Registrations are being accepted for the Seventh Annual Writer’s Conference hosted by the Puerto Vallarta Writers Group to be held February 24-26 at the Biblioteca Los Mangos.

This year’s theme is Selected Short Subjects and presenters include:

• Jacqueline Mitchard, whose first book, The Deep End of the Ocean was named one of the most influential books of the past 25 years and was chosen as the first novel in Oprah’s Book Club. It was made into a feature film starring Michelle Pfeiffer. Jacquelyn will deliver the keynote address.
• James Strauss, writer of the Doctor House Series and other Hollywood productions has written numerous books, including The Boy, Book One.
• Eileen Obser, a long-time member of the PVWG teaches creative writing in the NYC area and will be giving several workshops.

Workshops will include

• Using Social Media
• Writing Dialog
• Short Stories/Flash Fiction
• Short Essays/ Journals
• Writing for Children

For the first time, we will have an agent in attendance. Marcy Posner of Folio Literary Management will be holding private sessions for those who have books to pitch.

More presenters will be announced shortly.

Cost for attendance is $110 U.S. or 1500 pesos until Feb 1. $125 or 1800 pesos after Feb. 1, 2012. Seating for speakers and workshops is limited so early registration will guarantee your participation.

Registrants will receive further e-mails to indicate workshop choices.

Payments can be given to Maria Ruiz or, for those who are not here locally, direct deposit or PayPal. Please note: Using PayPal will cost an addition $5 in fees.

Contact Maria for instructions for direct deposit. mariaruiz102 (at) gmail.com

To register: http://www.puerto-vallarta-writers-group.com/Registration.php

Promoting Reading in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta’s Art and Culture Department and Los Mangos Public Library are working together to promote reading in Puerto Vallarta by organizing Puerto Vallarta Lee Pedro Paramo (Puerto Vallarta Reads Pedro Paramo) a community event with a host of activities scheduled to take place from October 11 to November 20, 2010.

Puerto Vallarta Lee is an adaptation of a National Endowment for the Arts program called “The Big Read,” which was originally launched in US cities such as Chicago, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles after a US study revealed that reading reinforces personal and societal development.

The idea was taken up by the Puerto Vallarta Lee organizing committee, which includes Art and Culture Department Director Monica Venegas, Los Mangos’ Ricardo Murrieta and Maria Jose Zorrilla, art curator Pilar Perez, cultural promoter Marcos Kuiland-Nazario, and Education Regional Director Carlos Murguia.

Five thousand copies of Pedro Paramo, Juan Rulfo’s acclaimed short novel, originally printed in 1955, will be printed for this event and distributed among locals. In addition, the organization is working along with the Juan Rulfo Foundation to organize conferences and exhibitions celebrating this important Mexican writer.

An English version of Pedro Paramo is available at Amazon.com. All Puerto Vallarta residents and visitors are encouraged to pick up a copy and join in the fun.

Within the framework of the Puerto Vallarta Reads Pedro Paramo program there will be a photographic exposition featuring the works of Juan Rulfo, public readings of Pedro Paramo at several venues and via radio and podcasts, as well as the presentation of movies and other activities based on the book and themes of Juan Rulfo. The idea is to make the book available in many formats and mediums so that everyone in Vallarta can participate in the project.

The organizers invite tourists and locals to join this important effort of cultural promotion through tax deductible donations. For more information, call Los Mangos Library at (322) 224-9966, or visit the Puerto Vallarta Lee page on Facebook.

5th ANNUAL PUERTO VALLARTA WRITERS CONFERENCE– will be held February 26 – 28, 2010, at Los Mangos Library.

WE HAVE EXTENDED THE “EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CUT-OFF UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2010. AND, WE NOW HAVE A PAYPAL OPTION TO REGISTER ON LINE!! DON’T MISS OUT, REGISTER TODAY!!

The theme of the conference is “Creative Non-fiction: The Literature of Reality.” We have three outstanding featured speakers lined up:

• Elizabeth Kadetsky http://elizabethkadetsky.typepad.com/
• Marcos McPeek Villatoro http://www.marcosvillatoro.net/
• Dave Lieber http://www.yankeecowboy.com
• Plus a host of workshop/seminar presenters.

