SOCIETY OF THE MUSE OF THE SOUTHWEST

Welcome to the SOMOS Weeklies: your source for news, events, opportunities, and information for the writers, readers, and literary patrons of Taos

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Photographer Paul O'Connor's long-awaited, much-anticipated TAOS PORTRAITS book will be released at Millicent Rogers Museum, Friday June 1, 5-8 p.m. with exhibit through July 15, 2012; Hulse/Warman Gallery exhibit of large prints June 3 through July 1, 2012 with opening reception Sunday, June 3, 2-5 p.m.; and SOMOS and Harwood sponsored Book Signing and Discussion with Paul O'Connor and Bill Whaley, Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m.

 

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Deadline Rapidly Approaching!!
Love to cook? Love to write? Love to see your work published? Submit to our "Storied Recipes" fundraising cookbook project. (Deadline June 1, 2012).

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SOMOS 30^th Annual Fundraiser

To Feature Poet Michael C. Ford

Well known Los Angeles poet Michael C. Ford, will perform Friday, June 15^th at the Society of the Muse of the Southwest (SOMOS) 30^th Annual fundraising event to be held at the Mabel Dodge Lujan Center. Co-Sponsored by the MalPais Review & the Border Poetics Consortium, Ford will be appearing at this event as part of a poetry tour he is making in New Mexico during June.

We are pleased to have a poet of Michael Ford's stature & sophistication presenting his work to the 30^th Annual SOMOS Annual fundraiser. Many of us have read his work & look forward to seeing him in person,” said Alan Macrae, President of SOMOS.Ford first read his poetry along with Michael McClure in 1969 at a fundraiser for Norman Mailer’s run for Mayor of New York City. Ford, who hosts a poetry-jazz show on LA radio, first gained national notice with a Grammy Nomination in 1987 for his avant garde LP Language Commando. Recently he has recorded poetry /music collaborations with former members of The Doors Ray Manzarek and John Densmore. He was nominated for a Pulitzer prize in 1998 for his poetry volume Emergency Exits. He later gained attention for the poem "Vietnam/Peace Casualties" which was nominated for the 2006 PushCart Prize. Instructor at multiple national venues in PEN USA's "Pen in the Classroom,” Ford’s latest book is "The Demented Chauffeur" (2009, Ion Drive, L.A., Ca). Ford has published some 20 books of poetry and edited the poetry journal The Sunset Palms Hotel (1974-1977). He is also a playwright, essayist and musical journalist as well as one of most well-known poets in Los Angeles. Gary Brower, editor of the MalPais Review, and co-sponsor of the event, said, “Ford is a fantastic poet and last read to great effect with Michael McClure at Beyond Baroque in Los Angeles for McClures 79^th Birthday reading. He is a sophisticated and urbane performer with years of experience."

$8 in advance/$10 at the door. 

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SOMOS presents a Wallace Stegner Documentary (a free event)   

Sunday, June 24th, 2 PM at the Harwood Museum of Art

Wallace Stegner, a biographical film portrait, celebrates the 2009 centennial of his birth.  Wallace Stegner was an acclaimed writer, conservationist, and teacher.  He became one of America's greatest writers.  His books include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angle of Repose and Beyond the Hundredth Meridian.  His The Wilderness Letter became the conscience of the conservation movement.  Wallace Stegner mentored a generation's greatest writers, including Ken Kesey, Edward Abbey, and Larry McMurtry. Narrated by Peter Coyote, this one-hour documentary paints a portrait of the West that Wallace Stegner so loved.  The film reveals insights into his life through interviews with his famous students, contemporaries and family.

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Congratulations to Allegra Huston's whose Good Luck Mr. Gorski won first prize for Best Short Subject - the Grand Remy - at the Houston World Fest!

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The Taos chapter of the Storytellers of New Mexico will hold a story swap on Saturday, May 26th, at the Taos Library, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
The featured storyteller will be Roberta Courtney Meyers, a playwright, composer, poet, and master storyteller. Roberta leads historical storytelling tours here in Taos as well as performing monologues featuring women out of history, with up to eight characters in one show.

Come to listen to Roberta as well as other Taos storytellers – or come to share a story of your own. This event is free to the public.

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Internationally known book author and Taos resident JOHN KREMER will give a talk at the Taos Public Library on Saturday, May 26 at 10:30 AM.
Having just returned from speaking in Singapore, John will answer all your questions on writing,publishing, and marketing books and ebooks.
John Kremer is the author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, founder of the Self-Publishing Hall of Fame, webmaster at BookMarket.com, and president of the Institute of Book Publishing Innovations.
 

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Support SOMOS when Spring cleaning!  Donate items to Pieces Consignment and give the SOMOS account number # 558. Thanks to all have been contributing!!

 

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New Writers Groups Now Forming
SOMOS encourages the formation of new Taos writers and readers groups. Submit your ideas! Are you interested in forming a new writers', readers', or otherwise literarily-focused group in Taos? Email somos@somostaos.org with details about your ideal writers' group, and we'll do our best to find others of a like mind to get you started.

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SOMOS needs volunteers to help us staff SOMOS on Monday and Friday afternoons from 1-4 and Saturdays from 10-1 to increase used book sales hours.  Please call 575-758-0081 or email somos@somostaos.org.

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The Hardey Writers Group is now meeting at the SOMOS Space, 7-9 p.m. every Wednesday night (except the first Wednesday of the month) at SOMOS Headquarters.  New members welcome!

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