Where Vivid Narratives Live

How did we get here?

Is all the blame on beer?

You were sane when we met

But now the drama’s set

You’re not really my type

 I don’t believe the hype

Let’s go it alone

Delete my data off your phone

The Rouletters got together to talk about their worst dates ever!

In order to sweeten the experience, a cornucopia of donated goodies were on hand.

A gal’s and guy’s bagful of goodies were up for grabs for the best story of evening.

Audience members received adult-themed lollipops, lubricant and a vibrating cockring.

A description for the cornucopia of goodies was printed out so the audience could make an informed choice.

Chairs were decorated with giveaway stickers and calling cards.

About five men asked the host if she were a real nurse. Then all stated they would feign illness if so.

The theme drink was a “flaming asshole,” which the host announced was the only way one could actually enjoy such a condition!

Magic Jack ATX relived the classic blind date bad date.

He even brought a box of cookies to share with fellow poets.

Birdman 313 revisited the classic Facebook bad date with a woman even bigger than he.

Daniel Davila recounted the three out of nine lives of a dating cat.

Lila McCall shared her frat boy blind date story, which started out with a simple question: “How bad could it be?” Pretty bad, as it turned out!

Allyson Whipple told the audience about coitus interruptus when a guy’s parents suddenly appear.

Host Teresa Y. Roberson suggested for men to avoid another boring Valentine’s Day bad date by scheduling a vasectomy.

Thom the World Poet, accompanied by Magic Jack ATX and Daniel Davila, recited a series of entertaining missed love connections. One rejection went like this: “I don’t know you.” “I don’t know myself either.”

After Thom the World Poet left the stage, the music segued into an original Magic Jack ATX love song jazzy composition, “It’ll Come to You.”

Audience members were invited during the intermission to sign up for the open mic.

Ron

Jason

Jacob

Allyson

Daniel w/ Magic Jack 

Birdman 313

Mackenzie

Thom the World Poet w/Magic Jack ATX & Daniel Davila

McKenzie won the gal’s adult bag with her spoken word about how having a single bad date may have prevented her from having bad long-term relationships.

Thom the World Poet won the guy’s adult bag through his usual bedazzling improvisation with musicians.

I know we disagree                     Using our imagination

We’re different, you & me         Being in the other’s situation

Each with our own objective     A new lesson can be learned

Seeing our own perspective     A broader horizon earned

The Rouletters stepped out in shoes that expressed who they were–at least for this event.

For the first time in the history of the Austin Writers Roulette, they posed for the group picture with just their shoes.

Their most dramatic pose came reflected in a mirror they’ve ignored for the past two years.

Their most rockstar bartender agreed to show off her footwear, comfy sneakers with bold yellow stripes, reminiscent of lightning bolts.  Very apt for her enthusiastic running around.

The theme drink for the event was a Cuba libre.

The host, Teresa Y. Roberson, welcomed everyone to Daylight Savings Day, International Women’s Day and the show.

Stephanie Webb, the inspiration for this month’s theme, wore her purple/pink sneakers, indicative of her triathlete training. She told us about the road she’s walked as a Christian, liberal, descendant of slaves and mixed heritage.

Mackenzie wore her cream stilettos. She shared a story about her husband’s painful journey in her shoes when a bigot “congratulated” him for having a mixed-race family.

Teresa Y. Roberson’s Bootzilla-inspired footwear symbolized a unity of colorful feathers,  representing the differences among all people. She shared the last time she put her foot in her mouth.

Donna Dechen Birdwell sported her daughter’s 7th grade shoes. She talked about how she’s been wearing them for 17 years, but for the last 10, her daughter has been teaching her how to walk in her footsteps.

“I’m wearing falsies!” David Young happily proclaimed about his strap-on buckles. He shared a shoe poem, which celebrated a lifetime of wearing comfortable men’s shoes and being in no danger of wearing stilettos.

Thom the World Poet, who claimed to have never owned a new pair of shoes, always walks in another’s shoes. 

During Thom’s performance, the audience clapped and stomped.

This evening would not have been complete without a picture of the International Women who participated.

The biggest fan of the host’s boots was a English bulldog named Lilly.

The host dodged most of Lilly’s playful efforts, yet puppies are persistent.

Working together with Lilly’s dad, the host managed to rescue the costume so Roberson could continue hosting the open mic.

Fleeting happiness                       This high emotion won’t last

Loving everything as is                            Stability’s fading fast

Blind with joy of today                This part of life is like a recess

Reality’s hidden away               Break’s over; pick up the pieces

The Fool hosted this show!

