BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Gemini Ink - ECPv6.3.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://geminiink.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Gemini Ink
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Chicago
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20250309T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20251102T070000
END:STANDARD
TZID:America/Mexico_City
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20240407T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20241027T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20250406T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20251026T070000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250915T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250915T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250808T200837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250808T200837Z
UID:12819-1757961000-1757968200@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:YA 4U: Young Adult Writing with Gume Laurel
DESCRIPTION:Monday(s)\, September 15\, 22\, 29 & October 6\, 2025\, from 6:30-8:30pm CT\, Hybrid (available in-person and online via Zoom).\nNonmember $200; Member  $170; Student/Educator/Military $140 \n*EARN CPEs\nTWO SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE\n \nDo you have an idea for a Young Adult (YA) novel simmering in your mind? Have you always wanted to write YA but thought you were too old to connect with young readers? Learn to write YA from a place of lived experience! \nIn this four-session workshop series\, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard author\, Gume Laurel III\, will share personal insight into YA novel writing. We’ll start by reflecting on our own young adult experiences\, so we can write from a place of familiarity. From there\, we will lean into our own young adult writing voices\, regardless of our age or writing level. Then\, we’ll get to writing! Students will leave class with at least one rough draft of a YA flash fiction story. \nThis class is open to writers of all skill levels 18+. \nStudents will leave the course with: \n\nA clearer understanding of the young adult category\nConnection to their own young adult writing voice\nOne or more drafted chapters of a young adult flash fiction story\n\n\nGume is a Texan\, native to the Rio Grande Valley\, along the southernmost US/Mexico borderlands. He has dedicated himself to crafting literary works that promote inclusion and showcase diverse characters with intersectional identities. Gume’s stories especially highlight the underrepresented groups he is a part of: Latine\, Chicanx and queer. His first hi-lo verse novel\, Samson & Domingo\, published by West 44 Books\, received Honorable Mention for Best in LGBTQ+ Themed Book from the International Latino Book Awards. His most recently published hi-lo verse novel\, Solar Punks\, gives readers a hopeful look into a future powered by renewable energy\, and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. When Gume isn’t writing\, he can be found getting lost on a hiking trail with his dogs Blu and Mouse. He’s also a botana connoisseur\, considers himself a professional amateur poet\, and firmly believes he could probably be a good DJ if he tried.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/ya-4u-young-adult-writing/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online Workshop,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/gume.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250910T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250910T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250407T171115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250407T171812Z
UID:12199-1757529000-1757534400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:LitMinds Book Club
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the LitMinds Book Club at Gemini Ink. We’re reading H.G. Wells’s novellas The War of the Worlds\, and The Invisible Man.\nRegister\nThe Invisible Man is the startling tale of a man who uncovers the ultimate secret of invisibility and with it — instead of power and wealth — his own destruction. \nThe War of the Worlds has stirred the imaginations of countless readers — and writers. The first novel to describe the Menace from Space — in the form of a calamitous invasion from Mars– it also gave the first detailed description of mechanized warfare and introduced the world to the terrifying weapon known as the Heat-Ray. \n\nby Elliott & Fry\, sepia half-tone reproduction of a photograph\, 1901 \nThe son of a professional cricketer and a lady’s maid\, H. G. Wells (1866-1946) served apprenticeships as a draper and a chemist’s assistant before winning a scholarship to the prestigious Normal School of Science in London. While he is best remembered for his groundbreaking science fiction novels\, including The Time Machine\, The War of the Worlds\, The Invisible Man\, and The Island of Doctor Moreau\, Wells also wrote extensively on politics and social matters and was one of the foremost public intellectuals of his day.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/litminds-book-club-3/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/81NNG2OVoaL._AC_UF10001000_QL80_.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250906T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250906T140000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250814T153600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T183924Z
UID:12877-1757152800-1757167200@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:The Big Give Drop-In at Gemini Ink
DESCRIPTION:  \nWe’re kicking off Big Give 2025—and we need your voice to help us reach our Goal of: $20\,000 for Public Class Scholarships!\nYour donation helps open the door for more writers everywhere to take our creative writing classes—regardless of their financial situation. \nCome by for good company and conversation. Las Palapas is generously donating cheese enchiladas\, so you can enjoy a meal while connecting with friends. \nWe’ll also have a filming station where you can record a short video message of support—your voice makes our story stronger. \n\n\n\n“Gemini Ink helped me find my path to becoming a poet.” –Gerald S.\nHow You Can Support\nJOIN – Stop by our Drop-In event on Sat\, Sep 6\, from 10am-2pm.\nGemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro\, San Antonio\, TX 78205\nFree & Open to the Community\nSHARE – Spread the word. Every post\, every text\, every email helps.\nSEND – Share your story. Write it down or record it (60 seconds or less) and let the world know why Gemini Ink matters. \nEvery gift\, large or small\, counts. Together\, we’ll make sure more stories are written\, more voices are heard\, and more writers thrive.\nQuestions? Reach out to Mandy Lynn Lara\, Public Class Coordinator at Gemini Ink. \n \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/big-give-drop-in/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Copy-of-Give-Gab-Big-Headers-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250806T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250806T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250414T214616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250801T184849Z
UID:12280-1754505000-1754512200@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Gemini Ink Veteran’s Writing Collective Community Reading & Open Mic
DESCRIPTION:Join us as we celebrate our military writers with an evening of readings\, refreshments\, and conversation.\nWhether you’re a writer\, a supporter\, or simply curious\, this event welcomes all! \nDate: Wednesday\, August 6\nTime: 6:30–8:30 PM\nLocation: Gemini Ink\, San Antonio \nEnjoy readings and presentations by Amanda Cerreto\, Scott McClean\, Herb Nordmeyer\, Miranda Serra\, Rhett Smith\, Philip Verges\, and other talented members of the Veterans’ Writing Collective. There’s still room for more—if you’d like to share your work\, please contact Sarah Colby. Participation is optional and open to anyone interested! \nWho can attend?\nEveryone is welcome—bring friends\, family\, and fellow community members. \nInterested in sharing your writing?\nSlots are still available for readers and presenters. Simply reach out to reserve your spot: veteranscollective@geminiink.org \nWe look forward to an evening of storytelling\, creativity\, and connection. See you there! \n— Hosted by Sarah Colby\, Veterans’ Writing Collective
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/veterans-writing-collective-community-reading/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Open-mic-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250724T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250724T120000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240531T202659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250627T212301Z
UID:10115-1753351200-1753358400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:How to Eat a Memory with Michelle Otero
