, meet some truly wonderful women, and spend time with the owner of this incredible bookstore--Susan Post. To my great delight, Susan offered to sell my chapbook, Truths Unspoken, at BookWoman!

So, to all my local friends here in the central Texas area, please show BookWoman (www.ebookwoman.com) your gratitude and patronage by stopping by and purchasing Truths Unspoken today!


Finally, I have not stopped to take a break since the festival and am too inspired by it and you to slow down now. I have been considering my next book for sometime, and I plan to put dreams to action this year in writing my next book of poetry. So, please sign up on my website mailing list to receive the latest updates as I continue to grow, develop, and share my work with the world!

Write On!
Shae

AIPF: Get ready Austin, TX! OFFICIAL SCHEDULE

Next week is the Austin International Poetry Festival, and it is open to public! I promised to post my schedule of events for the festival, so here it is below. Of course I will be checking out as many other events as I can while not committed to the ones below. (The Youth Slam is always a favorite of mine!) You can find the full schedule for the festival at www.aipf.org. Please feel free to comment below which events you'll be attending or want to check out!

Schedule:


Thursday, April 11, 2013

7 pm – 10 pm Adult Anthology Launch at Huston-Tillotson University (D-L Auditorium) 1007 Chicon St. 78702. From I-35 take Chicon St. Turn left onto 11th St. Turn left on the first road into the Campus for parking (if it is not full).

Friday, April 12, 2013

**ETA**
3pm - 5pm City Reading at The Monkey's Nest, 5353 Burnet Road, Austin, TX

6:30 pm – 9:30 pm The Big Read at Crystal Auditorium/Nature's Treasures, 4103 N IH-35, Austin, TX, 78722

10 pm – 2 am Mad, Macabre & Mysterious Reading at Full English Cafe 2000 Southern Oaks Dr. 78745. Manchaca and Southern Oaks between Hwy. 71 and Stassney.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

(9:30 am – 11 am ACC offers free Poet Brunch at Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus 1212 Rio Grande St. 78701. Building 3000 is at the corner of W. 13th St. and West Ave.)

9:30 am – 10:45 am Facilitate workshop on A Writing Activity to Combat Writer’s Block at
Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus 1212 Rio Grande St. 78701. Building 3000 is at the corner of W. 13th St. and West Ave.)

1 pm – 4 pm Featured Poets & Special Guest Reading at Huston Tillotson University (D-L Auditorium) 1007 Chicon St. 78702. From I-35 take Chicon St. Turn left onto 11th St. Turn left on the first road into the Campus for parking (if it is not full).

7 pm – 9 pm The Woman Read at Book Woman 5501 N. Lamar Blvd. 78751. 1 1/2 block south of 2222.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

10 am – 12 noon Special Guest Poets’ Brunch at New World Deli 4101 Guadalupe St. 78751. 41st and Guadalupe. (Tickets are $12 at the registration desk-limited seating)

5 pm – 6 pm Membership Meeting at Kick Butt Coffee 5775 Airport Blvd. 78752. Just north of Airport Blvd. and Koenig Lane (Hwy 69).

My God is a Woman

My God is a woman.
She is a mysterious beauty
Who men seek to own and control.
They rape the very womb
From which she birthed them
By their violent wars
While calling out her name.

My God is a mother.
She feeds the world her love
Through the milk of her breast.
And though she weeps tears
Upon their silent thankless lives
She never ceases to give them
The nutrition they need to carry on.

My God is a wife.
She prepares a home of comfort
While awaiting their return.
As they seek out that which benefits
Their own fantasies and desires
They need only to come home
To find that which makes them content.

I am my God's daughter.
Between my legs holds her beauty.
Within my breast carries her love.
Through my hands I offer her provisions.
Man may seek to control and to own me.
But they will fail as they have failed before.
For I am my God's daughter.
My name is not fit for their lips.
My soul cannot be chained.
My words will not be silenced.

My God lives. And so shall I.

(Untitled)

Sleigh bells echo oft--
Presents gather dust below
A newly placed urn.

Featured Poet at Austin International Poetry Festival 2013

I am honored and excited to announce that I have been chosen as a Featured Poet at this year's Austin International Poetry Festival. As a featured poet, I will be leading a workshop on poetry techniques, reading at various venues, and will be featured in the AIPF Di-Verse-City 2013 Anthology.

This festival gave me the courage to first share my poetry with the public in 2009, and I am very humbled to now be representing this festival for the incredible city of Austin.The festival is April 11th-14th and includes a line-up of enthralling talent, a variety of educational workshops, entertaining readings, and social activities where you can meet fellow writers, editors, publishers, and more. You don't want to miss out!

For those of you interested in attending this awesome festival, you can find more information and register at www.aipf.org. Also, make sure to follow me and sign up for email updates, and I will post more details as they are finalized. I will be selling copies of my chapbook, Truths Unspoken, and would love to see you there. Thank you all for your support--as long as you keep reading, I will keep writing!

Write on!
Shae