2nd Annual Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival & 3rd Annual Poetry Pachanga!! April 23-26, 2009

[Robin Cate] [Top] [Links]

Robin Cate (Harlingen, Texas)

Robin Cate's bio: Writing poetry is an outlet for my inspiration and desperation. Writing for thirty years, I am published in "Feeding The Crow," "tres-di-verse-city," and "di-verse-city" In 1984 my thesis was published by Texas A&M Press. Recent work has appeared on NPR via Tree House Productions and most recenlty, I received third place in the contest by "Dos Gatos Press" in Austin.

[Beto Conde] [Top] [Links]

Beto Conde (Rancho Viejo, Texas)

“I started writing when I came back from military service. My experience was so vivid I wanted to get it down on paper. I wrote for personal satisfaction as a way of coming to terms with my experience. Later I started writing about my life growing up in the barrio in San Benito, Texas. i write mostly short stories. I recently completed the first draft of what I hope is my first book.”

[Julie Corpus, a.k.a. Julieta La Poeta] [Top] [Links]

I am a lover of life and everything it has to offer. I am a student of human emotions and complex relationships. I am a gypsy by nature. I am in love with love.

[Nephtalí De León, Featured Poet] [Top] [Links]

Author/Poet/Playwright/Muralist. Nephtali is a former migrant worker from the Rio Grande Valley. He attended grammar school in San Juan, Edinburgo and Rio Grande City, Texas, among others then gave up formal education after high school in West Texas. While still in high school, he published Chicanos: Our Background & Our Pride. Other works include Chicano Popcorn (poetry), and--for children--I Will Catch The Sun, I Color My Garden and El Pollito Amarillo

[Gabo de Montemayor] [Top] [Links]

Gabo is Josue Gabriel de Montemayor, is a poet/writer. Montemayor was born in Monterrey, Mexico in July 1974, and has a degree in Business Administration from the Regiomontana University. He is the author of five books of poetry and fiction and has recently participated in the 14th Austin Annual International Poetry Festival April 20-23, 2006. He is the screenwriter, host and producer of a national TV network called Más Música TV. Gabriel is busy writing his first novel, preparing another poetry book and a multimedia project that includes film, poetry and music. He is the founder of letraymusica, a forum for writers and musicians in Dallas. Gabo recently had his first book of bilingual poetry edited and released by a publisher in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.

[Lidia Díaz] [Top] [Links]

Lidia Díaz was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a professor of Hispanic Literature at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Her poetry won several local and regional awards, and her poems are included in various anthologies.

[Diana Dominguez] [Top] [Links]

Diana Dominguez is a professor of English literature and writing at The University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College and has published both scholarly and creative work and has won awards for her poetry. She has presented creative and academic work at various conferences. “My writing focuses on giving ‘voice’ to characters, historical people, and places often overlooked or forgotten by traditional history or current news reports.”

[Ernesto Dueñas] [Top] [Links]

Ernesto Dueñas is an educator and artist in the Rio Grande Valley and has been published previously in “The Pan American,” The University of Texas-Pan American student newspaper, “Boundless,” the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival anthology, and more recently in “Interstice,” an annual literary journal published by South Texas College.

[Lauren Espinoza, a.k.a. lauren.] [Top] [Links]

Lauren is an undergrad at the University of Texas-Pan American and likes to eat spaghetti, pet kittens, drink beer with salt and lime, and write poems. Lauren currently reads Harry Potter to escape stress.

[Daniel García Ordaz, a.k.a. The Poet Mariachi] [Top] [Links]

Daniel García Ordaz, a.k.a. The Poet Mariachi, is an unfrozen caveman English teacher at McAllen Memorial High School and the author of You Know What I'm Sayin'? (El Zarape Press, 2006). He grew up in Mission, Texas. He’s a former journalist and is one of two founders of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival. He "just may be the voice of the Rio Grande Valley" (The Monitor 2/2/2007.) Come see "the most dangerous poet south of the chorizo plant in San Manuel!"

[Erika Marie Garza-Johnson, a.k.a. La Erika] [Top] [Links]

Really, I am just trying real hard to keep it all together and keep writing. Nothing exciting to say.

[Jesse G. Herrera] [Top] [Links]

Jesse was born in San Antonio, Texas on April 10, 1953. (Yeah, back when Truman was President, but he never met him). Jesse was raised in Laredo, Texas and calls Laredo his hometown. His passions are poetry, photography, & riding his Harley, but that don’t pay the bills. Hence, in real life he drives an 18 wheeler for Big Brown during the graveyard shift going on 31 years. He wrote his first poem while taking a creative writing course at Laredo Community College in April of ‘98. It was there that he was turned on to poetry by Professor Randy Koch. Jesse had no idea what he was getting into, yet the seventh sense that tells artists to create clicked on. Another big influence on Jesse was the great Chicano poet Trinidad Sánchez, Jr. It was through Trino that Jesse was given a greater insight into his Chicano roots. Jesse appreciates the support and encouragement of the poetry editor for the Texas Observer, Naomi Shihab Nye, a great and well traveled poet. Jesse’s first poetry reading away from the gravity of Laredo was in McAllen, Texas in the summer of ‘98. Ever since then, la gente del Valle have been very special to Jesse because of their hospitality and kindness.

[Meliton Hinojosa] [Top] [Links]

Chicano poet, period.

[Lady Mariposa] [Top] [Links]

Lady Mariposa is Veronica Sandoval, a spoken word junky, street-smart poet, preacher’s kid from Sullivan City. Former old school chola and new Americana poet, Lady has been hosting and reading poetry in the Rio Grande Valley, for over nine years.
Visit me on MySpace or call 956-341-1711 for booking information.

[María Munguía Wellman] [Top] [Links]

In 1953, I was born in a casita in Raymondville, Texas—that would be in Willacy County. In 1955, mis padres decided to move to Detroit—Motown—that's when Little Stevie Wonder was little—like me. I began school at Holy Trinity Catholic School. I spoke no English. I learned quickly. I have since lived in New York, Houston, St. Louis, Topeka, Kansas, and now find myself at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I brought into this world one daughter, and she, two sons. I continue to seek out connection with familia y mi raza.

[Brenda Nettles Riojas] [Top] [Links]

The Pilgrim Poet, Brenda Nettles Riojas, is a mother, writer, and creative spirit, who grew up on the border of South Texas and Mexico. Brenda's itinerant tendencies keep her in route to different destinations, exploring the world and capturing some of these experiences in her poetry. She is currently the editor of a new quarterly magazine, "El Peregrino." She is also pursing a M.F.A. in creative writing. She authored a book about the history of the Catholic Church in the Rio Grande Valley, and has presented nationally on the subject of creativity. She is one of two founders of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival.

[Gene Novogrodsky] [Top] [Links]

I am a founding member and active participant in the eight-year-old Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center Writers Forum. I don’t know who I am, but I know who I am not.

[Amalia Ortiz, Featured Poet] [Top] [Links]

Amalia Ortiz grew up in La Feria, Texas, before moving to San Antonio. She has appeared on HBO's "Russel Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam" (Seasons 2, 3, and 4) and has also appeared onstage and in indie films. While in San Antonio, she became the first Latina ever to make it to the National Slam Championship Finals. She was San Antonio Puro Slam Grand Champion in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Presently she resides in Los Angeles, California. Check out her bio, pics, poems, etc. by clicking here. Come get her autograph, picture and buy her CDs, which will be available at several venues.

[Oscar C. Peña] [Top] [Links]

Oscar C. Peña was born and raised in Kingsville, Texas. His work appears in 2007 Houston Poetry Fest; Boundless 2008, the anthology of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival, and Dos Gatos 2009 Texas Poetry Calendar. He is a member of Gulf Coast Poets and Galveston Poets Roundtable. Oscar resides in League City with his wife, Debbie.

[José Pérez] [Top] [Links]

Retired from teaching, Joe is one of the original “Voices From the Chicho,” a founding member of the Narciso Martínez Writers Forum. He writes poetry and short stories, and sings Mexican folk music with his wife, Rosa, in a duo they call Rumbo al’ Anacua.

[Juan M. Perez, a.k.a. The Maroon Knight of Zavala County] [Top] [Links]

Juan Manuel Pérez is the author of “Another Menudo Sunday” (2007) and “O Dark Heaven” (2009, Onda Press) and three yet-to-be-published poetry collections: “WUI: Written Under the Influence of Trinidad Sánchez, Jr.,” “Make Tortillas, Not War,” and “Comic Book Love Affair.” Juan Manuel is a history teacher in La Pryor, Texas.