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, July 24\, 2025 from 10am-12pm CDT in-person\nThis class is free and open to writers of all genres\, skill levels\, and backgrounds\, 18+\, on a first-come basis\, and is limited to 15 participants. \nThis class is currently full.\nTo join the waitlist in case a spot opens up\, please email mllara@geminiink.org. \n\nWriting a memoir is more than a linear reporting of the events of our lives. Along the way\, we stop to reflect\, to make meaning. We should also stop to eat. Childhood foods—both the unnatural prepackaged snacks we were drawn to and the “eat-this-it’s-good-for-you” fare pushed on us by grown-ups—are a rich source of sensory description.  \nThe foods of childhood may hold the key to accepting and understanding an event that makes sense only in hindsight or they may signify that moment when things changed. Or they may simply help create a more complete picture of a life. Maybe those canned beets you scooped into a napkin on your lap tell a larger story about silence or things hidden or trusting your knowing. Maybe a clean plate tells a story of loss or absence or lack. \nIn this generative workshop\, we will explore the foods that helped shape our personal stories and use them as tools of discovery and meaning that reconnect us to the kid we were at the dinner table who knew what was right all along. \nThough this workshop is geared toward those writing creative nonfiction\, fiction writers and poets are also welcome to attend. This class is open to writers of all skill levels 18+. \nBy the end of the class students will have:  \n\nAn understanding of the role of food in telling personal stories\nA draft of new written work\n\n\n\nMichelle Otero is the author of Vessels: A Memoir of Borders\, Bosque: Poems\, and the essay collection Malinche’s Daughter. She served as Albuquerque Poet Laureate from 2018-2020 and co-edited the New Mexico Poetry Anthology 2023 and 22 Poems & a Prayer for El Paso\, a tribute to victims of the 2019 El Paso shooting and winner of a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award. A coach\, community-based artist\, and racial healing practitioner\, she is the founder of ArteSana Creative Consulting\, dedicated to creative expression and storytelling as the basis for organizational development and positive social change. Originally from Deming\, New Mexico\, Otero holds a BA in History from Harvard College and an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College. She is a member of the Macondo Writers Workshop.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/how-to-eat-a-memory/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FB-Class-Headers-SUM-23-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250719T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250719T120000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250414T211912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T203533Z
UID:12273-1752919200-1752926400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Poets & Coffee
DESCRIPTION:Join Us for Coffee & Conversation\nJoin Gemini Ink’s Executive Artistic Director\, Alexandra van de Kamp\, for a relaxed and insightful discussion about the current landscape of poetry. Explore what’s happening now in the world of contemporary verse. \nWe’ll have the coffee ready—just bring a friend and settle in among fellow poetry lovers. Alexandra will share a few of her current favorite poems and spotlight contemporary poets who are making waves both on the page and on the stage. \nThis is your chance to join the conversation! Share the poems that have moved you and tell us why poetry matters in your life. You’ll leave with a sense of community\, a fresh collection of poems to explore\, and creative prompts to spark your own writing journey. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or simply curious\, everyone is welcome at our poetic gathering. \n__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ \n​​Alexandra van de Kamp is the Executive Director for Gemini Ink\, San Antonio’s Writing Arts Center. Her third book of poems\, Ricochet Script\, was published by Next Page Press in 2022. Her previous full-length collections include: Kiss/Hierarchy (Rain Mountain Press 2016) and The Park of Upside-Down Chairs (CW Books 2010). She has also published several chapbooks\, including A Liquid Bird Inside the Night (Red Glass Books 2015) and Dear Jean Seberg (2011)\, which won the 2010 Burnside Review Chapbook Contest. Her poems have been published in journals nationwide\, such as The Cincinnati Review\, Connecticut Review\, The Texas Observer\, and Denver Quarterly. 
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/poets-coffee/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-Poets-Coffee-header.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250710T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250710T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250414T202804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T203034Z
UID:12234-1752172200-1752179400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Gemini Ink Volunteer Summer Social
DESCRIPTION:Are you interested in getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the writing life? Interested in helping our community craft their stories?\n\nThursday\, July 10\, 2025\, 6:30-8pm ct\, in-person at Gemini Ink \nFree and Open to Existing and Prospective Volunteers \nAre you interested in getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the writing life? Interested in helping our community craft their stories?  \nJoin us for a fun and informal Volunteer Summer Social. We’ll share light summer refreshments\, fun literary games\, and learn about volunteer opportunities\, including general office duties\, event support\, and assisting teaching artists in the classroom.  \nHelp us teach the craft of writing to people of all skill levels so they can bring their stories to life! \nComplete this short volunteer survey for full details.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/gemini-ink-volunteer-summer-social/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Volunteer-social-header.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250709T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250709T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250116T195626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250602T185230Z
UID:11674-1752085800-1752091200@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:LitMinds Book Club
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the LitMinds Book Club at Gemini Ink. We’re reading My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.\nRegister\n\nNow an HBO series\, book one in the New York Times bestselling Neapolitan quartet about two friends growing up in post-war Italy is a rich\, intense\, and generous-hearted family epic by Italy’s most beloved and acclaimed writer\, Elena Ferrante\, “one of the great novelists of our time.” (Roxana Robinson\, The New York Times) \nBeginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples\, Ferrante’s four-volume story spans almost sixty years\, as its protagonists\, the fiery and unforgettable Lila\, and the bookish narrator\, Elena\, become women\, wives\, mothers\, and leaders\, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflictual friendship. Book one in the series follows Lila and Elena from their first fateful meeting as ten-year-olds through their school years and adolescence. \nThrough the lives of these two women\, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood\, a city\, and a country as it is transformed in ways that\, in turn\, also transform the relationship between her protagonists. \n“An intoxicatingly furious portrait of enmeshed friends\,” writes Entertainment Weekly. “Spectacular\,” says Maureen Corrigan on NPR’s Fresh Air. “A large\, captivating\, amiably peopled bildungsroman\,” writes James Wood in The New Yorker \nFerrante is one of the world’s great storytellers. With My Brilliant Friend she has given her readers an abundant\, generous\, and masterfully plotted page-turner that is also a stylish work of literary fiction destined to delight readers for many generations to come. \n\n\nAbout the Author\n\nElena Ferrante is the author of The Days of Abandonment (Europa\, 2005)\, Troubling Love (Europa\, 2006)\, The Lost Daughter (Europa\, 2008) and the Neapolitan Quartet (Europa 2012-2015). She is also the author of a children’s picture book illustrated by Mara Cerri\, The Beach at Night.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/litminds-book-club-2/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/my-brilliant-friend2-e1748890340873.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250701T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250701T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250404T191121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250623T194447Z
UID:12149-1751394600-1751401800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Sex is Not a Four-Letter Word with Laura Castoro
