A Letter from Alice McLerran

 

Earlier this week, while sorting through some old files, I came across an email I received years ago from Alice McLerran. In my early twenties, I had reached out to her on a whim, hoping to learn more about the inspiration behind her book Roxaboxen. I had first encountered the book as a kindergartner, when I received a signed copy, and it immediately captured my heart. Even now, as an adult, it remains my favorite children's book.

Though Alice had no reason to remember me, she responded with remarkable kindness and generosity. Reading her email again after all these years, I realize that sincerity seemed to be her natural way of engaging with others. I will always be grateful for this brief exchange with the author whose book introduced me to the profound impact of creativity and imagination.

 

Ingram Children's Advance | December 2022

 

I’m thrilled to share that The Story of Ukraine (Brown Books Kids) has graced the cover of Ingram Advance! This recognition comes at a crucial moment, as the war in Ukraine enters its first year, making the book's timely release even more significant. Inside, you'll find an insightful two-page Q&A with authors Olena Kharchenko and Michael Sampson, alongside illustrator Polina Doroshenko. Their perspectives provide a deeper understanding of Ukraine's history, culture, and resilience, offering a powerful context for the ongoing conflict.

We are proud to see this work being recognized for its relevance and impact during such a pivotal time.

 

Melancholy Hour at the Wild Detectives

 

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Nigel Newton and Janielle Kastner for inviting me to participate in the second installment of Melancholy Hour at The Wild Detectives this past Sunday. It was a pleasure reading Ray Bradbury's There Will Come Soft Rains from The Martian Chronicles.

• • • • • •

Join us for the return of Melancholy Hour: Happy Hour for the Rest of Us, an evening of reflective prose and soulful music on Sunday, June 27th from 7-8 PM. It’s that bittersweet moment when the realization hits that the weekend is over, and existential thoughts begin to creep in as the slanted sunlight fades.

A selection of thoughtful readers will present 10-15 minutes of prose centered around the theme of Isolation—exploring what it has felt like (or continues to feel like) for them. The readings will be accompanied by live music from Nigel Newton (vibes) and Neil Coburn (guitar), creating an atmosphere of perfectly moody reflection.

 

Mavs Open Press Wins Publishing Practice Award in Accessibility

 

I am pleased to announce that Mavs Open Press has been awarded the Accessibility Award for our publication, Applied Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual. The submissions were evaluated by the LPC Publishing Practice Awards Committee through a competitive selection process. Our submission was recognized for "demonstrating exemplary practices in publishing, with a strong emphasis on key publishing principles."

For further details on our publishing practices, please visit the LPC Blog.

 

Crowd Control on Hiatus

 

Will and Brittany here! As the year comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on the future of Crowd Control and evaluating our role in hosting the open mic each month. After 2 ½ years, we’ve made the decision to place Crowd Control on hiatus. This choice comes after much consideration, driven primarily by personal responsibilities we are each taking on. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the Dallas cultural arts community, and we cannot thank you enough for your support, encouragement, and creative inspiration from day one.

When we started Crowd Control at Mudsmith in July 2017, we barely knew anyone, and over the years, the open mic has allowed us to connect with so many incredibly talented and wonderful people in Dallas. One of the things we’ve both cherished most about Crowd Control—and we think we can speak for each other here—is how the number of people who came just to support, watch, and hang out often matched or even surpassed the number of performers. That support is essential to sustaining any cultural arts community, and it’s been inspiring to witness that firsthand at a simple open mic. We’re proud of the eclectic and welcoming energy you all brought each month, creating an atmosphere that was organic and unique—a community we could never have planned, but one we were fortunate to be part of.

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mudsmith Coffee and Bar for helping us get started, and to Sundown at Granada for taking a chance on us and hosting us for the past year and a half. The staff have been incredible, and their dedication to supporting the local arts community in Dallas has been evident every step of the way.

• • • • • •

This isn’t goodbye forever, just goodbye for now.
We love y’all.

 

#GirlsClubDallas

 

I had the opportunity to attend Granada Theater’s Girls Club event on Saturday, where I represented Spontaneous Afflatus. The event, which celebrated women in the arts and entrepreneurship, featured live music, specialty cocktails, and an artisan marketplace. It was a privilege to connect with a diverse group of women artisans, crafters, and business owners from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing women support one another, and I left feeling inspired and grateful to be part of such a dynamic community. The outstanding music, exceptional talent, and vibrant marketplace made for an empowering and memorable evening.

 

Deep Vellum Books

 
Deep Vellum Books.jpg

I had the honor of typesetting three remarkable chapbooks published by Deep Vellum, supported by a grant from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs:

It was truly rewarding to contribute to the presentation of these works through thoughtful layout design. The book launch and reading on Friday, August 30th was a resounding success, with the event reaching full capacity. It was inspiring to see the Dallas community come together to support the growth of the literary arts.

 

A Year of Point of Departure

 
Point of Departure

Over the past year, Christopher Moock (of Forecast Gallery) and I have collaborated on a literary interview series called Point of Departure. This project has given us the opportunity to engage with various members of the Dallas literary community and explore their work on deep, personal level. Working with Chris has been an incredibly rewarding experience—he is exceptionally talented, and I’m grateful that our ideas aligned and the timing was perfect for us to bring this project to life together.

I’ve always been drawn to the in-depth, one-on-one interview format. From Inside the Actors Studio with James Lipton and Krys Boyd’s Think, to the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and more recently, Debbie Millman’s Design Matters, I find it fascinating when two people sit down for an open conversation. These exchanges often lead to moments of discovery—whether about the individuals involved or the world around them. Dallas is home to so many brilliant writers and poets whom I admire, and it has been a true pleasure to use this format to shine a spotlight on the talented individuals doing remarkable work in our city. #literarydallas

You can check out our latest interview with the talented poet, Sebastian Hasani Páramo, on Wavelength! 📚