Faculty New Releases: Demetria Martinez - The Block Captain's Daughter

Demetria Martinez's newest book, a novella set in Albuquerque called The Block Captain's Daughter, has just been released. In this story Martinez paints a portrait of six characters whose lives intertwine through their activism as they seek to create a better world and find meaning in their own lives. Published by the University of Oklahoma Press, the book encompasses political themes that have long been the author's passion and the landscape and people of New Mexico from which she draws sustenance.


You can find out more about this and other books on Demetria Martinez's new website: www.demetriamartinez.com/DemetriaMartinezBooks.htm



Click here for The Block Captain's Daughter on Amazon.com

Demetria Martinez is teaching at the 2013 Taos Summer Writers' Conference. Below is her class description.

The Freedom to Write: A Fiction Workshop for Beginners (All Levels - Weeklong PM) - Demetria Martinez

Starting a work of fiction should be a joyful experience. You will have the freedom to write without knowing much about your characters or even how the story will end. Your work is to be open to surprise as your characters reveal their lives. Like a reporter you will take notes until you have the makings of a story you and others will want to read. 

In this workshop we will employ a variety of  exercises that bring characters to life. We will get to know their surroundings and their secrets, their manner of speech and what they struggle with in silence. We will write in class and read our work out loud. Our goal is also to gather material for you to take home and use to build your story long after the workshop ends.

As part of the workshop, I offer an hour of creativity coaching to each participant to discuss what it will take to keep you inspired after the workshop ends. Many people depart from a creative writing workshop lacking techniques to remain motivated. We’ll make sure this doesn’t happen.