Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard More than a Bookstore

Upcoming Meet the Author dates

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 16:12:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday October 12^th 2019 1-3 PM

and Saturday January 25^th 2020 1-3 PM

Book signing and conversation with author, W. F. Strong

WF Strong and his book have been so popular throughout Texas that sales have required multiple printings. Paragraphs has scheduled two signings just to insure everyone a chance to meet Mr. Strong and get a copy of his book. This will be his second (and third) appearance at Paragraphs. Because we ran out of books his first time around, a call to reserve a copy will insure a book will be waiting for you.

You might call W.F. Strong a student of all things Texas. In 2010, he began sharing his “Stories From Texas” vignettes on public radio stations, most recently on the Texas Standard news show's 30 stations. For this book celebrating his home state, Strong has collected 75 of his broadcasts. You'll hear his inimitably Texan voice in your mind's ear as he weaves stories on subjects ranging from how to ''talk Texan'' to Texas bards and troubadours; from tall Texas tales to Lone Star icons like Charles Goodnight, Tom Landry and Blue Bell ice cream; from legends and unsung heroes of the past to some heartfelt memories of his own. Strong agrees with John Steinbeck that ''Texas is a state of mind . . . a mystique closely approximating a religion,'' and every one of his stories embraces the Texas state of mind.

W. F. Strong, PhD, is a Fulbright scholar and Professor of Communication at the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley. He grew up in Texas and holds degrees in communication and literature from Abilene Christian University and the University of North Texas, as well as a doctorate in Communication and Rhetoric from the University of Arizona. His storytelling influences range from Mark Twain, on whom he wrote his doctoral dissertation, to former public-radio host Garrison Keillor.

Strong has pursued a lifelong fascination with Texas literature, history and culture, having immersed himself in the classic books of the great Texas novelists and historians, from Walter Prescott Webb’s Indians of Texas to Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series to Philipp Meyer’s The Son.

He grew up working on farms and ranches in South Texas and so has had a long connection with the Texas soil, as did his ancestors, who farmed and ranched in North Texas for more than a century. Two of his distant relatives signed the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico. This familial history has nurtured his love for the vibrancy of Texas culture, both historical and modern.

All these influences came together in the development of a series of brief, often humorous, sometimes dramatic radio vignettes called "Stories From Texas." Intended to teach and amuse and inspire, he seeks to celebrate the Texas character in all its toughness; to showcase poignant passages from the vast literature this land has produced; and to provide a narrative for Texas pride, entrepreneurial success and Texas mythology. Celebrating Texas' charismatic culture and revealing the diverse forces that forged it, Stories From Texas airs biweekly on Texas Standard Radio, a daily news program produced in Austin that is carried on 30 NPR stations across Texas.

-AND-

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Friday, October 18^th 2019 4-6 PM

Book signing and discussion with author, David Harry

Jimmy Redstone and Angella Martinez, working as insurance investigators, are tasked to find a valuable missing bronze sculpture known as the Pirate. The trail leads to the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburg where they become embroiled in the dark underbelly of the international art world where originals and fakes are routinely interchanged and where terrorist money laundering is coordinated by a Mexican drug lord. Wrapped into the mix is the Israeli Mossad on the trail of Holocaust art rumored to contain the assumed names of Nazi war criminals.

Join us at Paragraphs for a special Friday afternoon with David Tannenbaum celebrating the release of book #8 in the Padre series. He is looking forward to having a discussion with his readers and telling behind the scenes stories on the writing of Padre Pirate. Refreshments will be served.

David Harry and his wife Mary live in Florida but still have a home on South Padre Island with their dog Franco. When he isn’t writing, David enjoys kayaking, biking, and traveling. If David is off the island, he, Mary and Franco can usually be found enjoying their old stomping ground of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and more recently, Miromar Lakes, Florida.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Meet the Author/Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 17:40:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday July 13^th 2019 10 AM -12 PM

Book signing and discussion with author, Judith Garrett Segura

What Life Is, her collection of poetry, is a bold new product. It is the embodiment of more than thirty years of thinking and writing about the nature of the human experience. Autobiographical, both by design and necessity, it specifically explores the nature of her experience in detail.

Poetry has the power to surprise us with knowledge, even understanding, of ourselves. In the expression of the joys and disappointments of a single life, the universality of human experience shines within What Life Is.

Judith Garrett Segura is a writer and visual artist who has dedicated her creative life to what she calls The Great Project, a multidisciplinary effort to treat all things of the mind and the aesthetic senses with perfect seriousness, to be true to one's own responses and thoughts, and to be no one but oneself. She retired as president and trustee of The Belo Foundation at the end of 2004, after a 24-year career at A. H. Belo Corporation, publisher of The Dallas Morning News. While at Belo, she also served as company historian, and she was curator of the company’s 300-piece collection of art by Texas artists.

Her poetry was published in New Texas 93 by the Center for Texas Studies; one of her poems was selected for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit “Poetry in Motion” project in 2001; and she recorded one CD of her poetry titled “Ross & Pearl: Poems of Love & Loss” in 2001. She published a collection of her poetry titled What Life Is in 2015, featuring one of her paintings on the cover. Texas Monthly Press published her first non-fiction book, The Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas in 1987, and a second, Guide to Dallas, in1992. In recent years, she has contributed to Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas with essays published in 2007, 2009 and 2018.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Fine Arts from Texas A&I, now Texas A&M University at Kingsville; a Master of Arts in English and Art History from the University of North Texas; and a Master of Fine Arts in painting and photography, also from the University of North Texas School of Visual Arts.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

ALSO SEE JUDITH’S ART JULY 12 & 13

CREATIVE NATIVE ARTFEST @ CACTUS FLOWER

Meet the Author

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 20:21:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday May 11^th 2019 10-12 AM

Book signing and discussion with author, GG Hesterberg

In Stories by the Seashore, author G.G. Hesterberg takes you on a journey through true stories, from the simple to the sublime, each one a glimpse of God’s hand in her life. Whether you are looking for an introductory Bible study, want to dive deeper in your spiritual walk, or if you simply love a good story, this book is for you.

Please note the time of this author event. We are hoping to avoid the heavy weekend traffic on the bridge and allow our attendees time for quality beach activities.