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday(s) July 1\, 8 & 15\, 2025 6:30-8:30pm CDT Hybrid (available online via Zoom and in-person) \nNonmember $150\, Member $129; Student/Educ/Mil $105 \n*EARN CPEs\n \n_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ \nAre you a writer looking for a fresh approach to sex scenes\, or are you a newbie ready to write your first R-rated interaction? Learn how to write memorable sex scenes that fit your characters and your plot!  \nThis is a frank\, fun\, respectful workshop about the ‘birds and the bees\,’ and what goes on between the sheets\, or on the kitchen floor\, or maybe out at sea. This class will allow participants to explore the many ways of writing about sex no matter the genre or fictional interest–Thriller\, Science Fiction\, Romance\, Suspense\, Mystery\, Western\, Saga\, General Fiction\, and more. \nThe classes will include writing prompts based on examples from books\, song lyrics\, visual images\, short videos\, and more. Writers will be asked to interpret them by writing their own versions. Each class will include in-class writing and homework assignments. Writers will be encouraged to share their own work in progress. \nThis course is open to fiction writers 18+. \nBy the end of the class students will:  \n\nLearn how to decipher the needs of a sex scene vs. a romantic scene\nWrite a compelling scene in the genre of their choice\nIdeas on how to keep the creative process going\n\nRead Laura’s Writer’s Desk Q&A!\n_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ \n \n Laura Castoro\, a USA Today\, Amazon top 100\, and Apple Books bestseller\, has published 47 novels with major publishing houses such as Dell Books\, Berkley\, Avon\, Warner\, MIRA\, Harlequin\, Kensington\, Pocketbooks\, St\, Harper Collins\, Martins Press\, and William Morrow. She has also contributed to several fiction anthologies and has published non-fiction YA and short fiction in Good Housekeeping. Under the name Laura Parker\, she writes historical and contemporary romance\, westerns\, and sagas. As Laura Castoro\, she writes contemporary African American and contemporary women’s fiction. Writing as D. D. Ayres\, she publishes a romantic suspense series called the K-9 Rescue Series. Her current release as Laura Castoro is Love On The Line (2021) through William Morrow. Laura has won multiple national writing awards. In 2005 she was inducted into the Arkansas Writers’ Hall of Fame. She is a past president of Novelists\, Inc. (2013)\, an international professional fiction writers’ organization. She is a past president and board member of the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow\, a writer residency program in the AR Ozarks. She is a speaker at numerous conferences and workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Laura currently lives in San Antonio\, TX. Email: Laurapcastoro@gmail.com. website: www.ddayres.com \nLearn about Cancellation & Refund Policies at https://geminiink.org/registration/ 
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/sex-is-not-a-four-letter-word-with-laura-castoro/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online Workshop,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/laura-castoro-3.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250514T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250514T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20241125T202457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250116T194337Z
UID:11205-1747247400-1747252800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:LitMinds Book Club
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the LitMinds Book Club at Gemini Ink. We’re reading  Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.\nRegister\nAn instant New York Times Bestseller! \nLonglisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction\, the Carnegie Medal in Fiction\, the 2019 Aspen Words Literacy Prize\, and the PEN/Hemingway Debut Novel Award \nShortlisted for the 2019 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize \n“A lyrical work of self-discovery that’s shockingly intimate and insistently universal…Not so much briefly gorgeous as permanently stunning.” —Ron Charles\, The Washington Post \nPoet Ocean Vuong’s debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family\, a first love\, and the redemptive power of storytelling \nOn Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker\, Little Dog\, is in his late twenties\, the letter unearths a family’s history that began before he was born — a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam — and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known\, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation. At once a witness to the fraught yet undeniable love between a single mother and her son\, it is also a brutally honest exploration of race\, class\, and masculinity. Asking questions central to our American moment\, immersed as we are in addiction\, violence\, and trauma\, but undergirded by compassion and tenderness\, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is as much about the power of telling one’s own story as it is about the obliterating silence of not being heard. \nWith stunning urgency and grace\, Ocean Vuong writes of people caught between disparate worlds\, and asks how we heal and rescue one another without forsaking who we are. The question of how to survive\, and how to make of it a kind of joy\, powers the most important debut novel of many years. \n\nOcean Vuong is the author of the debut novel\, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous\, out from Penguin Press (2019) and forthcoming in 12 other languages worldwide. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed poetry collection\, Night Sky with Exit Wounds\, a New York Times Top 10 Book of 2016\, winner of the T.S. Eliot Prize\, the Whiting Award\, the Thom Gunn Award\, and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. A Ruth Lilly fellow from the Poetry Foundation\, his honors include fellowships from the Lannan Foundation\, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation\, The Elizabeth George Foundation\, The Academy of American Poets\, and the Pushcart Prize.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/lit-minds-book-club/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/91cYzQxaDL._UF10001000_QL80_-e1732566475518.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250401T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250401T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20241125T174011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T201257Z
UID:11121-1743532200-1743539400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Everything but the Kitchen Sink: A Workshop on Writing Hybrid Essays with ire’ne lara silva
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday(s)\, April 1\, 8 & 15\, 2025\, 6:30-8:30pm CST\, in-person at Gemini Ink \n(Rescheduled from May 1\, 8 & 15) \nNonmember $150        Member    $ 125                Student $90 \n*EARN CPEs\n \n  \n\n\nAre you a fan of essay writing who is bored to tears with the standard five-paragraph essays taught in school? Want to learn a new approach to essay writing that is fresh and fun? A hybrid essay crosses the boundaries of genre and can include elements of visual art\, photography\, found items and is pulled together by your voice. \nIn this three-week workshop\, we will liberate our minds and recover from the trauma of the “school-essay” mentality by creating hybrid essays that engage the reader\, reflect our realities\, and push the limits of what an essay can be. Bring any projects or ideas you’re working on–memoirs\, family histories\, love letters\, journals\, or thoughts you want to share about life\, art\, history\, spirit\, geography\, the world!  \nThis course is open to writers of all genres\, backgrounds\, and skill levels\, 18+. \nStudents will leave this workshop with:  \n\nA fresh approach to gathering source material for essays\nA first draft of one or more hybrid essays\n\n\nire’ne lara silva\, 2023 Texas State Poet Laureate\, is the author of five poetry collections\, furia\, Blood Sugar Canto\, CUICACALLI/House of Song\, FirstPoems\, and the eaters of flowers; two chapbooks\, Enduring Azucares and Hibiscus Tacos; a comic book\, VENDAVAL; and a short story collection\, flesh to bone\, which won the Premio Aztlán. ire’ne is the recipient of a 2021 Tasajillo Writers Grant\, a 2017 NALAC Fund for the Arts Grant\, the final Alfredo Cisneros del Moral Award\, and the Fiction Finalist for AROHO’s 2013 Gift of Freedom Award. Most recently\, ire’ne was awarded the 2021 Texas Institute of Letters Shrake Award for Best Short Nonfiction. Her second short story collection\, the light of your body\, will be published by Arte Publico Press in Spring 2025. http://www.irenelarasilva.wordpress.com \nSocial media links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/irenelarasilva\, Instagram: @silvairenelara
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/writing-hybrid-essays/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Homepage-footer2.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250312T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250312T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20241125T200842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250227T133637Z
UID:11191-1741804200-1741809600@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:LitMinds Book Club
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the LitMinds Book Club at Gemini Ink. We’re reading The Family Izquierdo\, by Rubén Degollado.\nRegister\nA Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of 2022\nLonglisted for the PEN/Faulkner Award \nA masterful debut that weaves together the lives of three generations of a Mexican American family bound by love\, and a curse. \nThe tight-knit Izquierdo family is grappling with misfortunes none of them can explain. Their beloved patriarch has suffered from an emotional collapse and is dying; eldest son Gonzalo’s marriage is falling apart; daughter Dina\, beleaguered by the fear that her nightmares are real\, is a shut-in. When Gonzalo digs up a strange object in the backyard of the family home\, the Izquierdos take it as proof that a jealous neighbor has cursed them―could this be the reason for all their troubles? As the Izquierdos face a distressing present and an uncertain future\, they are sustained by the blood that binds them\, a divine presence\, and an abiding love for one another. Told in a series of soulful voices brimming with warmth and humor\, The Family Izquierdo is a tender narrative of a family at a turning point. \n\nRubén Degollado’s work has appeared in Beloit Fiction Journal\, Gulf Coast\, Hayden’s Ferry Review\, Image\, and the anthologies: Bearing the Mystery\, Nepantla Familias\, and Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America. His debut novel Throw won the Texas Institute of Letters Best YA Book for 2020 along with several accolades and his second book\, The Family Izquierdo\, a literary novel\, is a New York Times Editor’s Choice and a PEN/Faulkner Award longlisted book.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/litminds-book-club/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Degollado-Izquierdo-e1736806523358.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250224T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250224T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20241125T171829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250131T195509Z
