Daniel García Ordaz's Blog

I am honored to have appeared in a spoken-word album recording."Immigrant Crossing." Unfinished Chicano Business Vol. 2 (Poetry Edition). 956 The Valley RGV. 2019"Our Serpent Tongue." Unfinished Chicano Business Vol. 2 (Poetry Edition). 956 The Valley RGV. 2019

I am honored to have appeared in “ALTAR: Building Bridges/Cruzando Fronteras,” DVD by directors Paola Zaccaria and Daniele Basilio (Regione Puglia ; Universitá Degli Studi di Bari, 2009): Examines the life, work, and cultural significance of Gloria Anzaldúa, poet and visual artist, and those she inspired in women's Chicano art. Book describing the film and my appearance (quoting my words):This Bridge We Call Communication: Anzaldúa Methods To Theory, Method, and Praxis. (Lexington Books, 2019) Read director Paola Zaccaria's statement on film.An article by The Monitor newspaper: Five Latina artists spent five weeks in a mansion in the hills of Saratoga, Calif. in 1995. Every day, the women would paint, write and flex their creative muscles. In the evenings, they would gather for dinner and ponder the world’s issues with legendary Chicana writer and South Texas native Gloria Anzaldúa. It was an artist’s heaven. (Click linkto read full text.)

"RGV International Poetry Festival aims to promote the written word."Progress Times. Apr. 26, 2019."Cenzontle/Mockingbird YA Book Release." The Monitor newspaper. (Apr. 11, 2019)"Meet Local Author Daniel Garcia Ordaz at the Edinburg Library."Your Valley Voice. (Apr. 10, 2019)"Mark Prior and the Texas Book Festival Day 1"F***ing Shakespeare Podcast. (49:53) (Oct. 26, 2018)"Latinx Tent Will Hold Readings In English and Spanish."Van Alstyne Leader. (Oct. 20, 2018)"Texas Book Festival 2018: The Full List." Austin Chronicle. (Aug. 29, 2018)"Meet Local Author Daniel Garcia Ordaz at the Edinburg Library."Your Valley Voice. (May 8, 2018)"Poems for Political Disaster" and "Poetry of Resistance: Voices for Social Justice." (Book Reviews). Pasatiempo. (March 31, 2017)KRGV-TV News Channel 5, “McAllen 7 Teachers In Joplin, Missouri.” Live phone interview regarding situation in post-tornado Joplin during volunteerism trip, Channel 5 News.(Aug. 14, 2011).“Corazon Bilingüe,” KMBH/KHID FM 88.1, Harlingen, TX: local National Public Radio affiliate: www.iTunes.com (Podcast). Interviewby Brenda Nettles Riojas, host. (2010)"Local Book Events For The Week of Nov. 1." Houston Chronicle. (Nov. 1, 2009) "Film an "altar" to Anzalduan vision of border." San Antonio Express-News. Oct. 19, 2009.KVEO-TV News Channel 23, “Poet Mariachi.” Live television interview and reading, with Q&A with Anchor Cindy García (July 25, 2008).in "The Pan American" newspaper. (March 2006)

Editor and Cover Design: Boundless, the official anthology of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival, (annually from 2008—present).Editor and Cover Design: The Lit Cat: Creative Writing Class at Weslaco East High School (anthology, El Zarape Press, 2016).Editor and Cover Design: Beautiful Scars (by Edward Vidaurre, El Zarape Press, 2015).Editor and Cover Design and Contributor: Twenty: In Memoriam (anthology, El Zarape Press, 2014).Editor and Cover Design: Insomnia(by Edward Vidaurre, El Zarape Press, 2014).

"Immigrant Crossing." Caja de Resistencia Numero 5. (May 2018)This City Is A Poem:"Tied Up In Knots"(April 2018)Praxis Magazine Online:Women's Day Series:"Cenzontle/Mockingbird"(March 2018)La Bloga (Online Floricanto). “Oda de Odiseo a La Sirena” (Valentine's Day Edition, 2018).Gallery ’17 Literary Arts Magazine/University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley: “"Adaptation: Romeo & Juliet ¿Y Qué?" (2017).Harbinger Asylum: “In-A-God-A-Da-Vita” (Spring 2013)The Left Hand of the Father: “My Dearest Nadine” (November 2014).Encore: Cultural Arts Source: “Frida y Sus Sueños” (Oct. 2011).100 Thousand Poets For ChangeLa Bloga (Online Floricanto). “Our Serpent Tongue”(Summer 2012).La Bloga (Online Floricanto). “Immigrant Crossing” (Summer 2011).Interstice (South Texas College). “Las Toronjas” (2011).Interstice (South Texas College). “En La Pulga,” (2008).Interstice (South Texas College). “Heaven” and “Creation” and “Numbered Days,” (2005).Praxis Magazine Online. "Cenzontle/Mockingbird" (Women's Day Series, March 9, 2018).The Mesquite Review (McAllen, TX). Hinojosa, Editor. “I, Too, Speak of Rivers” (2002).The Mesquite Review (McAllen, TX). Hinojosa, Editor. “Favorite Poem” (2003).The Mesquite Review (McAllen, TX). Hinojosa, Editor. “Black, Like Me” (2003).