During the weekend the conference will include a special video-taped address from one of Mexico’s favorite writers, Kathryn Blair, author of “In the Shadow of the Angel.” Workshop presenters will cover a wide range of topics including memoirs, narrative journalism, food, travel, and other creative non-fiction writing. The conference will conclude with a special Authors Book Signing and Beach Party.

Registration is $100.00 (US) per person and will increase to $120.00 per person after January 31, 2010. For more up to date information and how to register go to: http://www.puerto-vallarta-writers-group.com/Conference.php or contact Ginger Carpenter (322) 222-2537 or Margo Landry (322) 225-5507.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR FEATURE PRESENTATIONS

The Los Mangos Library will be selling “Feature Presentation” tickets at the door for $250 pesos for each presentation. This will be part of a fundraiser for the Library and there will be shirts and hats on sale as well.

The three feature presentations and times will be:

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#1. FRIDAY, February 26, 2010

• 5:30pm to 8:30pm, in the “Benefactors Salon.”
• Video presentation from Kathryn Blair, author of “In the Shadow Of The Angel.”
• Conference Keynote Speaker–Elizabeth Kadetsky–“The Literature of Reality.”
• No host cocktail reception afterward.

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#2. SATURDAY, February 27, 2010

• 4:30 pm to 6 pm, in the “Benefactors Salon.”
• Conference Featured Speaker–Marcos McPeek Villatoro–Writing and Filming “Tamale Road.”
• No host cocktail reception afterward.

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#3. SUNDAY, February 28, 2010

• 11:30 am to 1 pm, in the “Benefactors Salon.”
• Conference Featured Speaker–Dave Lieber–“If a New Yorker Can Make It in Texas, Imagine What You Can Do!”
• Reception afterward.

There are gaps in this narrative. I’m trying to fill them in, but it’s slow. My original concept of moving to Mexico to retire has fallen through totally. Retirement is the last thing on my mind here now.

It is around 4 years, since Sarah and I packed up everything in California and hit the road for Puerto Vallarta and a lot has happened in that time. Probably the central, most important thing that has changed for us is that I now run a few websites down here:

• VallartaScene.com (an expat and tourist bulletin board or forum)
• PVScene.com (an arts and entertainment calendar website)
• El Peso.net (A bilingual buy and sell website)
• XPlanta.com (Primarily an homage to my former profession of being an ethnobotanist)

Much of my time is spent working on these websites, attending various events around town and designing other websites. I, along with Sarah and a friend, host a gathering every Saturday evening at one of two popular local restaurants, Casa Isabel or Cafe Roma. In the summer low season maybe only 20 people show up each Saturday but in the winter high season, we often max out at 100 people and over the years, many of these people have become good friends.

I wish I could say that I am universally popular, but I can’t. My political and social views anger many and my rather uncultured directness irritates many more. That’s ok. These same attributes also have made me some very good friends. I’m too old to not say what I think.

On the physical level, our house is still unfinished (and probably never will be because we keep changing it), we have signed up for IMSS, the State-run Mexican Medical Insurance Plan, and I have a small income now from “odd” jobs like designing websites.

For those who wonder what it costs someone to live here on a relatively basic level, I’ve compiled a list. Sarah and I live a very basic life in a Mexican working-class neighborhood about a 30 minute walk from Los Muertos beach in Old Town, Vallarta.

• ELECTRICITY – About 250 pesos every 2 months for 2 people, lots of small appliances, 2 computers, large refrigerator. I do have air conditioning, the major electricity expense for most gringos here.
• WATER – About 200 pesos every 2 months (2 people, 3 dogs, AND lots of plants watered each day)
• GAS – About 300 pesos every 2 months (2 people, 1 stove, 1 water heater)
• CABLE TV – 200 pesos a month for the basic plan.
• PHONE – 200 pesos a month for a TelMex land line phone (but this cost around $200US to initially install).
• INTERNET – 500 pesos a month for 6Mbs high speed internet.
• CAR INSURANCE – $170 (US) a year for basic car insurance for our old 4wd pickup truck
• MEDICAL CARE – $500 (US) a year for 2 people for total medical care (including prescriptions) with IMSS, the Mexican National health insurance (slow sometimes and not gringo-ized).
• PROPERTY TAXES – $50 (US) a year.
• BANK TRUST – $500 (US) a year for bank trust for my house (foreigners cannot directly “own” a house on the coast).
• BUSINESS TAX – I pay about 150 pesos every two months for my business tax. this amount varies according to how much money I make.
• VISAS – $300 (US) a year for 2 FM3 visas (one a “working” visa (I am self-employed) and one normal).

