PRIDE MAY BE OVER, BUT AQLF IS JUST GETTING STARTED!

Hi there, kids!
First, an update on "Lend Me An Ear", the amazing production I was fortunate enough to be involved in, one week ago! What fun we had. I got to play "Laurine" in "A Logic Named Joe", an episode of the long-running 1950's radio-show, "Dimension X".
Director Jon Hayden is great, as are Doug Kaye and Barry Stoltze, veteran directors for this annual event, which is performed by area SAG/AFTRA/AEA talent, and benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The New American Shakespeare Tavern is generous in allowing us their marvelous space for rehearsals and performance.
The "Dick Tracy in B-Flat" was a stand-out piece! As was "Whispering Streets". I was unable to see every piece, since I had to be backstage to ready myself for my own performance, but was happy to get to see several of the sketches in our repertoire.
Special Thank-Yous to Kathy Higgins and hubby Dan, who came from faraway Marietta to see the show.
Dan Morrison, who attended, and supported with photos of some of my pals, afterwards--big THANK YOU!
I was thrilled to see pal Mack Anthony in attendance,(Mack worked alongside me at the old Academy Theatre here in Atlanta, in the mid-1980's), who now works as a teacher; he also sponsors the Gay-Straight Alliance, at Lakeside High School.
Speaking of gay....
Gay Pride was celebrated this past weekend in Atlanta, but.....
HotLanta is about to get a lot hotter!
The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival will be underway with events beginning with a dance for young LGBT tomorrow (Tuesday) night, a Wednesday evening poetry event at Charis Books & More(yours truly will be hosting) which will kick-off their 35th Anniversary as well, the fabulous Collin Kelley as a Featured Author at Outwrite Books on Thursday evening, Staceyann Chin and Manil Suri giving lectures at Emory on Friday, with their keynote speeches and an after-party on Friday night, all-day workshops and readings from local and national LGBT poets on Saturday, and the grand finale', parties and music, on Sunday!
And remember that the world-premiere of the award-winning play chosen by Larry Corse will be playing every night, Wednesday through Saturday, in Candler Park, at the First Existential Church(known as "First E.")There will be featured poets and performers before the play, each night, too!
Special shouts-out and props to all the AQLF Planning Committee Members who've made this year's Festival a winner:
Franklin Abbott, a true visionary.Collin Kelley and Megan Volpert, who are the dependable "backbones" of the AQLF and wonderful team-players, along with Cleo Creech, Cal Gough, Dustin Brookshire, Yolo Akili, Larry Corse.
For all the exciting details, hit the AQLF, below!
And find us on Facebook, too!
http://www.atlqueerlitfest.blogspot.com
I have links to AQLF and Charis and Outwrite, see column labeled "Poets, Bloggers, and Others", to your right.
Enjoy the week!
Peace, kids.

Lydia of Writerquake gives Lisa Allender Writes a Kreativ Blogger Award!!!!!!

How joyous is this!
With many thanks to Lydia of the blog, Writerquake, I awoke today to discover I've been awarded a "Kreativ" !! These are well-known in the Blogosphere, and I'm excited, and truly touched, that Lydia (who blogs from Reno, Nevada, and I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting her)saw fit to place one with me!! I'll wear the Kreativ Blogger Award at this site, proudly!!
I'm up (somewhat) and feeling better, but not at my usual energy. Yet. Just give me a few more weeks, and I'll be buzzing about, experimenting with new food combinations(read: recipes containing nuts, seeds, berries), and attending events(upcoming: work on the committee for the third-annual AQLF(Atlanta Queer Literary Festival), coming up this November(4th-6th), finishing work on two written projects, and creating proposals for a home-based business(my cupcake company--I'm trademarking the name next week--'til then it's a secret!!!), and a film-project.
Be sure to check out the list of new links I am adding later today, including the other Kreativ Blogger Award winners, as designated by Lydia of Writerquake.
Link to her site:
http://writerquake.blogspot.com/
Question of the day:
What's the one thing you'd be certain to do, if you discovered you had only weeks to live?(this question inspired by the Barbara Walters' Special/Patrick Swayze interview I watched last night).
Peace, kids.

