Eleanor Aspin, author/illustrator of “Help Me! Help Me!,” “Messy Myko and Tidy Tyko,” and MG novella, “Abby’s Attic Adventures”-ages 10 & up, (Moose Hide Books). ElAspin is also freelance illustrator for Moose Enterprises. “Sparking reading interest in children is a worthwhile contribution. My writing began in 2003 with picture books, and has developed into writing and illustrating fantasy adventure novels for ages 9-14 and up. Creating an exciting story with illustrations is entertaining, and I do a darn good job of amusing myself! I also enjoy other creative projects, as well as jogging, cooking, and hanging out with the grandchildren. I’m a true believer that inspiration comes from some unknown source, tapped into, and then brain-encouraged.”

Learn More about Eleanor Aspin

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Events in April 2024

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1 Call for Poems - Invent-an-Insect! April 1, 2024 Submission Window Open Now! Call for Poems: Invent-an-Insect This Earth Day, invent an insect! Write a poem about the new species you've "discovered". What is its habitat? Its habits? Describe it and give it an insectilicious name of your own invention. What would a hot dog bug look like? How about a bubble bee? Or a clockroach? What does it eat? Where does it live? Get creative with your answers! Illustrate or embellish your poem however you’d like. Open to all ages. DEADLINE: April 14, 2024 Guidelines: You may submit up to three individual poems. Each poem must fit legibly on one side of an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. Poems written by a minor must be submitted by a parent or guardian. Selected poets must be available to attend the Insect Fair in person on Earth Day, April 20, 2024, and present their poem on the Main Stage at 10 AM. To submit: https://tinyurl.com/InsectFairPoems More	2 6-Week Boot Camp “Abracadabra! – Poet-TRY 13” with Stephanie Barbé Hammer April 2, 2024 STARTS Tuesday, April 2, 2024 Asynchronous Boot Camp for Writers: “Abracadabra! – Poet-TRY 13” with Stephanie Barbé Hammer $150. On Padlet, with optional office hours on Zoom; to register: A generative 6-week asynchronous class for poets (and fiction writers too) featuring magic, wizardry, illusion and more. Join us for Lucky 13! Yes, we are reuniting for our thirteenth year of Poet-TRY. Writers will receive a prompt (or more) every week for four weeks, during which time they are invited to write about the prompt and then post their work to our online discussion board for support and a tiny bit of feedback. During weeks five and six, our class will conclude with two weeks of workshopping poems you choose for the process. Writers will receive more in-depth feedback during this time, and you will receive advice from your fellow writers on how to revise or grow your work further. Or maybe it’s just ready to send out! This workshop is asynchronous. Students are asked to keep up with the weekly assignments and post them during the week. Padlet is a virtual, customizable ‘bulletin board’ used by educators with options to populate with text, images, audio, videos, and links. All levels welcome! Prose writers are warmly invited – always – to this magical poetry party. Stephanie Barbé Hammer is a seven-time Pushcart Prize nominee in fiction, nonfiction and poetry and is the author of two poetry collections, two novels, a novelette, and a how to write magical realism craft book. Originally from Manhattan, Stephanie moved to Southern California in 1986. She has lived on the West Coast ever since. She taught at the University of California, Riverside campus for 30 years, then tried living on Whidbey Island, Washington State, but found that she missed California too much, and moved to Santa Barbara in the fall of 2023. A professor emerita of Comparative Literature, she teaches creative writing at Hugo House Seattle and Inlandia, Riverside. She served as managing editor at SHARK REEF literary magazine for several years and is culture editor at large and writer at the Journal of Radical Wonder. She sits on the advisory board of Writers Bloc Presents. More	3	4 7:00 pm: Panel Discussion and Book Launch of Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas by William Medina 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm April 4, 2024 First Thursdays Arts Walk: Panel Discussion and Book Launch of Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas by William Medina Thursday, April 4, 2024 7:00-8:00 PM Riverside Main Library Community Room Riverside Public Library Community Room 3900 Mission Inn Avenue Riverside, CA 92501 Free and open to the public. With William Medina, Carlos Cortés, Judith Auth, and Suzanna Medina 7:00-8:00 PM, doors open at 6:30 Inlandia Institute presents the launch of Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas by William Medina, Riverside historian and educator. The author will be joined by a distinguished panel to discuss his novel and the Medina family’s renowned Cafe. The panel consists of Judith Auth, Carlos Cortés, and Suzanna Medina. William Medina’s novel, Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas is based on stories inspired by events and characters who frequented his parent’s eatery in Riverside. He masterfully re-imagines and chronicles “… curious bits and pieces of real events that I have reassembled to weave fictional stories,” states Medina. William and his siblings grew up helping their parents Oscar and Josefina Medina at the cafe. Over the years he and his siblings managed the eatery. The original cafe was located in a shopping center in Riverside’s multicultural Eastside. Located nearby was the iconic Nosotros Fine Arts Workshop directed by acclaimed artist Leer Larkin — who was integral to the Medina family. Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas will be available for sale and signing. The event is free and open to the public. The library will also provide an array of books on local history available for check out. Don’t have a library card? You can get one on the spot! Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Please join us. More	5	6 2:00 pm: Zoom launch for Guajira, the cuba girl by Zita Arocha 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm April 6, 2024 Saturday, April 6, 2024 2:00-3:00 PM PT, on ZOOM Launch of Guajira – the Cuba girl by Zita Arocha Winner of the 2021 Eliud Martínez Prize Free and open to the public. Registration is required. TO REGISTER: http://tinyurl.com/GuajiraLaunch After you register, we will send you a Zoom meeting link prior to the event. Inlandia Institute is proud to announce the publication of the inaugural Eliud Martínez Prize for literature, Zita Arocha, for Guajira – the Cuba girl, a memoir. This annual prize is awarded to a first book author in fiction or creative nonfiction who identifies as Hispanic, Latino/a/x, or Chicana/o/x. More