When a favorite 7th-grade English teacher told Hesterberg that she had a gift, his words sparked a passion for writing. As an adult, she discovered her great-grandmother was a published Spanish poet, and the passion burned even brighter. A church leader noticed her skill with words and asked her to write for a Christmas devotional. She felt drawn to write again and again. Hesterberg has written for Woman's World, The Mighty, Earnest, and God-sized Dreams. She lives in South Texas with her husband, three children, and a dog.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 17:44:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Friday, April 12^th from 5-7 PM

Book signing and acoustical performance with Robert Hunter

Nashville Singer, Songwriter and Best Selling Author, Robert Hunter is will be performing and signing copies of his new novel Relapse: A Love Story at Paragraphs Bookstore on South Padre Island!

The reclusive rocker with an alt-country vibe who gave us the songs “Wasted and Sober,” and “Outta My Mind”, appeared destined, at the time, to will his way into the music industry with a plan and a purpose. “Afterglow” was a record that seemed to defy all the latest trends. His sound is gritty and authentic. It’s unique in this day of computerized instruments. And yet, perhaps not surprisingly, he managed to find an audience. Robert then scored with his hits “Gone for Good” and "Ditto Baby". Both reached the FM bands and garnered over one hundred thousand music video views – all while he claimed not to have, or want, any major label representation. We were all waiting for the tour and what would come next.

Then months of silence.

When we reached out to Robert, he shared with us that his wife, Becky, had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, just before the “Afterglow” album was set for release. Robert said, it sent him sideways but also inspired him.

“She’s just the most loving, patient and kind girl I’ve ever known. Life is so unfair. But Becky doesn’t see it that way. She never did. She says we’ve been chosen by God to endure this. I didn’t believe her at first. I spent a lot of time questioning everything. Those were the darkest days of my life.”

“What brought you out of it?” We asked.

“She did!” he said. “It’s strange because I was supposed to be the one trying to save her. But she was, all along, saving me. She told me not to give up, to keep writing and publish this crazy story I’ve been working on – Relapse. And to make another record. Eventually, I had no choice but to listen. Becky was bald -and beautiful- and promising me that everything was going to be OK.”

Robert says that the only thing that mattered was the cure and the doctors worked miracles. It’s a heartfelt story you’d have to hear to believe.

While in recovery, Robert and Becky focused on the road ahead. They disappeared to the mountains several times, got lost on purpose, and gained a lot of perspective. There, Robert finished the novel he says is, “Absolutely the most ludicrous thing you will ever read. But Becky endorses it.”

He got a publisher, finished the new record in Nashville - and then started to plan a fifty states in fifty two week tour, as per Becky's request.

The nationwide “Relapse + Revival” tour is about much more than promoting a book and a record. It’s a chance for the dynamic pair to see the whole country and have a grand adventure – just like Becky hoped for, when she was in treatment.

Now Becky is in remission – and the future has never looked brighter! The couple have been on the road since March 31, 2018. Now more than nine months into their adventure with forty two states visited and over 75,000 miles on their RV, you can see Robert Hunter perform acoustically – live – here at Paragraphs, on South Padre Island, Friday, April 12 from 5PM-7PM. And meet Becky, the courageous and tenacious girl, who inspired Relapse, Revival and everything after. Admission is FREE and guests will receive a FREE copy of Robert’s album Revival with each Relapse book purchase. Questions, please call (956) 433-5057.

Follow Robert Hunter and Becky on Facebook and Instagram @roberthuntermusic, and at www.RelapseandRevival.com.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Hello to all our readers. More store activity for you

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 19:32:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Voces: A Lyric Anthology de Nuestro Pueblo

Saturday – March 30^th 2019 1–3 PM

Book signing and discussion with the authors:

Maria Elena Salazar (Brownsville) Marta Salazar-Paniagua (Dallas)

Maria Antonia Ramirez (Dallas)

Sylvana Avila Alonso (Dallas) Dr. Melba Salazar-Lucio (Brownsville)

Voces, A Lyric Anthology de Nuestro Pueblo is a collection of literary works written during the Voces writer’s workshops in the fall of 2016. The new pieces of poetry and prose (including a one-act play) were published in chapbook form and released in the winter of 2017. The strong voices became stronger and the soft voices became stronger. They opened up to share their personal stories and writing experiences often describing their fears of writing and exposing themselves to others. One writer said she’d been writing for years, “every chance I could and on any piece of paper”. Another writer told of always writing only to box up her works for years. Now finding the courage to open them and share with the world.

The participants were excited to read their works on stage at the Dallas Latino Cultural Center, and for most of the writers, it was their first experience reading in public. Several writers have continued to write and submit their works to journals and publishers like Huizache - The Magazine of Latino Literature, The Chachalaca Review, and Floricanto Press. Voces is like home. It is a place where writers write, share, critique, revise and publish. The writers are among family where they are safe and their stories are nurtured. We know because we have been taking care of our babies too. We will turn into leonas y leones if anyone tries to hurt them. But we also know that babies grow up. We help them along, then ultimately and reluctantly let go.

Voces is presented by the Oak Cliff Coalition for the Arts, Inc. (OCCA), a non-profit organization founded in 1995 to promote the arts and education. OCCA has hosted writer’s workshops and published three chapbooks, in 2011, 2017, and 2018. The objective of the Voces Chapbook & Writer’s Workshops is simply to “promote the writing of new works and publishing by raza writers.” To date, Voces has published 173 new works by thirty writers and ten images – one self-portrait and nine photographs. OCCA is proud to present the The Voces, A Lyric Anthology de Nuestro Pueblo

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

WOW We even have authors during Spring Break!