A LOVELY DAY.
Sunday's AQLF meeting of committee members(as well as those of us who were hardly ever present, last year!)went well, and I am even more enthused about next year's--the Third Annual Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, than ever!
It appears our Festival will coincide with Charis Books and More's 35th Birthday, which is really cool!
Our venues will be less spread-out, and won't compete so much with each other, so it'll be easier to attend all the events!
Afterwards, Hansoo and I headed over to the legendary "Colonnade Restaurant" on Cheshire Bridge Road. Cheshire Bridge is a rather infamous stretch of road which includes venerable old restaurants, like Nakato Japanese, and Bamboo Luau's late-night Chinese eatery. There's also a high-brow fabric store(where I obtained the silk charmeuse for my wedding dress!), a new-ish Greek Restaurant(Taverna Plaka)and several, uh, low-end "girlie" establishments(please note: girlie, not as in "feminine", but as in stripping, and/or "jack-shack" outlets)--all this within a few feet of each other!
The Colonnade's interior environs can be best understood by describing the folks gathered--at the early hour of 3:00 P.M., Sunday as:
The lovely, big, older African-American lady wearing her huge pink hat, with scarf-tie, and bright pink going-to-church-dress, and her daughter and grand-daughter, similarly dressed.
An older couple who prayed quietly before their dinner (wait--I think we call it "supper", here).A young gay man who read Southern Voice while sipping sweet tea. "Gays and Grays" is the way Creative Loafing once described the regulars at The Colonnade, but that description is not nearly inclusive enough.
We saw everyone--young marrieds, couples with kids, even an entire "family reunion" bunch of folks who needed several tables pushed together in order to accomodate them.
Hansoo sat down to a meal of (they are famous-for-it)Southern Fried Chicken, fried okra, onion rings. Ol' veggie-me opted for the country-fried steak(I hardly ever eat red meat, but this was scrumptious--complete with milk-gravy!!!), loaded smashed potatoes, and squash. I stuffed myself with five of their to-die-for yeast rolls with butter, too!
Just after our iced tea arrived, as I was telling Hansoo how fond Collin Kelley is, of "The Colonnade"--guess who walks in? Yep. The one-and-only, with his BFF, Joy.
There was a "Lisa, I didn't know you come here?" from Coll...I wish they'd squeezed in at our booth with us, but they grabbed their own little table, and I stopped in to chat with them as we were heading out. Coll always looks so happy when he's spending time with Joy, who I had the pleasure of meeting, long ago, at a book-signing/reading.
Wish I could've hung around at The Colonnade, and had dessert(moist yellow-cake with fudge icing! Everything made on-premises), but I simply could not eat another bite!
Then it was home to Louie--our long-faced golden retreiver, who I slipped bits of (no skin on it)chicken to, all evening!
All in all, a lovely day.
Peace, kids.

SUNDAY AT AQLFWeeeeel, we did not get a huge number of folks at the Downtown Library for the final day of AQLF, but it did not matter. The few folks we had were enthusiastic, and it was cathartic to get to "do" my take on "Vincent"(My one-woman show on poet Edna St. Vincent Millay).

There were some moments that definitely "clicked" for me, but others were muddled--which means: it's REWRITE/REVISE time!Very edifying, clarifying!
Reginald T. Jackson's "69" started slowly, but mid-way through, the plot accelerated exponentially with every second and the story took on a surreal quality that served the characters well. I think it can work, and work well, with only a bit of trimming from the first scene. Reginald is very talented. In fact, he and I have discussed appearing on the same bill with each other(He--a one-man show on writer James Baldwin; me--my "Vincent").
Special thanks to Franklin Abbott(whose idea it was that I write a show about, and portray Ms. Millay) and Collin Kelley....
All in all, a great week of poetry, prose, theatre, and interaction with fellow-artists, and audience! Next year will be even greater!
By the way, I hope to have coool photos up before the end of the week, including a CUTE one of Kate Evans and me!My technical skills are not vast, and so I've had problems loading my pics from my new "Shine" phone(in camera mode)!
Peace, kids.