UID:11109-1740421800-1740429000@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Beyond the Blank Page: Introduction to Creative Writing with Christen Barrón
DESCRIPTION:Mondays\, February 24 & March 3\, 10\, 17\, 24\, 31\, 2025 6:30-8:30pm CST\, in-person at Gemini Ink (6-week workshop) \nNonmember $155        Member    $130                  Student $90 \n*EARN CPE’S\nTWO SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE\n \n  \n\nDo you want to try creative writing but you don’t know where to begin? Or are you unsure if you want to try poetry\, fiction\, or anything else? Have you felt too intimidated to sign up for a Gemini Ink workshop? Then\, this workshop is for you!  \nIn this hands-on 6-week writing workshop\,  participants will receive a gentle and fun introduction into creative writing and opportunities to dabble in poetry\, fiction\, and nonfiction to see which one resonates most. This course is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to rediscover their creativity. At each interactive session\, participants will generate new writing and will be encouraged to share their work with others. \nThis course is open to writers of all backgrounds and skill levels\, 18+. \nStudents will leave this workshop with:  \n\nan understanding of the three main creative writing genres \nnew writing in three genres (poetry\, creative nonfiction\, and fiction)\nstrategies and techniques for accessing creativity and overcoming writer’s block\nresources for continuing a creative writing practice in the genre of choice\n\nLearn more about Christen at her Writer’s Desk!\n\nChristen Barrón is a creative nonfiction writer\, editor\, and writing instructor. Originally from Savannah\, Georgia\, Christen holds an M.F.A. in Writing and a B.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She currently teaches first-year writing and creative writing at Texas A&M-University San Antonio. For nearly a decade\, Christen taught community creative writing classes for The Deep Center’s nationally-recognized Young Author Project and she has served as a Teaching Artist for Gemini Ink since 2017. Christen’s writing has appeared in YARN Literary Review\, Black Fox Literary Magazine\, Document\, and The Journal of Writing Assessment. She is a faculty supervising editor for Mosaic\, a student-led literary magazine at Texas A&M-University San Antonio. 
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/beyond-the-blank-page/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Christen-Barron-e1738353285325.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250220T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250220T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20250124T192253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250207T183205Z
UID:11715-1740076200-1740083400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Open House: New Year\, New Writing Adventures
DESCRIPTION:Please Join us on Thursday\, February 20th at 6:30pm CST for our open house to rev up your creative engines for the new year! We are excited to introduce our dynamic roster of teaching artists who can help take your writing to the next level.  \nCome connect with talented writers from San Antonio and beyond as they share new work and discuss the classes they’ll be teaching. \nIt all happens at Gemini Ink’s downtown writing arts center at 1111 Navarro Street. Don’t leave without our spring calendar of classes and events!
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/spring-open-house-2/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/24SP-Open-House.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250211T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250211T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20241125T165909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250207T200405Z
UID:11103-1739298600-1739305800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:From Story to Song: Crafting Memorable Lyrics with Nathan Brown
DESCRIPTION:Tue-Thu\, February 11-13\, 2025\, 6:30-8:30pm CST\, in-person at Gemini Ink \nNonmember $140         Member    $120                  Student $85 \n \n  \n\nEvery song is a story waiting to be sung. Join us for an immersive songwriting experience where we explore the art of storytelling through music!  \nIn this three-day workshop\, we’ll compare and contrast the worlds of story and songwriting\, uncovering their similarities and differences while discussing what makes a song lyric unforgettable. Then\, we’ll use real-world examples to highlight the rich narratives that live behind some well-known tunes that we love. \nUsing a hands-on approach we will guide you through the process of drafting your own story\, identifying “leaping lines” that spark inspiration. We’ll examine how specific story details can elevate lyrics\, focusing on practical techniques rather than theoretical concepts. And we’ll explore the significance of space\, repetition\, and emotional resonance with your lyrics.  \nWhether you aim to evoke emotion\, tell a story\, or create a connection with your audience\, this workshop is the perfect place to start your journey. Come ready to write\, share\, and discover the song within your story!  \nThis course is open to writers of all genres\, backgrounds\, and skill levels\, 18+. \nStudents will leave this workshop with:  \n\nAn understanding of how to weave compelling stories into your song\nTools and techniques to make your lyrics shine\nA first draft of a new song\n\n\nNathan Brown is an accomplished poet and songwriter who has performed readings and concerts from the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association in Long Island\, NY to the Sisters Folk Festival in Oregon\, the Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah\, Oklahoma\, and Sultan’s Pool just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel\, to name a few. He’s taught writing workshops from the famous Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio near Austin to the Everwood Farmstead in Wisconsin\, and the Descanso Writers Retreats in Tuscany and Ireland. His performances of poetry have been likened to musical concerts\, and\, in fact\, he now makes a good part of his living from house concerts and live shows that combine songs and poems.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/from-story-to-song/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250125T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250125T160000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20241125T153723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250115T194248Z
UID:11092-1737799200-1737820800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:First Page Fiction Bootcamp with Chaitali Sen
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, January 25\, 2025\, 10am-4pm CST (with 30-minute lunch)\, in person at Gemini Ink \nNonmember $140        Member    $120                 Student $80 \n*EARN CPE’S\n \n\n  \n\nA formidable first page of fiction grabs the reader\, sets the tone for what’s to come\, and captures the essence of the entire work. But how do we create an opening that keeps the reader turning the page? \nIn this one-day workshop\, we will study and discuss various examples of compelling first pages to see what works; we will review craft elements such as character\, setting\, point-of-view\, and narrative voice; and we will write and examine our own first pages in a safe\, supportive environment.  \nThis course is open to fiction writers of all skill levels\, 18+. \nStudents will leave this class with: \n\nAn understanding of what makes for a strong first page\nTechniques for writing strong openings\nA strong first page of fiction\n\n\nChaitali Sen is the author of the novel The Pathless Sky (Europa Editions 2015) and the story collection A New Race of Men from Heaven (Sarabande Books 2023)\, chosen by Danielle Evans as the winner of the 2021 Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction. Her stories and essays have been published by American Short Fiction\, Boulevard\, Catapult\, Colorado Review\, Ecotone\, Electric Literature\, LitHub\, Los Angeles Review of Books\, New England Review\, Shenandoah\, and many other publications. Born in India and raised in New York and Pennsylvania\, she currently lives in Austin\, Texas.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/fiction-bootcamp/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chaitali-Sen-e1733426867932.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250108T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20250108T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240816T204112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250116T194437Z
