Talk! with Marie Presents Musician-Songwriter @JamesOlmos

Songwriter-Photographer James Olmos joins Marie on the show to share his inspirations, music and photography. James performs monthly at Gallery Rouge to a packed house.  Make sure to check out his website for shows.

About James Olmos
Songwriter & Photographer finds creative outlets through life's moments. His inspiration and muse, along with his medium often changes as he discovers and crosses new paths. His social network posts range from songs he's written, photographs captured and blog ramblings about his philosophical thoughts and life's moments. He also enjoys a healthful lifestyle and passionate about obstacle course racing (OCR), mud runs, trail runs and the all-out, kick ass times while breathing, living and journeying through life's moments.

Talk! with Marie Presents Gentle Heron, Virtual Ability & International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference in Second Life

Marie interviews Gentle Heron of Virtual Ability in Second Life. Virtual Ability, Inc. is a non-profit based in Colorado. Its mission is to enable people with a wide range of disabilities by providing a supporting environment for them to enter and thrive in online virtual worlds like Second Life.  November 13-14 is the International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference. The theme is: It’s All About the People. Listen in to learn more about Gentle's work, Virtual Ability, Inc and the upcoming conference. Make sure to check out Virtual Ability's page.

Talk with Marie Presents Be The Match & Live Music Concert in Second Life

Marie interviews Be The Match event organizers, Brianna Beresford and Katsii Tennen about the mission of the organization, how to get involved and upcoming fundraiser on Saturday, October 17 from 12:00p-6pm slt. If you are in Second Life, make sure to join us to support this life saving organization.

 About Be The Match
For the thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, a cure exists. Over the past 25 years Be The Match ® , operated by the National Marrow Donor Program ®  (NMDP), has managed the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. We work every day to save lives through transplant. Check out the Be The Match website for ways to get involved today:   http://www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/BWBTM

Talk with Marie Presents Microfiction Writer John Paul Mahofski, James Olmos & Live Music on Concert Window & in Second Life

Today's guest on Talk! with Marie is microfiction writer John Paul Mahofski. He re-launched his blog, mircrofiction and more to share more stories with his fans. Listen in to hear some of his recent short stories. We discuss our admiration of authors Lydia Davis (recent Can't and Won't) and Douglas Kennedy.John Paul recently read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. The song of the day is Silent I Fall by James Olmos. Right after the show, I'm heading to The Refuge in Second Life to hear Tukso Okey performs live at 4pm slt. 

Follow the blog to get updates on upcoming shows!

Talk with Marie Presents Writer Bonchance Longfall

On today's show, Marie interviews Bonchance Longfall from Second Life. He shares some of his poetry and Cheritas live. Lindsey Sterling is the featured musician. 
About Lindsey Sterling 
Lindsey Stirling is one of the biggest artist development breakthrough stories in recent years. A classically trained violinist from Gilbert, AZ, Lindsey has entered a futurist world of electronic big beats and animation, leaping through the music industry with over 675 million views on YouTube, Billboard chart-topping hits and sold out tours worldwide.
Lindsey’s self-titled debut album featured twelve original tracks; including the viral smash “Crystallize,” which has racked up over 97 million YouTube views. The album has sold over 350,000 copies in the US without the backing of a major label, and has gone platinum in Germany and gold in Poland and Switzerland. The album reached number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Chart and the Billboard Classical Album Chart and also peaked at #22 on the Billboard Top 200.

TALK! with Marie Presents Gina Singer/Songwriter Chavez 2015 Austin Musician of the Year

Today's show features Musician Gina Chavez. Marie also shares books she's reading this week: The Myth of You & Me by Leah Stewart and Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Stay connected on twitter!

Gina Chavez is a bilingual Latin-folk singer/songwriter who blends the sounds of the Americas with tension and grace. Her latest independent release, Up.Rooted, is a passionate collection of bilingual songs traversing cumbia, bossa nova, vintage pop, reggaeton, and folk combined with dynamic vocals and sharp social commentary.

An eight-time Austin Music Award winner, Chavez and her band swept the 2015 awards, winning Musician of the Year, Album of the Year (Up.Rooted), Song of the Year (“Siete-D”), Best Latin Band, and the Esme Barrera Award for Music Activism and Education, while placing in six other categories.

He & Him KickStarter Campaign

The Hotel Diaries of Lola Reading, SLB12 & Live Music Events in Second Life

It's officially the first day of summer! Whoo! I'm beyond excited for some sunshine after a nasty winter. In celebration of summer, and the launch of ReadFest, I have a chance to read loads of Lola stories on Book Island. But First, we will have live entertainment from MrMulti and Meetu-Hannu Writer, two musicians who perform originals, covers and harmonies.
On Sunday, June 21, I will host the weekly open mic poetry, 11am slt at SpeakEasy & Gallery Rouge. Then at noon slt, I'll welcome back Musician James Olmos to the stage for his heart-felt original songs and covers. This is my kind of weekend, filled with music, spoken words and friends.

In addition to poetry, stories and music, Second Life is also celebrating its 12th anniversary this month. If you're a resident in Second Life, join us! This is the perfect time to discover virtual worlds while we have so much festivities going on.

Talk! with Marie Presents Annual ArtWalk @RaglanShire in Second Life with Organizer Karmagirl Avro

Great Talk! with Marie Show with special guest Karmagirl Avro, Organizer of the 10th Annual ArtWalk from May 3-31. Residents of Second Life are showing their artwork during the event.  You'll see reproductions of RL artwork (painting, drawing, digital fine art, printmaking), along with SL photography, manipulated photography and sculpture.