SATURDAY AT AQLF!!!!!!!
What a richly rewarding, healing, FUN day/night!
The morning began with no folks lined up for the acting class I had planned to give, but that's okay, because it freed me up to take a breath, and attend a couple of wonderful workshops! The first, a Prose Workshop given by Judy Doenges, had us discussing character, and the way setting can influence, and inform that character.
Collin Kelley, when asked about his "Conquering Venus", detailed how viewing Wim Wenders' "Until The End Of The World" and especially, lovely actress Jeanne Moreau, literally created one of the characters in his novel."She became what I imagine Jeanne Moreau--the person--to be."
Ms. Doenges and Kate("For The May Queen") Evans were surprised by this revelation(as was I), and this fueled more discussion.
Ms. Doenges gave us a hand-out which featured a short story by Peter Cameron, a favorite of hers.
The second workshop was with Kate Bornstein. Her views on gender/race/class identity are legendary, but it's still amazing to see and hear her, in-person.
She detailed a heirarchy that rivals the one created by Eric Maslow(Maslow's Heirarchy of Human Needs)--the one all us college kids became familiar with. The difference being, this heirarchy is one that defines methodologies that attempt to control, and/or repress us.
Despite her claims of being a completely depressed, pessimistic person most of the time, her bright light shone through. I daresay if she didn't carry some hope in her heart, she would not bother to teach the rest of us. "Hello Cruel World" is her fantastic book. Get it, read it, follow the survival tips. Her main rule? "Don't Be Mean."
It was nearly 2:00 P.M., so Robin Kemp and I headed to Landmark Diner, just down from the Forsyth Street Library, for a quick bite that turned into a rather leisurely lunch(Her--Dolmades; me--Moussakka, Greek salad, french fries, mozzarella sticks). We tried to get caught up with one another--I seldom get to see Robin(the woman works continually!), and we discussed current events.The political acumen and tremendous care she exhibits for this country was humbling. I think Robin ought to run for office!
After this, I headed back to the Library, and was treated to bookmarks, "book-thongs", and candy.
I took the train to Brookhaven, where Hansoo fetched me, and we headed off to browse at Phipps Plaza(even in this upscale mall--with boutiques like Versace, and Jimmy Choo, I saw NO ONE with purchases. Everyone, even old-money-wealthy, was simply browsing). We trundled down to Candler Park by car, to hear some pre-show poetry from Yolo, and Lakara Foster.
Lakara wowed me with her takes on relationships, women-love, bad men, and body-image(by day, she's a counselor for young women). You go, woman!
Yolo is a favorite of mine--his "We Are Not The Boys We Want" is an anthem to a sometimes-hyocritical gay mens' community."Fags Are Not Responsible", a searing indictment of the bigotry and homophobia all LGBT are familiar with.
"Skin Deep", the play that won the Larry Corse Prize for Playwrighting, a $1,000.00 award, and received its' premiere as part of AQLF was fun...lots of broad comedy, and a drag queen diva, to boot!
Sunday: 3:00 P.M.--Reginald T. Jackson will direct a show he wrote, "69", just after I give "The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent" a debut. Both are "staged readings", which means they are not-quite-polished.
I'm planning to ask for feedback, as it will help me to "shape" my telling of Vincent's life.
Then Sunday night, at Eyedrum Gallery, a big night of music and craziness, to cap off the fun five days/nights we've all had!
Peace, kids.

