The shortest story I’ve ever written

Ripe Fiction pairs fiction with news stories. Yesterday, on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, they published the shortest story I’ve ever written.

Writers Festival Event with Ibrahim Nasrallah

If you had hoped to catch our reading and discussion this morning but the date and hour made it impossible, the 90-minute event was recorded and is available here to view, if you wish, at your convenience.

I had previously read two of Ibrahim Nasrallah’s novels but still was not prepared for the overwhelming power and beauty of his poetry. He read in Arabic with the English translation on the screen, so we non-Arabic speakers could appreciate the meaning and use of language while also having the benefit of the sound and rhythm of his poetry.

Thank you, Allison Hedge Coke and the UCR Writers Week Festival for making this possible, to Playwright Esther Banegas Gatica for introducing me, and writers Hannah Roberts and K. Quyen Pham for hosting the session and asking great questions.

SCHEDULE CHANGE! WRITERS WEEK FESTIVAL

I hope some of you can join me Thursday, Feb 17^th at 10:00 AM (Pacific time) when I’m honored to be paired, at the UCR Writers Week Festival, with Ibrahim Nasrallah, the internationally acclaimed Palestinian author who will be Zooming in from his home in Jordan. Here’s the link: Diane Lefer & Ibrahim Nasrallah – Crowdcast

(I posted a different link and hour a few days ago, showing me appearing for the 6:30 PM session. Programming an international festival can get tricky and the schedule had to be juggled at almost the last minute, so please disregard earlier notices.)

If you can’t make Thursday at 10 AM but do want to hear us, I believe Crowdcast will keep the video available on their website.

And while you’re at it, do check out the complete schedule for the Festival. All sessions are free and captioned and with ASL interpretation and each must be registered for separately.

Enjoy!

Diane

Coming up at the Writers Week Festival!

In Mexico, today is the Day of Love and Friendship, so in that spirit, I wish a happy day to all!

But I’m looking forward to tomorrow to these sessions coming up at the UCR Writers Week Festival that I’ve been posting about.

First, at 2:00 PM (Pacific Time), two writers I admire so much for their written work and also for their contributions to the community: Allison Hedge Coke (who is also directing this amazing weeklong festival) and Luis Rodriguez. Register here

Then, at 6:30, join me when Cornelius Eady offers his poetry and the music of his trio, and Rupa Marya also performs liberation music with her group. She is author, doctor, professor and activist and I really want to hear what she has to say about her mission to decolonize medicine. Register here

And please stay tuned as my session may be rescheduled and I may be posting a new link and time soon!

Join Us on Wednesday?

Lisa and I will be talking about our creative influences and my novel, Out of Place, and her play, Alien Citizen.

There will be time for questions and comments from our virtual audience. The event will be archived and available online after Wednesday – but without the audience participation.

Of course it’s free. Register at https://whowritersread.com/events

Finally here

Out of Place is now out in the world.

Read about it here: Out of Place (fomitepress.com)

The first review

…is in. From M.C. Armstrong at The Wrath-Bearing Tree,

New Review from M.C. Armstrong: Diane Lefer’s ‘Out of Place’

The end…

…of the image parade. Next Monday, Out of Place is published so the book itself replaces these pictures. Here’s the last one:

Countdown

is nearing the end…just two weeks to go till Out of Place pub date. Here’s this Monday’s image:

Three Weeks to Go

...till Out of Place pub date