Breakaway Republics, Debut Novels, & Tireless Fiddlers: A Night with Jim LaVilla-Havelin & Ken Waldman

Date: Thurs, June 23, in-person at Gemini Ink
6:30pm-8pm, CST
Free and open to the public

Gemini ink is thrilled to bring back in-person author events in our office located at 1111 Navarro, San Antonio, TX 78205! 

Join us for an unforgettable night of poetry, fiddling, and novels on “Alaska Time” as we celebrate San Antonio poet, educator, and arts advocate, Jim LaVilla-Havelin, with writer and Alaskan fiddler, Ken Waldman.

Jim LaVilla-Havelin is launching his chapbook Tales from the Breakaway Republic (Moonstone Press, Philadelphia, 2022). This collection of poems eerily prefigures some of the horrors of the current conflict in Ukraine. All proceeds from purchasing LaVilla-Havelin’s chapbook will be donated to Doctors without Borders.

Jim will be joined by the indefatigable poet, fiddler, traveler, and word weaver, Ken Waldman, who is celebrating the release of his novel Now Entering Alaska Time (Cyberwit Press, India, 2022). A percentage of proceeds from purchasing Waldman’s novel will be donated to Gemini Ink.

Don’t miss this chance to experience two unmistakable literary voices and meet up with fellow writers and book addicts.

LaVilla-Havelin is the author of five books of poetry. The most recent, West, poems of a place (Wings Press, 2017) chronicles and celebrates his move to the country, after a lifetime of city dwelling. His chapbook, Tales from the Breakaway Republic will be published by Moonstone Press in 2022. An educator, editor, and community arts activist, LaVilla-Havelin is the Poetry Editor for the San Antonio Express-News, and the coordinator for San Antonio’s National Poetry Month activities. He was awarded the City of San Antonio’s Distinction in the Arts for Literary Arts in 2019. A creative writing teacher for almost fifty years, LaVilla-Havelin teaches at programs citywide, from the Cyndi Taylor Krier Juvenile Correctional Treatment Center for Gemini Ink’s Partners Program, to the Go Arts Program for senior citizens through Bihl Haus Cultural Arts.

Ken Waldman is a seasoned teacher of writing and performer. He combines original poetry, old-time string-band music, and smart storytelling for a performance uniquely his. Since 1995 he’s appeared from the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage to the Dodge Poetry Festival to the Woodford Folk Festival (Queensland, Australia). His 20 books consist of 16 poetry collections, a memoir, a creative writing manual, a kids’ book, and a newly published novel, Now Entering Alaska Time. Nine CDs include two for children. See kenwaldman.com and trumpsonnets.com for more. About his live shows, “Like a Ken Burns movie. . . . Always recommended.”—The Austin Chronicle; About his teaching: “He spreads the cheer of genuine work.”–Naomi Shihab Nye