AQLF UPDATE!!!!!!
Wednesday night--Met Kate Evans, and was wowed by her discussion of identity "We ARE, and we ARE NOT..." our protaganists, our stories(in our works of fiction, and I would add, in our poetry--even in our "confessional" poetry, lies are told at times, to get to the larger truth.
Mark Doty was brilliant--tales of his love who has since passed, and his dogs. Tales of his new love.
And Blair! He channeled the essence of Janet and Michael Jackson, and his voice--ringing in both opera, and in his spoken-word, was deeply affecting.
Many big thank you's to:
Collin Kelley, Franklin Abbott, and the irrepressible Megan Volpert, in planning this amazing event.
I was not present for Thursday of the Fest, but you can read plenty of exciting news on AQLF, at Collin Kelley's blog.
Last night (Friday) we had a great crowd at Charis(BIG THANK YOU TO KERRIE AND ALL THE STAFF!!)--enthusiastic, and very mixed--lots of gay men, lesbians, and a couple of bi's, and some parents of the poets.....
Reginald T. Jackson always delivers in his sharp, fearless work. He read several pieces, including "Jigga-Boo..", a commentary in poetic form on hip-hop.
I read in-between each poet, meshing a bit of serious poetry and finishing the evening with my two "Orgasms"(from my nearly-completed "The Orgasm Poems"). Patrique Vosges was fun, witty and shared a bit of his fear of falling-in-love--he's a fresh voice on the scene!I had Alice Teeter read last, and her work has richness to it, but it goes down like a sorbet. She is refreshing, clever, and at times--her work devastates with its informed humanity.
Afterwards, several folks commented they'll be at Downtown Library on Sunday for the 3:00 P.M. performances from Reginald T. Jackson(who will be producing and directing his edg-y "69")and me("The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent").Sounds like Reginald's is very polished, whereas mine is still "in transition". I think I'll be able to give the audience a "sense" of Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Today, it's workshops, all day!
Check it out, at:
www.atlqueerlitfest.com
Link to Charis Books and More, to the right of this column!
Peace, kids!

If you haven't been here in a while...Please read the two previous entries here at Lisa Allender Writes, for:
*updates on AQLF(Atlanta Queer Literature Fest) and
*the letter from an older white man with a son in the Marines. He is a life-long Republican who helped found the Christian-Right...and he's voting for Obama! His letter was originally published at The Huffington Post.
For today, get a quick glimpse, via this AP report, of W... the Oliver Stone film about you-know-who. I'll definitely go see this, and I'm thrilled it will be released before this Presidential election.

