Publishing Consultations Available with Bobby and Lee Byrd of Cinco Puntos Press!

Bobby and Lee Byrd are owners and publishers of Cinco Puntos Press, which publishes books for children and young adults as well as fiction, poetry, nonfiction and graphic novels.  Started in 1985, Cinco Puntos Press (CPP) is a small, very independent publishing company rooted in El Paso, Texas, not three miles north of the U.S. Mexican Border.

Bobby and Lee Byrd are both writers and they started the press in order to carve out more time for their own writing.  As they moved further and further into the publishing life, they discovered that publishing, like writing, is an act of self-discovery. Each book takes them to a new place; each book leads them into unexpected intellectual terrains, places they might never have experienced without the provocation of new books and the business of making and selling them. In recognition of its importance as a voice for the southwest region and its commitment to literature, Cinco Puntos Press has received the American Book Award for excellence in publishing and been inducted into the Latino Literary Hall of Fame. The Press has received five publishing grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and three similar grants from the Texas Commission for the Arts.  In addition to awarding Southwest Book Awards for many of CPP books over the years, the Border Regional Library Association presented the Press with a special Southwest Book Award in 1993 for outstanding achievement in bringing national recognition to regional literature. CPP has also received two grants from the Fideicomiso para la Cultura de México y Estados Unidos (funded jointly by the Belles Artes and the Rockefeller Foundation).

An accomplished poet, Bobby will consult with participants interested in marketing poetry manuscripts, nearly all of which are published by independent presses such as Cinco Puntos. We encourage writers of fiction, including YA (young adult) and children’s books to schedule a meeting with Lee Byrd, who is herself a gifted short story writer.The Byrds will be at the conference July 10 through 13th.

To learn more about the press, visit the website: www.cincopuntos.com/

Emma Sweeney at Conference July 11-14!

EMMA SWEENEY

Emma Sweeney is a member of the Association of Authors' Representatives and the Women's Media Group, where she served as president in 2003. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a BA in English Literature. Emma is also a writer whose own books include Tulipa (Artisan, 2000) and As Always, Jack (Little, Brown, 2002; Back Bay Books, 2003). Her clients include Janet Burroway, Sara Gruen, Sandra Scofield, and our own Jonis Agee.

The Emma Sweeney Agency is a boutique literary agency specializing in general fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, and narrative nonfiction projects including biographies, history, business, and eastern religion. The agency works with co-agents in every territory, from the UK and Australia to Germany, Spain, France, Italy, eastern Europe, and Asia, and make dozens of foreign rights sales (as well as audio and first serial sales) for their clients every year.
Please see the web page, www.emmasweeneyagency.com, for a complete list of co-agents and news about upcoming books.

Shuttle Service from Albuquerque to Taos!

Shuttle Service

If you would prefer to have someone else do the driving and want to take a shuttle from the Albuquerque International Sunport to Taos on the same day of your arrival, please plan your airline flight so as to arrive in Albuquerque well before 5 p.m.

Here are some shuttle options:
Twin Hearts - 575-751-1201
The schedule is as follows:
Regularly scheduled departures from the Albuquerque Sunport: 11:30, 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30
Regularly scheduled departures from Taos: 7 a.m. (arrival in ABQ at 9:30), 9 a.m. (arrival @ 11:30),
11 a.m. (arrival @ 1:30), 1:30 p.m. (arrival @ 4)
One way cost is $50.00/roundtrip is $95.00

Twin Hearts are willing to schedule extra shuttles for 3 or more passengers.

Please ask for Robert or Mike to make special arrangements.

When you call, please identify yourself as attending the Conference.


www.taosexpress.com for information about getting from Albuquerque to Taos via Santa Fe using the Railrunner and shuttle service.

Shuttle reservations should be made in advance.

Scholarship Recipients Announced!

2011 Scholarship recipients:

D.H. Lawrence Fellow: Darlin' Neal, Orlando FL
Hispanic Writer Award: Richard Vargas, Albuquerque, NM
Native Writer Award: Monty J. Little, Santa Fe, NM
Taos Resident Award: Linda Michel-Cassidy, Arroyo Seco, NM
Leo Love Merit Scholarship in Poetry: Cedar Brant, Missoula, MT
Leo Love Merit Scholarship in Prose: Emma Rainey, Farifiled, IA

D.H. Lawrence Fellowship

Darlin' Neal
Darlin' Neal is currently an assistant professor in the MFA program at The University of Central Florida and Fiction Editor of the Florida Review; however, she spent her childhood traveling around New Mexico, where she attended 13 different grade schools. She is the author of the short story collections, Rattlesnakes and The Moon (Press 53, March 2010) and the forthcoming, Elegant Punk (Press 53, 2012). Her stories have appeared in The Southern Review, Shenandoah, Puerto del Sol, Smokelong Quarterly, Eleven Eleven, The Rio Grande Review, The Best of The Web Anthology and many other magazines. Her fiction and nonfiction have been nominated numerous times for the Pushcart Prize. In her post at The University of Central Florida, she also serves as faculty advisor to UCF's undergraduate literary arts magazine, The Cypress Dome, and for The Writers in The Sun Reading Series which brings in writers of national caliber each semester.
More Pictures and Bios to be posted soon.

Condo for Rent during the Conference!