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 18:45:00 +0000

Upcoming author events

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Paragraphs’ book club- Gown

Wednesday – February 27^th 11:45 – 1PM

TK’s First Lesson

Saturday – March 2^nd 2019 1–3 PM

Book signing and discussion with author David Leija

Borderlands

Sunday – March 3^rd 1-3 PM

Book signing and discussion with author Steven Schnieder

The Story is Beginning and Here I am Soaking Wet: Poems for Forest Bathing

Saturday – March 9^th 2019 1-2PM

Book signing and readings with poet Kent Wittenburg

Paragraphs’ book club- Ways of Going Home

Wednesday – March 27^th 11:45 – 1PM

A NEA Big Read book selection 2018

Upcoming author events for February

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 22:13:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

The Teacher: The Apostle Paul

Saturday – February 9^th 2019 1-3 PM

Book signing and discussion with author Terry Overton

Child of the System: Life as Adult Lynn

Wednesday - February 13^th 2019 1-3 PM

Book signing, discussion and reception with author and Poet, Lynn McLaughlin

POP Writers Workshop

Saturday – February 16^th 2019 2-4PM

All writers of all levels and genres are welcome, though this is an adult-only group.

Award-Winning Author to Lead Writing Workshop at Paragraphs

Saturday – February 23^rd 2019 1-3 PM

National award-winning author Paula Bosco Damon returns to SPI to conduct a writing workshop

Preregistration for this free public event, designed for teens and older, is required by calling Paragraphs at (956) 433-5057. Deadline for preregistering is Wednesday, Feb. 20. Participants are asked to bring writing tools to the workshop. During the class, Damon will share excerpts from her new poetry collection, followed by a book signing from 3 to 4 p.m.

During the class, Damon will share excerpts from her new poetry collection, followed by a book signing from 3 to 4 p.m.

Saturday – February 23^rd 2019 3-4 PM

Book signing, discussion and reception with author Paula Bosco Damon

Touch the Mayan Moon

Sunday – February 24^th 2019 1-3 PM

Book signing, discussion and reception with author Susan Holmes

TK’s First Lesson

Saturday – March 2^nd 2019

Book signing and discussion with author David Leija

HAPPY NEW YEAR our first January events

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 19:58:00 +0000

Paragraphs is hosting the

POP! Writing Collective

Meeting the first Saturday of the month 2-4 PM

January 5th 2019

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Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Wednesday, January 9^th 2019 1-3 PM

Book signing and conversation with author, Saralyn Richard

“Murder in the One Percent”

EVENT IS POSTPONED DUE TO A DEATH IN THE FAMILY

A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn is writing the sequel to Murder in the One Percent. Her website is www.saralynrichard.com

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Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday, January 12^th 2019 1-3 PM

Book signing and conversation with author, Gail Rollo

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Paragraphs lunchtime book discussion begins again for 2019. Join us from 11:45 to 1 on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Feel free to bring your lunch. Stop by or call to reserve your spot and get a book.

January 23rd - Harry's Trees $15

February 27th - The Gown $12

March 27th - TBA

April 24th - TBA

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Writers Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 21:26:00 +0000

Paragraphs is hosting the

POP! Writing Collective

Meeting the first Saturday of the month 2-4 PM

September 8^th (Date change due to Labor Day weekend)

October 6^th

November 3^rd

December 1^st

Paragraphs On Padre is hosting a writer’s workshop/critique group on the first Saturday of the month--but due to the craziness of Labor Day, the September meeting will be held the second Saturday. Our next workshop will be led by Kathy Trenfield Raines a founding member of the group.

We welcome all writers at all different skill levels, but this is an adults-only writing group (mature young adults, 14 and above, with a parent present, may be allowed--but use discretion as we will tackle adult topics, mature discussions, and difficult subjects from time to time). Here is a chance to meet other writers, improve your writing skills, discuss publishing, editorial advice, and critiquing but most of all interacting with other writers.

The session will be two hours long. Bring a pencil and paper and your active imagination.

This event is free and open to the public
Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard
5505 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island, TX

956-433-5057

Author Event

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 21:20:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday, September 8^th 2018 4 to 5 PM

“El Rinche”

Book discussion, reading and signing with author Christopher Carmona

El Rinche is a reimagining and flip of the script of an American popular culture icon. This novel tells the story a light-skinned Mexican American named Ascencion “Chonnie” Ruiz de Plata. He disguises himself as the ghost of a Texas Ranger on the South Texas border of Mexico now known as The Rio Grande Valley between 1905-1921. Together with his partner, the Native American Tal’dos, a Japanese ninja master, and the most successful U.S. Marshall of all time, Bass Reeves (the real lone ranger), Chonnie takes on the superhero persona of “El Rinche” to fight the villainous Texas Rangers and save the local peoples of the area.

Dr. Christopher Carmona is an Assistant Professor of Mexican American Studies and Creative Writing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee for the TX State Board of Education for Mexican American Studies. Currently, he serves as the Chair of the NACCS Tejas Foco Committee on Implementing MAS in PreK-12 Education in Texas. His short story collection, The Road to Llorona Park, is listed by NBCNews as one of the 8 Great Latino Books published in 2016. Carmona was the winner of the NACCS Tejas Award for Best Fiction Book of 2016 for The Road to Llorona Park. He serves on Responsible Ethnic Studies Textbook committee that was awarded the "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" award for excellence in educational leadership f from the Mexican American School Board Association (MASBA). He has published three books of poetry, co-edited two anthologies, and co-authored a scholarly conversation book, called Nuev@s Voces Poeticas: A Conversation about new Chican@ Identities. Currently, he is working on a series of YA novellas reimagining the “Lone Ranger” story as a Chicanx superhero fighting Texas Rangers in the Rio Grande Valley from 1905-1920 entitled El Rinche: The Ghost Ranger of the Rio Grande. Book One is out in bookstores now.

This event is free and open to the public

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Paragraphs has eReaders Available Online

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 19:42:00 +0000

You can now purchase any of the Kobo ereaders online from Paragraphs by using the Kobo website. Find out more about the Kobo readers by clicking on the links below and then make sure to enter the promo code ABA000001 in the discount code box when checking out. Please call us if you have any questions.

An Afternoon with Award Winning Authors

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 17:10:00 +0000

Daniel García Ordaz, Rob Johnson, Britt Haraway

Saturday, June 30^th 2018 4-6 PM

Join us for an afternoon of multiple authors reading from their books, hosting discussions and signing at Paragraphs. This group of talented and distinguished writers will be part of a memorable literary event you won’t want to miss. Please note the special time of this event.

