Official events (readings, panel, boothing):

I began the conference by seeing Rita Dove and Jacqueline Woodson read and then reading with my wonderful Spring 2016 AWP Writer to Writer Mentor Fred Arroyo at the AWP 50th Anniversary Gala:

#awp Gala #awp17

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 8, 2017 at 3:38pm PST

Fred Arroyo and I reading at the #AWP #awp17 gala ( and the wonderful Emilia pH in the slideshow) ❤️ thank you so much for the phots, Diane!

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 8, 2017 at 5:29pm PST

I ended the conference by sitting in on the panel Wayfaring Stranger: Writing Away from Our Experience moderated by Michael Crikey and with Richard Bausch, Brad Watson and Anne Valente (I was a late addition, sitting in after their poor speaker who was not able to make it):

At the #awp17 panel Wayfaring Stranger: Writing Away from Our Experience with Michael Crikey, Richard Bausch, Brad Watson and Anne Valente (I was a late addition). Thank you so much Michael and fellow panelists!

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 11, 2017 at 8:25pm PST

Then I ran to my offsite reading, Reading Brazil, with Bruna Dantas Lobato, Tiffany Higgins, Camila Santos immediately afterward:

Good morning, #awp17 . Friends at #awp , this is where to find me today: 1:30-2:30pm: I will be boothing at the AWP Writer to Writer program. Stop by to say hi, a hug and/ or learn about this wonderful program. Booth 327 3:00pm: find me in the panel “Wayfaring Stranger: Writing Away from Our Experience” (Marquis Salon 7 & 8, Marriott Marquis, Meeting level 2) 4:30pm: Join us for our offsite reading “Reading Brazil” (see poster)

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 11, 2017 at 7:20am PST

In between I spent a couple of wonderful hours on Friday and Saturday at the AWP Writer to Writer Mentorship Program Booth:

My wonderful mentor, Fred Arroyo and his two mentes at the #awp17 #awp Writer to Writer Mentorship booth. #writertowriter #lategram #awpmemories

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 5:58am PST

I also read as part of #writersresist Pop Readings (a couple more resistance clips later):

At our pop up reading, right after reading our #resistance poems. #writersresist #writersresisttrump #awp17 #awp #nobannowall

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 10, 2017 at 2:30pm PST

 

Bookfair and panels

I tried to figure out in vain to make an optimal plan of what panels to attend (I had a plan but I had to re-calculate):

OK. While I down my fruit salad let me have yet another crack at figuring this out 😂#awp17 #awp

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 9, 2017 at 11:07am PST

I am glad I was able to make it to this great panel:

 

#awp17 such a great panel (Facing Trauma:POC Leveraging Their experience in the Academy to initiate Community Healing with Kenyatta Rogers, Maya Marshall, Keith Wilson, Cristina Correa and Jean Ho)

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 9, 2017 at 10:51am PST

I did some walking around in the bookfair:

#awp #awp17 #awpmemories (Green Mountains Review Booth)

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 7:08am PST

Can’t wait to see my little guy. (Photo of @themomegg ‘s booth #awp17 #awpmemories)

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 7:26am PST

#awp #awp17 #awpmemories

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 6:50am PST

#awp #awp17 #awpmemories

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 6:54am PST

where I got books signed by wonderful poets and friends:

The amazing Claudia Cortese signing my copy of Wasp Queen. Get yours at the Black Lawrence Press booth #awp #awp17 #waspqueen

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 9, 2017 at 8:45pm PST

which brings me to, most importantly…

 

Friends

<3

Yesenia! ❤️#awp17 #awp

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 11, 2017 at 1:17am PST

<3

❤️ look who turned around to give me directions yesterday #awp17 #lategram #awp #awpmemories

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 5:50am PST

<3

A place where #vegan and Gluten free writers can be happy. So nice to see these ladies ( and layer Tiffany, we forgot to take a picture) #awp #awp17

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 9, 2017 at 8:18pm PST

 

Resistance

As a lot of people in the conference this year, I balanced the usual AWP chaos with resistance activities.

I joined a briliant effort to send writers to see their representatives simultaneously (since we had writers from all over the country and we were in DC, this was great). Here is me and my NJ friends in resitence visiting the office of Senator Menendez:

NJ group visiting @senatormenedez ‘s office #writersresist #writersresisttrump #awp17 #awp

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 10, 2017 at 1:29pm PST

 I also joined a rally, pop up readings, and the human walls inside the bookfair and at the lobby (which were so amazingly organized by different groups):

I have supplies for anyone wanting to make signs. Use #findmeawp to get it! I also need help making signs if you can lend a hand #writersresist #writersresisttrump #awp #awp17

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 10, 2017 at 8:38am PST

#awp17 #lategram #awpmemories

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 6:34am PST

@NoWallAWP yesterday #awp17 #nojusticenopeace #resist #writersresist

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 12, 2017 at 5:48am PST

Read more about these activities and organizers here.

 

and finally…

 

The haul

Here is my modest in quantity, but grand in awesomeness #awphaul:

#awp17 #awphaul with so many activities (literary, but also of citizenship and friendship) I got to spend so little time in the bookfair). But so happy I managed to get these (loving them) ❤️

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 13, 2017 at 9:05am PST

With the addition of resistance to the usual non-stop activities, this was a particularly dizzying and rushed awp compared to last year. But that was the only way to go this year. Despite all the overwhelming aspects of it, it was wonderful to see everyone and to be surrounded by writers for a few days.  Thank you #awp17 <3 See you all in Tampa.

#awp17

A post shared by Ananda Lima (@anandalima) on Feb 9, 2017 at 8:25am PST