Words on a Wire

Daniel talks with writer Manuel Ramos, whose latest work of crime fiction is "Desperado: A Mile High Noir." Manuel talks about why the gentrification of the north part Denver plays such a strong role in the book and how it affects lead character, Gus Corral. Manuel also tells us whether he's one of those writers who knows how their books are going to end before he ever writes one word. Manuel will also talk about his day job as an attorney working for Colorado Legal Services.

Today's Poem of the Week is by Cesar Abraham Vallejo. Daniel reads "Dregs."

And in today's Poetic License, Patrick Michael Finn talks about his years-long struggle with rejection when it came to publishing his first collection of stories.

Daniel talks with Marcia Hatfield Daudistel, co-author with Bill Wright of "Authentic Texas: People of the Big Bend." Marcia talks about how the idea arose for the book, which profiles just a few of the unique characters who decided to make the Big Bend region of Texas their home. Marcia shares some interesting tidbits about some of the people featured in the book, and how their personalities were captured in Bill Wright's photographs. Marcia & Bill will present a lecture on the book on Friday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m., at the UTEP Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 116. They will hold a book signing on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 1-5 p.m., at the Westside Barnes & Noble (705 Sunland Park Dr.).

For this week's Poem of the Week, Marcia Hatfield Daudistel reads a poem by her sister Frances Hatfield, from her collection "Rudiments of Flight." The poem is "Nude Descending a Staircase."

Ben & Daniel talk with novelist Steve Yarbrough, whose latest book is "The Real of Last Chances." Yarbrough talks about why his book isn't set in the South or features Southern characters like in his past novel. He also talks about his early start as a writer and when he first discovered Southern writers such as Faulkner. Despite the Southern influence in his writing, many would be surprised at Yarbrough's fondness for Eastern European, Irish, and Latin American authors.

Ben & Daniel talk with journalist and author, Alfredo Corchado. Corchado's newest book is "Midnight in Mexico," and he talks about his often difficult journey back home to Mexico in researching the book. Alfredo talks about his cautious optimism about Mexico, and why Mexico's resilient population hold out hope for the future.

In our Poem of the Week, Daniel reads "Walking Around" by Pablo Neruda.

And in our Poetic License, poet Paisley Rekdal reflects on literary obscurity.

Daniel talks with poet Eduardo C. Corral, author of the collection "Slow Lightning." Corral talks about the notebooks he uses to stitch together his poems - "Slow Lightning" came together from 7 or 8 boxes of notebooks. He also explains why he employs code switching - switching between English & Spanish - in his poems, and why he refuses to italicize the Spanish words. Corral also talks about being accidentally placed in a writing workshop and eventually falling in love with poetry and the works of Jose Montoya.

For our Poem of the Week, Corral reads "Ditat Deus" from his collection "Slow Lightning."

In this week's Poetic License, artist Pat Ochefski-Winston reads a chapter from her new book "The Curious Childhood of Patty O." which explains how she learned to fight back.

Ben & Daniel talk with Sergio Troncoso, author of "From This Wicked Patch of Dust" and "Crossing Borders: Personal Essays." Troncoso is the co-editor (with Sarah Cortez) of "Our Lost Border: Essays on Life amid the Narco-Violence." The collection features essays from writers on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border who share their experiences living amid the escalating violence spawned by the 2008 drug war. Troncoso also talks about why he is choosing to re-write his earlier book "The Nature of Things," and about his return home to El Paso to receive the Literary Legacy Award on November 9, 2013. http://www.sergiotroncoso.com/

For today's Poem of the Week, Daniel Chacon reads Sheryl Luna's "Seven" from the collection of the same name.

And in today's Poetic License, El Pasoan Paul Pedroza reads an excerpt from the essay he contributed to "Our Lost Border." The essay is entitled "The Bridge to an Alien Nation."

Plus...Daniel & Ben talk about the Polish translation of Ben's hit YA novel, "Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe." And...more talk about broccoli.

Ben & Daniel talk with Megan Bohigian, author of the collection "Sightlines." Megan talks about the theatrical term "sightlines" and how she's adapted it to take on a literary meaning in revisiting memories from different perspectives. Bohigian teaches Creative Writing at Fresno City College, and she talks with Daniel (a Fresno native) about why so many writers come out of Fresno.

For this week's Poem of the Week, Megan Bohigian reads "Learning to Dive, Chapman Compound Pool, 1962," from her collection "Sightlines."

In today's Poetic License, JL Powers, author of "This Thing Called the Future," talks about paralyzing fear...from the strange noises at night as a child, or as an adult of being raped or murdered in South Africa.

Plus, Daniel & Ben talk about their love/hate relationship with broccoli (Daniel loves it, Ben hates it).

Ben & Daniel talk with Laura Cesarco Eglin, author of "Tailor Shop: Threads" and "Sastreria." Lau (as she likes to be called) talks about finishing her first book while studying at UTEP, and what events inspired her book "Sastreria." Lau describes herself as a tailor of words, following in the footsteps of her maternal grandfather, who himself was a tailor of clothes. She also talks about negotiating her time for writing and pursing a PhD.

For today's Poem of the Week, Lau reads her poem, "Kaddish and Rachamim." http://laucesarco.blogspot.com/

This week's Poetic License features Melinda Palacio, author of "How Fire is a Story Waiting." Melinda talks about...poetic license.

Plus, Daniel & Ben talk about their upcoming reading in McAllen, Texas

Ben & Daniel welcome poet Juan Felipe Herrera back to the show for his 3rd appearance. Juan Felipe is the California Poet Laureate, and he talks about speaking at the grand opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on September 2. His upcoming projects include a Latino heroes collection which is challenging him to think outside the poetic box, and a wordless poem which only consists of numbers and drawings of drone sightings. (Juan Felipe recorded this interview while waiting for his car to be fixed at a VW dealership in California!)

For today's Poem of the Week, Benjamin Alire Saenz reads "Canada in English" by Juan Felipe Herrera.

And for today's Poetic License, Nancy Lechuga talks about growing up with El Cucuy, the boogeyman of the Mexican culture, and about the different forms it has taken throughout her life.

Plus...since today's guest, Juan Felipe Herrera, was being interviewed in a car dealership, the conversation between Ben & Daniel turns to cars. Ben talks about his trusty Toyota, and Daniel talks about his "ghetto" car.

Ben & Daniel talk with J.L. (Jessica) Powers, author of the novel "This Thing Called the Future." Jessica talks about what led her from UTEP's MFA program to become an Africanist. Her interest in Africa led her to extensively study Zulu and live with a host family in South Africa, which is where "This Thing Called the Future" is set. Jessica talks about the stigma often associated with being a white writer talking about the black experience. Plus, she explains why she goes by the professional name "J.L." as opposed to her first name, Jessica.

For today's Poem of the Week, Benjamin Alire Saenz reads "Arabic" by Naomi Shihab Nye.

And on this week's Poetic License, writer Lisa Garibay shares her memories of going off to college for the first time.