Literary Dialogs with Nina Serrano featuring Johanna Ely
Johanna Ely reads from her new book of poems “Postcards from a Dream” on the Literary Dialogs with Nina Serrano series in a wide ranging interview about her poetry. In this time of sheltering in place during the coronavirus Covid19 pandemic, the interview, using Zoom technology, brings Nina and Johanna together in the magic of friendship and poetry.
Johanna Ely’s poetry is filled with sensuality and hope, making her new book, Postcards From a Dream, a delight to read. The interview eases our disappointment about postponing a real live book party due to the pandemic’s “shelter in Place” and “social distancing” policy. We had planned the actual book party over coffee months earlier, savoring the details of the reading, decor, and menu, at the Benicia Public Library.
But adjusting to the environmental crisis, we choose to celebrate by recording in our individual homes with Zoom. I knew that as usual, I could take the sound track and edit it for my radio series: OPEN BOOK on KPFA (94.1 fm, Berkeley, CA) and Literary Dialogs with Nina Serrano on Artbeat with Laura Mullett on OZCAT RADIO (89.5 fm, Vallejo, CA).
We incorporated the artwork of Johanna’s artist husband, Sam Morse whose work serves as the beautiful book cover and also visually documents one of her vivid poems.
About Nina Serrano: Nina Serrano is a well-known, international prize-winning inspirational author and poet. With a focus on Latino history and culture, she is also a playwright, filmmaker, KPFA talk show host, a former Alameda County Arts Commissioner, and a co-founder of the San Francisco Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. Oakland Magazine’s “best local poet” in 2010, she is a former director of the San Francisco Poetry in the Schools program and the Bay Area’s Storytellers in the Schools program. A Latina activist for social justice, women’s rights, and the arts, Nina Serrano at 85 remains vitally engaged in inspiring change and exploring her abundant creativity. For more information go to ninaserrano.com or contact her publisher at estuarypress.com. For more detailed information about Nina see About Nina on her website.
About Estuary Press: Estuary Press is the publisher of Nicaragua Way. It is also the home of the Harvey Richards Media Archive, a repository of photography and video documentaries of various social change and political movements during the 1960s and 1970s. Contact Paul Richards (510) 967 5577, paulrichards@estuarypress.com or visit estuarypress.com for more details.
MEDIA – For photos & interviews: Paul Richards (510) 967 5577; paulrichards@estuarypress.com
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This post was originally published on ninaserrano.com.
