(L to R) Somerville authors Kevin M. McIntosh, Denise Provost, Lloyd Schwartz, Lesley Bannatyne and Dave Ortega. — Photos by Mina Rose Morales

By Mina Rose Morales

Somerville writers met at the public library on Saturday, March 11 to discuss the inspiration for their work.

The afternoon began with Dave Ortega. He is a cartoonist from El Paso, Texas who relocated to Massachusetts when he found a job in graphic design at Harvard Square. He read an excerpt from his graphic novel Días de Consuelo. Ortega’s graphic novel was inspired by his grandmother who grew up during the Mexican Revolution.

After Ortega, poet Denise Provost read from her chapbook Curious Peach and her collection of poems City of Stories.

“I think this is a stupid poem, but my editor nominated it for a Pushcart prize, which it clearly did not win,” said Provost when referring to one of her poems. The audience laughed with her.

Her collection of poems City of Stories book cover is a photograph of residential streets in Somerville.

Dave Ortega looking at his graphic novel “Días de Consuelo.”

Lloyd Schwartz, Somerville’s poet laureate, read from The View from Somerville: An Anthology of Student Poetry, which he edited. The anthology is a collection of student poetry from Somerville High School.

“I love to think it’s Somerville’s emblem,” said Schwartz when referring to the book cover. The book cover is a photograph of the mural on the side of the Winter Hill post office. It’s a mural of the old Winter Hill.

Writer Lesley Bannatyne read from her short story collection Unaccustomed to Grace. She is the author of five books about Halloween.

“I love books because they are like letters,” said Bannatyne.  

The event ended with author and teacher Kevin M. McIntosh. He read from his novel Class Dismissed. His book highlights his experience as an urban teacher learning and teaching in his classroom.

“One of the best things about being in Somerville is being surrounded by other writers,” said Schwartz.