The Austin Writers Roulette gathered once again–this time to discuss the many facets of Fools’ Paradise.

Prior to the show, The Fool couldn’t help posing with one unsuspecting venue patron before enlisting him and his friends to move furniture.

Since the lovely bartender, Vivian, had colorful hair, she joined the fools and volunteered patron in the pre show pictures.

First-time rouletters, Amber Andersen and Laura Bruce also got to take a pre show picture with The Fool.

Donna Dechen Birdwell arrived with her “Belize Paradise” bag.

Kicking off the show, Birdman 313 described how fools fall in love.

Amber Andersen recounted a drunken fools’ paradise.

John Kojak told of an escape from an abusive fools’ paradise.

Daniel Davila answered the age-old question why fools fall in love.

Laura Bruce explored the emotional side of paradise.

Donna Dechen Birdwell embraced something better than a fools’ paradise.

Lila McCall warned us about the impending Paradise Lost with disappearing freshwater.

Mackenzie demonstrated the grass is not always greener on the other side of paradise.

Stephanie Webb detailed the foolish state of being seen through other people’s myopic vision.

Teresa Y. Roberson enlightened the audience about how to enter fools’ paradise through credit card overextension.

A brief fools’ photoshoot broke out!

Thom the World Poet, accompanied by DJ Cabrini Green and Daniel Davila, incorporated all the previous poets’ facets of paradise along with an audience shout out to weave in “angels.”

Then, the open mic began.

Jeffery Hollie

Trevor

Tim Tealer

Jonathan Lowell

Jason

Birdman 313

David Lester Young

Roger

Patricia Fiske

Neal

Lila McCall

John Kojak

Christina M. Jackson

Daniel Davila

Brian

Stefani

Thom the World Poet

Big “Thank You” to the record-making audience who attended the culminating show of the Austin International Poetry Festival!

She was a mighty woman

In life’s race, fast she ran

Upon her foundation

Arose our tribal nation

Her name’s not widely known

Yet she deserves a throne

She knew how to survive

Through us, her wisdom’s alive

The Austin Writers Roulette celebrated Mother’s Day the best way they knew how…through poetry, music and storytelling at a new venue, Malvern Books.

El Guapo showered accolades to all the forgotten queens.

Magic Jack ATX shared the experience of recently receiving a birthday card from his mother.

He then played his own original Mother’s Day song.

Daniel Davila accompanied him on clarinet.

Birdman 313 had been writing a Mother’s Day poem of praise for his mother the past 15 years.

Patricia Fiske read several poems about a mother’s unconditional love and her second thoughts.

Elijah McLaughlin shared what he should have said to his mother a forever ago.

Allyson Whipple guided us through an ekphrastic experience, involving Cleopatra, a historically famous mother.

She handed out flyers with one of Cleopatra’s legends on one side and her own poetical response to it on the other side.

Daniel Davila taught us the fine art of forgiveness by forgiving his mother for their turbulent relationship.

Lila McCall remembered the almost forgotten queens from both sides of her family trees.

Teresa Y. Roberson gave honor to mothers for the priceless legacy they have endowed their surviving children.

Thom the World Poet brought evidence about the power of poetry. Daniel Davila and Magic Jack ATX provided mood music.

He also gifted everyone a fresh sprig of rosemary from his garden.

Jeffery Hollie started the open mic.

Elijah McLaughlin

Daniel Davila

Birdman 313

Allyson

El Guapo

SylviAnn Murray

Thom the World Poet with Magic Jack ATX and Daniel Davila

This was not the plan

Abort quickly as we can

Should’ve been a cinch

Until that monkey wrench

Are we having fun yet?

May be something we regret

We’ll look back & laugh later

For now, get the hell outta here

Half the Rouletters gathered at a new time and a relatively new venue to start “Trainwreck Adventures.”

By the time we broke for intermission, the vast majority of us were accounted for!

Jason Hodge walked into the venue just in time to spin a trainwreck tale about lovers in a bar.

Donna Dechen Birdwell read a trainwreck episode from her newly published novel, The Way of the Serpent.

Brooke Lancaster performed a queasy tale about the irrational fear of vomiting on someone.

Robert Bayless ranted about the educational trainwreck perpetuated by high-stakes testing.

Allyson Whipple showed that some relatives are living trainwrecks.

Teresa Y. Roberson celebrated her reunion of physical injuries in pursuit of happiness and adventure.