UID:10699-1736361000-1736366400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:LitMinds Book Club
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the LitMinds Book Club at Gemini Ink. We’re reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child\, Her American Doctors\, and the Collision of Two Cultures\, by Anne Fadiman.\nRegister\n\n\nWinner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction \nWinner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest \nA Salon Book Award Winner \nLia Lee was born in 1982 to a family of recent Hmong immigrants\, and soon developed symptoms of epilepsy. By 1988 she was living at home but was brain dead after a tragic cycle of misunderstanding\, over-medication\, and culture clash: “What the doctors viewed as clinical efficiency the Hmong viewed as frosty arrogance.” The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a tragedy of Shakespearean dimensions\, written with the deepest of human feeling. Sherwin Nuland said of the account\, “There are no villains in Fadiman’s tale\, just as there are no heroes. People are presented as she saw them\, in their humility and their frailty—and their nobility. \n\n\n\n \nAnne Fadiman was born in New York City in 1953. She graduated in 1975 from Harvard College\, where she began her writing career as the undergraduate columnist at Harvard Magazine. For many years\, she was a writer and columnist for Life\, and later an Editor-at-Large at Civilization. She has won National Magazine Awards for both Reporting (1987) and Essays (2003)\, as well as a National Book Critics Circle Award for The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader\, a collection of first-person essays on books and reading\, was published by Farrar\, Straus and Giroux in 1998. Fadiman was the editor of the intellectual and cultural quarterly The American Scholar from 1997 to 2004. She now holds the Francis chair in nonfiction writing at Yale. Fadiman lives in western Massachusetts with her husband\, the writer George Howe Colt\, and their two children. \n 
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/litminds-a-book-club-3/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/fadiman-e1723841022389.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241212T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241212T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20241125T192818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241211T183615Z
UID:11130-1734028200-1734033600@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Gemini Ink Holiday Open House
DESCRIPTION:Come Celebrate!\nDate: Thursday\, December 12th Time: 6:30-8pm CST\nLocation: Gemini Ink (In-Person) \nJoin us as we eat\, drink\, and merrily toast the closing of 2024 with our literary community of writers and friends. Drop by when you can\, leave when you need to. \n\nMusic by Excy. Excy Ceiba ili is a Cultural Educator and Musician-Activist from Honduras who employs indigenous instruments and languages in music creation. Instagram: @ceiba_ili\nOpen Mic: 7pm. Show up at 6:30 PM to sign up (12 slots available for 3-minute reads)\n\nStay long enough to have a little eggnog and comfort food. Wine\, non-alcoholic beverages\, and coffee will be served. We will provide the main fare\, but you are also invited to bring a store-bought or prepackaged food item to share. \nKeeping with our annual tradition\, we’ll have a table of books to trade and give away. Feel free to bring a book to share!
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/holiday-open-house-2/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/homepage-footers-1250-×-600-px.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241113T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241113T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240815T190332Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241004T185633Z
UID:10621-1731522600-1731528000@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:LitMinds: A Book Club at Gemini Ink
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the Lit Minds Book Club. We’re reading Half of a Yellow Sun\, a novel by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.\nRegister\nNATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • From the award-winning\, bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists—a haunting story of love and war. • Recipient of the Women’s Prize for Fiction “Winner of Winners” award. \nWith effortless grace\, celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie illuminates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra’s impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in southeastern Nigeria during the late 1960s. We experience this tumultuous decade alongside five unforgettable characters: Ugwu\, a thirteen-year-old houseboy who works for Odenigbo\, a university professor full of revolutionary zeal; Olanna\, the professor’s beautiful young mistress who has abandoned her life in Lagos for a dusty town and her lover’s charm; and Richard\, a shy young Englishman infatuated with Olanna’s willful twin sister Kainene. \nHalf of a Yellow Sun is a tremendously evocative novel of the promise\, hope\, and disappointment of the Biafran war. \n\n \nChimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born September 15\, 1977\, Enugu\, Nigeria) is a Nigerian writer whose second novel\, Half of a Yellow Sun (2006)\, gained international acclaim for its depiction of the devastation caused by the Nigerian Civil War. Her novels\, short stories\, and nonfiction explore the intersections of identity. Learn more at www.chimamanda.com. \n 
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/litminds-a-book-club-2/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/half-yellow-sun-e1728068259239.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241102T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241102T143000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240815T180408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241028T202330Z
UID:10610-1730541600-1730557800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:The Mythology of Me: Applying Poetry and Narrative Therapy to Personal Stories with Aaron Deutsch and Dr. Heather Pitamber
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, November 2\, 2024\, 10am-2:30pm CST (includes a 30-minute lunch)\, in-person at Gemini Ink\nInstructors: Aaron Deutsch and Dr. Heather Pitamber\nNonmember: $145; Member: $125; Student/Educator/Mil $75 \n*EARN CPE’S\nTWO SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE\n \n  \nFrom ancient myths to family gossip\, humanity’s richness comes from its overflowing well of stories. Both personal narratives and imagined stories teach us about the world around us and influence how we live in it. What can we learn from rewriting our own personal stories into a life we have only imagined?  \nIn this 1-day generative workshop\, co-led by poet Aaron Deutsch and Licensed Professional Counselor Heather Joy Pitamber\, participants will explore the practice of Narrative Therapy\, a counseling technique that empowers participants to “rewrite” their story for a future that reflects who they really are\, what they are capable of\, and what their purpose is. Then\, we will practice applying this therapeutic tool to our own writing to generate compelling stories that carve out new possibilities.  \nThis class is open to writers of all skill levels 18+. \nBy the end of the class students will have:  \n\nA foundational overview of Narrative Therapy \nClose readings and discussions of delicious poems and narratives designed to provide both grounding and inspiration for new works\nNew\, raw written materials to cultivate later\n\n\nHeather Joy Pitamber is a licensed professional counselor passionate about service\, learning\, and growth.  With degrees in Philosophy\, Psychology\, French Literature\, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling\, Heather has dedicated her eclectic career in Europe and the United States to education and human services.  She is passionate about helping her clients and students find the awareness\, insight\, and empowerment they desire to create lives of meaning and purpose.  As an educator with a heart for wellness\, Heather has cherished serving students and their families in public and private school settings\, from elementary school to the university level\, and as an independent academic consultant.  She is thrilled to continue serving her community’s diverse clientele through her private counseling practice in San Antonio\, TX.  \nAaron Deutsch received his MFA in poetry with distinction from Texas State University\, intending to acquire a lexicon to answer the wild\, mystical questions the world around him seemed to be asking. Somehow\, that journey led him to become a senior program manager with the United States Department of Defense\, where he works to build regional security across South America and the Middle East alongside international partners. Efforting to establish and maintain effective communication\, he still looks to poetics and linguistics to build shared goals across cultures\, finding more similarities than differences in people worldwide. In his free time\, he loves teaching creative writing classes\, working on that ever-elusive first book\, and spoiling his Boston Terrier Hamlet. 
