PR programs morph as COVID-19
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A change of direction
in business and life for us all
When we learned in March about the need to shelter in until the virus was under control, I was almost giddy with the prospect of having, what, six to eight weeks, to return to piano, improve my Spanish tenses, reading, and play more tennis, all guilt-free!
However marvelous dabbling in diversions was, several clients had to cancel or postpone their business activities and programs. But as the shock of the pandemic waned, many activities resumed, such as when the venerable River Road Neighborhood Association asked me in August to insure their voices were heard as Austin developers strove to build condos in its borders. Any reason to have truck with River Road residents I eagerly grasp, especially in the service of showing how its history is intertwined with San Antonio’s. Stories and a commentary on the Express-News op-ed pages helped accomplish the Association's goals as developer efforts continue.
Finding a post-COVID story in
an Austin luxury home
A luxury home designed for wealthy fitness and health types got me all the way to Austin in October. The home was listed by Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty agent Leslie Gossett in Tarrytown, tucked alongside the Rockmoor Estate near Lake Austin. With ultra-thick air filters and a whole-home water filtration system, the clean-lined home overlooks a pool and wilderness of trees. Ideal, I thought, for a post-COVID world in which health precautions will continue to influence our lives. Austin’s top shelter magazine wants to be the first to write about it when it’s completed and the lucky owners – it’s already sold – give it their own flair.
See the house here: www.gossettco.com/kennelwood-1
Wrestling split infinitives to the mat
Along with devising and implementing PR programs, I offer editing services, whether improving a letter, article or even a disorganized array of drivel. Fortunately, the three manuscripts I worked on in 2020 were well written to begin with. One is a wild and wise novel, the others a foray into the saga of a family’s being deceived by their own lawyers in the unnecessary sale of a vast, beautiful and lucrative acreage in Hawaii.
While the second project is under wraps until publication, the novel, “Here We Go Loop de Loop,” is one you will be talking about one day. Its author is San Antonio novelist, screenplay author, magazine writer and ever-entertaining friend – William Jack Sibley, AKA Bill Sibley. A sneak peek of the novel will be available at www.emerge-writerscolony.org in early spring.
My short pitch to publishers gives an idea of its scope: “Greed, lust, sexuality, spiritual enlightenment, more lust, Xenophobia, the push/pull of relationships and the meaning of a life worth living – these themes of literature weave into a single, outrageous knot in the insulated town of Rita Blanca, Texas. The author, a lifelong Texas rancher and bon vivant world traveler, with humor and Stetsons full of reflection has wrought the story of humanity through characters who are trying to do the best they can – mostly, not very well.”
However marvelous dabbling in diversions was, several clients had to cancel or postpone their business activities and programs. But as the shock of the pandemic waned, many activities resumed, such as when the venerable River Road Neighborhood Association asked me in August to insure their voices were heard as Austin developers strove to build condos in its borders. Any reason to have truck with River Road residents I eagerly grasp, especially in the service of showing how its history is intertwined with San Antonio’s. Stories and a commentary on the Express-News op-ed pages helped accomplish the Association's goals as developer efforts continue.
Finding a post-COVID story in
an Austin luxury home
A luxury home designed for wealthy fitness and health types got me all the way to Austin in October. The home was listed by Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty agent Leslie Gossett in Tarrytown, tucked alongside the Rockmoor Estate near Lake Austin. With ultra-thick air filters and a whole-home water filtration system, the clean-lined home overlooks a pool and wilderness of trees. Ideal, I thought, for a post-COVID world in which health precautions will continue to influence our lives. Austin’s top shelter magazine wants to be the first to write about it when it’s completed and the lucky owners – it’s already sold – give it their own flair.
See the house here: www.gossettco.com/kennelwood-1
Wrestling split infinitives to the mat
Along with devising and implementing PR programs, I offer editing services, whether improving a letter, article or even a disorganized array of drivel. Fortunately, the three manuscripts I worked on in 2020 were well written to begin with. One is a wild and wise novel, the others a foray into the saga of a family’s being deceived by their own lawyers in the unnecessary sale of a vast, beautiful and lucrative acreage in Hawaii.
While the second project is under wraps until publication, the novel, “Here We Go Loop de Loop,” is one you will be talking about one day. Its author is San Antonio novelist, screenplay author, magazine writer and ever-entertaining friend – William Jack Sibley, AKA Bill Sibley. A sneak peek of the novel will be available at www.emerge-writerscolony.org in early spring.
My short pitch to publishers gives an idea of its scope: “Greed, lust, sexuality, spiritual enlightenment, more lust, Xenophobia, the push/pull of relationships and the meaning of a life worth living – these themes of literature weave into a single, outrageous knot in the insulated town of Rita Blanca, Texas. The author, a lifelong Texas rancher and bon vivant world traveler, with humor and Stetsons full of reflection has wrought the story of humanity through characters who are trying to do the best they can – mostly, not very well.”
San Antonio Express-News:
Amid coronavirus fears, 2020 AWP writers conference and bookfair in San Antonio open to public for $5 on Saturday
Carmen Tafolla, former poet laureate for Texas and San Antonio, will take part in Urban-15’s “Mega Corazón” livestream. Photo: Kin Man Hui
Jim Kiest March 6, 2020
A national writers conference will open its doors to the public today for $5 after coronavirus fears decimated its lineup and attendance.
The day’s schedule includes a couple of events that will spotlight San Antonio.
Initially, the AWP Conference & Bookfair was offering $5 passes for the day to the bookfair, which features hundreds of small presses, university presses, journals, literary magazines and more. Now, the passes will provide admission to the full conference.
“We’ve decided because we’ve had all these things happening, we would like to open up all of Saturday for community day,” said Cynthia Sherman, executive co-director of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, a national organization dedicated to advancing the art of writing.
As many as 10,000 writers, editors, publishers and educators were expected to attend the event, the largest literary conference in North America.
About 40 percent decided not to come, though, because of concerns about the novel coronavirus after news broke that a virus-infected evacuee was released from quarantine here and spent time at North Star Mall and a hotel near the airport.
The conference has been scaled back as a result, with about half of the 400 scheduled panels canceled or rescheduled.
On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus is sending shivers through convention-goers
Still on the schedule today is a reading titled “A Celebration of the Alebrijes de San Antonio” featuring Norma Cantú, Liliana Valenzuela, Luis J. Rodriguez and John Philip Santos. All are past participants in the Macondo Writers Workshop founded by Sandra Cisneros.
Author and playwright Gregg Barrios, who will moderate, said the authors, like alebrijes — fantastical Mexican folk-art creatures made up of parts from different animals — erase boundaries.
“What we’re going to do on the panel is show how these writers use that philosophy of writing across genres and worlds in their own unique way,” Barrios said.
The reading, a collaboration between Macondo and Gemini Ink, will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Lila Cockrell Theatre.
Gemini Ink, along with the city, is sponsoring another Saturday event, “Laureates for a Pueblo on a River.” Carmen Tafolla, the city’s first poet laureate, and Octavio Quintanilla, who currently holds the post, will talk about their work and read their poetry.
Jim LaVilla-Havelin, who edits the poetry feature in the Sunday San Antonio Express-News, will moderate the event, which starts at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Cockrell Theatre.
At the bookfair today, a lineup of more than 20 San Antonio and South Texas writers and musicians will read and perform from noon to 2:30 p.m. off the main lobby at the Convention Center.
Find a full schedule of events at awpwriter.org. Passes will be for sale today at the registration desk in the lobby of the Convention Center.
Other stories included:
www.expressnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/2020-AWP-Conference-Bookfair-bringing-the-write-15104972.php
www.expressnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/Chicana-author-Helena-Mar-a-Viramontes-to-give-15104906.php
https://www.expressnews.com/business/health-care/article/Coronavirus-is-sending-shivers-through-15106682.php
sanantonioreport.org/author-viramontes-delivers-keynote-address-to-dauntless-crowd-of-writers/?
www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2020/03/02/authors-and-publishers-to-take-over-downtown-when-association-of-writers-and-writing-programs-conference-arrives-this-week
www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2020/03/03/authors-and-publishers-pulling-out-of-awp-conference-in-san-antonio-amid-coronavirus-concerns
2021 will exceed my
cautious optimism!
Fortunately, 2020 ended with Zoom meetings to plan PR projects and website messaging for an array of clients whose businesses have adapted to new ways of doing business vibrantly but mindful of post-COVID concerns. Work is underway, so watch this site! And please call to discuss how I may help you tell the story of your business or organization with verve.
Jim Kiest March 6, 2020
A national writers conference will open its doors to the public today for $5 after coronavirus fears decimated its lineup and attendance.
The day’s schedule includes a couple of events that will spotlight San Antonio.
Initially, the AWP Conference & Bookfair was offering $5 passes for the day to the bookfair, which features hundreds of small presses, university presses, journals, literary magazines and more. Now, the passes will provide admission to the full conference.
“We’ve decided because we’ve had all these things happening, we would like to open up all of Saturday for community day,” said Cynthia Sherman, executive co-director of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, a national organization dedicated to advancing the art of writing.
As many as 10,000 writers, editors, publishers and educators were expected to attend the event, the largest literary conference in North America.
About 40 percent decided not to come, though, because of concerns about the novel coronavirus after news broke that a virus-infected evacuee was released from quarantine here and spent time at North Star Mall and a hotel near the airport.
The conference has been scaled back as a result, with about half of the 400 scheduled panels canceled or rescheduled.
On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus is sending shivers through convention-goers
Still on the schedule today is a reading titled “A Celebration of the Alebrijes de San Antonio” featuring Norma Cantú, Liliana Valenzuela, Luis J. Rodriguez and John Philip Santos. All are past participants in the Macondo Writers Workshop founded by Sandra Cisneros.
Author and playwright Gregg Barrios, who will moderate, said the authors, like alebrijes — fantastical Mexican folk-art creatures made up of parts from different animals — erase boundaries.
“What we’re going to do on the panel is show how these writers use that philosophy of writing across genres and worlds in their own unique way,” Barrios said.
The reading, a collaboration between Macondo and Gemini Ink, will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Lila Cockrell Theatre.
Gemini Ink, along with the city, is sponsoring another Saturday event, “Laureates for a Pueblo on a River.” Carmen Tafolla, the city’s first poet laureate, and Octavio Quintanilla, who currently holds the post, will talk about their work and read their poetry.
Jim LaVilla-Havelin, who edits the poetry feature in the Sunday San Antonio Express-News, will moderate the event, which starts at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Cockrell Theatre.
At the bookfair today, a lineup of more than 20 San Antonio and South Texas writers and musicians will read and perform from noon to 2:30 p.m. off the main lobby at the Convention Center.
Find a full schedule of events at awpwriter.org. Passes will be for sale today at the registration desk in the lobby of the Convention Center.
Other stories included:
www.expressnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/2020-AWP-Conference-Bookfair-bringing-the-write-15104972.php
www.expressnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/Chicana-author-Helena-Mar-a-Viramontes-to-give-15104906.php
https://www.expressnews.com/business/health-care/article/Coronavirus-is-sending-shivers-through-15106682.php
sanantonioreport.org/author-viramontes-delivers-keynote-address-to-dauntless-crowd-of-writers/?
www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2020/03/02/authors-and-publishers-to-take-over-downtown-when-association-of-writers-and-writing-programs-conference-arrives-this-week
www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2020/03/03/authors-and-publishers-pulling-out-of-awp-conference-in-san-antonio-amid-coronavirus-concerns
2021 will exceed my
cautious optimism!
Fortunately, 2020 ended with Zoom meetings to plan PR projects and website messaging for an array of clients whose businesses have adapted to new ways of doing business vibrantly but mindful of post-COVID concerns. Work is underway, so watch this site! And please call to discuss how I may help you tell the story of your business or organization with verve.
