On podcast #2, posted Sunday, September 25, I have the pleasure of featuring writer and poet Marie Delgado Travis, who contributed the wonderful story "Me and Don Paco" and the powerful and eloquent poem "Abolengo" to Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul. Marie reads her poem "Abolengo" on the podcast and offers great insight into both her own work and Latino Soul.

Marie, who is originally from the Bronx but now divides her time (with her husband Edmunds) between Houston, Texas and Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, has won awards for both her poetry and prose. She is the author of two wonderful books of poetry, Anochecer / Nightfall and Ofrenda / Offering (2005), available worldwide through online booksellers. Marie honors her bicultural heritage in her books by writing in both Spanish and English, and in doing this, encourages and empowers us to keep alive our bicultural heritage. You can find more information on Marie at hometown.aol.com/marilutravis/index.html.

Marie previews her reading of the poem "Abolengo" by sharing the inspiration behind her two LS contributions. Marie also talks about how Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul showcases diverse Latino/a storytelling, and why it is such a special and powerful collection of stories and poems that will appeal to readers across races and cultures.

On the podcast, as a gift (I hope!) to Marie and to listeners, and in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I read "Abolengo" in Spanish, as it appears in Marie's bilingual chapbook, Ofrenda/Offering. I am so impressed by Marie's stellar bilingualism, and the way that she is able to communicate so eloquently in both English and Spanish. She makes me proud! What a gift to be Latina (or Latino) and to speak two languages with such command, creativity, and confidence. And even for those of us who speak one of the two with more confidence than the other, still, what a gift we give to ourselves and to our society.

At the end of the podcast I direct myself to monolingual English-speaking Latino/a listeners, who may feel left out when they hear the Spanish reading of "Abolengo." My message to my monolingual gente is: there is no shame in whatever your linguistic situation is, no shame! So don't waste time feeling bad about it! If you are a monolingual English-speaking Latino/a who yearns to recover our linguistic legacy, who desires to have Spanish and its melodious and warm sounds roll off of your tongue, then get active and go and learn the language. There are so many ways to do this... How many Latinos have found themselves in the same situation and worked hard to get their linguistic birthright back? It is such a common story, and one that Anjela Villarreal Ratliff will explore in next week's podcast, when she introduces and reads her great story "In My Classroom." Stay tuned!

Listen to LS authors on award-winning radio! Three LS authors were featured on Houston radio show: Nuestra Palabra: Latino/a Writers Having Their Say (KPFT 90.1 FM, Houston, Texas, Sept. 20), produced and hosted by Liana López and Tony Díaz). Anjela Villarreal read "In My Classroom," Esther Bonilla Read interpreted her story "The Ring," and Norma Oquendo read "I'll Always Remember You." They were all wonderful and you don't want to miss this! The readings and short interview with Latino Soul authors is followed by a powerful interview with Latina activist and hero Dolores Huerta, co-founder (along with César Chávez) of the United Farm Workers of America, so tune in by clicking here: it's a power-packed show: http://www.kpftx.org/archives/kpftsignal/. (The readings by LS authors start about 10 minutes into the show, so if you don't have a lot of time, you can forward to the readings).

And if you can, tune in this Tuesday, September 27, to Nuestra Palabra, to hear Latino Soul authors Marie Delgado Travis, Rogelio Gomez, and Margarita Velez read their work and share their insights. Nuestra Palabra, as always, will be hosted by Tony Díaz and Liana López, and can be found live on 90.1 FM (for all of you in Houston), and also online at http://www.kpft.org/, at 7:30 pm on Tuesday. I will post a link to the archived show after it airs.

Click here to listen to the wonderful Marie Delgado Travis on podcast #2!

íHasta la próxima!
Susan