The Final Authors for January 2018

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives 

Sunday – January 28th  2018    1-3 PM

Book signing and reception with author and Poet, Steven Schneider

Featuring 25 drawings in charcoal, conte crayons, and pastels, this handbook pairs portraits of people who live and work along the U.S.–Mexico border with bilingual poems that have been inspired by each of the drawings. A testimony to the people of the Rio Grande Valley, these drawings and poems capture their spirit, their quest for happiness, and their struggles to overcome economic hardship. This remarkable book highlights characters such as the "young street musician," the "six-year-old street vendor," and the "wise woman with rings." Compassionate and aesthetically compelling, this record raises awareness about social and cultural issues associated with border life, such as education, literacy, and poverty, and fosters cross-cultural understanding.

Steven P. Schneider is the author of three books of poetry: Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives (Wings Press, 2012), a collaborative effort with his wife, Reefka Schneider; Unexpected Guests (Blue Light Press, 2008); and Prairie Air Show (Hurakan Publications and Sandhills Press, 2000). Steven Schneider’s poetry has been widely anthologized and featured in American Life in Poetry, Prairie Schooner, Critical Quarterly, The Literary Review and numerous other international journals.

He earned a BA from Syracuse University and an MFA and PhD from the University of Iowa.

Schneider’s awards include three Big Read grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Nebraska Arts Council Poetry award, and a Poetry Fellowship and Residency from the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. He is professor of English at the University of Texas-Pan American. 

 

“Shenanigans on the Rio Grande”

with Susan LeMiles

Sponsored by

“Telling Our Stories” at The Museums of Port Isabel

and Paragraphs on Padre Boulevard Bookstore

Local Author, Susan LeMiles will entertain us with tales, bloopers, and little-known facts about the Valley’s role in the American Civil War that are not fit for the museums.

This fun interactive presentation, “Shenanigans on the Rio Grande,” was born of Susan’s research for her second novel which is set in Port Isabel and Bagdad, Mexico.  The audience gets to decide who was a thief, who was a villain, who wanted to be a “rock star,” who was an idiot, and who was a true patriot. There will be two presentations.

7:00 pm Thursday, January 25, 2018                                                1:00 pm Friday, January 26, 2018

Port Isabel Event and Community Center                              Paragraphs Bookstore

213 Yturria Street, Port Isabel, TX 78578                               5505 Padre Blvd. SPI, TX 78597

In addition to writing extensively for business and industry, Susan published a novel, wrote the South Padre Island historical brochure and is a former columnist for The Valley Business Report. 

Susan’s novel, Touch the Mayan Moon , is available at Paragraphs Bookstore and on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. You can learn more about her and read excerpts of her work at

www.susanlemiles.com or www.riobravobooks.com

Saturday, January 27^th   1-3 PM

Book signing and conversation with author, Helaine Dufoe

“Wordz, Whiskerz and Wrinklez”

Wordz, Whiskerz and Wrinklez is a collection of inspirational short stories with pictures by author and noted musician, Helaine Dufoe. Over coming many obstacles in her life, Lainie is inspired to write her stories to share with others for their encouragement and faith development. An author of 5 other books about her faith, trials and overcoming many adversarial life events, she continues to write and encourage others with her stories.

“I received ‘instruction’ to write this book after a strange experience with an old music box/planter earlier this year.  This ‘Music Box’ story is the last one in the book for that reason.

“Life is an Adventure …Planned in Heaven”

Lainie was raised in a dysfunctional home—married into a dysfunctional relationship. She had four beautiful children, however, who became her greatest gifts. She studied piano as a young child, and music became a way for her to connect to much in life. She played organ in many churches (in Canada and the US)—including St. Kevin’s north of Sudbury, where she “volunteered” for over forty years. She started out in Thunder Bay, Ontario—lived way up in northern Ontario for six years—and finally settled in Sudbury, Ontario (dubbed “the nickel capital of the world”). Her parents retired in the Phoenix, Arizona area, and Lainie enjoyed the palm trees and warm weather whenever possible.

Helaine was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and lived in Sudbury, Ontario since 1967. She studied keyboard at an early age, and music covered her whole life. The keyboard became a lifelong vocation for her in playing Catholic Church organs for almost 50 years. She started writing books in 2005 as a result of a prophetic dream.
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