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Stone shows surprising restraint with Bush pic `W'
By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer
Oliver Stone thinks George W. Bush was unqualified to be president. However, the filmmaker found him an irresistible figure for drama.
After months of speculation over whether Stone's film biography would be a hatchet job on Bush, "W." arrives as a surprisingly empathetic — though hardly sympathetic — portrait of the president.
Stone, the historical revisionist behind the presidential sagas "JFK" and "Nixon," this time plays the provocateur by not doing what's expected of him, namely, putting Bush on a pillory.
"W." does present Bush as a man unfit to lead. And while Stone cannot resist injecting that theme with moments of sharp satire, he generally casts the president as a deeply tragic figure in far over his head, whose personal demons hold consequences for everyone else on the planet.
"I don't know who George Bush is, really. But I can tell you, it feels like him from everything we read, and we did a lot of reading," Stone said in an interview. "The guy has good, bad and ugly qualities like everyone else, but I can understand that things can get out of balance if you have the power. Certain people, if they have the say-so, can really exert their uglier side, and that is what came out, I think."
Played by Josh Brolin, Bush is presented as the black sheep of a political dynasty who surprised his own family by becoming the prodigal son that made good.
"W.," in theaters Friday, follows Bush from his boozy frat-boy days at Yale through a string of failed jobs and business enterprises and an early unsuccessful stab at politics. Perpetually in the shadow of his disapproving father, the first President Bush (James Cromwell), he eventually finds two anchors, wife Laura (Elizabeth Banks) and his born-again Christian faith.
Bush gives up drinking, though not his taste for beer. He's seen throughout his later years tipping back a bottle of nonalcoholic O'Doul's.
The film focuses on Bush's private life, a loving relationship with Laura, a competitive edge with brother Jeb, a contentious air with his father and mother (Ellen Burstyn).
Stone also crafts prolonged sequences recreating meetings at which Bush and his advisers shaped their war-on-terror policies after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Bush and company bat about language to come up with their "axis of evil" trademark for terrorist states. They backpedal to justify the invasion of Iraq after intelligence on weapons of mass destruction proves false. Vice President Dick Cheney (Richard Dreyfuss) delivers a chilling monologue about the aims of American imperialism.
The key actors on "W." share Stone's liberal leanings and came to the film already convinced Bush was a bad president. They came away from it not necessarily thinking he was a bad man.
"Everybody will be surprised in one way or another, no matter how differently you see it. It's a very human depiction of this guy's life," Brolin said. "It's an interesting, very behaviorally intense, somewhat funny, somewhat satirical, somewhat sardonic story about how this flailing guy became the president of the United States. Twice. ...
"I strangely found a lot of respect for the guy in his ability to tackle his demons. The opposite side of that is him feeling maybe that his demons were exorcised, when indeed they just came out in a different form through his presidency. The opportunities he saw that may have manifested through those, war being one of them."
While Bush talks of being called by God to run for president in "W.," Stone speaks of the movie as destined to be made.
He and screenwriter Stanley Weiser had been developing a Bush film biography throughout 2007, but Stone was planning to start production on "Pinkville," a drama about the My Lai massacre that would have been the Vietnam veteran's fourth movie about that war.
"Pinkville" fell through late last year, and Stone saw an opportunity to rush "W." into production and have it out while Bush was still in office.
"I think if we don't tell it now, no one cares for the next 20 years," co-star Banks said. "Then maybe in 20 or 30 years we care again, when we're still sort of feeling the repercussions of this administration."
Contractually, Stone could have delivered the finished film in time for the inauguration in January, but he wanted it in theaters before the election. He is cynical about its potential impact, however.
"I have no hopes. I cannot affect the dialogue. I did three Vietnam movies. Believe me, I'm humbled," Stone said. "They did nothing to prevent the country from doing the same thing in the '90s in several incidents. And then above all, the `march to Iraq 2' was devastating to the psyche of responsible American veterans. Devastating. It really hurt us, hurt our soul."
Stone later added that he hoped the film would prompt some reflection among Americans before they vote.
"Perhaps we can think about what we elected, who we elected these last eight years," Stone said. "If they see the movie, they may think about who they voted for the last time and not forget it very conveniently. If they do that at least, that's pretty good. There's at least some thinking going on.
"Unless we excite the human brain, excite the human spirit, evolution will not occur. We'll become simpler and stupider, and we may revert to Stone Age behavior before long."
Stone doesn't hold back on unflattering dramatic moments, showing a drunken Bush dancing on a bar or crashing a car into his parents' trash cans and nearly coming to blows with his father in the living room.
Such scenes are balanced with tender private times between Bush and his wife and moments of humility early in Bush's born-again conversion.
"Oliver Stone is ferociously intelligent. He is never going to give a one-sided look," said Thandie Newton, who plays Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser who later became secretary of state. "It's not going for the jugular. Absolutely not, because that would be so easy. That would be lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy. This is about finding the person, and then leaving it open for an audience to judge."
Many potential viewers may skip "W." because they already have passed judgment on Bush, Dreyfuss said.
"Those few brave band of brothers who are still for Bush won't see it, and those many who are now against Bush don't have to see it," Dreyfuss said. "I do believe that this film will be a knocked-out-of-the-ballpark winner overseas. I think every country on Earth wants to see this film, because every country on Earth has been wanting to hear Americans critique George Bush."
Co-star Scott Glenn, who plays Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, marveled that such a film could even get made, no matter whether or not viewers agree with it.
"Even though we've fallen very far, it says I think some wonderful, central thing about this country," Glenn said. "Where else could this have been done? In France? I don't think so, where they have a national board that reviews films. In Russia? Give me a break. How about Iran? A film about (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad made by Iranians and released while he's still there? China? Do you really think so?
"I mean, where else could this happen? The fact that it's happened, regardless of whether you're on the right, the left or in between, just the fact it's happened I think is a cause for celebration."
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Peace, kids.