Books & Books Welcomes FIU Creative Writing Alumni

Sophia Noya | Staff Writer

Jemercis Lazo reads her writing to the audience | Sophia Noya, PantherNow

As part of the annual Writers on the Bay series, FIU creative writing MFA alumni gathered at Books & Books on Sunday, Sept. 8 to share their writing with the public, musing over family, relationships, and identity. 

Mitchell Kaplan, founder of Books & Books, commenced the event by celebrating the 43 years he has worked with FIU’s writing program and encouraging students to take advantage of Books & Books’ many events. 

“It’s a wonderful thing to see this community built up around the writing program”, Kaplan said. 

Les Standiford, founding director of the creative writing program at FIU, shared a few words about his pride in the program. 

“We don’t have a school of thought. We don’t have a philosophy of teaching”, Standiford said, speaking to his students, “We try to take you talented people…and help you to develop into a professional, to be able to connect with the audience you’d like to connect with.” 

Julie Wade, professor of creative writing at FIU, introduced each of the five writers who read their work: Arnaldo Batista, Jemercis Lazo, Jose Norono, David Sangiao-Parga and Rebecca Wallwork. Lissa Batista, who would have been the sixth writer, could not attend. 

The writers shared poems, essays, and excerpts from their books. 

Arnaldo Batista, FIU creative writing MFA alum, reads his work | Sophia Noya, PantherNow

Batista, whose work has been published in Prairie Schooner, the Gulf Coast Journal, and PANK, read his deeply personal poems, with themes of marriage and divorce, sexual liberation, and politics. 

Lazo, a visiting assistant teaching professor, explained how she found inspiration in her childhood, her family, and her parents. Her piece was separated into three parts: child, father, and mother. 

Lazo reflected on what she enjoyed the most about the event.

“I think the neat thing is seeing the community come together for FIU,” Lazo said, “Especially since a lot of people commute, so having the opportunity to have everyone in one room is nice”

Norono read from his thesis, Night Parade. Norono said his piece answers a question that he posed to himself: “why am I so different in so many different ways?”. 

His writing used humor to confront these themes of identity. 

David Sangiao-Parga is the author of Blood in The Holler, a thriller about a group of pro-wrestlers who are being held captive in a farm by meth dealers. He read an excerpt of his book at the event, and is working on writing the sequel. 

Rebecca Wallwork closed off the event, reading a short story. Wallwork authored Hangin’ Tough, as well as having worked as a journalist and editor for the likes of Interview and Rolling Stone magazine. 

The next writers on the bay event will be held on September 19th in the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus Barnes and Noble bookstore, where author Gerry LaFemina will be in attendance.