2 bedroom condo available for rent during the conference. $125/night plus $100 cleaning fee. Within 2 blocks of Sagebrush, 128 Dona Ana, #208, 87571, by Taos Spa. 950 sq ft, Washer/dryer, full kitchen, Kiva fireplace, covered parking. It's really a patio home. No shared walls and has a yard, with sitting area in back. Private quiet drive. Decorated by featured artist Peggy McGivern, peggymcgivern.com

pstravlo@comcast.net or 303-619-0400

Taos Express: Travel Option from Santa Fe!

 As we've noted on our website, we are not coordinating with a shuttle service this year.

However, we did want to notify you all about Taos Express: a shuttle that coordinates with the New Mexico Rail Runner--a train that runs between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. For those of you taking the Rail Runner, the Express would be a great option.

The schedule for Taos Express can be found here.

And whether or not you take the shuttle, be sure to check out the beautiful Taos postcards featured on their site. We can't stop sending them around!

Another Rideshare Opportunity!

Participant Maya Kapoor has offered some space in her car on the way from Taos to Albuquerque! She'll be leaving on Sunday the 10th and returning on Sunday the 17th.

She'll have room for two, possibly three people in her car.

Email her at mayalkapoor@gmail.com if you're interested!

Thanks, Maya!

Spaces Open in SOMOS Publication Workshop July 9th!

 SOMOS, which stands for Society of the Muse of the Southwest, is a membership organization for both aspired and accomplished writers based in Taos.

On the Saturday before the conference, July 9th, they'll be holding a workshop called "Preparing Your Manuscript for Publication" at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House from 1-4 pm.

Barbara Scott, editor at Final Eyes and owner of Scott Group, a Denver-based type and design house, will lead the workshop.

The fee is $40 per person ($30 for SOMOS members.)

To register call 575-758-0081, or send an email to somos@somostaos.org.

Taos Pueblo Pow Wow, July 8th through 10th!

 As the conference approaches, we imagine that more and more of you are finalizing your travel plans!

One thing you might want to keep in mind--and thanks to Summer Wood for reminding us about this--is that the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow takes place the weekend before the conference starts!

Everyone is welcome at the Pow Wow, and we trust Summer that it's an "amazing experience"! If you've never been to one, this would be a great opportunity.

You can find more info about the event here.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

New Essay By Taos GA Elizabeth Tannen!

 Our very own Elizabeth Tannen, the Graduate Assistant for the Taos Conference, has an essay up today--about her mom reading her blog--on the website "Style Substance Soul."

It's the same site that featured Debra Monroe's piece a few weeks ago--which you must read if you haven't already! Both are part of the site's "Mom" theme in honor of Mother's Day.

Enjoy!

Interested in Sharing a Suite at the Sagebrush?

 

 

As we've announced on our website, the Sagebrush Inn only has suites remaining.  Each of those contains two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and another with a queen murphy bed, and two bathrooms.

 

Participant Ellen Kolton of Cambridge, Mass. is interested in sharing with another female--if you're interested, you can contact her directly at ellenkolton@gmail.com.

 

Thanks, Ellen!

Literary Agent Kit Ward Coming to Taos!

 We've just announced the first of our editors and agents to attend the 2011 Taos Summer Writers' Conference and provide consultations: we're thrilled that Christina (Kit) Ward, the Boston-based literary agent, will be joining us!

Kit represents a diverse list of writers, including our very own Debra Monroe, for her recent memoir, "On the Outskirts of Normal: Forging a Family Against the Grain" Her writers span various types of nonfiction as well as fiction; recently she teamed up with a colleague to form The Ward & Balkin Agency, Inc.

You can find more information about Kit on our website, as well as the registration form to sign up for a consultation during the conference.

And of course, stay tuned! We'll be announcing more editors and agents in the coming weeks.

Debra Monroe: on Women and Beauty, and Mothers and Daughters

Be sure to check out this beautiful personal essay by Taos instructor Debra Monroe. Debra's memoir , On the Outskirts of Normal: Forging a Family Against the Grain came out to wonderful critical acclaim last year.

This piece, published on the website "Style Substance Soul" takes on the subject of the way women are percieved--by men and by the world--changes as they age. It's truly a gourgous essay,  perfect tonic for the upcoming Hallmark holiday!

Congratulations on a terrific piece, Debra--we look forward to seeing her, and all of you, in Taos!



 

Another Rideshare Opportunity!

Participant Pat Shapiro will be driving up to Taos from Santa Fe on Sunday afternoon, July 10th, and is happy to take three people with her in her car!

Please send us an email, at taosconf@unm.edu, if you're interested in driving with Pat and we'll connect you with her!

Thanks, Pat, for the offer. And hope everyone is getting as excited as we are for the conference! Almost two months to go! Registrations are coming in fast and furious--so if you haven't signed up yet, make sure to do so soon!

"Home in the World": Emily Rapp in Santa Fe Reporter

If you haven't had a chance to already, check out Taos instructor and memoirist Emily Rapp's incredibly moving story, recently published on the cover of the Santa Fe Reporter, called "Home in the World."

It's about her young son, Ronan, who was recently diagnosed with Tay Sachs disease, a rare and terminal illness. Emily's writing transforms a story that could be devastatingly sad into one that is truly beautiful, inspiring and hopeful.

Emily's weeklong workshop is called "A Matter of Love: Beginning Memoir"--and there's only one spot left!