All of these items can now be paid online although some require a Mexican credit card.

Perhaps the biggest problem I have is learning Spanish. Quite frankly, it’s too easy to live here in Vallarta without this skill. Sarah is learning Spanish but she is a much more vocal person than I am to begin with. I rarely talk to people in English and learn only what I need to get by. Am I ashamed of this? Sure, but not enough to push. To me, as I’ve said elsewhere on this website (PVScene.com), not speaking Spanish here is like being deaf and hearing is only one of several senses, any of which can be missing with a full life still possible.

Day to day life here, for me, is waking at around 6 am, doing things, and then going to sleep around 1 am. I drink alcohol probably more than I should for good health and I’ve been gaining weight since I moved here.

I’ve learned where the “best” restaurants are, where the best beaches are, how to set up almost everything bureaucratically and officially (as well as sometimes non-officially), who to trust, who not to trust, and how to do many things as inexpensively and quickly and easily as possible (not a simple feat here sometimes). More importantly, I’ve learned where and how to find what I need.

I like my neighbors, I like the “systems” here (transportation, mordidas, health, food distribution, etc).

I’ve learned that if you treat the people who live here with respect, they will treat you with respect. This is not as easy as it sounds because I’ve become aware of many prejudices and fears in me about Mexico that are popular, almost endemic, NOTB. Moving to a new culture and land is not as easy as it sounds in the travel brochures. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

I have one more year left on my FM3 visa and then I can apply for permanent resident status, enabling me with almost all of the rights of Mexican citizenship except for voting and holding public offices.

This effort will be another chapter in this narrative.

“Kindle for PC” Now Available — The Free Application for Reading Kindle Books Available on the PC Today for Readers Around the World

It is now possible to download and read hundreds of thousands of books here in Puerto Vallarta (or almost anywhere) for less than $9.99 (US) each.

Latest Kindle application brings more than 360,000 Kindle books, including New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases, to the PC

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 10, 2009– Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced the availability of “Kindle for PC,” the free application that lets readers around the world enjoy Kindle books on their personal computers (PC). The U.S. Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore) currently offers more than 360,000 books, including New Releases and 101 of 112 New York Times Bestsellers, which are typically $9.99 or less.

The Kindle Store is the only place to find some of today’s most popular books in digital format. Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch and PC. Kindle for PC is now available as a free download to readers in over 100 countries at www.amazon.com/KindleforPC.

Kindle for PC features Amazon’s Whispersync technology that automatically saves and synchronizes bookmarks and last page read across devices. Whether you read Kindle books on a Kindle, Kindle DX, or one of the free Kindle applications, you can always have your reading with you and never lose your place. With Kindle for PC, you can read some on your PC, read some on your Kindle, and always pick up right where you left off. Whispersync helped make the Kindle for iPhone application the most popular books app in the Apple App Store.

“Kindle for PC is the perfect companion application for customers who own a Kindle or Kindle DX,” said Ian Freed, vice president, Amazon Kindle. “Kindle for PC is also a great way for people around the world to access a huge selection from the Kindle Store and read the most popular books of today even if they don’t yet have a Kindle.”

With Kindle for PC, readers can take advantage of the following features:

• Purchase, download and read hundreds of thousands of books available in the Kindle Store
• Read the beginning of any book for free before they buy
• Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers for free
• Read books in full color including children’s books, cookbooks, travel books, textbooks and graphic novels
• Choose from more than 10 different font sizes and adjust words per line
• Add and automatically synchronize bookmarks and last page read
• View notes and highlights marked on Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, and iPod touch
• Zoom in and out of text with a pinch of the fingers (Windows 7 users only)
• Turn pages with a finger swipe (available in a future release for Windows 7 users)

Microsoft demonstrated Kindle for PC for the first time ever at the Windows 7 launch event in New York City. Kindle for PC takes advantage of capabilities in the new Windows 7, including Windows Touch technology. In addition to Windows 7, Kindle for PC is also compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Kindle for PC is available for free download at www.amazon.com/KindleforPC.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon media hotline, 206-266-7180