The Last Word: Conversations with Writers

A gorgeous show today exploring the life and music of the brilliant Henry Mancini. Santa Fe author Stacia Raymond takes us on a journey with The Pink Panther, Peter Gunn and gracefully along Moon River in her delicious biography, Grace Notes, a novel based on the life of Henry Mancini. Known as Hank to all his many friends, he was a many-layered man not just of rare musical talent but of integrity, humbleness and kindness. Explore mentorisproject.org for Grace Notes and learn how our society has been influenced by many gifted Italian women and men.

Pay close attention listeners because Your Data Will Be Used Against You. That’s the alarming title of George Washington University Law School Professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson’s extremely timely new book. With the subtitle, Policing in The Age of Self-Surveillance, we explore the growing dangers and opportunities, rights (and wrongs) in this age of personal devices that we enjoy to track our lives and habits. Not just the GPS in our vehicles and on smart phones that may place us at the scene of a crime, but what about your Ring Doorbell, that FitBit on your wrist, etc. etc. can they be used as evidence against us. Or for us?  And why isn't Congress enacting stronger legislation to protect our rights as citizens?  Meet Andrew in person and bring your own questions to Collected Works at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 11. 

Honoring National Poetry Month beginning with Santa Fe's own Wayne Lee making a return appearance to the KSFR studios.  Wayne has been writing his entire adult life and includes a piece from 1972 in his evocative new collection, Beautiful Foolishness.  Listen deeply as his voice resonates, conjuring images of nature, animals, and of daily life's treasured moments, perceived through his sensitive eyes, poetic heart and soul.  Wayne Lee will be speaking at Chatter North at the CCA in Santa Fe, this Saturday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. and the same time the next morning at "Chatter Sunday" at 912 3rd. St. NW, Albuquerque.   wayneleepoet.com

A true joy to be joined in the studio today by internationally acclaimed naturalist, filmmaker and contributor to numerous respected journals and news media, Priyanka Kumar. Today, she brings her treasured and beautiful volume, Conversations with Birds described by Publishers Weekly as, “A delightful ode to birds and a powerful defense of the planet we share with them….” Conversations with Birds and her newest exquisite book, The Light Between Apple Trees are available locally at Garcia Street Books and everywhere good books are sold. More inspiration to rewild your life at priyankakumar.com

Animal lovers stop scrolling now and click the Listen button. Here’s another informative, and this time poignant, interview with nationally-respected animal advocate Carlyn Montes de Oca following the passing of her beloved dog, Grace.  Award-winning author of Junkyard Girl and Dog As My Doctor,Cat As My Nurse, Carlyn also teases her next book, to be published soon.  animalhumanhealth.com

Author, activist and multi-award winning visionary poet, Mary Gilliland, returns with her long-form piece, In The Pool of The Sea’s Shoulder. A reimagined story of her younger brother, “Freddy,” and his own breakthrough work. Mary intends to “charm, alarm and galvanize” readers and does so with words that reveal beauty and true familial love. Published by Dancing Girl Press. For more information visit marygilliland.com

An essential listen for all pet lovers in this uplifting return visit with animal rights activist, Carlyn Montes de Oca author of Dog as Your Doctor, Cat as Your Nurse and the multi-award winning Junkyard Girl.  Last month, Carlyn’s beloved dog, Gracie, went missing in the Glorieta wilderness while on a hike with a trusted dog sitter friend. Her loss and return have become an inspiration. With the assistance of tracker Conrad Mahaffey of CMM Lost Pet Recovery and Humane Trapping, Grace and Carlyn were safely reunited in 24 hours. Listen and learn how that happened, it’s not what you’d expect. And learn more about Carlyn at animalhumanhealth.com

Continuing poetry month here on The Last Word with Santa Fe’s much loved Wayne Lee here in the KSFR studios accompanied by his cat. Well, Buddha’s Cat to be specific, the title of his brand new chapbook published this week, a collection dedicated to furry four-legged creatures of all species, from beloved companion animals to the wildest and most revered and even feared here in New Mexico and across the country. Wayne’s evocative writing simultaneously cracks open your heart, tickles your funny bone, and sends shivers down your spine as he reads with honest and deeply personal emotion forged with astute awareness and great love of our natural world. Wayne will be the featured spoken word artist this Saturday morning May 23rd at 10:30 at Chatter North at the Center of Contemporary Art (CCA) on the Old Pecos Trail. More at wayneleepoet.com

A welcome return to KSFR by multi-award-winning poet Mary Gilliland from Ithaca, New York. Described by Mary Oliver as … “not afraid of delight…and the hard tasks of anger, pain, and deep caring,” Mary Gilliland shares her depth of perception from her collections, The Devil’s Fools and Ember Days which will be published next year. Mary generously shares how a poem evolves, sometimes captured in a moment, sometimes begun and cast out of sight until suddenly the day to complete it arises seemingly out of the creative blue. Be inspired at marygilliland.com