[Rosa Canales Pérez] [Top] [Links]

Xicanindia by heart, Rosa was born in Hebronville, Texas, and raised in Premont. Since 1980, she calls the Rio Grande Valley home. One of the original “Voices From the Chicho,” she is a founding member of the Narciso Martínez Writers Forum. Now a retired high school teacher, Rosa has reinvented herself as a singer/songwriter/poet performing with husband, Joe, as the duo Rumbo al’ Anacua.

[Frank Piña, Jr.] [Top] [Links]

“Like most poets I write poetry as a way of self healing; however, I have come to realize that I feel more connected to my poems when they are read to an audience.

[Kathy Raines] [Top] [Links]

Kathy Raines, an English teacher at Los Fresnos High School, has lived in the Valley for 28 years. In addition to her three fine sons, her interests include writing, community theater, pets and nature studies.

[Stan Raines] [Top] [Links]

I am a retired English and computer teacher and a periodic poet since my 20’s. My poetry reflects my interest in life and its ironies.

[Laura Reagan-Porras] [Top] [Links]

Laura Reagan-Porras is a sociologist and the executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen. As such she is a passionate advocate for children and families. Family, writing, beaches, beagles and horses are among her other passions. She has several published professional journals as a sociologist and technical writer but enjoys most writing a regular column in the “RGV Town Crier” on youth development and mentoring called, “Simply Make a Difference.” She holds a Masters in Sociology, specializing in Borderland Studies from the University of Texas—Pan American.

[Shirley A. Rickett] [Top] [Links]

Shirley A. Rickett has published poems in numerous literary magazines, including “New Letters,” “Nimrod,” and “Antietam Review.” Her first book, a chapbook: Dinner In Oslo, concerns the adult children of Nazis living in Norway and was seven years in the making. She holds a Masters in Education and a Masters in English, Creative Writing, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Formerly of Kansas City, she and her husband, Charles now live in the Valley.

[Arturo Saldaña] [Top] [Links]

Arturo Saldaña was born in McAllen, Texas. He worked as an agricultural farm worker and at times joined the migrant workers heading north. He graduated from Pan American University as a social worker, became certified as a teacher, worked as a regional field manager for the University of Michigan and now awaits the next fermentation result.

[Airlie Sattler Rose] [Top] [Links]

Airlie Sattler Rose is an import to the Valley. In a previous life she was a biologist and Quaker in Durham, N.C. She is currently completing her MFA in creative writing at UT-Pan American and getting ready to leave to pursue her Ph.D. in composition at UMass—Amherst this fall. She is grateful to the poetas that have embraced her here. The Valley has nurtured her poetry and her soul.

[Mona D. Sizer] [Top] [Links]

Mona Sizer, of Harlingen, is the author of 35 books of fiction, history, biography, true-crime, memoir, and (yes) poetry. Her publication of i>, actually sold enough copies to pay a royalty. A former high school and college teacher, she edited and contributed to the Valley Byliners most recent bestselling publication, Tales Told At Midnight. Sizer speaks and teaches at schools and colleges in the area. Her most recent publication is Outrageous Texans: Tales of the Rich & Famous. New for 2009 will be Glory Guys: Ranger Units Throughout American History, scheduled for national release.

[Lina Suarez] [Top] [Links]

Lina Suarez is a writer and poet. She's the author of Hija of the Valley and Mestiza Grill, and holds the current MexiCasa Writing Fellowship. A native of McAllen, her goals are to promote the legacy of Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa - internationally recognized and admired chicana feminist, poet, writer, activist and cultural theorist who passed away on May 15, 2004 and was born and raised in the RGV. Currently, she is collaborating with Café Revolucion—particularly with the organization's founder, Noemi Mtz.—on establishing the Gloria Anzaldúa Legacy Project.

[Larry D. Thomas, Poet Laureate of Texas, Featured Poet] [Top] [Links]

Larry D. Thomas is the Poet Laureate of Texas (2008). Visit www.larrydthomas.com for more information on Larry D. Thomas, and to read some of his poems or listen to him recite poetry, etc.

Larry D. Thomas, born and reared in West Texas, has resided in Houston since 1967. He moved from West Texas to Houston at the age of twenty to complete his college education, and graduated from the University of Houston in 1970 with a BA degree in English literature. In 1998, he retired from a career in adult criminal justice, the last fifteen years of which he served as a branch director for the Harris County Adult Probation Department (Houston). Since his retirement, he has been employed as a full-time poet.