featuring Wanda Coleman and Austin Straus

Having authored 18 books of poetry and prose, Wanda appears in Writing Los Angeles (2002), in Poet's Market (2003), and Quercus ReviewVI (2006). She has been an Emmy-winning scriptwriter, and a former columnist for LA Times Magazine; a nominee for poet laureate, California 2005, and for the USA artists fellowship 2007. Her book Bathwater Wine won her the 1999 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize--the first African-American woman to receive the award. Her Mercurochrome was a bronze-medal finalist, National Book Awards 2001. Her honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. She was LA's first literary fellow (2003-04). Her most recent books include Ostinato Vamps, The Riot Inside Me: Trials & Tremors, and a collection of poetry translated into French (2006). A new collection of stories, Jazz & Twelve O'Clock Tales, was published in 2008 (finalist for the Patterson Fiction Prize).
 
Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Austin Straus moved to SoCal in 1978. He has been drawing and painting since childhood, but began writing in his mid-thirties. He hosted The Poetry Connexion on Pacifica radio 1981-1996. He worked for Amnesty International, PEN's Freedom to Write Committee, and on many local LA and California issues. A teacher of art, English and literature, poetry and philosophy, he is also an accomplished painter. His complex "specialties" are one-of-a-kind books, from which the covers of his poetry books for Red Hen Press are taken: Drunk with Light (2002) and Intensifications (2010). His honors include the one-man shows "Austin Straus-Collages: Word + Image," an exhibition (and poetry reading) at Beyond Baroque Gallery in Venice (2000); and BURNWORKS: Paintings, Collages and Artist Books (2010) at the Antelope Valley College Art Gallery. He was a 1997-98 "Writers on Site" resident, sponsored by LACMA and Beyond Baroque. His wife of 29 years is poet and writer Wanda Coleman.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to "hang" with two of SoCal's most accomplished writers. Admission by voluntary donation. Hosted by the incomparable Uncle Ruthie Buell. No RSVP required.

We are grieved to report the untimely death of Andrew Koenig, 41, the beloved son of longtime AR members Judith Levitt and Walter Koenig. Parents are both well-known actors, and Andrew himself had a memorable role in "Growing Pains." He died in Vancouver in mid-February. Andrew was active in a number of causes, such as the US Campaign for Burma and Heal the Bay, and also supportive of programs at the Vista del Mar Child and Family Services. We mourn with Judy and Walter and all of Andrew's colleagues and friends, and know that his life will always serve as a source of comfort to all who knew him.