Daniel García Ordaz is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival and the author of You Know What I'm Sayin'? His new collection, Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment (Poetry*Drama) was recently released by FlowerSong Books. García, who recently completed his MFA in Creative Writing from UT-Rio Grande Valley, is an English high school teacher. His work appears is Poetry of Resistance, La Bloga, Juventud!, Praxis, and several other anthologies and journals. Daniel lives in the Rio Grande Valley of deep South Texas with his wife, Gina, and their children.

Dr. Rob Johnson, a professor from UTRGV. Dr. Johnson is the author of two books, The Lost Years of William S. Burroughs and his newest, Did Beatniks Kill John F. Kennedy. Dr. Rob Johnson is a Professor of Literatures and Cultural Studies at UTRGV specializing in the study of south Texas literature and the "Beat Generation" writers of the 1950's.

Britt Haraway has a short story collection, Early Men, which was published by Lamar University Literary Press. His stories have appeared in Natural Bridge, New Madrid, Great Weather for Media, Moon City Review,and elsewhere. His work was chosen for the Best Small Fictions 2016 guest edited by Stuart Dybek. He is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the fiction editor for riverSedge magazine. He lives in McAllen, Texas with his family.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd.

South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Writer's Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 17:47:00 +0000

Paragraphs is hosting a

Writer’s Workshop

Meeting the first Saturday of the month 2-4 PM

July 7^th

August 4^th

Welcome all writers at all skill levels. Here is a chance to improve your writing skills, discuss publishing, editorial advice, critiquing but most of all inter-acting with others doing the same thing.

The session will be two hours long. Bring pencil and paper and your active imagination.

The July 7^th workshop will feature Daniel García Ordaz, former reporter at Valley Morning Star and Author of Cenzontle/Mockingbird and You Know What I'm Sayin'?. He titles this workshop, Finding The Essence. Space is limited please call Paragraphs (956)433-5057 to reserve a spot.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

An afternoon with an author, poet or musician

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 17:46:00 +0000

An Afternoon with Award Winning Author

Patty York Raymond

Saturday June 23^rd 2018 1-3PM

The ABCs to Ranching is a cultural perspective on ranching in South Texas. It is a humorous account of a mischievous young boy determined to help his father with the chores. “Let’s go,” he yells to his Catahoula Cowdog as his father warns him not to get underfoot. With one mishap after another, the young boy develops an appreciation for nature and a strong connection to his father and their heritage—all centered on the alphabet. The ABCs to Ranching is accompanied by a music CD that is sure to get the children singing and dancing!

Patty York Raymond is an Award Winning Author and a native Texan. Her children’s book, It’s Too Windy! Was honored with the International Latino Book Award for 2016 and 2017. Her most recent children’s book, The ABCs to Ranching, was awarded Best Interactive Children’s Book by The Texas Association of Authors in 2018. Patty earned her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Houston and her Administration and Supervision from Texas A&M International University. She has enjoyed working with children, families, and educators in a variety of roles including social worker, teacher and administrator. She and her family reside in McAllen, Texas where she is an independent education consultant as well as owner/director of Abrazo Case Management Services for Children and Pregnant Women.

It’s Too Windy! is about family and how establishing long lasting traditions leads to developing close family ties that last a lifetime. Hooray! Yeah! Yippee! Yahoo! Jessica and David can’t wait to swim in the grandparents’ pool. But how long will they have to wait? The theme song, ‘That’s What My Grandma Said’ is available on iTunes and CDBaby.

http://squareup.com/store/patty -raymond "Like" itstoowindy on Facebook!

Follow PattyRaymond@itstoowindy on Twitter pattyraymondbooks@gmail.com

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd.

South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Audiobook Memberships now Available

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:59:00 +0000

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Author Events for the remainder of February

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 18:11:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Monday, February 19^th 1-3 PM

Book signing and conversation with author, M.E. Bakos

“Fatal Flip”

Flipping houses can be fatal! When thirty-five-year-old, widowed Katelyn, gets fired from Colossal Health she takes friend Myra’s, advice to “follow your bliss.” She becomes a Home Rehab Specialist in Crocus Heights, Minnesota. Her ninety-day plan to turn distressed properties into cash and career fulfillment veers towards deadly when she finds a body in her first project. Attractive, blue-eyed, muscular Sheriff Don Williams at first suspects Katelyn. After all, it’s her house. Meanwhile, her ex-husband Eddy, (it’s complicated) is back in her life and sleeping on her sofa. One mystery leads to another when Katelyn’s snooty neighbor, Ariel, is discovered dead in her bathtub. Could any of the townhome residents have killed Ariel? Between keeping her stray cat, Boots, in kibble, and herself in pizza and good coffee, Katelyn works survival jobs as she unravels the puzzle of who leaves bodies in abandoned houses, and why. And while Katelyn recovers from losing Jake, the love of her life, she warms to the possibility of a new love with the handsome Sheriff Don.

M.E. Bakos has published several short stories in national women’s magazines. Her love of mysteries has led to writing cozies. Her first mystery short story, “Carpe Diem or Murder at the Carp Fest” appeared in the Festival of Crime, a SINC Anthology. Her second, “Perfect Storm . . . Perfect Murder” will be in Dark Side of the Loon, May, 2018 also a SINC Anthology.
Her first cozy, FATAL FLIP, A Home Renovator Mystery has several home improvement tips for the reader.
Mary is a member of Twin Cities Sisters in Crime, the SINC Guppies Group, and an alumna of the University of Minnesota. She is a lifelong resident of Minnesota and resides in Minneapolis with her husband, Joe Sebesta, and their spoiled Morkie.

Saturday, February 24^th 1-3 PM

Book signing and conversation with author, Gail Hanson

“Through the Shadows”

“Through the Shadow” is part of the love story of Paul and Gail Hanson. In 1971 God spoke to them to drive nearly 3000 miles across America in an old pick-up truck and with their baby son to a border town in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Their intention was to prepare briefly for a permanent move into Mexico to serve as missionaries. However, God waylaid them in Brownsville and told Paul that it was His Will to establish a Christian High School. For forty-five years Valley Christian High School has been an oasis for teens from Mexico and Texas. The school is committed to being a safe environment and a culture of honor for their international student body. It has a unique environment dedicated to welcoming the Holy Spirit into their daily lives while having fun and preparing, not only for college but for every aspect of their adult lives. This is also the story of how Gail’s life and dreams were shattered on a beautiful April morning and her painful journey to recovery.

