Her 4th novel, SCORPION HUNTER, and a new book of poetry, GRACIAS, will be published as Twins next year, around Fall 2013.
SOFT CHAOS, Her newest book of poetry (2009), is now available on www.amazon.com
Alma luz began to publish poetry first in the late 1970s, winning first place in poetry with the University of California at Irvine's Chicano Literary Prize. Her books of poetry: BLOODROOT- MOTHER, MAY I?- LIFE SPAN- PLANET (which won the Latin American Writers poetry prize, N.Y.)- DESIRE (poetry chosen for THE BEST AMERICAN POETRY, 1996)- VIDA. Some anthologies: A CENTURY OF WOMEN'S POETRY- PRAYERS FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, Inspiration From Leaders Around The World- UNSETTLING AMERICA- A FORMAL FEELING COMES, and many more, as well as textbooks from grammar to university.
Her three novels: THE ULTRAVIOLET SKY (won an American Book Award, listed in 500 GREAT BOOKS BY WOMEN)- NAKED LADIES (won the PEN Oakland fiction award, anthologized in CALIENTE, The Best Erotic Latin American Writing)- LUNA'S CALIFORNIA POPPIES (recently excerpted in the anthology, CALIFLORA). And WEEPING WOMAN, LA LLORONA AND OTHER STORIES, a collection of short stories. Most recently, a short story from WEEPNG WOMAN, in the anthology SUDDEN FICTION LATINO, also with Marquez, Allende, Bolano and others. COMING OF AGE IN THE 21st CENTURY, a short story from WEEPING WOMAN, also with Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich, ZZ Packer and others. As well as many other anthologies, both fiction and poetry, that are listed under her name on Amazon.com.
She has taught fiction/poetry at UC Santa Cruz, as well as Cabrillo College in Aptos- has done guest teaching at Naropa Institute (in Boulder, Colorado)...Mesa College, UC San Diego (in San Diego, California)...Stanford University, Pacific University, to name a few.
She now teaches in the MFA in Creative Writing program with Antioch University in Los Angeles www.antiochla.edu- a low residency program that meets in June/December for ten intense teaching/learning days, then an intimate, very in-depth, one-on-one, exchange via the internet, online university, with six students for the semester. She has taught at Antioch for fourteen years.
She now lives in San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), and travels during the year to do readings, workshops, seminars, writer visits, as well as private ones in San Miguel. She has been doing readings of her work, presentations, for thirty plus years as of 2012
Her poetry and fiction has been the subject of Masters/Ph.D. thesis papers in the USA and abroad. She travels during the year to do readings, seminars, workshops- please feel free to contact her directly at the email below for available dates, as well as publication permissions, queries.
My email: almaluz.villanueva@gmail.com
Blog: www.almaluzvillanueva.blogspot.com