Poets ‘Negro,’ ‘Rainbow’ Win Top Prize in Contest

Two poets with distinctly poetic stage names tied for first place in the ninth annual Performance Poetry Contest in Santa Ana.

The top winners are Edgar Lomas (who goes by the name Negro) of Anaheim and Long Beach, and Tannise Collymore (Rainbow) of Fullerton. The event, billed as Orange County’s only annual poetry contest with established criteria for professional judging, was held Aug. 25 at the Gypsy Den Grand Central Cafe.

Jamies Palacio of Huntington Beach took second place, Larry Schulz of Huntington Beach took third and G. Murray Thomas of Long Beach took fourth. Rainbow also received first place in the audience popular vote.

More than 100 turned out for the contest, in which $155 in cash prizes was awarded. A set of poetry books valued at $100 also was awarded. The set was published and donated by FarStarFire Press of Laguna Hills, said contest co-producer and emcee Lee Mallory.

Words From the Pros

A panel of five professional writers will discuss their experiences at UC Irvine Extension’s fall open house, “The Writer’s World: Creativity, Craft and Publishing,” at 7 p.m. Thursday at UCI.

Scheduled speakers include screenwriter Robert P. Johnson (HBO’s “Tyson,” the NBC mini-series “The Temptations”); author Diane Leslie (“Fleur de Leigh’s Life of Crime”); biographer Dennis McDougal (“The Last Mogul”), mystery author Barbara Seranella (“Unwanted Company”) and science fiction-thriller author and screenwriter Neal Shusterman (“Downsiders,” “The Dark Side of Nowhere”).

Barbara DeMarco Barrett, editor of The Local Concierge and host of KUCI’s “Writers on Writing,” will serve as moderator.

The fee for the event, to be held in Room 100 of the Engineering Lecture Hall, is $15. To register, call (949) 824-5414.

Convict Ships Lecture

David A. Grant will present a lecture on “The Voyage of the First Fleet: Convict Ships and the Founding of Australia” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Lido Isle Woman’s Club, 701 Via Lido Soud in Newport Beach.

Grant, who was inducted into the Sailing Hall of Fame in Annapolis, Md., in 1975, is president emeritus of Orange Coast College. His presentation will be hosted by the Friends of OCC’s Norman E. Watson Library. The fee is $5 for nonmembers. Reservations may be made at (714) 432-5087.

Also Coming Up

* William Coughlan will discuss and sign “Legacy of Love” at Borders Books and Music, 429 S. Associated Road, Brea. 7 p.m. Monday. (714) 672-0120. Coughlan also will speak and sign at Borders Books and Music in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 7 p.m. Tuesday. (714) 432-7854.

* Poets Georgia Popoff and Lachlan Sosa will read at the Gypsy Den Cafe and Reading Room in the Lab Anti-Mall, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. Tuesday. (714) 549-7012.

* Taylor Smith will sign “The Innocents Club” at Waldenbooks in the Shops at Mission Viejo. 7 p.m. Wednesday. (949) 364-0136.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview Diane Leslie (“Fleur De Leigh’s Life of Crime”) on “Writers on Writing” on KUCI (88.9 FM) in Irvine. 5 p.m. Thursday.

* Curt and Karen Yoder will sign “The Heart Behind the Hero” at Borders Books and Music, 25222 El Paseo, Mission Viejo. 5 p.m. Saturday. (949) 367-0005.

* A specialty used-book sale featuring art, photography and collectible books will be held at the Laguna Niguel Library, 30341 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. (949) 249-5262.

* Literary agent and lawyer Paul Levine will discuss book contracts at the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America meeting at the Four Points Sheraton, 1500 S. Raymond Ave., Fullerton. 10 a.m. Saturday. $7 for members; $15 for nonmembers. (714) 284-7331.

* Jane Glenn Haas will sign “Time of Your Life” at Barnes & Noble in Fashion Island, 953 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. 2 p.m. Saturday. (949) 759-0982.

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Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail to dennis.mclellan@latimes.com.