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/the-mythology-of-me/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mythology-of-Me5.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241019T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241019T130000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240815T145937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241010T170606Z
UID:10580-1729332000-1729342800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Be the Writer You Are: Set Yourself Free with New Approaches to Creative Writing with C.L. “Rooster” Martinez
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, October 19\, 2024\, 10am-1pm CST\, in-person at Gemini Ink\nInstructor: C.L. “Rooster” Martinez\nNonmember: $135; Member: $115; Student/Educator/Military $75 \n*EARN CPE’S\n \n  \nAre you a writer who struggles to find joy in your current writing practice? Is self-doubt or lack of direction keeping you from being the powerful\, truthful\, creative writer you want to be? It’s time to set yourself free from the things that hold your writing practice back! \nBe the Writer You Are is a one-day\, four-hour generative workshop centered on throwing out everything we have learned about creative writing and\, instead\, tapping into our intrinsic desire to write and be heard. Students will explore the role of creative writing in society. We’ll question our personal influences and writing processes to define what motivates us\, what inspires us\, and what our writing goals are. Then\, we will generate new work aimed at amplifying our unique perspectives and setting our voices free.  \nThis course is open to writers of all skill levels\, 18+. While the workshop will be somewhat poetry-centric\, it is for writers of various writing experiences and disciplines. \nStudents will leave this workshop with: \n\nDrafts of new written work\nEditing and feedback suggestions\nHolistic approach to a creative lifestyle\n\nC.L. “Rooster” Martinez is an educator and spoken word poet from San Antonio\, Texas. He earned a MA/MFA in Creative Writing\, Literature & Social Justice at Our Lady of the Lake University. He is the author of three poetry books: A Saint for Lost Things (Alabrava Press\, 2020); As it is in Heaven (Kissing Dynamite Poetry Press\, 2020); and Mexican Dinosaur (WAN\, 2023). For twelve years\, Rooster competed and won slams across the country and co-founded the literary nonprofit Write Art Out Inc.  \n\nParking at Gemini Ink\nGemini Ink offers free parking along the back wall of our downtown offices. Please access this parking lot from Augusta St and first park in any of the 12 spots along the back wall. Only when these 12 spots are full do we ask that you park elsewhere in our lot. We now rent our offices from UTSA and are collaborating with them to create a secure and accessible parking lot for our community of writers and readers.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/be-the-writer-you-are/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/461706828_1433495080937557_5344993179989091390_n.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241001T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20241001T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240812T201532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240930T174013Z
UID:10567-1727807400-1727814600@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Funny Bones: Craft a Calavera Poem with San Antonio Legend Anthony Flores
DESCRIPTION:Tuesdays\, October 1 & 8\, 2024\, 6:30-8:30pm CST\, in-person at Gemini Ink\nInstructor: Anthony Flores\nNonmember: $110; Member: $95; Student/Educator/Mil $75 \nExplore the comedic and poetic mischief of creating a calavera poem in honor of Día De Los Muertos. A calavera is a traditional form of poetry from Mexico that uses satire to create humorous and lighthearted rhyming poems about the living.  \nThis form explores the living through the lens of death (Calavera is Spanish for “skull”)\, which can provide catharsis and deep reflection on impermanence. Calaveras can be written to address rich people in business\, famous people\, family\, friends\, and even government officials. \nIn this two-session workshop led by Anthony “The Poet” Flores\, we will learn the history of the traditional Mexican calavera poem; compose our own Day Of The Dead creations; and apply literary devices\, such as irony\, rhyme\, and repetition\, to take our piece to the next level. We will leave the workshop with a list of places to read our new poems around town during the holiday celebration. \nThis course is open to writers of all skill levels\, 18+.  \nStudents will leave this workshop with the following: \n\nThe first draft of a calavera poem\nExposure to literary devices and structures\nInsight into a historical and culturally significant poetic form \nA list of places to read and share your poetry\n\n\nAnthony “The Poet” Flores is a three-time San Antonio Grand Slam Poetry Champion who has represented the city six times at the National Poetry Slam. His performances include HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and Lincoln Center. He currently judges the San Antonio Public Library’s Young Pegasus Poetry Contest. Anthony is the founder of The University of Spoken Word and authored CINCUENTA: 50 Poems Celebrating Half A Century Of Life.  \n\nParking at Gemini Ink\nGemini Ink offers free parking along the back wall of our downtown offices. Please access this parking lot from Augusta St and first park in any of the 12 spots along the back wall. Only when these 12 spots are full do we ask that you park elsewhere in our lot. We now rent our offices from UTSA and are collaborating with them to create a secure and accessible parking lot for our community of writers and readers.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/funny-bones-craft-a-calavera-poem/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/anthony-flores.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240911T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240911T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240724T205850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250116T200635Z
UID:10484-1726079400-1726084800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:LitMinds Book Club
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the Lit Minds Book Club at Gemini Ink. We’re reading Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.\nRegister\nNearly seventy years after its original publication\, Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 stands as a classic of world literature set in a bleak\, dystopian future. Today its message has grown more relevant than ever before. \nGuy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities\, the printed book\, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce\, returning each day to his bland life and wife\, Mildred\, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor\, Clarisse\, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television\, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known \n\n \nRay Bradbury was an American fantasy and horror author who rejected being categorized as a science fiction author\, claiming that his work was based on the fantastical and unreal. His best known novel is Fahrenheit 451\, a dystopian study of future American society in which critical thought is outlawed. He is also remembered for several other popular works\, including The Martian Chronicles and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Bradbury won the Pulitzer in 2007\, and is one of the most celebrated authors of the 21st century. — Biography.com
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/litminds-a-book-club/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/bradbury1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240731T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240731T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240523T010932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240727T234450Z
UID:10078-1722450600-1722457800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Get Ready to Write Your Novel This November with Laura Castoro
DESCRIPTION:Wednesdays\, July 31 – September 4\, 6:30-8:30pm CST\, Hybrid\nInstructor: Laura Castoro\nNonmember: $155; Member: $135; Student/Educator/Mil $75 \n*EARN CPE’S\n \nHave you always dreamed of writing a novel\, but didn’t know how to get started? Have you thought about participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)\, but were too scared to actually do it? \nNational Novel Writing Month is this November! The goal of this annual writing challenge is to write a book of 50\,000 words or more in 30 days. Although November seems like a ways away\, there are things we can do to prepare for success now! \nIn this six-week novel writing prep course we will use National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) resources and more to do the pre-work to set ourselves up to draft a novel this (or any) November! We will explore tools and resources to help us create a dynamic storyline\, build pivotal characters\, bring the setting to life\, and draft an outline. We will also set achievable goals for getting the book project completed.  \nIf you are not ready to write a novel in 30 days\, no worries! This course will help you generate new ideas and lay the groundwork for tackling that novel at your own pace. \nWe will open a discussion forum on WetInk\, our online platform for creative writing classes\, during National Novel Writing Month. Students will be able to post goals\, updates\, words of encouragement\, and insights on their novel writing journey. Laura will check in with students 3 times via the Wet Ink Platform during National Novel Writing Month (November\, 2024) to answer questions\, respond to discussion\, and cheer writers on. \nOpen to fiction writers of all skill levels who are ready to take on the challenge of writing a novel. Students are encouraged to bring laptops and their favorite writing tools. \nStudents will leave this course with: \n\nThe setting\, characters\, plot\, and outline drafted\nA calendar-driven plan of action for bringing your novel to life\nResources and support for completing a 50\,000-word novel\n\n\nLaura Castoro\, a USA Today\, Amazon top 100\, and Apple Books bestseller\, has published 47 novels with major publishing houses such as Dell Books\, Berkley\, Avon\, Warner\, MIRA\, Harlequin\, Kensington\, Pocketbooks\, St\, Harper Collins\, Martins Press\, and William Morrow. She has also contributed to several fiction anthologies and has published non-fiction YA and short fiction in Good Housekeeping. Under the name Laura Parker\, she writes historical and contemporary romance\, westerns\, and sagas. As Laura Castoro\, she writes contemporary African American and contemporary women’s fiction. Writing as D. D. Ayres\, she publishes a romantic suspense series called the K-9 Rescue Series. Her current release as Laura Castoro is Love On The Line (2021) through William Morrow. \nLaura has won multiple national writing awards. In 2005\, she was inducted into the Arkansas Writers’ Hall of Fame. She is a past president of Novelists\, Inc. (2013)\, an international professional fiction writers’ organization. She is a past president and board member of the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow\, a writer residency program in the AR Ozarks. She is a speaker at numerous conferences and workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Laura currently lives in San Antonio\, TX. Visit Laura at www.ddayres.com