Each year, hundreds of artist participants exhibit in spaces over several sims. This year, organizers are expecting a good turnout and will include space in the vast center park of Raglan Shire, in Heron Shire forest, and in other sims in the cluster if needed. The 2D artwork will be displayed along hedgerows around Raglan Shire, and sculpture in designated areas of the forest on Heron Shire.

Artwalk 2015 Schedule of Events
In addition to regular events like Poetry Slam, Prim Charades and DJs, we have new events this month just for artwalk.  We have many events including a Kite Parade (more info on that later). For more information, go to http://raglanshire.com/events/

Music by Sara Tiemogo (SaraMarie Philly)

Featured Poet Karima Hoisan

Talk! with Marie Presents Mass Poetry Festival, Headliners Rita Dove, Richard Blanco & More

Mass Poetry Festival is taking place from May 1-3 in Salem, MA.  Listen to Talk! with Marie Show find out about the headliners, workshops and other fun activities at the festival.

About Mass Poetry Festival

The Massachusetts Poetry Festival showcases nearly 100 poetry readings and workshops, a small press and literary fair, panels, poetry slams, visual arts, and open-air performances. Panel topics range broadly from the state of poetry, poetry and gender, book publishing, and modernism in contemporary art, to the Common Threads Reading, where contemporary poets with Massachusetts ties discuss their literary connections. More than 150 local and nationally known poets engage with thousands of New Englanders each year.

Poetry Reading at Fantasy Faire in Second Life

RedGoddess and Michael Romani were featured poets at this year's Fantasy Faire. We read original poems, stories and selective works from fantasy writers. One of the poems that I shared was "Red Daughter by Alena Sullivan. Prior to the event, I searched for various authors whose work reflect the theme of the event. In addition, I included Lillith and Art by Poet Morgue McMillan. I also took the opportunity to share a few short stories from the Adventures of Lola series.

After an hour of reading, we open the floor to hear from the audience. We had a wonderful audience of fellow writers and those who enjoy the spoken words. Angeljade Writer (hosts a weekly open mic poetry reading at 10 am slt) read a Maya Angelou poem. Bonchance Longfall also read some classic poems. Saffia Widdershins, one of the Faire's organizers also read a piece during the event. For those who were too shy to read aloud, I was happy to read for them. Overall, it was a fabulous event. We hope to return next year with more poems and stories. Special thanks to the organizers and sponsors of Fantasy Faire.

About Fantasy Faire

Fantasy Faire 2015 is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, roleplayers and performers in the virtual world. From Thursday, April 23 to Sunday May 3, treat yourself to eleven days of shopping, live music concerts, auctions, hunts, events and roleplaying as thousands of Second Life residents and creators bring their own visions together to support the American Cancer Society’s vision of a world without cancer.

RedGoddess Reads at Fantasy Faire Second Life

Happy Sunday everyone! Do you want to hear the latest Adventures of Lola's stories? Today I have the great honor of reading at this year's Fantasy Faire. I'll be co-hosting with a fellow writer, Michael Romani. We both will share our own work. Then, participants from the audience can join in by reading as well. The event starts at 10am (1p Est) and ends at 12pm slt (3p Est). I hope you can come over and bask in the written word while supporting a wonderful cause.

Here's your limo: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sylvan%20of%20Spells/140/130/43

About Fantasy Faire 

Celebrating its seventh year, Fantasy Faire 2015 is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, roleplayers and performers in the virtual world. From Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, 
May 3, treat yourself to eleven days of shopping, live music concerts, auctions, hunts, events and roleplaying as thousands of Second Life residents and creators bring their own visions together to support the American Cancer Society’s vision of a world without cancer.

Talk! with Marie Presents Fantasy Faire Second Life, Janis Ian's The Tiny Mouse & Brain Pickings's Children Books

Listen in to this week's Talk! with Marie show where I talk about books, music and current events in SL with a surprise guest. This is the final week of National Poetry Month. I've been trying to attend at least one literary event in the greater Boston area. I attended a reading by Author Maxine Hong Kingston. Today's show focuses on Janis Ian's The Tiny Mouse, Fantasy Faire in SL, Brain Pickings's list of 15 children's books & Jordan Reyne's Music. I'm co-hosting a two-hour poetry event with a fellow writer at Fantasy Faire. 

Poetry at Fantasy Faire, April 23-May 3

Fantasy Faire is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, roleplayers and performers in the virtual world. From Thursday, April 23 to Sunday May 3, treat yourself to eleven days of shopping, live music concerts, auctions, hunts, events and roleplaying as thousands of  residents and creators bring their own visions together to support the American Cancer Society.

The Tiny Mouse by Janis Ian

About Brain Pickings

Brain Pickings is a cross-disciplinary LEGO treasure chest, full of pieces spanning art, science, psychology, design, philosophy, history, politics, anthropology, and more; pieces that enrich our mental pool of resources and empower combinatorial ideas that are stronger, smarter, richer, deeper and more impactful. Above all, it’s about how these different disciplines illuminate one another to glean some insight, directly or indirectly, into that grand question of how to live, and how to live well.

I read the following books from Brain Pickings's children's list

Pele King of Soccer ( El rey del futbol) by Monica Brown
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez

My Name is Gabito (Me llamo Gabito) by Monica Brown
The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Illustrated by Raul Colon

Side by Side ( Lado a Lado)
The story of Dolores Huerta & Cesar Chavez
by Monica Brown
Illustrated by Joe Cepeda

The Iridescence of Birds
A Book about Henri Matisse
by Patricia MacLachlan
Pictures by Hadley Hooper

Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald by Roxanne Orgill
Illustrated by Sean Qualls