7 2:00 pm: Puppets at RAM “Earth Day - Celebrate Life on Earth” 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm April 7, 2024 Sunday, April 7, 2024 2:00-3:00 PM First Sundays with Riverside Art Museum Nicole Cloeren and Puppets a la Carte “Earth Day: Celebrate Life on Earth” Riverside Art Museum 3425 Mission Inn Avenue Riverside, CA 92501 Free and open to the public. Join Inlandia and RAM at Riverside Art Museum on Sunday, April 7, for puppetry fun for the whole family! Nicole Cloeren and Puppets a la Carte will present “Earth Day: Celebrate Life on Earth.” More	8 6:30 pm: Poetry & Prose with James Coats 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm April 8, 2024 Poetry & Prose with James Coats (All Levels) Alternating Mondays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 4/8, 4/22, 5/6, 5/20, and 6/3/24 on Zoom $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW In this multi-genre workshop, participants receive twice-monthly inspiration in the form of both poetry and prose. Prompts inspire writing in the genre of your choice. Class discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face in generating poetry, memoir, and short and long fiction. James Coats is an author, poet, and educator born in Los Angeles and raised in the Inland Empire. He received his BFA from Cal Poly Pomona and his MBA from Cal State San Bernardino. As a creative change agent, he believes the arts can inspire youth and influence positive change in the world. His first poetry collection, If I had Lived, was published in 2018. In 2021, he founded Lift Our Voices Education, which hosts the monthly “Be The Change: Social Justice Writing Workshop.” His newest poetry collection, Midnight & Mad Dreams, is published by World Stage Press. Follow him on Instagram @MrLovingWords. More	9	10 6:00 pm: All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm April 10, 2024 All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle (Int.-Adv.) Alternating Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00 PM PT, 4/10, 4/24, 5/8, 5/22, and 6/5/24, on Zoom $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW In this multi-genre workshop, participants submit poetry and prose for biweekly critiques and receive feedback from other group members. Discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face. The workshop leader provides biweekly articles and links related to participants’ work, particularly to problems that were discussed in the previous session. Victoria Waddle is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer, with fiction and nonfiction published in literary journals and anthologies, including in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. A collection of her short fiction, Acts of Contrition, is available from Los Nietos Press and her chapbook, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans, is available from Bamboo Dart Press. Her YA novel about a teen escaping a polygamist cult is coming from Inlandia Books. Previously the managing editor of Inlandia: A Literary Journey, she helped to establish a yearly teen issue. In a previous life, she was a high school English teacher and librarian. More	11	12	13 10:00 am: Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley 10:00 am – 12:00 pm April 13, 2024 Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley (All levels) Alternating Saturdays, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM PT, 4/13, 4/27, 5/11, 5/25, and 6/8/22, on Zoom. $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW Unlock the door to your storytelling potential with "Writer's Toolbox," a transformative 5-session workshop designed to hone your craft and elevate your writing to new heights. Whether you're an aspiring novelist, seasoned writer, or simply eager to unleash your creative prowess, this course is your gateway to mastering the essential elements of compelling storytelling. Throughout this immersive journey, we'll delve deep into the art of characterization, exploring techniques to breathe life into your characters and make them leap off the page. From crafting complex personalities to infusing your characters with depth and authenticity, you'll learn how to create protagonists and antagonists that resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page. Renee Gurley, MA, MFA, is a writer and English teacherwith over 20 years of experience with words, whose works have appeared in Coping Magazine, Lehigh Valley Woman’ s Journal, and Budget Press. More
14	15	16 6:00 pm: The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm April 16, 2024 The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington (All Levels) Alternating Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT, 4/16, 4/30, 5/14, 5/28, and 6/11/24, on Zoom. $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW Discover the art and craft of writing poetry with generative prompts and other forms of poetic inspiration. Brief group feedback will help you uncover images and language that resonate for you and for your audience. Romaine Washington, M. Ed., is the editor of "These Black Bodies Are... A Blacklandia Anthology" and the author of “Purgatory Has an Address” (Bamboo Dart Press) and “Sirens in Her Belly” (Jamii Publications). She has been published in various anthologies and periodicals, including Inlandia Institute’s “San Bernardino Singing” anthology and “Cholla Needles 32, 36 and 39.” Ms. Washington is a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole, South Carolina, and the Inland Area Writing Project at the University of California, Riverside. She was a public school educator for over twenty years and has developed a social justice curriculum available for free on her website: https://www.romainewashington.com/. The proud mother of two sons, Romaine Washington is a native Californian from San Bernardino who resides in the Inland Empire. More	17 6:30 pm: Writing and Presenting Poetry in ASL with Ryan Fingerle 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm April 17, 2024 Writing and Presenting Poetry in American Sign Language with Ryan Fingerle (All Levels) Alternating Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 4/17, 5/1, 5/15, 5/29, and 6/12/24, on Zoom. ASL Poetry is a FREE community enrichment workshop open to all. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW Do you want to write poetry but don’t know how? Would you like to express poetry in ASL, but you’re not sure where to begin? Then come to this workshop! This introductory course is especially created for poetry lovers who want to learn how to write and present poetry in American Sign Language. It’s also for those who want to learn how to appreciate the art of poetry in both English and ASL. All are welcome – d/Deaf, HOH, and hearing – and an interpreter and closed captioning will be available. In this course, participants will experience both written and visual poetry. The workshop has several aims: to increase the ways you can become more engaged and curious readers of poetry; to increase your confidence in writing poems through text in English and American Sign Language; and to provide you with the support and resources for writing and presenting poetry in ASL. Ryan Fingerle is a Deaf writer, poet, and educator whose love of words has no boundaries. One of her works, “Stuck in the Middle,” was published in the 2021 MUSE Literary Magazine. She presented her English poem “Connected” in ASL in front of a live audience for a National Deaf History and Poetry Month event. Ryan holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing, and she is in the process of earning her M.A. from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a private tutor in English and Math, and her 10 years of experience – and passion – is helping her adult students and their families enjoy the merits of both ASL and the English language. More	18	19	20 10:00 am: Riverside Insect Fair 10:00 am – 4:00 pm April 20, 2024 Saturday, April 20, 2024 10:00 AM Riverside Insect Fair Poetry Contest Reading on the Main Stage Riverside Main Library 3900 Mission Inn Avenue Riverside, CA 92501 Free and open to the public. More
21	22 6:00 pm: Writing for Children with José Chávez 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm April 22, 2024 Writing for Children with José Chávez (All Levels) Alternating Mondays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT 4/22, 5/6, 5/20, 6/3, and 6/17/24 on Zoom. $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW This workshop is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to write or are writing for children. We’ll explore the writing voice for children, define a “picture book,” story arc, story introductions, appropriate vocabulary, children’s poetry, and more. There will be time to flex our writing muscles and develop the beauty and strength of our “voice” for children. José Chávez is a retired bilingual teacher and dedicates his life to writing. He's had poetry published in the Multilingual Educator Journal, Acentos Review, Inlandia Anthology and has written two award-winning bilingual poetry books for children. He lives in Riverside, CA, is married, and has three grown children. More 6:30 pm: Poetry & Prose with James Coats 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm April 22, 2024 Poetry & Prose with James Coats (All Levels) Alternating Mondays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 4/8, 4/22, 5/6, 5/20, and 6/3/24 on Zoom https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW In this multi-genre workshop, participants receive twice-monthly inspiration in the form of both poetry and prose. Prompts inspire writing in the genre of your choice. Class discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face in generating poetry, memoir, and short and long fiction. James Coats is an author, poet, and educator born in Los Angeles and raised in the Inland Empire. He received his BFA from Cal Poly Pomona and his MBA from Cal State San Bernardino. As a creative change agent, he believes the arts can inspire youth and influence positive change in the world. His first poetry collection, If I had Lived, was published in 2018. In 2021, he founded Lift Our Voices Education, which hosts the monthly “Be The Change: Social Justice Writing Workshop.” His newest poetry collection, Midnight & Mad Dreams, is published by World Stage Press. Follow him on Instagram @MrLovingWords. More	23 6:00 pm: Micro Memoir with David Puma 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm April 23, 2024 Micro Memoir with David Puma (All Levels) Alternating Tuesdays: 4/23, 5/7, 5/21, 6/4, and 6/18 • 6-8 PM In person at Riverside Main Library – Carnegie Room 3900 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside 92501 Micro memoirs are short standalone pieces that often explore a moment in time, rather than an expanded life chapter. They are drawn from personal experience. Micro memoirs combine truth-telling with narrative tension and are specific to the writer’s micro-memory. Join instructor David Puma for this in-person workshop at Riverside Main Library as participants unleash the power of micro memoir. David Puma obtained his M.F.A. in creative writing at San Jose State University and his B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Redlands. He has been in advanced poetry workshops every semester for the last four years, and has performed spoken word across California, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire – as well as in New York City and in London, U.K. Professionally, David’s poetry has been included on streaming platforms like Disney+. More	24 6:00 pm: All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm April 24, 2024 All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle (Int.