Changes Underway

Well, folks, things are getting shaken up around Russo's.

I have resigned my spot as asst. manager/book clerk. I will still be helping plan and implement events at the bookstore (like the upcoming Stephen King Midnight release party, and the last Harry Potter event), so I won't be gone entirely, but I'll no longer be smiling at you from behind the counter. I am going to be working full time from my art studio and on my CSUB studies for the forseeable future.

The Wednesday Night group will still be meeting, but I will no longer be the official staff representative. I think they will still have me be the unofficial rep, but seeing as I have a class that runs until 8pm on Wednesdays, right now the group is running on self-governance. And doing a great job at it, I might add. They have even been talking about making a second chap-book. The first one is almost completely sold out. The group right now is at it's fullest, with anywhere from 15 to 25 people showing up.

There has been some talk of starting a second group, that does not have to concern itself with volume level or family-friendly content. And a writing/critique group, as well. We may implement these at my art studio downtown, if enough people want it. It will have to be on a day other than Wednesday, however, so logistics may strangle it before it happens. The regular Wednesday meetings at Russo's will continue, however, until the Russo's themselves decide they've had enough.

If you want more information on the art studio, please visit our MySpace page at www.myspace.com/835eighteenth

And, of course, a schedule of events for the bookstore is always available at www.russosbooks.com and they can be reached via email at russosbooks@bak.rr.com.

-JW

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Blog?

It seems like everyone! The only post within the last 4 months has been spam!

I will be forced to turn this into a "things that happen at the bookstore blog with interspersed poetry" if this keeps up! Hmmm....

Hey, if you are reading this, and you aren't currently coming to the Wednesday Night PrOsETRY Group, you know you can still post your poetry on here, right? I print up new posts and share them with the group, so it's like being here, but you don't have to actually come. And someone else gets to read your stuff aloud so that you don't have to suffer from stage fright! Of course, you could always come to the Group on Wednesdays at 7 pm... they are all very friendly, laid back, and down right silly. The attendees fluctuate all the time. We have folks that drop in every now and then that have been coming since the beginning, we have people that come once and never come again, and everything in between. You don't even have to read something, if you don't want to- you can just listen. Or, of course, post here... Waddaya say?

Where you there? If not, you missed a great event!

Noveltown's "Stories From the Dust" was a smashing success. Easily over 60 people crowded into Russo's Books in the Marketplace to watch Mento Buru, local poets, N.L. Belardes, the folks from MAS Magazine and Bakotopia, and the amazing Tim Z. Hernandez present the single most exciting cross-poetry event in recent memory. I want to extend a heartfelt and HUMONGOUS thank you to Mr. Belardes, Noveltown, the folks of Mento Buru, and Mr. Hernandez for knocking the roof off the place.

If you missed this amazing event, don't fear- this was only the first Noveltown event. There are many more to come! Use any of the links below to find out more about these fantastic people and the stupendous events coming to our own Bakersfield! And, of course, the Wednesday Night PrOsETRY Group still meets EVERY Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Russo's Books in the Marketplace!

http://noveltown.net/ (also featuring Zowie Town!) http://nlbelardes.com/

www.masbakersfield.com http://www.bakotopia.com/home/index.php www.russosbooks.com

www.heydaybooks.com or tzhernandez@yahoo.com for Tim Z. Hernandez

Thank you NOVELTOWN!!!!!

Local author, reporter, and poet Nick Belardes's own Noveltown is putting on a fabulous event on Wednesday, June 28th at the Russo's Marketplace store. Instead of our regular poetry group meeting, Noveltown is hosting poet and artist Tim Z. Hernandez, author of Skintax, as well as various guest poets and musicians. Starting at 7, be sure to attend what will go down as one of the coolest poetry presentations in recent Bakersfield history!

Please go to http://noveltown.net/ or www.russosbooks.com 's calendar page for more information!

Have you gotten your copy of the Wednesday Night PrOsETRY Group's chapbook, On Any Given Wednesday yet? There are still copies available! And, of course, the group still meets every Wednesday at 7 at Russo's Books in the Marketplace!

A Smashing Success, If I Do Say So!

The release event of On Any Given Wednesday went off beautifully. Almost the whole gang showed up, and we took turns reading our works that were in the chapbook. We even signed the copies we sold (that was quite the laugh, 15 people swarming around an innocent little book of poetry with sharpies in hand!) There is even an article under construction by Steven Mayer of the Bakersfield Californian- keep your eyes peeled later this week!

It is a powerful little book, written by some truly gifted people, and is something any lover of poetry should definitely add to their collection. The chapbook is now on sale at all Russo's locations for the very reasonable price of $7.95. And, of course, if you have any questions you can call Russo's at (661)665-4686, or you can post it as a comment here!

In addition, if you need something a little out-of-the-ordinary to inspire your writing, please consider going to the Empty Space (on Oak St. behind Pizzaville) to see The Freak Show Group Art Exhibit, that coincides with the production of Sideshow. The opening for the art show is April 8th and 15th from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Admission is only $5. More can be found on the Empty Space website, www.esonline.org!

Holy Smokes Batman!!!!!!!

The Wednesday Night PrOsETRY Group is about to release their first chap-book,

On Any Given Wednesday!

Please join us on Wednesday, April 5th (the first Wednesday in National Poetry Month, and the group's second anniversary) at Russo's Books in the Marketplace at 7 p.m. to pick up your copy and get it signed by members of the group! Light refreshements will be served.

And, as always, you are invited to come on any Wednesday at 7 p.m. to check out the group! Open to all, this friendly and creative atmosphere is limited only to family-friendly material (we are in a bookstore!) and a willingness to share. Read poems, prose, songs, your own original works or just your favorite poets, or even just come to listen!

Email russosbooks@bak.rr.com with any questions or for more info, or call (661) 665-4686.

Hope to see you there!

-Jenn

Poetry Nights start up with a bang!

Last Wednesday's meeting was amazing! We had over a dozen people attend, the biggest crowd in a while, and they were mostly all new people! Tasha, Kevin, and Joe amazed us with their original works, and Cheyenne dazzled us with her presentation skills. Then Kevin and Victorio dazzled us all with a musical performance. Needless to say, it was such a fantastically creative and dynamic group that I went home and dyed my hair red, to mark such an amazing night. Thanks to everyone who came! And those of you who scan the blog, but haven't come yet, I hope this taste of what you've missed encourages you to come check us out!

The excitement over the group's upcoming book of poetry and prose is growing. More and more of you are turning in your submissions, and so far everything is delicious! For those of you that need an update, anyone who has ever read at the poetry group meetings is welcomed to turn in one or more submissions of their original work to be made into a chap-book. The chap-book is mainly for us, will be to commemorate our 2nd anniversary this April, and will not be turning a profit. Some members of the group will be responsible for editing- mostly to determine which poems in cases of multiple submisisons, and in what order. The deadline for submissions is January 31st, and can be delivered, attn: Jenn, to Russo's Books in the Marketplace, or can be emailed to russosbooks@bak.rr.com. If you have any questions, please be sure to ask by either posting it or emailing it.

The Downtown Experiment is still on hiatus, pending it's reconstruction. I apologize to anyone who showed up on the 6th to find darkened windows and locked doors. Keep an eye peeled here and at the Russo's Books website calendar page for upcoming news about the Downtown Experiment.

That's about all the news for now, my friends. Share your news and poetry with us- do some posting! We'd love to hear from you!

Happy New Year!
-Jenn