Writers Workshop

Paragraphs is hosting the

POP! Writing Collective

Meeting the first Saturday of the month   2-4 PM

September 8^th (Date change due to Labor Day weekend)

October 6^th

November 3^rd

December 1^st

Paragraphs On Padre is hosting a writer’s workshop/critique group on the first Saturday of the month--but due to the craziness of Labor Day, the September meeting will be held the second Saturday. Our next workshop will be led by Kathy Trenfield Raines a founding member of the group.

We welcome all writers at all different skill levels, but this is an adults-only writing group (mature young adults, 14 and above, with a parent present, may be allowed--but use discretion as we will tackle adult topics, mature discussions, and difficult subjects from time to time). Here is a chance to meet other writers, improve your writing skills, discuss publishing, editorial advice, and critiquing but most of all interacting with other writers.

The session will be two hours long. Bring a pencil and paper and your active imagination.

This event is free and open to the public
Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard
5505 Padre Blvd. 
South Padre Island, TX

956-433-5057

Author Event

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday, September 8^th 2018    4 to 5 PM

“El Rinche”

Book discussion, reading and signing with author Christopher Carmona

El Rinche is a reimagining and flip of the script of an American popular culture icon. This novel tells the story a light-skinned Mexican American named Ascencion “Chonnie” Ruiz de Plata. He disguises himself as the ghost of a Texas Ranger on the South Texas border of Mexico now known as The Rio Grande Valley between 1905-1921. Together with his partner, the Native American Tal’dos, a Japanese ninja master, and the most successful U.S. Marshall of all time, Bass Reeves (the real lone ranger), Chonnie takes on the superhero persona of “El Rinche” to fight the villainous Texas Rangers and save the local peoples of the area. 

Dr. Christopher Carmona is an Assistant Professor of Mexican American Studies and Creative Writing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee for the TX State Board of Education for Mexican American Studies. Currently, he serves as the Chair of the NACCS Tejas Foco Committee on Implementing MAS in PreK-12 Education in Texas. His short story collection, The Road to Llorona Park, is listed by NBCNews as one of the 8 Great Latino Books published in 2016. Carmona was the winner of the NACCS Tejas Award for Best Fiction Book of 2016 for The Road to Llorona Park.  He serves on Responsible Ethnic Studies Textbook committee that was awarded the "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" award for excellence in educational leadership f from the Mexican American School Board Association (MASBA). He has published three books of poetry, co-edited two anthologies, and co-authored a scholarly conversation book, called Nuev@s Voces Poeticas: A Conversation about new Chican@ Identities. Currently, he is working on a series of YA novellas reimagining the “Lone Ranger” story as a Chicanx superhero fighting Texas Rangers in the Rio Grande Valley from 1905-1920 entitled El Rinche: The Ghost Ranger of the Rio Grande. Book One is out in bookstores now.

This event is free and open to the public

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Paragraphs has eReaders Available Online

You can now purchase any of the Kobo ereaders online from Paragraphs by using the Kobo website. Find out more about the Kobo readers by clicking on the links below and then make sure to enter the promo code ABA000001 in the discount code box when checking out. Please call us if you have any questions.

An Afternoon with Award Winning Authors

Daniel García Ordaz, Rob Johnson, Britt Haraway

 Saturday, June 30^th 2018   4-6 PM

Join us for an afternoon of multiple authors reading from their books, hosting discussions and signing at Paragraphs.  This group of talented and distinguished writers will be part of a memorable literary event you won’t want to miss.  Please note the special time of this event.

Daniel García Ordaz is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival and the author of You Know What I'm Sayin'? His new collection, Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment (Poetry*Drama) was recently released by FlowerSong Books. García, who recently completed his MFA in Creative Writing from UT-Rio Grande Valley, is an English high school teacher. His work appears is Poetry of Resistance, La Bloga, Juventud!, Praxis, and several other anthologies and journals. Daniel lives in the Rio Grande Valley of deep South Texas with his wife, Gina, and their children.

Dr. Rob Johnson, a professor from UTRGV.  Dr. Johnson is the author of two books, The Lost Years of William S. Burroughs and his newest, Did Beatniks Kill John F. Kennedy.   Dr. Rob Johnson is a Professor of Literatures and Cultural Studies at UTRGV specializing in the study of south Texas literature and the "Beat Generation" writers of the 1950's.

Britt Haraway has a short story collection, Early Men, which was published by Lamar University Literary Press. His stories have appeared in Natural Bridge, New Madrid, Great Weather for Media, Moon City Review,and elsewhere. His work was chosen for the Best Small Fictions 2016 guest edited by Stuart Dybek. He is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the fiction editor for riverSedge magazine. He lives in McAllen, Texas with his family.

   This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd.

South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

Writer's Workshop

Paragraphs is hosting a

Writer’s Workshop

Meeting the first Saturday of the month 2-4 PM

July 7^th

August 4^th

Welcome all writers at all skill levels.  Here is a chance to improve your writing skills, discuss publishing, editorial advice, critiquing but most of all inter-acting with others doing the same thing.

The session will be two hours long.  Bring pencil and paper and your active imagination.

The July 7^th workshop will feature Daniel García Ordaz, former reporter at Valley Morning Star and Author of Cenzontle/Mockingbird and You Know What I'm Sayin'?. He titles this workshop, Finding The Essence. Space is limited please call Paragraphs (956)433-5057 to reserve a spot.

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057

An afternoon with an author, poet or musician

An Afternoon with Award Winning Author

Patty York Raymond

Saturday June 23^rd 2018   1-3PM

The ABCs to Ranching is a cultural perspective on ranching in South Texas. It is a humorous account of a mischievous young boy determined to help his father with the chores. “Let’s go,” he yells to his Catahoula Cowdog as his father warns him not to get underfoot. With one mishap after another, the young boy develops an appreciation for nature and a strong connection to his father and their heritage—all centered on the alphabet. The ABCs to Ranching is accompanied by a music CD that is sure to get the children singing and dancing! 

Patty York Raymond is an Award Winning Author and a native Texan. Her children’s book, It’s Too Windy! Was honored with the International Latino Book Award for 2016 and 2017. Her most recent children’s book, The ABCs to Ranching, was awarded Best Interactive Children’s Book by The Texas Association of Authors in 2018. Patty earned her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Houston and her Administration and Supervision from Texas A&M International University. She has enjoyed working with children, families, and educators in a variety of roles including social worker, teacher and administrator. She and her family reside in McAllen, Texas where she is an independent education consultant as well as owner/director of Abrazo Case Management Services for Children and Pregnant Women.

It’s Too Windy! is about family and how establishing long lasting traditions leads to developing close family ties that last a lifetime. Hooray! Yeah! Yippee! Yahoo! Jessica and David can’t wait to swim in the grandparents’ pool. But how long will they have to wait? The theme song, ‘That’s What My Grandma Said’ is available on iTunes and CDBaby.

http://squareup.com/store/patty-raymond "Like" itstoowindy on Facebook!

Follow PattyRaymond@itstoowindy on Twitter pattyraymondbooks@gmail.com

This event is free and open to the public.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd.

South Padre Island, TX

For information call us at 956-433-5057