Cenzontle/Mockingbird (YA Edition): Songs of Empowerment (Poetry * Drama), McAllen, TX: El Zarape Press (2019)Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment (Poetry * Drama), McAllen, TX: FlowerSong Books (2018)You Know What I’m Sayin’? (Second Edition), McAllen, TX: El Zarape Press (2006): Widely available around the world. Free to read (for a limited time) on Kindle!You Know What I’m Sayin’? (First Edition), McAllen, TX: El Zarape Press (2004)

From Hollywood icons, to musical divas, to authors to actresses, to activists to nurses, to military heroes to fighter pilots, to entrepreneurs and even queens--the women of the Rio Grande Valley of deep S. Texas have been movers and shakers from the beginning. Here's but a glimpse at a dozen.1. *Capt. Rosemary Bryant Mariner (U.S. Navy)Born: Harlingen, TexasFirst Female Navy Fighter Jet Pilot/First Female Squadron Leader'A badass pilot': Capt. Rosemary Mariner, first woman to fly a tactical fighter jet, diesShe made history as a Navy pilot. An all-female squadron just flew over her funeral.Rosemary Mariner, Groundbreaking Navy Aviator, Dies at 652. *Rosa María Hinojosa de Balli (“La Patrona”)a.k.a. The First Cattle Queen of TexasBorn: Reynosa, TamaulipasOwned: Most of the Rio Grande ValleyHeadquarters (650,000 acres): La Feria, Texas La Patrona: The First Cattle Queen of TexasRosa M. Hinojosa de BalliTexas Originals3. *Cleo Dawson(1902—1990)Born: Mission, TexasAuthor, Actress, PsychologistTejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame"Divas Mexicanas"5. *Fran Fullenwider Born: Harlingen, TexasActressGoogle Doodle Honoring Gloria on her 75th birthdayPoetry Foundation7. *Jovita González(1904--1983)Born: Rancho Las ViborasNear: Roma, TexasFolklorist, Author, Activist, Teacher, ScholarHumanities Texas InfoDetails About Her Work8. *Karen Kirschenbauer/Karen Kristofferson (1938—2005)Born: Brownsville, TexasActress Handbook of Texas DetailsSan Benito Hospital10. *Lois January(1912--2006)Born: McAllen, TexasActress, Dancer, SingerHumanities Texas InfoGrandson Speaks of Her Legacy

@texasbookfest made it official: I've been invited to participate in the Texas Book Festival (Oct. 27--28 in Austin)! Check out the link to the full list of authors and illustrators! #TexasBookFest @PoetMariachi @FlowerSongBooks

Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment (Poetry * Drama) Daniel García Ordaz The Poet Mariachi ISBN: 978-0692077528 FlowerSong Books April 23, 2018 (Release Date) Paperback 111 pages $15.00 ($10 for a limited time as pre-orders!) Contact: Daniel García Ordaz Twitter: @poetmariachi E-mail: poetmariachi@gmail.comBook Description Daniel García Ordaz, The Poet Mariachi, author of You Know What I'm Sayin'? (El Zarape Press, 2006), encourages readers to perform the text aloud in his new collection, Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment, a polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through performance. The new collection is an assortment of poetic forms, styles, and personas celebrating the dynamics of the human voice & spirit, such as his adaptation of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." Influenced by and dedicated to the memories of the late Maya Angelou and Gloria E. Anzaldúa.Back Cover Blurbs Daniel García Ordaz's collection feels like walking into a circle of old friends . . . a delightful trilingual party . . . saxopholaying the music in a fresh, raw manner, allowing the mischievous metaphor to emerge. . . . His verses are deeply rooted in the unapologetic Tejano way of life. ~Raúl Sánchez, author of All Our Brown-Skinned Angels Tackling the tough issues such as racial discrimination, poverty, and gender inequality with sharp wit, endearing humor, and grace, these poems ring with empowerment for all. Daniel García Ordaz is a vital voice in contemporary poetry—at once delightful and always resounding with truth. ~Katie Hoerth, Editor, Lamar University Literary Press Like a modern Michelangelo of words, Daniel adopts the classical form inherited from the Greeks while evoking the iconic spirit of Robert Herrick and George Herbert and Guillaume Apollinaire. ~Michael Jones (from the Introduction to Cenzontle/Mockingbird)

Beyond excited to share the art/illustration by artist/teacher Mario Godinez that will become the cover for my new collection, Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment (Poetry * Drama) from FlowerSong Books!Artwork by artist/teacher Mario Godinez! ABOUT THE ARTIST: Mario Godinez a.k.a “El Mago” was born in Leon Guanajuato, MX, but has been living in the Valley for more than 20 years. Godinez graduated from Harlingen High School South, where his art teacher encouraged him to pursue art. He then went on to receive his BFA from the University of Texas Pan American in 2008 and became a high school art teacher himself. He currently lives and works in his Hometown of Harlingen. Godinez aims to inspire young artists to make their own contribution to the world. Both pop art and the surrealist movement have influenced his work heavily, inspired by the everyday monsters such as stress, anxiety, depression, insecurity, and nervousness. Using art as a therapeutic weapon Godinez creates to defeat his modern day monsters. Along the way he hopes to inspire many people with his creativity and continue to positively influence his students into becoming the best artisans they can be.