Interview with Rigoberto González. Sunday, January 15th, 2012.

16: Daniel & Ben talk with writer Rigoberto Gonzalez. He talks about his latest book “Black Blossoms,” his role as a book critic, and about his young adult novel, “Mariposa Club.”

The Poem of the Week is CK Williams “Racist” from his collection “Flesh & Blood.” Read by Benjamin Alire Saenz.

In this week’s Poetic License, local writer Richard Yanez shares 44 Blessings upon celebrating a recent birthday.

Rigoberto González is the author of two poetry books, So Often the Pitcher Goes to Water until It Breaks, a National Poetry Series selection, and Other Fugitives and Other Strangers; two bilingual children’s books: Soledad Sigh-Sighs and Antonio’s Card; the novel Crossing Vines, winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Fiction Book of the Year Award; and a memoir, Butterfly Boy: Memories of a Chicano Mariposa. His book of stories Men without Bliss, is forthcoming in 2008. The recipient of Guggenheim and NEA fellowships, and of various international artist residencies, he writes twice a month a Latino book column, now entering its sixth year, for the El Paso Times of Texas. He is contributing editor for Poets & Writers, on the Board of Directors of the National Book Critics Circle, and on the Advisory Circle of Con Tinta, a collective of Chicano/ Latino activist writers. He lives in New York City and teaches at the MFA writing programs of both Queens College and Rutgers University—Newark.

(Taken from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/rigoberto-gonzalez )

Holiday edition with UTEP Creative Writing Faculty. Sunday, December 25th, 2011.

13: It’s a special Holiday Edition of “Words on a Wire.” The faculty from the University of Texas at El Paso Creative Writing Department has gathered in the studio to share their holiday reflections.

Jeff Sirkin talks about his first experience with Christmas as a Jew.

Rosa Alcalá talks about why she is reconsidering her holiday traditions now that she has a daughter.

José de Piérola reads “Noche Buena,” which tells of how he celebrated Noche Buena in Perú and how his beliefs evolved over the years.

Sasha Pimentel Chacón shares her memories of trying to fly to Buenos Aires from Paris on Christmas Eve.

In “Santa’s Big Helper,” Lex Williford shares his memories of being a young boy at Christmastime after the death of his baby brother, and how it relates to his experience as an older father to young children.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Benjamín Alire Saenz shares his early memories of Christmas and why the holiday means more to him later in life.

AND, In “Mr. Microphone,” Daniel Chacón shares a mall-shopping Christmas memory and why it had an impact on him and how he celebrates the holiday.

Interview with Farid Matuk. Sunday, October 9 th, 2011. 11:30 a.m.

2: An interview with Farid Matuk.

Our poem of the week is by Luis J. Rodriguez. (Read by Daniel Chacón)

And in this week’s “Poetic License,” Steven Church reflects writing and
raquet ball.

Farid Matuk was born in Peru but immigrated to the United States at the age of six. Caught between two different worlds, his experiences as an immigrant in America contributed to Matuk’s identity, worldview, and eventually writing. Later in life, his experiences with politics, family, and social issues eventually manifested themselves in Matuk’s first full collection of poetry, This Isa Nice Neighborhood. Today, Matuk resides in Texas with his partner, poet Susan Briante, and their daughter.

(Taken from https://sites.google.com/site/gallagheronpoetry2011/faridmatuk/biography)

Interview with Juan Felipe Herrera. Sunday, October 2d, 2011. 11:30 a.m.

1!: An Interview with Juan Felipe Herrera.

Our Poem of the week is poem by Carl Phillips. (Read by Benjamin Alire Sáenz )

"Poetic license", Lee Herrick, speaks about community.

Juan Felipe Herrera holds the Tomás Rivera endowed chair in creative writing at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author of numerous poetry volumes, including Half of the World in Light; 187 Reasons Mexicanos Can't Cross the Border: Undocuments 1971-2007; Border-Crosser with a Lamborghini Dream; and numerous children's books, including The Upside Down Boy, which was adapted into a musical in New York City; Laughing Out Loud, I Fly, winner of a Pura Belpré Honor; and Cinnamon Girl, winner of the Américas Award. He was also awarded the National Book Critics Circle Award in poetry and a Guggenheim Fellowship. He lives and tours with the poet Margarita Luna Robles.