Gail Hanson grew up north of Seattle overlooking the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. She is the daughter of a Norwegian immigrant who became a gold miner in Alaska and a commercial salmon fisherman in both Alaska and Washington. Her roots are in the north and her childhood joys focused on skiing, boating and mountain explorations. She graduated from the University of Western Washington near the Canadian border where her life was caught up n the Hippie Revolution of the 60s.There she met her husband, Paul and there together Jesus Christ captured their hearts. She has three sons, Joel, Marco and David and six grandchildren. She continues to live in Brownsville Texas as principal of Valley Christian High School.

“The Magic of Mariachi”

Sunday – February 25^th 2018 1-3 PM

Book signing and reception with author and Poet, Steven Schneider

This is Steven’s second visit to Paragraphs this year. His earlier signing was for his book, “Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives”. A well-received event, he now returns with “The Magic of Mariachi”. A bilingual poetry book with lavish artwork by Reefka Schneider on every page.

The Magic of Mariachi / La Magia del Mariachi is a fascinating book that combines two disciplines – art and poetry – creating a treasure of lyrical poetry and strikingly beautiful paintings of mariachi musicians. The twenty four poems, written in English and skillfully translated into Spanish, were created in response to each of the twenty-four works of art in the book. The poems are placed side by side with the paintings and drawings of contemporary mariachi musicians. The artwork in the book is the result of the artist’s direct encounter with mariachi musicians in their rehearsals and performance settings. The paintings and drawings are done in pastel, watercolor, and charcoal in a variety of styles and approaches. The poems are written in a variety of poetic forms: sestina, haiku, villanelle, triolet, prose poems, dramatic monologues and free verse. The Magic of Mariachi / La Magia del Mariachi is a cross-cultural text that will encourage reading, bilingual learning, and creative expression through poetry and art.

Steven P. Schneider is the author of three books of poetry: Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives (Wings Press, 2012), a collaborative effort with his wife, Reefka Schneider; Unexpected Guests (Blue Light Press, 2008); and Prairie Air Show (Hurakan Publications and Sandhills Press, 2000). Steven Schneider’s poetry has been widely anthologized and featured in American Life in Poetry, Prairie Schooner, Critical Quarterly, The Literary Review and numerous other international journals.

He earned a BA from Syracuse University and an MFA and PhD from the University of Iowa.

Schneider’s awards include three Big Read grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Nebraska Arts Council Poetry award, and a Poetry Fellowship and Residency from the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. He is professor of English at the University of Texas-Pan American.

All events are free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

The Final Authors for January 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 21:08:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives

Sunday – January 28th 2018 1-3 PM

Book signing and reception with author and Poet, Steven Schneider

Featuring 25 drawings in charcoal, conte crayons, and pastels, this handbook pairs portraits of people who live and work along the U.S.–Mexico border with bilingual poems that have been inspired by each of the drawings. A testimony to the people of the Rio Grande Valley, these drawings and poems capture their spirit, their quest for happiness, and their struggles to overcome economic hardship. This remarkable book highlights characters such as the "young street musician," the "six-year-old street vendor," and the "wise woman with rings." Compassionate and aesthetically compelling, this record raises awareness about social and cultural issues associated with border life, such as education, literacy, and poverty, and fosters cross-cultural understanding.

Steven P. Schneider is the author of three books of poetry: Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives (Wings Press, 2012), a collaborative effort with his wife, Reefka Schneider; Unexpected Guests (Blue Light Press, 2008); and Prairie Air Show (Hurakan Publications and Sandhills Press, 2000). Steven Schneider’s poetry has been widely anthologized and featured in American Life in Poetry, Prairie Schooner, Critical Quarterly, The Literary Review and numerous other international journals.

He earned a BA from Syracuse University and an MFA and PhD from the University of Iowa.

Schneider’s awards include three Big Read grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Nebraska Arts Council Poetry award, and a Poetry Fellowship and Residency from the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. He is professor of English at the University of Texas-Pan American.

“Shenanigans on the Rio Grande”

with Susan LeMiles

Upcoming Author Events December 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 22:24:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday – December 16th 1-3 PM

More Zoo Nonsense

The Quest for Kuybera

Book signing, discussion and reception with author, Don Clifford

Book two in the Zoo Nonsense series. Joining his first book “Zoo Nonsense”, Don gives us even more crazy rhymes and goofy pictures guaranteed to tickle the funny bone of kids 6 to 60, and any other age before and after. The illustrations will keep your youngster entertained as you read or they read the book.

The Ben Solomon series also continues with Don’s newest “The Quest for Kuybera”. This book two is the continuation of the Ben Solomon saga of Abel, firstborn son of King Solomon. In the first volume titled "Destiny Diverted", Abel is stranded in the New World. After the murder of his wife and unborn child, Abel seeks a way home by following the clues to a fabled copper field on the North shore of what is now Lake Superior. Enroute, he rescues his first love Summer Moon from an ancient ritual wherein the wives of a departed Sun Chief are expected to join him in the Afterworld. He meets Nathaniel, a fellow mariner and member of the secret Brotherhood of Marnah, Goddess of the Sea, and a four legged companion named Wolf. Together, they trek through the dangerous forests of what is now North America. They visit the Great Serpent Mound where Abel is almost killed during a peyote induced vision.. "The Quest..." also contains a sneak peak of Volume 3 in the Ben Solomon Trilogy.

Meet the Author

John C Payne

Thursday, December 21^st 1-3PM

San Antonio resident, John C Payne is the author of five novels. Beginning with the trilogy, “Three and Out” he follows with “Stage Four” and Stage Five”. From the author’s website: “Stage Four and Stage Five have been generating numerous positive feedback --- too numerous to list in this space.

I thank all of you fine people who purchase my books. All receipts go to three different charities. I write for fun. It's a fun hobby, okay?”

Stage Five: The Reincarnation.

Out of nowhere, Jamie Richards appears in an unorthodox manner on the busy streets of San Francisco as a reincarnate of his great-grandfather Thaddeus Ambrose Richards, who was a member of Colonel Bill Donovan’s OSS, the forerunner of the current CIA.

Jamie and Denis Sweeny, his old Navy SEAL friend team up to infiltrate the ISIS recruitment process of young, disenchanted females and later create major havoc at an ISIS safe house south of the city. The concluding segment of the book involves Jamie’s deployment back to a German city near Berlin where Thaddeus Ambrose Richards had met his demise during WWII trying to kill Frau Koehler, Nazi propagandist. Jamie is now reunited with the successful and famous, Seri Hakimi. Is Jamie destined to achieve long-awaited fame? Or will he succumb to the same fate as his great-grandfather?

Jamie Richards, main character in the sci-fi/fantasy Stage Four book, is reincarnated in the spirit of his great-grandfather. Thaddeus Ambrose Richards was a WWII intelligence officer deployed by COL William Donovan to assassinate a German female propagandist. He was killed in action. Present day ISIS has launched an aggressive recruiting campaign centered on disenfranchised young females in the US. The San Francisco operation is highlighted in this story. Jamie Richards is contracted by the CIA to perform intelligence missions centered on ISIS activities in the US. His handler is Denis Sweeny, an old Navy SEAL friend and protagonist throughout the story. Richards is thrust into action trying to prevent radical terrorists from destroying a major league ballpark and the people in attendance. Later, he and Sweeny team up to take down an ISIS safe house in San Francisco. Richards develops a sneaky love-relationship with one of the ISIS team leaders that carries him to his final mission, the site of his great-grandfather's demise in WWII. Additional fast-acting sequences take place in San Antonio, near the Mexican border and finally, outside of Berlin, Germany.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. , South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

New July Author Event

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 16:51:00 +0000

Meet the Author at Paragraphs

Tuesday, July 25th 1–3 PM

“Rite of the Storm”

Book discussion, reception and signing with author Jessica Carlos

“Kidnapped from a parking lot one night and whisked away from her Texas hometown, Holly Harper must survive a group of hunters out for blood, psychos in suits, and her conscience, the one thing that keeps her teetering on the line between everything she is and everything she could be. Battling the forces of evil for the sake of survival, Holly doesn’t bother wondering why the universe seems to be conspiring against her. All she can wonder is...what took so long?

Holly blames the black cloud. She really does.

Her mother’s family has dealt with that twisted sort of luck for as long as anyone can remember. Now it’s her turn to face it, and her only options are to survive or die trying. But if there’s any mistake the pawns of Satan can’t afford to make, it’s underestimating a Harper, even the smallest, least experienced Harper.

So, watch out world ‘cause Holly Harper’s come alive.”

Jessica Carlos was born in Brownsville, Texas to Hispanic parents. Raised alongside her two older brothers in Olmito, Texas, Jessica developed a passion for reading and writing at a young age. She was published in the Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans (2003 Edition) at the age of 8. At age 17, she graduated from the Math and Science Academy in Brownsville with her high school diploma and Associate of General Education. Two years later, she received her Bachelor of Arts in English and, at age 22, earned her Master of Arts in English in an effort to polish her writing skills by studying literature, composition, and rhetoric. She is currently sitting back, slurping hot chocolate, and working her way through her next couple of novels—that is, when she’s not throwing knives, shooting arrows, or training with her tactical blade.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

July Meet the Author Events

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 16:29:00 +0000

Meet the Author at Paragraphs

Saturday, July 15^th 1–3 PM

Book discussion, reading and signing with author J. T. Lozano

Writing in the horror genre, J. T. Lozano has multiple titles in poetry, short stories and novels and will be sharing them with us. Check out his Facebook group page, Story Time with JT (www.facebook.com/groups/STWJT) and get a look inside the mind of this writer.

J. T. Lozano is a horror author who hails from Mission, a small border town in Deep South Texas. He is the youngest in his family, which consists of four other siblings; two boys and two girls. Although J.T. resides in Mission, he was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and moved here at the age of three. He began writing in 2007 using poetry as a form of self-expression and wrote his first story shortly after that. Since the year in which the writing bug bit, J.T. has written well over 30 poems and half a dozen books, with some short stories. The ideas constantly fill his head and if you ask how long he plans to write he will simply answer; “I’ll keep writing as long as you keep reading.”

Paragraphs will be hosting J.T. Lozano (also writing under the name of A.T. King) with his many titles and he has ebook editions so bring along your ereaders to download after you have met with J.T. and heard about his stories. Authors love to meet their readers.

“Rio Grande Valley ABC”

Rickey E. Pittman, storyteller, author, and folksinger

Friday, July 28^th 1 to 3 PM

Along the banks of the mighty Rio Grande River lies the heart of Southern Texas—the Rio Grande Valley. Steeped in tradition at the crossroads between the United States and Mexico, the Valley’s residents have established a unique way of life, honoring their past and reaching for their future.

Brought to life through rhyming text and vivid illustrations, the sights and sounds of the Rio Grande Valley fill every page, from the flight of the aplomado falcon to the ride of Antonio Zapata and everything in between.

In addition to the shared history of Mexican and Texas battles and triumphs, author Rickey Pittman details daily life in the Magic Valley, displaying the delight of a daughter’s quinceañera and the spirit of mariachi music. Illustrator Julie Dupre Buckner captures the hues of Valley life, from the bright butterflies gracing the grasslands to the clear night sky shining with stars.

The history and the heart of the Valley and its inhabitants, both human and animal, fill every page of this informative and essential book.

Pittman strives to find and share the forgotten and neglected stories and people of history and legend and bring them to life before his audiences. Whether you seek a song to touch your heart, a book to instruct your children, or a motivating and entertaining program, this bard of the South has good things to share.