-Adv.) Alternating Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00 PM PT, 4/10, 4/24, 5/8, 5/22, and 6/5/24, on Zoom $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW In this multi-genre workshop, participants submit poetry and prose for biweekly critiques and receive feedback from other group members. Discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face. The workshop leader provides biweekly articles and links related to participants’ work, particularly to problems that were discussed in the previous session. Victoria Waddle is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer, with fiction and nonfiction published in literary journals and anthologies, including in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. A collection of her short fiction, Acts of Contrition, is available from Los Nietos Press and her chapbook, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans, is available from Bamboo Dart Press. Her YA novel about a teen escaping a polygamist cult is coming from Inlandia Books. Previously the managing editor of Inlandia: A Literary Journey, she helped to establish a yearly teen issue. In a previous life, she was a high school English teacher and librarian. More 7:00 pm: “Stories of Love from the Empires We Call Home” at the Culver 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm April 24, 2024 Conversations at the Culver 7:00 PM, doors open at 6:30 “Stories of Love from the Empires We Call Home” with Perris, California author Rachel Stark in conversation with Susan Straight and Alex Espinoza Barbara and Art Culver Center for the Arts 3824 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501 Free and open to the public. Please join us at the Culver Center of the Arts on Wednesday, April 26, to celebrate the launch of Rachel Stark’s debut novel, Perris, California. Rachel will be in conversation with authors Susan Straight and Alex Espinoza beginning at 7:00 PM; doors open at 6:30. Perris, California is published by Penguin Press, New York. Copies will be available for sale and signing at the event. More	25	26	27 10:00 am: Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley 10:00 am – 12:00 pm April 27, 2024 Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley (All levels) Alternating Saturdays, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM PT, 4/13, 4/27, 5/11, 5/25, and 6/8/22, on Zoom. $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW Unlock the door to your storytelling potential with "Writer's Toolbox," a transformative 5-session workshop designed to hone your craft and elevate your writing to new heights. Whether you're an aspiring novelist, seasoned writer, or simply eager to unleash your creative prowess, this course is your gateway to mastering the essential elements of compelling storytelling. Throughout this immersive journey, we'll delve deep into the art of characterization, exploring techniques to breathe life into your characters and make them leap off the page. From crafting complex personalities to infusing your characters with depth and authenticity, you'll learn how to create protagonists and antagonists that resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page. Renee Gurley, MA, MFA, is a writer and English teacherwith over 20 years of experience with words, whose works have appeared in Coping Magazine, Lehigh Valley Woman’ s Journal, and Budget Press. More 11:00 am: 11th Annual Riverside Tamale Festival 11:00 am – 5:00 pm April 27, 2024 Saturday, April 27, 2024 11:00-5:00 PM Riverside Tamale Festival - Kids Zone With children’s authors José Chavez, Vilayvanh Bender, James Luna, Carmen Gutierrez, and Yesenia Rodriguez Visit the Tamale Festival and stop by the Inlandia Storytelling Booth to hear vibrant multicultural stories by authors from the region. Stories presented on the hour at 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, and 4 PM. More
28	29	30 Submission Window CLOSES for 2024 Hillary Gravendyk Poetry Prizes April 30, 2024 February 1-April 30, 2024 Call for Entries: 2024 Hillary Gravendyk Poetry Prizes $20 reading fee Submit at http://tinyurl.com/InlandiaSubmit The Hillary Gravendyk Prize is an open poetry book competition for all writers regardless of the number of previously published poetry collections. The manuscript page limit is 48-100 pages, and Inlandia Institute Press invites all styles and forms of poetry. Only electronic submissions will be accepted via Inlandia’s “Submittable” portal. Multiple submissions are accepted, with a $20 reading fee required for each manuscript. The winners will be announced Fall 2024 for publication in 2025. National and Regional awardees each win book publication and a cash prize of $1,000. Enter using Submittable: https://tinyurl.com/InlandiaSubmit Poetry book manuscripts will be accepted via Submittable from February 1 through April 30, 2024. One National and one Regional prizewinner will each be awarded $1,000 and a standard book contract. More 6:00 pm: The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm April 30, 2024 The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington (All Levels) Alternating Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT, 4/16, 4/30, 5/14, 5/28, and 6/11/24, on Zoom. $50. Registration required. https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW Discover the art and craft of writing poetry with generative prompts and other forms of poetic inspiration. Brief group feedback will help you uncover images and language that resonate for you and for your audience. Romaine Washington, M. Ed., is the editor of "These Black Bodies Are... A Blacklandia Anthology" and the author of “Purgatory Has an Address” (Bamboo Dart Press) and “Sirens in Her Belly” (Jamii Publications). She has been published in various anthologies and periodicals, including Inlandia Institute’s “San Bernardino Singing” anthology and “Cholla Needles 32, 36 and 39.” Ms. Washington is a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole, South Carolina, and the Inland Area Writing Project at the University of California, Riverside. She was a public school educator for over twenty years and has developed a social justice curriculum available for free on her website: https://www.romainewashington.com/. The proud mother of two sons, Romaine Washington is a native Californian from San Bernardino who resides in the Inland Empire. More

Eleanor Aspin

geographics

Call for Poems - Invent-an-Insect!

6-Week Boot Camp “Abracadabra! – Poet-TRY 13” with Stephanie Barbé Hammer

7:00 pm: Panel Discussion and Book Launch of Cafe Stories: Riverside’s Zacatecas by William Medina

2:00 pm: Zoom launch for Guajira, the cuba girl by Zita Arocha

2:00 pm: Puppets at RAM “Earth Day - Celebrate Life on Earth”

6:30 pm: Poetry & Prose with James Coats

6:00 pm: All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle

10:00 am: Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley

6:00 pm: The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington

6:30 pm: Writing and Presenting Poetry in ASL with Ryan Fingerle

10:00 am: Riverside Insect Fair

6:00 pm: Writing for Children with José Chávez

6:30 pm: Poetry & Prose with James Coats

6:00 pm: Micro Memoir with David Puma

6:00 pm: All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle

7:00 pm: “Stories of Love from the Empires We Call Home” at the Culver

10:00 am: Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley

11:00 am: 11th Annual Riverside Tamale Festival

Submission Window CLOSES for 2024 Hillary Gravendyk Poetry Prizes

6:00 pm: The Art and Craft of Writing Poetry with Romaine Washington

6:30 pm: Writing and Presenting Poetry in ASL with Ryan Fingerle