Words On A Wire

On this episode, host Daniel Chacón speaks with acclaimed author Cristina García. They discuss Cristina’s new book, Vanishing Maps (Knopf, 2023), a follow-up to her best-selling novel, Dreaming in Cuban.

On August 22, 2023 the legendary poet and publisher Ed Ochester passedaway at age 83. He was the driving force behind the Pitt Poetry Series, which launched the career of many well known names in contemporary poetry today. In honor of Ed Ochester, we are replaying the interviewTim did with him back in January of 2016. Tim introduces the episode by paying respect to Ochester, and recalling his time studying under him while at Bennington College in Vermont. 

Host Daniel Chacón speaks with native Nicaraguan poet and UC Davis lecturer León Salvatierra about his collection of poetry, To the North/Al norte (University of Nevada Press 2022). Poet Javier O. Huerta, who translated To the North/Al norte into English, also joins the conversation.

Host Daniel Chacón speaks with poet Gabriel Dozal about his new collection of poetry, The Border Simulator (One World/Random House 2023). Poet Natasha Tiniacos, who translated The Border Simulator into Spanish, also joins the show to discuss the ground-breaking new book.

In a special episode recorded in the heart of Madrid, Spain, Host Daniel Chacón speaks with author and world traveler, Santiago Vaquera-Vásquez. They discuss a wide range of topics, including travel, artificial intelligence, and tacos in Poland.

Host Daniel Chacón speaks with author M. Evelina Galang about her incredible new collection of stories, When the Hibiscus Falls (Coffee House Press, 2023). 

Host Daniel Chacón speaks with poet Brian Turner about his forthcoming three-part poetry series from Alice James Books: The Wild Delight of Wild Things, The Goodbye World Poem, and The Dead Peasant's Handbook. 

Host Daniel Chacón speaks with poet Virgil Suárez about his new book, AMERIKAN CHERNOBYL. They also discuss various topics, including urban exploration, gutted motels, and bypassing artistic gatekeepers through self-publishing.

In this episode host, Tim Z. Hernandez talks to journalist Eraldo Chiecchi about the release of his new book Josue. Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi is a multimedia professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Chiecchi earned his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2021 and earned his journalism degree from UTEP in 1986. Prior to becoming a journalism professor, Chiecchi worked as a reporter and editor for 33 years. Chiecchi is the editor of "True Border: 100 Questions & Answers about the U.S.-Mexico Frontera."He is the 2023 recipient of the Jack Douglas Award, the Texas Managing Editors’ highest award, recognizing significant contributions to Texas journalism

Host Daniel Chacón speaks with writer and scholar Alicia Gaspar de Alba. They talk about Gaspar de Alba's new book, Crimes of the Tongue: Essays and Stories (Arte Público Press, 2023), growing up in El Paso, the border identity, and other topics.

In this episode of the 3rd story, host Tim Z. Hernandez, talks to Carlos Rodriguez,  a third generation musician and producer based in CA’s central valley. When he’s not teaching music, composing music, or performing on stage, he’s busy being a dad and family man. He lives in Visalia, California.  

We invite Words on a Wire co-host Tim Z. Hernandez into the Cove. We talk about Tim's new book, Some of the Light: New and Selected Poems from Beacon Press. Daniel and Tim, two good friends, also talk about the publishing industry, the writing process, and some great surprises we might see from Hernandez in the future.

In this episode, host Will Rose speaks with bestselling author Alisa Lynn Valdés about her new novel Hollow Beasts. Her previous bestselling novels include The Dirty Girls Social Club, Playing with Boys, and The Husband Habit.Alisa also discusses how music and journalism have shaped her writing, the evolution of the publishing industry, and the beauty of New Mexico.

In this episode host Tim Z. Hernandez  speaks with author Joseph Lezza on his debut memoir I'm Never Fine: Scenes and Spasms on Loss.  Lezza is a writer in New York, NY with an MFA in creative writing from The University of Texas at El Paso. His debut memoir in essays, I'm Never Fine: Scenes and Spasms on Loss (Vine Leaves Press), was a finalist for the 2021 Prize Americana in Prose and was named by Buzzfeed LGBTQ and Lambda Literary as a "Most Anticipated 2023 Release." When he’s not writing, he spends his time worrying about why he’s not writing. His website is www.josephlezza.com and you can find him on the socials @lezzdoothis.

In this episode, Daniel Chacón and Kalina Gallardo invite theoretical physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein into the Cove. They discuss topics ranging from growing up in East Los Angeles, the writing process, and her important book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred.

Host Daniel Chacón invites three talented seniors from UTEP's undergraduate creative writing program into the Cove: Kalina Gallardo, Thomas Dominguez III, and Candice Gibbs. They discuss their plans after graduation, why they first wanted to become writers, and more.

Host Daniel Chacon invites recently appointed California Poet Laureate, Lee Herrick, into the Cove.  Lee discusses his experiences as a state poet laureate, his busy travel schedule connecting with communities across the Golden State, and what it was like to co-write a poem with former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera.Daniel also invites a surprise (and very special) guest during the episode: Lupe Mendes, the current Poet Laureate of Texas.

Jack Chanek is the author of Tarot for Real Life and Qabalah for Wiccans.A practicing witch, Chanek uses the Qabalah Tree of Life in his magic while Daniel talks about how to use it in the writing process. They talk about how a witch and a writer need not to go beyond the archetypal world called Yesod to practice their craft. Chanek talks about various tarot decks and how to invite creativity into your life.