I am proud to start off the New Year by joining contributors of PALABRA at REDCAT. As you can see from the rapt audience and standing room crowd, the event at the Disney Hall lounge downtown was a hit. There were people seated near the podium on couches and bar stools, friends Mary and Eddie were in the back and my sister was somewhere in the audience. The first row of joyous audience members were part of the Guava Literary Salon, including Estela, Myriam, and Griselda. Jim Krusoe was in the house and publisher elena minor offered everyone in attendance a free glass of wine at the bar. The warm and crowd and intimate venue was a plus. However, what I am especially proud of is being a contributor to PALABRA. I have submitted various poems and short stories to the magazine since 2006.  It took me four years to finally land an acceptance at PALABRA. I now feel part of an important community. I read from my forthcoming chapbook, Folsom Lockdown. Michael Sedano of La Bloga reviewed our reading. He also took the above photo. He offered a stellar review of the reading. He’s also a rhetorician who has some great tips on how to read your work in public. He was kind enough to share some of his notes from a talk he gave at the National Latino Writers Conference. Of my reading he wrote in La Bloga:

“I enjoyed Melinda Palacio’s “Sister’s Shakedown at Steven’s Steakhouse, City of Commerce, California 2008,” in the current PALABRA. The unparalleled warmth expressing the poet’s love and appreciation for her sister dancing the night away at a well-known raza hangout was magnified for me when Melinda introduced me to her vivacious sister, the subject of the poem. What a treat! This kind of joy attainable only from attending events like this.”

Upon reading his review, I telephoned my sleeping sister and woke her up. The good news was welcome and she didn’t get grumpy about me calling her so early. I usually wake up much earlier than she does, but I was so excited that we both made headlines.

I look forward to signing books at the PALABRA booth at AWP and to reading again at REDCAT when my novel comes out. Gracias elena y PALABRA y LaBloga!