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/get-ready-to-write-your-novel/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online Workshop,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/blog-headers-2000-×-675-px-2000-×-875-px.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240711T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240711T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240530T194340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240701T185558Z
UID:8768-1720722600-1720729800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Gemini Ink Volunteer Summer Social
DESCRIPTION:Are you interested in getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the writing life? Interested in helping our community craft their stories? \nThursday\, July 11\, 2024 6:30-8:30pm CST\, in-person at Gemini Ink \nFree and Open to Existing and Prospective Volunteers \nJoin us for a fun and informal Volunteer Summer Social. We’ll share light summer refreshments\, fun literary games\, and learn about volunteer opportunities\, including general office duties\, event support\, social and assisting teaching artists in the classroom.  \nHelp us teach the craft of writing to people of all skill levels so they can bring their stories to life! \n\nhttps://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Volunteer-Social-Video.mp4\nComplete this short volunteer survey for full details.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/volunteer-summer-social/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Volunteer-Social-1250-x-600-px.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240708T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240708T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240423T211831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240712T155005Z
UID:9990-1720463400-1720470600@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Make Your YA Novel a Reality with David Bowles
DESCRIPTION:Mondays\, July 8\, 15\, & 22\, 6:30-8:30pm CST\, in person at Gemini Ink\nInstructor: David Bowles\nNonmember: $150; Member: $130; Student/Educator/Mil $75 \n*EARN CPE’S\nDo you aspire to become the next Jacqueline Woodson\, Suzanne Collins\, or Benjamin Saenz? From dystopian adventures to explorations of young romance to coming-of-age stories\, the demand for fiction for young adult readers is as strong as ever. But how do you take a YA novel from concept to reality? \nIn this three-part course\, award-winning author David Bowles will guide participants through the process of developing their ideas for a YA novel from a concept to a synopsis and first chapter. We will discuss stylistic elements when writing longform fiction for teens—prose novels\, novels-in-verse\, graphic novels. We will also learn how to prepare to pitch YA (young adult) projects to agents and/or editors. \nThis class is open to writers of all skill levels who are interested or in the throes of writing YA. \nBy the end of the class students will have:  \n\nInitial chapters and synopsis for a longform work of YA fiction\nA plan for completing and revising the manuscript\nA cover letter and pitch to begin shopping for an agent / publisher\n\nRead David’s Writer’s Desk Q&A!\n\nDavid Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from south Texas\, where he teaches at the University of Texas Río Grande Valley. He has written over three dozen award-winning titles\, most notably They Call Me Güero and My Two Border Towns. His work has also been published in multiple anthologies\, plus venues such as The New York Times\, Strange Horizons\, Apex Magazine\, School Library Journal\, Rattle\, Translation Review\, and the Journal of Children’s Literature. Additionally\, David has worked on several TV/film projects\, including Victor and Valentino (Cartoon Network)\, the Moctezuma & Cortés miniseries (Amazon/Amblin) and Monsters and Mysteries in America (Discovery). In 2017\, David was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters. He now serves as its vice president. In 2019\, he co-founded the hashtag and activist movement #DignidadLiteraria\, which has negotiated greater Latinx representation in publishing. In 2021\, he helped launch Chispa\, the Latinx imprint of Scout Comics\, for which he serves as co-publisher. David’s literary representation is Taylor Martindale Kean and Stefanie Von Borstel of Full Circle Literary. His Hollywood representation is Sandra Ávila of Inclusion Management. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @DavidOBowles \n\nParking at Gemini Ink\nGemini Ink offers free parking along the back wall of our downtown offices. Please access this parking lot from Augusta St and first park in any of the 12 spots along the back wall. Only when these 12 spots are full do we ask that you park elsewhere in our lot. We now rent our offices from UTSA and are collaborating with them to create a secure and accessible parking lot for our community of writers and readers.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/make-your-ya-novel-a-reality-with-david-bowles/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FB-Class-Headers-SUM-23.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240627T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240627T200000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20240422T182414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240621T165731Z
UID:9967-1719513000-1719518400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Letters to James Baldwin: A Pride Month Reading & Celebration
DESCRIPTION:Join Gemini Ink on Thursday\, June 27th\, to wrap up Pride Month 2024 with a timely and intimate literary discussion around the life and work of James Baldwin.  \nWe will celebrate the genius of Baldwin\, a black\, queer writer and civil rights activist\, and create a space for other writers to draw inspiration from and interact with his work.  This event will feature authors Georgie Lee\, Aminah Decé\, and Aaron Deutsch\, who will each share a piece of work written in response to Baldwin’s concepts and ideas. Come join the community conversation. Following the program\, we will have a community open mic. Light refreshments will be served. \nPlease visit our social media pages during the month of June. We’re sharing writing prompts and quotes from James Baldwin that mayinspire you to write something new for the open mic! \n \nInstagram: @sa_geminiink\nFacebook: @GeminiInk\nTwitter: @GeminiInk   \n\nAminah Decé is a Teaching Artist from Mississippi. She was trained at the World Combat Academy\, Institute of Martial Science\, and maintains degrees in The Humanities\, Fine Arts & Art History/Criticism from UTSA. She began her artistic journey as a slam poet in Killeen\, Texas. Aminah discredits concepts of race and supremacy through her art and empowers the public to do the same through art education. \n  \nAaron Deutsch received his MFA in poetry with distinction from Texas State University\, intending to acquire a lexicon to answer the wild\, mystical questions the world around him seemed to be asking. That journey led him to become a senior program manager with the United States Department of Defense\, where he works to build regional security across South America and the Middle East alongside international partners. To establish and maintain effective communication\, he uses poetics and linguistics to build shared goals across cultures. He loves teaching creative writing classes\, working on that ever-elusive first book\, and spoiling his Boston Terrier\, Hamlet.  \nGeorgie Lee (he/they) is an award-winning and internationally published poet from South Texas. By day\, Georgie is the healthcare form designer for all Baptist Health System hospitals in the San Antonio area. By night\, Georgie is heavily involved in the local performing arts scene. From acting in community theater productions to playing the clarinet in symphonic bands\, Georgie hopes to inspire others to explore the power of recovery through creative activity. Their work is centered around self-love\, grief\, overcoming addiction\, and queerness as a celebration.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/letters-to-james-baldwin/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/gettyimages-1049291868-612x612-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240504T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240504T160000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20231207T191319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240501T151749Z
UID:9534-1714816800-1714838400@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:First Page Fiction Bootcamp with Chaitali Sen
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, May 4\, 10am-4pm CST (with 30-minute lunch); Hybrid (students can take this class online or in-person at Gemini Ink)\nInstructor: Chaitali Sen\nNonmember: $140; Member: $120; Student/Educator/Mil $75 \nClass Canceled. \nA formidable first page of fiction grabs the reader\, sets the tone for what’s to come\, and captures the essence of the entire work. But how do we create an opening that keeps the reader turning the page? \nIn this one-day workshop\, we will study and discuss various examples of compelling first pages to see what works; we will review craft elements such as character\, setting\, point-of-view\, and narrative voice; and we will write and examine our own first pages in a safe\, supportive environment.  \nThis course is open to fiction writers of all skill levels\, 18+. \nStudents will leave this class with: \n\nAn understanding of what makes for a strong first page\nTechniques for writing strong openings\nA strong first page of fiction\n\n\nChaitali Sen is the author of the novel The Pathless Sky (Europa Editions 2015) and the story collection A New Race of Men from Heaven (Sarabande Books 2023)\, chosen by Danielle Evans as the winner of the 2021 Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction. Her stories and essays have been published by American Short Fiction\, Boulevard\, Catapult\, Colorado Review\, Ecotone\, Electric Literature\, LitHub\, Los Angeles Review of Books\, New England Review\, Shenandoah\, and many other publications. Born in India and raised in New York and Pennsylvania\, she currently lives in Austin\, Texas. \n\nParking at Gemini Ink\nGemini Ink offers free parking along the back wall of our downtown offices. Please access this parking lot from Augusta St and first park in any of the 12 spots along the back wall. Only when these 12 spots are full do we ask that you park elsewhere in our lot. We now rent our offices from UTSA and are collaborating with them to create a secure and accessible parking lot for our community of writers and readers.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/first-page-fiction-bootcamp/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online Workshop,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1250-x-600.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240330T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240330T120000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20231129T201057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240316T205452Z
UID:9444-1711792800-1711800000@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Poetry Flurry with Typewriter Rodeo!