Lila McCall shared a few trainwreck stories about trying to have a good time.

Thom the World Poet, accompanied by Daniel Davila on clarinet and Cabrini Green on tambourine, recounted the adventure of his birth today and then some!

The open mic began with Nathan.

Amy

Kim

Cabrini Green

Daniel Davila

El Guapo

Allyson Whipple

Lila McCall

Rose Lawson

Stephanie Webb

Brooke & Susan

Element 615

Join us again on July 12th for “Cosmic Casino.”

Born into life’s gamble

Few instructions or preamble

Luck of the draw

Gets you just so far

Play the hand you’re dealt

Lay your bid on the felt

Enjoy the game throughout

Before you cash out

The Rouletters slowly trickled in.

Next thing you know, more appeared.

Then we had everyone’s favorite poker hand, a full house!

Everyone’s favorite poker hand, except one…Royal Flush, the host for Cosmic Casino.

Her Highness gave out card bling rings to all who attended.

Geovani Zambrana read a series of whimsical poems inspired by random circumstances.

Birdman 313 described the odds of winning at casino love.

Allyson Whipple predicted horoscopes, using random numbers and Oulipo.

Lila McCall shared moments from her past lives, thanks to regressive hypnosis.

Stephanie Webb emoted about playing the hand life dealt her.

Teresa Y. Roberson explained how everyone is born a winner, given the incredible odds of popping into existence in the first place.

Thom the World Poet, accompanied by Magic Jack ATX on guitar, got his cosmic hustle on.

THE OPEN MIC ARTISTS

Geovani Zambrana

(This clip shows the performances of Geovani Zambrana, Robert Bayless, & C. Cimmone)

Robert Bayless

C. Cimmone

Allyson Whipple

(This clip shows the performances of Allyson Whipple, Lila McCall, David Lester Young, Magic Jack ATX, Birdman 313, Element 615, Mackenzie, Thom the World Poet and Magic Jack ATX.)

Lila McCall

David Lester Young

Magic Jack ATX

Birdman 313

Element 615

Mackenzie

Thom the World Poet & Magic Jack ATX

Her Royal Highness rewarded Magic Jack ATX with a coveted red lipstick kiss.

And she gifted a photo op to Robert Bayless.

Everyone’s invited to the next roulette: “Show & Tale,” Sunday, August 9th!

No this is not a typo

You should know this type o’

Theme

Means

Bring a prop up

Memes being propped up

Something in the hand

Shows some thing at hand

Hands down, Donna Dechen Birdwell won the unofficial costume contest with her shapeshifting/time-traveling outfit!

This colorful gathering of Rouletters also brought visual aids to go along with their stories and poetry.

Birdman 313 kicked off the show, recounting childhood dreams to adult bling along with his collection of chapbooks.

Video link to the performances of Birdman 313 and Aimee Mackovic:

Aimee Mackovic painted a portrait of herself from her favorite childhood toy, Gigi.

Donna Dechen Birdwell spun a tale about shapeshifting/time-traveling beings on a quest to save humans from themselves.

Robert Bayless gave a brief history about the military creation of meth…and was the only Rouletter asked NOT to bring a visual!

Teresa Y. Roberson read an excerpt from her soon-to-be-published, Adventures of Infinity & Negativa, and brought its opening painting.

Thom the World Poet, accompanied by Magic Jack ATX, gifted the audience with black and white pictures as he shared the history of Woodstock, Salado Legends and other local creative gatherings.

Magic Jack ATX began the open mic.

Hamish

Video link to the performances of the open mic artists: Hamish, Elijah, Nori, Robin, Louise, Ben, Birdman 313, Aimee, & Thom the World Poet accompanied by Magic Jack ATX

Elijah

Nori

Robin

Louise

Ben

Birdman 313

Aimee

Thom the World Poet & Magic Jack ATX

Genius or madness

Joy or sadness

Inspiration strikes

Creativity spikes

Innovation transforms

Changing the norms

Evolution distinguishes

Until the flame extinguishes

This month’s roulette was hosted by the tie-dyed mad scientist herself!

A mad spark of poets, musicians and storytellers

Birdman 313, inspired by comedian Robin Williams, traced the little spark of madness to the blazing flame.

El Guapo explored the existential mad spark.

Magic Jack ATX illuminated the mad creativity sparked by a painting.

Stephanie Webb sang “The Voice Inside” about moving on when crazy changes occur.

Michael Kennon shared one of his character pieces about madness on and off the silver screen.

Donna Dechen Birdwell, wearing her own version of a Mad Hatter hat with artists such as Banksy and Frida Kahlo cards along its brim, articulated “madness” for both the crazy and the sane.

Teresa Y. Roberson distinguished the difference between genius and madness are the same between privilege and nonprivilege.

Thom the World Poet shared the discarded art from a friend…

accompanied by Magic Jack ATX.

The audience enjoyed Thom’s visual aids and music.

Thom the World Poet passed around the discarded art.

Birdman 313 started the open mic.

Video link to the performances of the open mic artists: Birdman 313, Michael Kennon, Donna Dechen Birdwell, Louise Richardson, Nori Hubert, Steven M. Quakenbush, Magic Jack ATX, Kaye Abikhate, Steven Green, Thom the World Poet 

Michael Kennon

Donna Dechen Birdwell

Louise Richardson

Nori

Steven

Magic Jack ATX

David Lester Young

Thom the World Poet

Magic Jack ATX

Hidden just below

What few people know

Surprises good or bad

Just waiting to be had

Secrets closer than you’d think

Revelations on the brink

Another universe arose

Right under your nose

“Thing Under the Bed” hosted this unofficial Halloween poetry and storytelling event. 

Malvern Books had just celebrated its second anniversary the day before.

So, we helped them out by eating their leftover cake!

Rouletters brought their stories, which had been stashed under the bed, to share with everyone.

Robin Barratt read several, short, haunting poems, inspired by classic writers.

Louise Richardson catalogued all “what’s under the bed,” read a short, spooky story and concluded with an a cappella version of “Monster Mash.”

Sarah Kennon encouraged a dear friend to call whenever suicidal thoughts started to overwhelm.

Michael Kennon, along with his sister, Sarah, sang a murder ballad, “Silver Dagger.”

Tom Stoner wrote a short story about a child who tried to learn about sex by hiding under the parents’ bed.

Magic Jack ATX told scarily bad jokes about Christopher Columbus before telling the horrors his Trans-Atlantic voyage wrought.

Teresa Y. Roberson explained, in vivid detail, bad things people shove under their beds, which haunt them at night when they try to go asleep.

Once again poets’ psychic costume connection struck: Roberson & Thom the World Poet posed for the cause of showing off their decorative hats.

Thom the World Poet preached against the scary subplots under the political bed.

During intermission, Thom the World Poet got that bad politics taste out of his mouth with cake.

Robin Barratt started the open mic.

Louise Richardson

Sarah Kennon

Tom Stoner

Michael Kennon

Magic Jack ATX

Brooke

Thom the World Poet

The Terrazas Library invited The Austin Writers Roulette to participate in their Aural Literature event, where local writers are invited to read their works for 15 minutes. Since I usually dress up to match the roulette theme, I had a myriad of costume choices since this occasion had no theme.

Three other authors joined me for the event. In a way, it was easier to produce this show since we’d all written bios, didn’t have to set up chairs and we’d all arrived thirty minutes before the start of the reading. The librarian who’d contacted me about this event was amazed. I told him I’d always asked my artists to arrive an hour before the event just so we could start on time. Besides, when a group of talented, creative people gather together, the quality of the conversation is so rich. We took our traditional group picture well before the show started.

Donna Dechen Birdwell opened the show, reading an excerpt from her speculative fiction, Way of the Serpent. 

Mackenzie Irick Milks read a short fictional piece about a granddaughter returning to the islands for her grandfather’s funeral only to learn the sordid details about his life.

Stephanie Webb shared instances of her personal challenges of being a well-educated black women marginalized in Austin.

Teresa Y. Roberson read three excerpts from her racy first novel, Tribe of One, about a single black women looking for love while still being a smart woman about the pursuit.  One of the excerpts was a one-night stand on Halloween and another was the infamous “vibrator research” chapter.  After reading that last one, she broke the news to the audience that the actual vibrator the main character decided to buy didn’t exist.

Afterwards, the Rouletters moseyed across the street to eat dinner. Fortunately, the restaurant offered 1/2 bottles of wine!  The intellectual conversation, which had begun before the show, continued.  This was the kind of occasion I always say I’d like to participate more in, but never seem to organize.  I’m so glad it just happened.

Truly a feast befitting of a queen: well seasoned and composed salmon sandwich on fresh bread with a side of potato salad.

Donna couldn’t resist wearing the Cleopatra headdress!