Liliana Valenzuela

Photo © Howard Romero

This picture was taken in September 2009 while writing on the edges of the Gihon River in Johnson, Vermont. I enjoyed two weeks of summer and two weeks of fall during my residency at the Vermont Studio Center. The sound of the nearby rapids often helped me reach that zen-like state, of writing without knowing I was writing.

Through my poetry and essays in two languages, I seek to voice the experience of a Mexican woman who lives in Texas, yet is a citizen of the world. I have three poetry chapbooks available, and I recently completed a full-length poetry manuscript entitled “Codex of Desire/Códice del deseo.” I am currently working on a memoir.

Selected Publications

Poetry, fiction, and essays

Anthologies

Sixteen new poems in Antología Canicular, Salvador Duarte, Ed. Editorial Campamocha, 2009

“Me gustan así (I Like Them Like That)” (poetry), translated by Angela McEwan, in di-vêrsé-city, Austin International Poetry Festival anthology, 2009. I also have poems in the 2004, 2002, and 1999 anthologies.

“Reflexiones post 11.7.02: un nopal y una banderita estadounidense” (essay), Speaking desde las heridas: Cybertestimonios Transfronterizos/Transborder (Sept. 11, 2001-March 11, 2007), Claire Joysmith, Ed. A co-publication of Whittier College, Colorado College, UNAM and CISAN. Mexico-U.S. 2008.

“El Museo del Río Grande” (poetry), Antología de literatura latina: Cruzando puentes, número especial de Ventana Abierta: Revista Latina de Literatura, Arte y Cultura 2008

“My Two Tongues: On How I Came to Have a Forked Tongue” (essay), How I Learned English: 55 Accomplished Latinos Recall Lessons in Language and Life, Tom Miller, Ed. 2007. Also available in Spanish: Cómo aprendí inglés: 55 latinos realizados relatan sus lecciones de idioma y vida 2007

“Nov. 2, 1988: On the Eve of Becoming An American Citizen” (poetry), Telling Tongues: A Latin@ Anthology on Language Experience, Louis G. Mendoza & Tony Nelson Herrera, Eds. 2007

“Oración del caminante” (poetry), Caleidoscopio 2: Inmigrantes en la mira, ed. by Alicia Kozameh, Ed. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2006

“Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, Guanajuato, México,” “Poema maldito,” and “Divertimento sobre un viaje por Veracruz” (poetry), Mujeres Poetas en el País de las Nubes, Antología. Emilio Fuego and Lina Zerón, Eds. Colección Vidzu. Centro de Estudios de la Cultura Mixteca. México. 2001.

“Virgencita, give us a chance” (fiction), Goddess of the Americas/La Diosa de las Américas: Writings on the Virgin of Guadalupe, Ana Castillo, Ed. 1996

Magazines and Journals

“Tríptico: ‘On the Beach,’” (ekphrastic poetry), Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review 2009.

“Las lágrimas de mi madre,” “La mirada lasciva” (poetry), and “La traducción al español de los nuevos valores de la literatura chicana y latina” (essay) in Ventana Abierta: Revista Latina de Literatura, Arte y Cultura, Vol. VIII, Nº 27. University of California, Santa Bárbara, Primavera 2009.

“Pas de Deux” and “Nov. 2, 1988: On the Eve of Becoming An American Citizen” (poetry), Drunken Boat # 8, poetry finalist in the first Panliterary Awards Competition. Judge: Amy Finch. www.drunkenboat.com. 2007.

“Chiaroscuro: Night Market, Kumasi, Ghana” (poetry), Tigertail: A South Florida Poetry Annual 2006.

“El Museo del Río Grande” (poetry), BorderSenses 2006.

“Darkness,” and “Nov. 2, 1998: On the Eve of Becoming An American Citizen” (poetry), Edinburgh Review 2006.

“A Mexican Invented Color T.V.” (essay), Indiana Review 2006.

“Ángel de la medianoche,” “Jesse: un retrato,” “Fuga en do menor,” and “Tríptico” (poetry), Luces y sombras. Spain. 2003 and 2002, respectively.

“Palabras de fuego: Poetas chicanas/latinas de hoy” (essay) and “Nov. 2, 1988: On the Eve of Becoming An American Citizen” (poetry), Arena, suplemento cultural de EXCELSIOR. Mexico City. 2002.

“Crónica de una buza en Galápagos,” “F de foco,” “Costra y mugre,” “Primavera: 3 en Cataluña 3,” “Tríptico,” and “Tu cintura,” (poetry), Ygdrasil: A Journal of the Poetic Arts, the Frist Ygdrasil Spanish issue. 1999. http://www.synapse.net/~kgerken/

Bocas palabras, Carpeta de Poesía Luz, no. 1, Voces Selectas poetry chapbook winner. Alongside Benito Pastoriza Iyodo. Luz Bilingual Publishing, California. 1997.

“Tiger Sandwich” (fiction), Saguaro 1994

“The Freight Train to Bountiful, Utah” (fiction), and “Civilization” (poetry), Chaski: Revista de Literatura Latinoamericana 1994

“Una escritora chilanga texana” (essay), and “Besos robados” (fiction), Blanco Móvil. Mexico City. 1994.

“Sinvergüenza” and “Piel canela” (poetry), The Américas Review: A Review of Hispanic Literature and Art of the USA 1991

“Sinvergüenza” (poetry), featured in the video “Ella es frontera/Border She Is” by Pilar Rodríguez. Anarca Films. México. 1996.

“De triques y chácharas” (poetry), Mester 1991.

In addition, my book reviews have appeared in the Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express-News, Críticas, and, more recently, The Texas Observer.

Residencies

2009 Vermont Studio Center. Johnson, Vermont. Writer-in-residence during the month of September 2009. Received Artist’s Grant and Work Exchange Award.

2005 Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow. Eureka Springs, Arkansas. March 20-27.

2003 Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow. Eureka Springs, Arkansas. June 3-29.

Writing Awards

2009 Four first prize awards sponsored by the Austin Poetry Society:

“Por el camino andamos” The Border/Lines Award, judged by Professor Benjamín Alire Sáenz

“She Should’ve Been a Nun” The Change Award, judged by Maria Finn

“Sirena Cósmica/Cosmic Siren” translated from the Spanish by Angela McEwan, The Mary Oliver Award, judged by Professor Pia Taavila.

“son cubano” The Spoken Word Poetry Award, judged by all present at the APS Annual Awards Ceremony on May 15, 2009.

2008 Artist’s Grant for a September 2009 residency at the Vermont Studio Center. Johnson, Vermont.

2006 First Panliterary Awards finalist in poetry. Judge: Amy Finch.

www.drunkenboat.com

2002 Texas Commission on the Arts travel grant.