Luis J. Rodriguez, acclaimed writer and cofounder of Tia Chucha’s Cafe Cultural, will read from his latest poetry collection My Nature is Hunger: New & Selected Poems (Curbstone Press/Rattle Edition) with renowned Chicano artist Mark Vallen - who will be on hand to talk about the original oil painting Vallen created for the book cover, and to sell prints of the painting. The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 5 PM at Tia Chucha’s Cafe Cultural, 12737 Glenoaks Blvd., #22, Sylmar, CA 91342. Phone: 818-362-7060. For address, hours, directions, and more go to www.tiachucha.com

Also, later at 7 PM Luis J. Rodriguez is inviting poets from around the LA area to read their works for peace, justice and a cooperative way of life as part of the global mobilization of poetry and conscious-raising, sponsored by Poets Against War (www.poetsagainstwar.net). Poets Against War, founded by award-winning poet and translator Sam Hamill, has amassed the largest collection of poetry against war in the world. They have been working hard to bring attention to stopping the US wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the peaceful resolutions of the complex issues of our day for the benefit of all humanity.

“It’s time that we imagined another way to deal with the hard issues confronting us instead of violence and war,” Rodriguez said. “I hope this event will galvanize the LA poetry community to activate their lives and their verses toward peace and true justice in our time.” The LA Times “Book Review” section of October 16, 2005 gave a one-page presentation of Luis Rodriguez’s new poetry book.