Rickey E. Pittman, often called “The Bard of the South”, is an award-winning storyteller, author, and folksinger. The author of more than a dozen books and four CDs, Pittman earned a BA in New Testament Greek and an MA in English Literature from Abilene Christian University. He currently teaches college level freshman composition and literature. Pittman is a tireless performer, constantly conducting appearances at schools, libraries, festivals, conventions, and workshops, including many in the Rio Grande Valley. A certified secondary gifted English teacher, originally from Dallas, Texas, he claims the Rio Grande Valley as his second home. Pittman loves and appreciates the Rio Grande Valley, its history, its culture and its people.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard

5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX For information call us at 956-433-5057

Meet the Author series

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 27 May 2017 15:41:00 +0000

Saturday, June 3^rd 1–3 PM

“The Night of the Virgin”

Book discussion, reception and signing with author Elliott Turner

When Manny Hernandez turned eighteen, he left behind the desperately poor Rio Grande Valley with one goal in mind: become a professional soccer player. He stumbled a few times, but found plenty of adventure along the way as he and his best friend Hector traveled across Texas and the West Coast. Still, what happened on the field isn't even half the story. A pulsating and raw look at the Mexican-American community's struggles with poverty, alcoholism, infidelity, spirituality and prejudice. A thoughtful reflection on a brash young man who grew into a loving father. An indisputably American tale where a dream lead to a journey that twisted when you wanted it to turn.

Elliott lives in Texas and his soccer journalism has been published at The Guardian, VICE Sports, FourFourTwo, Howler Magazine, The Blizzard, Yahoo Sports, and countless others.

Sábado, 24 de junio 1–3 PM

“Reflejos de Estrella: Cuentos que sanan el alma”

(Star Reflexes: Stories that heal the soul)

Book discussion, reception and signing with author Blanca Dominguez

Reflejos de estrella es un compendio de relatos, cuentos, poesías y reflexiones escritos en un lenguaje sencillo para que lleguen a los corazones y generen un cambio constructivo, así como una invitación a reflexionar sobre aquellos sucesos de su vida que han sido significativos, difíciles -quizás traumáticos- pero que han ayudado a construir su carácter. Solo déjese llevar por el título que más le llame la atención y cree su propia historia para encontrar la moraleja en la poesía de su vida.

Blanca Domínguez nació en Colombia y obtuvo su Licenciatura en Lenguas Modernas y Educación en la Universidad del Valle. Posteriormente se trasladó a México, donde recibió su certificación como PMP® Project Management Professional.

Desde temprana edad se sintió atraída por la meditación y siguió las lecciones del Maestro Paramahansa Yogananda en el instituto Self Realization Fellowship. Posteriormente entró en contacto e incursionó en diversas corrientes espirituales. En el 2004 inició su carrera como Sanadora Pránica, siguiendo las técnicas de Master Choa Kok Sui, en Pranic Healing®.

Blanca vive ahora con su esposo y su hija en Austin, Texas en donde coordina una clínica de Sanación Pránica®, ofrece consultas privadas y dirige sesiones de meditación.

Los cuentos surgen de la necesidad de sanar por medio de relatos, de simplificar lo complejo para contribuir a ofrecer esperanza y a que cada uno encuentre en sí mismo, y en los demás, la chispa Divina.

El libro está escrito en español pero la charla será bilingüe

ENGLISH

Saturday, June 24th 1–3 PM

“Star Reflexes: Stories that heal the soul”

(Reflejos de Estrella: Cuentos que sanan el alma)

Book discussion, reception and signing with author Blanca Dominguez

Star Reflections is a compendium of stories, poems and reflections written in simple language to reach the heart and generate a constructive change, as well as an invitation to reflect on those events in your life that have been significant, difficult - Perhaps traumatic - but have helped to build your character. Just let yourself be led by the title that attracts your attention and create your own story to find the moral in the poetry of your life.

Blanca received a B.A in Languages and Education from the Universidad de Valle in Colombia, then moved to Mexico City and obtained a PMP Certificate from the Project Management Institute. These qualifications allowed me to work as a Consultant for over 10 years developing Entrepreneurs, involved in multiple consulting projects in Mexico City and Latin America.

In 2007 she moved to Austin, and worked at Le Cordon Blue as Financial Advisor for Students, later transferring to DeVry University where she works as Academic and Financial Adviser.

“I have been able to merge my professional knowledge and career with my Spiritual development, practicing yoga, meditation and most recently receiving the initiation of Kriya Yoga. I have received extensive training in PRANIC HEALING®, a system developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, which includes Basic and Advanced Pranic Healing, Crystal Healing, Psychological Healing and Arhatic Yoga. For the past eight years,I have been the administrator of the South Pranic Healing Clinic in Austin and have conducted meditation retreats in Cali Colombia, and the Amazons with the Huitoto ethnic community.”

The book is written in Spanish but the talk will be bilingual.

Saturday July 1^st 2017 1-3PM

Meet the Award Winning Author

Patty York Raymond

Patty York Raymond is a native of Laredo. She earned her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Houston and her Administration and Supervision from Texas A&M International University. Patty has enjoyed working with children, families, and educators in a variety of roles including social worker, teacher and administrator. She and her family reside in McAllen, Texas where she is an independent education consultant as well as owner/director of Abrazo Case Management Services for Children and Pregnant Women. Patty’s debut book, It’s Too Windy! was recently honored with the International Latino Book Award for 2016.

http://squareup.com/store/patty -raymond "Like" itstoowindy on Facebook!

Follow PattyRaymond@itstoowindy on Twitter pattyraymondbooks@gmail.com

WOW New vacation hours

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 27 May 2017 15:29:00 +0000

SPECIAL HOURS

MAY 30 - JUNE 22

CLOSED: TUES-WED-THURS

OPEN:

FRI – SAT – SUN - MON

10 TO 4

On the Shelf at Paragraphs - "The Alphabet House"

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 17:41:00 +0000

“The Alphabet House” Author: Jussi Adler-Olson
Published by Dutton
Trade Paperback released Mar 22, 2016
ISBN 9781101983973

Mystery and thrillers written by Scandinavian authors have been popular for several years and burst onto the American market with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Many, such as the novels by Alan Furst and Henning Mankell, have been turned into series broadcast on British TV and PBS. I was surprised recently when browsing through Netflix to find films based on Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q series. I enjoyed the movies -- although darker and with less of the dry humor which makes the books memorable -- and went back to see what I knew about this author. I discovered his fascinating debut novel from 1997 that was first published in the United States in 2015, following the success of the Department Q series.

“The Alphabet House” begins with a World War II reconnaissance mission near Dresden, Germany. Intelligence believes the Nazis are building new factories that could turn the tide of the war. Boyhood friends, two RAF pilots James Teasdale and Bryan Young are shot down. They know they will be executed if caught, so with an enemy patrol in pursuit, they manage to jump aboard a train reserved for senior SS soldiers wounded on the eastern front. In a moment of desperation, they throw two patients off the train and take their places, hoping they can escape later. Unknowingly, they now are assumed to be elite SS troopers with battle fatigue. While "[a]n SS officer could not be brought home insane"—"normally there was…an injection and a coffin"—the Nazis secretly hospitalized the more important ones. Their deceit works and James and Bryan end up in the Alphabet House, a mental hospital located far behind enemy lines, where German doctors subject their patients to daily rounds of shock treatments and experimental drugs. The pilots’ only hope of survival is to fake insanity until the war ends, but their friendship and courage are put to the ultimate test when James and Bryan realize they aren’t the only ones in the Alphabet House feigning madness.

James and Bryan find themselves confined with and harassed by three sadistic malingerers: Kröner, an "enormous, gnarled figure [with a] pockmarked face"; Lankau, a "broad-faced monster"; and Stich, their puppeteer. Bryan, who does not understand or speak German, is unknowingly impersonating a high-ranking SS officer with a reputation for violence and contacts in high places in the Third Reich. Unable to speak, or to communicate with one another, they are left to suffer in silence. James, retreats into a stupor of silence to avoid his misery. Bryan remains obsessed with the idea of escape.

But Adler-Olson tells us in his author’s note that this is not a war novel. As the son of a psychiatrist he grew up around the mentally ill and asylums of the fifties and sixties. “I got to know a few patients who – through the eyes of a naïve, alert child – I suspected of simulating their mental illness.” He asked himself, “is it possible to preserve oneself and one’s mind in a situation like this if one isn’t really ill?” “The Alphabet House” is the result of his desire to combine his interest in World War II and his study into the treatment of the mentally ill, especially during the war.

Ultimately this is a riveting tale with meticulously researched historical detail that explores the conflict between loyalty and survival with nuance and depth. I will warn this is not a novel for the faint of heart or for those seeking a lighthearted escape.

Upcoming Author Signings and Readings

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 17:02:00 +0000

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Friday, March 10^th 2017 1-3 PM

“A Mexican Dream and Other Compositions”

Conversation and Book signing with author, Barbara Gonzalez Cigarroa

Sunday, March 12^th 2017 1-3 PM

“Lion Manor”

Conversation and Book signing with author, Bronwyn Fiyremore

Saturday, March 18^th 2017 1-3 PM

“Of Course, Seahorse”

Conversation and Book signing with author, Raul Castellano

Thank you for supporting literacy in the Lower Rio Grande Valley by attending these free programs. We know the authors are very encouraged when they get to see interested attendees. There is no obligation to purchase a book but your interest and questions about the books and author's background is an inspiration for them to keep writing.

"The German Girl" and Today's Headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 19:09:00 +0000

When I first read "The German Girl" I thought it was a beautiful debut novel and especially topical as Cuba was appearing in the headlines upon the death of Fidel Castro and as our country began to rethink our relations with our island neighbor to the south. By telling this story from the viewpoint of two young people spanning a 70 year period of history, the author poignantly demonstrates that racial hatred, or the persecution of those not "like us" is not limited to a single time or place but, unfortunately seems to be a part of human nature.

I thought I knew the story of the St. Louis and the 937 passengers, most of whom were Jews, who seeking sanctuary from the Third Reich and the horror of the Holocaust, were turned away from our shores.

What I didn't know, and what, today, made me again think about Correa's moving novel, is that many of those who boarded the now infamous transatlantic liner, in 1939, had been promised safe passage from Hamburg to Cuba. They had saved, borrowed, and made tremendous sacrifices to obtain the necessary visas as well as incurring the not insubstantial cost of a transatlantic voyage. They had been granted refuge in Cuba and possessed legal documents assuring them of their admission. However, tragically, upon their arrival the President of Cuba, Federico Laredo Bru, issued Decree 937 which rendered the refugees permits null and void forcing the St. Louis to drop anchor in the bay. After four days of negotiations 28 passengers were allowed to disembark and the rest were ordered to remain on board and seek other protection.

Captain Gustav Schroder did his best to find a non-German port but was turned away by the United States (even though many passengers held visas approving them for eventual entry to the US) before Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Holland agreed to grant some of the passengers political asylum. As the German army swept through Europe many of the refugees from the St. Louis were eventually exterminated in the Nazi concentration camps. Only the 287 souls who were accepted by Great Britain were spared. In 2009, the United States government acknowledged their mistake and expressed deep regret for not aiding the St. Louis refugees.

The story told in "The German Girl" is of a voyage that began with a feeling of celebration and confidence that salvation was near at hand. Like refugees everywhere these innocent people, including many women, children and elderly individuals were looking forward to beginning a new life while nostalgic about leaving all they had ever known behind.

My heart was saddened this weekend as I heard of families separated, people stranded in strange airports mid-trip, returned upon arrival, detained for hours, unable to board airlines to begin a long anticipated new life, all of them left holding travel documents which took years to obtain that were issued by the United States, and suddenly declared worthless by that same government.

One can argue that President Trump is doing what the electorate wants and this is why he won the election. I accept that, and am not surprised that our policy will be one that is more restrictive when granting asylum to refugees, this was a major part of his campaign and he won. What I find so troubling, and what brought to mind the novel "The German Girl" is that as a country we failed to honor commitments already made and by doing so turned the lives of many innocent people upside down, left them confused and afraid during an already traumatic and stressful time, and potentially placed their lives in jeopardy.

Fiction gives the reader an opportunity to see the world from another point of view. We are allowed to live the experiences of others put in situations we may ourselves never face. We read about Hannah, her mother Alma Strauss and father Max as they come to terms with the need to leave their beloved Germany and then apply and wait for the necessary documents to be granted, fearing all the time that it may be too late. We sense the relief and hope aboard the St. Louis as they cross the Atlantic followed by the fear, confusion, and sense of betrayal upon discovering the asylum they had been promised was merely an illusion.

I would recommend "The German Girl" to those who have described the chaos created last weekend as a minor inconvenience, similar to taking ones shoes off at the airport.