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, March 30\, 2024 10am-12pm CST\, in person at Gemini Ink\nNonmember: $115; Member: $100; Student/Educator/Mil $75 \n*EARN CPE’S\nSCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE\n  \nCLASS FULL. To have your name added to the waitlist\, email joshua@geminiink.org. \nGet your creative juices flowing for National Poetry Month 2024 with Typewriter Rodeo!\nWhether you’re a poet or not\, this workshop has something for everyone\, including a room full of typewriters to play with. Clacking away on those keys with no way to correct your mistakes is freeing and just darn fun! \nIn this one-day\, fast-paced workshop\, you’ll write between 12 to 21 short poems in less than 2 hours. Yes\, really! And\, along the way\, discover a bit more about the creative voice that’s been waiting inside you\, patiently\, to peek out. Participants will respond to a wide range of highly creative prompts and generate new poetry. The techniques we’ll learn apply to crafting poetry\, stories\, and even non-fiction (you need a voice for that\, too). \nThis course is open to writers of all genres and skill levels\, 16+. \nStudents will leave this class with the following: \n\n12-21 new poems\n3 techniques to spark your writing at any point (hey there\, writer’s block)\ntypewriter experience (oh yeah)\n\n \n\nSean Petrie & Rebecca Bendheim are part of the nationally renowned Typewriter Rodeo\, where they’ve written thousands of poems for strangers on the spot\, and do weekly radio poems for NPR. Both have MFAs in Writing for Children from Vermont College of Fine Arts\, are writing teachers (Sean at UT\, Rebecca at Trinity Episcopal School)\, and authors. Sean’s books include Typewriter Rodeo\, the award-winning Pet Poems (also not just pets)\, and the Jett Ryder series for kids. Rebecca is represented by Patricia Nelson and has multiple books in the works. \n\nParking at Gemini Ink\nGemini Ink offers free parking along the back wall of our downtown offices. Please access this parking lot from Augusta St and first park in any of the 12 spots along the back wall. Only when these 12 spots are full do we ask that you park elsewhere in our lot. We now rent our offices from UTSA and are collaborating with them to create a secure and accessible parking lot for our community of writers and readers.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/poetry-flurry-with-typewriter-rodeo/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://geminiink.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/typewriter-rodeo.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240318T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20240318T203000
DTSTAMP:20260704T163302
CREATED:20231120T203004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240228T194808Z
UID:9428-1710786600-1710793800@geminiink.org
SUMMARY:Fiction Never Lies: Turning Personal Experience into Emotional Truth with Nan Cuba
DESCRIPTION:Mondays\, March 18\, 25 & April 1\, 8\, 15\, 22\, 2024\, 6:30-8:30pm CST\, Hybrid (available in-person and online via Zoom)\nInstructor: Nan Cuba\nNonmember: $155; Member: $135; Student/Educator/Military $75 \n*EARN CPE’S\nSCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE. \n  \nCLASS FULL. To have your name added to the waitlist\, email joshua@geminiink.org. \nPeople we’ve known\, moments we’ve witnessed\, conversations we’ve overheard\, places we’ve been\, something we’ve read: these influence aspects of our fiction. Sometimes an experience is so profound\, we decide to use that memory as inspiration for a story. But how do writers free themselves from the restrictions of facts in order to create a story with emotional truth? This six-week class will introduce techniques for identifying real events\, people\, or places that can be adapted into fiction. Examples will be shared\, participants will be guided through a sample exercise\, and each person’s story will receive feedback from the instructor and fellow classmates. Workshop discussions will honor individual styles\, voices\, intended audiences\, and perceived intents. \nThis course is open to writers of all genres and skill level\, 18+.  \nBy the end of the class students will:  \n\nHave strategies for successfully adapting personal experience into fiction.\nLearn and practice skills for giving sensitive critical feedback on manuscripts.\nHave a completed story draft with ideas for revision.\n\nThe Writer’s Desk with Nan Cuba \n \n\nNan Cuba is the author of Body and Bread\, winner of the PEN Southwest Award in Fiction and the Texas Institute of Letters Steven Turner Award; it was listed as one of “Ten Titles to Pick Up Now” in O\, Oprah’s Magazine and was a “Summer Books” choice from Huffington Post. Other work has appeared in Antioch Review\, Harvard Review\, Columbia\, Quarterly West\, and Chicago Tribune’s Printer’s Row. As an investigator of the causes of extraordinary violence\, she is a featured journalist in the Netflix documentary\, The Confession Killer\, and another by Hulu\, Wild Crimes: Murder in Yosemite. Cuba is included in Texas Monthly’s “Ten to Watch (and Read)” and has received a Dobie Paisano Fellowship and an artist residency at Fundación Valparaiso in Spain. She is co-founder and executive director emeritus of Gemini Ink\, a nonprofit writing arts center\, and was Writer in Residence at Our Lady of the Lake University. \n\nParking at Gemini Ink\nGemini Ink offers free parking along the back wall of our downtown offices. Please access this parking lot from Augusta St and first park in any of the 12 spots along the back wall. Only when these 12 spots are full do we ask that you park elsewhere in our lot. We now rent our offices from UTSA and are collaborating with them to create a secure and accessible parking lot for our community of writers and readers.
URL:https://geminiink.org/events/fiction-never-lies-with-nan-cuba/
LOCATION:Gemini Ink\, 1111 Navarro St\, San Antonio\, TX\, 78205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ORGANIZER;CN="Mandy Lynn Lara":MAILTO:mllara@geminiink.org
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR