Bryce Milligan, San Antonio Writer, Publisher Accepts Gemini Ink Award by Steve Bennett
San Antonio Poet Laureate
San Antonio Poet Laureate The City of San Antonio is seeking nominations for the position of Poet Laureate. The San Antonio Poet Laureate is an honorary position whose role is to promote the literary arts and literacy within the community and create a greater appreciation of the poetic arts through the reading and writing of poetry. The individual selected will serve a two-year term and will receive an honorarium of $3,000 per year. Background The concept of a Poet Laureate originated in England in the 1600s. The title, Poet Laureate, dates back to the ancient Greeks and refers to the tradition of placing a laurel wreath or crown as recognition for significant achievements in literature, the arts, and public life.The United States Poet Laureate was established in 1937. Many U.S. cities such as San Francisco, Denver and Santa Fe currently have a Poet Laureate program. Each municipality establishes guidelines and criteria for the selection of its Poet Laureate and their duties. Texas has appointed a Poet Laureate since 1932 but no major Texas city currently appoints a Poet Laureate. With the implementation of this program, San Antonio would be the first. Duties The San Antonio Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term. Duties will include:Generating public interest in the artsPromoting literacy within the community and preserving the art of poetryA minimum of three City sponsored and selected public appearances, for each year of serviceAssist in celebrating and inspiring the reading and writing of poetry in our community Eligibility Nominees must meet all of the following requirements:Have a significant body of published work (none that are self-published or by a vanity press) Have an established history of activity in the San Antonio literary community, i.e., readings, publications, public presentations and/or teachingBe a current resident of San AntonioHave lived in San Antonio for at least three (3) yearsPass a standard background check How to Nominate Nominations can be submitted beginning November 18, 2011 and ending January 18, 2012 at 4 p.m. Self nominations will not be accepted.Nomination must contain the following:Completed nomination form Biographical information for Poet Laureate nominee (limit to 1 page)Resume or curriculum vitae for Poet Laureate nominee (limit to 2 pages)Bibliography of published works (limit to 3 pages)Samples of original poetry. Spoken word manuscripts may be submitted. (Limit samples to five pages, no more than one poem per page)Previous Awards (limit to 1 page)Response to the following question: Why do you feel this artist deserves to be named San Antonio Poet Laureate and represent the City of San Antonio? (limit to 1 page)Nominations will be accepted by email, in person, or postmarked by the deadline. Submissions delivered in person must be date-stamped at the front desk. Email: Diana.Hidalgo@sanantonio.govThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Physical Address: 203 S. St. Mary's, Suite 360, San Antonio, TX 78205 Mailing Address: PO Box 839966, San Antonio, TX 78283 Review Process All nominations will be reviewed by the Office of Cultural Affairs to ensure the nomination is complete. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Eligible candidates will be reviewed by a selection committee of four accomplished poets. The committee, to be overseen by a local honorary chair, will rank the candidates based on the eligibility requirements and select the Poet Laureate. The Mayor will formally appoint the Poet Laureate in April 2012. Click here for Nomination Form All other inquiries and questions should be directed to Diana.Hidalgo@sanantonio.gov
San Antonio Literary and Arts Events
S.A. Writer Accepts Gemini Ink Award
22 September 2011
Award goes to local novelist, essayist,
songwriter, critic, and publisher.
by Steve Bennett
http://www.mysanantonio.com*
"The debt I owe to old man Tolkien is one I could never repay," Bryce Milligan told a crowd of around 200 at the Pearl Stable on Thursday evening—apparently the birthday of the Baggins boys from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (we’ll take his word for it)— as the San Antonio writer accepted Gemini Ink’s Literary Excellence Award at the nonprofit organization’s annual INKstravaganza gala dinner and fundraiser.
Milligan is full of such literary arcania. A novelist, songwriter, essayist, critic, and publisher—he has built San Antonio’s Wings Press from a small local imprint to a national one—Milligan is an all-around man of literature. It is through poetry, however—reading it and writing it—that he is rejuvenated and inspired.
"I find that writing poetry and songs fuels everything else I do," he said. "I wear a lot of hats, and through poetry I am closer to the source of power, and the better able to do what I do."
In his introduction of Milligan, Roberto Bonazzi, a fellow critic and publisher and a friend for more than 30 years, described how indefatigable Milligan is, logging "thousands of hours" at everything from reading manuscripts to designing book covers to "unloading trucks at book fairs."
"And something that Bryce is responsible for that mainstream-going-downstream publishers never do is to produce beautiful handmade books, folios, chapbooks, very fine editions," Bonazzi said.
Before the dinner and speeches, San Antonio novelist and attorney Jay Brandon spoke for many attending when he said, "Aside from Bryce’s many personal accomplishments, you could have filled the room with writers he has either published, promoted or taught."
Milligan read two poems during the celebration, including an older one called "Recasting," influenced by T.S. Eliot, which he dedicated to his wife, Mary Milligan, an editor and librarian.
"My most heartfelt thanks goes to my wife, Mary, who has put up with and actually encouraged my endeavors for 36 years," he said, in perhaps the evening’s most touching moment—well, aside from the Bilbo and Frodo shout-out.
*The article and the first photo are adapted from www.mysanantonio.com; the second photo shows the Voices de la Luna table.
Voices de la Luna Salutes GEMINI INK The University without Walls from the http://geminiink.org.
Everybody uses words. Without words, you couldn’t have a thought. Without words, you couldn’t share who you are, remember your past, or dream about your future…. We all have a stake in words and how best to use them. The better we choose and use our words, the more our community prospers. That’s why at Gemini Ink, we nurture readers, writers and keepers of oral traditions — everyone from the elementary school kid and the at-risk teen to the polished professional and the elder wanting to tell her family stories. For more than a decade we’ve supported you and your words through our programs: WRITERS IN COMMUNITIES (WIC) sends professional writers into diverse community settings to work alongside students of all ages, needs, interests, and abilities in free workshops based on oral traditions, readings, and creative writing. OPEN CLASSROOM, comprising Autograph Series and the new Breakthrough Thinkers, presents writers of national and international stature—many of them recipients of major prizes such as the Pulitzer or National Book Award—in free public performances followed by audience Q&A. UNIVERSITY WITHOUT WALLS(UWW) offers three semesters of fee-based reading groups and workshops and also many free literary events, all led by professional writers, scholars, and interdisciplinary artists. DRAMATIC READERS THEATER(DRT) features professional actors interpreting literary works in free performances, often accompanied by original music, in museums, universities, and other community settings. Our programs offer you free performances by writers of international reputation — writers such as Tim O’Brien, Ha Jin, Edward P. Jones, Grace Paley, or Margaret Atwood. Our workshops sharpen creativity and enhance clear thinking. Our reading groups and Readers Theater performances honor the spoken and written word. Most of our programming is free! We are located in the heart of San Antonio’s Southtown Arts District and King William Historic District at 513 S. Presa. Many of our events and programs take place “write here,” in our bright turquoise building. Click on the image for a map. Call us at 210.734-9673 or e-mail info@geminiink.org.
Writing Memoir Writing the Family Secrets Level: Intermediate Instructor: Robert Flynn
You are the only authority on your life and a fallible guide to your family’s story. "Writing the Family Secrets" will meet two hours a week for four consecutive weeks. The class will include in-class writing exercises, interviewing, censors, work-shopping, structure of story, dialogue (when and how to use), frailty of memory, unusual or enlightening experience, research (devil in the details), and take you from transcribing to creating, to developing satisfactory conclusions. Date: Four Wednesdays, Feb. 22 & 29, Mar. 7 & 14, 5:30 – 7:30pm. Limit: 15 Participants. Registration Deadline: Monday, Feb. 20. CPE Credits: 8 Language Arts
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