Book Bound - A Short Video

You know all those books lining your shelves, stacked in the living room, waiting at your bedside,

in your backpack/purse/murse/bag and filling your head with stories? 

Here's a wonderful video that shows how they are made.  Enjoy. 

Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)

Much can be said about a writer whose life has become a part of our history.  The New York Times obituary included not one but two poems by Adrienne Rich, who died yesterday at the age of 82.


W. H. Auden chose her first book of poetry for publication.  She shared the 1976 National Book Award for poetry with Allen Ginsberg but instead of accepting, she shared the stage with finalists Audre Lorde and Alice Walker.  The trio accepted the award on behalf of all women.

You can find her work in bookstores and libraries everywhere.  Online, the Poetry Foundation is a good place to begin to learn more about the life of this amazing writer.  Trish Bendix, the Managing Editor at AfterEllen, wrote a lovely remembrance about how Rich's poetry impacted her life.

2012 Lambda Literary Award Finalists

Yesterday the Lambda Literary Foundation announced the list of 2012 finalists for the Lammy awards.  I'm happy for all the nominees and especially for Farzana Doctor, who's currently traipsing around America with her pal Vivek Shraya with their God Loves Pavement tour.  

The list of nominations is like an instant reading list.  Some books were already on my wanted list: I am J by Cris Beam, Every Time I Think of You by Jim Provenzano, Something Like Summer by Jay Bell, and Leche by  R Zamora to name a few.  Just last month I read Justin Chin's Attack of the Man-Eating Lotus Blossoms and am looking forward to 98 Wounds.

Right now I'm reading The Empty Family by Colm Tóibín.  'The Street,' The final story in the collection and a story nearly long enough to be a novella, has received a lot of attention.  I haven't read it yet, but I can tell you the story 'Barcelona 1975' has stuck with me for the last couple days.  Every time I open the cover of The Empty Family everything around me falls away.  I'm savoring every one of Tóibín's stories like a glass of fine brandy I want to last because of the way it warms me.  

What book's from the list of nominations have you read or are looking forward to reading?  

Post a comment and share your thoughts about the nominations.

homo-centric BLOOMS April 19th

I'm excited that homo-centric is teaming up with Editor/Publisher Charles Flowers for our next reading on April 19th.  The latest issue of BLOOM is out and we'll be featuring local contributors reading their words as well as a few other guests that night.  We're still working out the details, but for now please visit the BLOOM website.  Become a supporter, subscribe to the newsletter & check out other issues.  I'll fill you in with more details once everything is set up.  In the meantime mark your calendar for Thursday April 19th.

Blurts #6 - Kiss Me I'm Irish, Queer, Canadian....

No, it wasn't a lovers quarrel:  So I was leafing through the Face Book earlier today when I spied a post that made me start.  That's the end of the sentence - I meant start as in jump, not that I started doing anything.  What I saw was an announcement that the venerable West Side performance workshop Queer Mondays was going to be in Silverlake's Akbar this month instead of at Highway's.  'Oh no' and 'oh my' were quickly followed by 'oh-kay, what's up with that?'  Well it seems that there's a huge installation over at Highway's and Queer Mondays is going all East Side this month.  That means that all you folks that refuse to go West of La Brea (you don't have to admit it) or Doheny (we know who you are) can finally plop a mere five bucks down at the door of Akbar & experience an evening of queer art 'non-curated' by Ian MacKinnon.  Now get your Nikes and just do it.

Speaking of Ian, his Gay Hist-Orgy has been extended for two more weeks.  The show's selling out night after night so get your tickets while you can.  If you haven't seen the show, go before it goes to New York or someplace else - which it should.  Ahem, New Yorkers who produce, produce.  Just sayin'.





Since we're talking about the East Coast - we all know how New York loves St. Patrick's Day.  Saturday afternoon you have the chance to see two of New York's Irishest of Irish read.  Those Danny Boys Charlie O'Vasquez and Eric O'Nguyen are reading on St. Paddy's Day.  Charlie's reading from Metitations/Meditaciones in Manhattan at El Museo Del Barrio for Speak Out!  Eric's over in Washington Heights at the Word Up Community Bookshop for the Resilience Book Reading and Open Mic.  If you have to get your Irish on then afterward grab a green beer somewhere, anywhere...everywhere.

Since we're wandering around the East Coast, keep an eye out for Vivek Shraya & Farzana Doctor's God Loves Pavement tour.  Both have been to homo-centric and both are wildly talented.  When you see them tell them Hank says 'hi.'

Last but NOT LEAST: homo-centric is tomorrow night.  There are seven writers with seven stories to brighten the dreary pre-rainstorm Los Angeles weekend.  Please come and support Andrea Lambert, Chris Corkum, Deb Simone, John Boucher, Katie Jacobson, Ofelia Del Corazon and Terrence Moss.  Afterward you'll know you have Spring Fever for sure!  Stories Books at 7:30.  Come in, I'll say 'hi!'

Activists, Authors & Everybody Born This Way

This week, author Charles Rice-Gonzalez was one of ten deserving men listed in the Huffington Post's  eleven Top Gay Latino Activists Who Have Broken Boundaries.  Charles' book Chulito is in our ever-growing stack of 'to read' books.  Congratulations, Charles!   And no, I didn't miscount - I said 10, they have 11.  I won't name names but I feel that some blogging isn't writing, it's just gossip that doesn't enrich anyone's life.

The always impressive Band of Thebes blog has posted the Publishing Triangle finalists for this year.  Congratulations to everyone including our pal Bob Smith for Remembrance of Things I Forgot.  Books that were already on my 'to read' list like Jeanne Cordova's When We Were Outlaws and Rahul Mehta's Quarantine now have company since the nominess make an instant 'Books To Read in 2012' list.

Earlier this week I posted about Paul V's Born This Way blog becoming a book.  Last Monday, there was a Born This Way Blog first anniversary celebration that took place at L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.  The evening was a great success. Paul has posted a video of the evening that's worth watching and sharing.  Take a look below.  And, don't forget to check out then Born This Way blog.

Angelenos, remember that a week from tonight homo-centric gets Spring Fever.  Seven very talented writers bring in the new season and the new time change with fresh words and stories. 
Come join for the evening.

homo-centric gets Spring Fever March 15th

That's right, we're spending our daylight savings and welcoming the new season with seven talented writers who give us Spring Fever!

So please join curator Hank Henderson at Stories Books Thursday July 21st at 7:30.
1716 Sunset Blvd., between Le Moyne & Logan. Parking available in the lot on Le Moyne St.
Map here.
As long as the weather permits, we'll be outside on the back patio.  Please bring a jacket in case the weather is cooler than you are.

Make sure you come early to support the store and cafe!
We usually get there around 7pm to
* Order a coffee or tea and have a sandwich!
* Hang out and meet other writers.
* Wander the aisles and buy a book.

Remember that we depend on the word of mouth - so tell a friend, and bring two or three! See you there!

Blurts #5

Over the weekend Dustin Lance Black's Prop 8 premiered in Los Angeles with nearly as much star power as last week's Oscars.  Between the New York and L.A. fundraisers Black retooled the show by removing a couple courtroom speeches and adding more personal stories.  The event raised more than $2million.  The entire play is posted on YouTube for the tux-less & out-of-towners.  Much has been said about always political Martin Sheen's performance. The praise is deserved but would we really expect anything less from the former West Wing president?  Join the quarter-million plus viewers who have seen the show and watch it here.

First time novelists Gregory G. Allen (Well With My Soul) and Kergan Edwards Stout (Songs For the New Depression) have both written books that involve the subject of HIV/AIDS.  There's a nice conversation between the two men over at the Advocate.

The Hasty Pudding circuit went all ga-ga last week when the Lady herself showed up to inaugurate her Born This Way foundation.  I think she could have been a little faster on the uptake but at least she's putting it out there.  If Gaga can get her little monsters to throw some weight around against bullying then yes, yes, yes.  

The other Born This Way, Paul V's incredible blog is going strong with nearly 3.5million visits in just 14 months.  There's a big celebration tonight at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's  Village with guests like Raja and Coco Peru but the real news is the book.  Last March Paul V. brought his handy slide projector and a carload of BTWers to homo-centric. Paul told me back then he really wanted to put together a book filled with photos and stories of people Born This Way.  Well, it's happening.  The book will be out in November - just in time for your holiday shopping - and includes stories from the likes of Andy Bell, Frank DeCaro and Sia.  I'm buying wrapping paper ahead of time!  Enjoy this video of Jackie Beat's Born This Way reading last year at homo-centric. 

The next homo-centric reading is Thursday March 15th.  I'm always looking for people to participate so dust off your typewriters and tap out that story/novel/poem/essay you've had rolling around in your head.  I'll have some exciting announcements soon about upcoming readings.  Stay tuned...

homo-centric Marches In

We're still looking for writers & performers to read this month!

Contact us to share your words.

Prop 8 Play Streams Live This Saturday!

Dustin Lance Black's play Prop 8 will be performed this weekend in Los Angeles as a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.  It's just been announced that some guy named Brad Pitt has joined the cast for this one-night performance.  Additional cast members include: Matt Bomer, Campbell Brown, George Clooney, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Cleve Jones, Christine Lahti, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Rory O’Malley, Rob Reiner; Martin Sheen, Yeardley Smith and George Takei.

The bigger than Brad announcement is that the entire performance will be streamed live on YouTube.  You can RSVP here and then share it on facebook or Twitter.  Want a little more news about the show?  Check out the AFER website or the Huffington Post.