This year was full with open houses and open mics, new classes,

new writing suites, new web site, a completed library, a full-time

director, new board members, a freak April desert ood, and
many new friends and guests. It is astonishing to step back and
realize how signicantly things have grown since Casa Libre en
la Solana celebrated our rst Open House last May.
In the last issue of the red door we showed you pictures of
our rst writing suite, Number Two, and talked about the
library in progress. Now Number Two has been joined by
suite numbers Four, Five, and Six. The library is complete and
is now used for classes, book signing events, readings, and
small group conferences. Weve had the privilege of continu-
ing to host guests of The University of Arizona Poetry Center,
POG, Kore Press, the Center for Creative Photography, and
a growing number of independent writers. Weve hosted
literary events for Kore Press, you are here, The Poetry Center,
and the Tucson chapter of the National Writers Union. In the
coming year we look forward to working with the Tucson
Poetry Festival as we begin hosting their visiting poets and
some of their events as well.
We were caught a lile under the weather in late April,
when (while geing a new roof) our entire library and oce
(and Kristen and Anns house) were ooded by a freak rain,
leaving us swamped for a few months. It was certainly a
frustrating and dicult time. But because of the ood, the
library has new carpet, our buildings have new roofs, and
Casa Libre has undergone many needed improvements
including the addition of beautiful new entrance gates.
With all the growth it became necessary for Ann to leave her
job at the University of Arizona Poetry Center to become
Casa Libres full-time director. Since Ann began working at
Casa Libre full time, we have been able to schedule classes,
rebuild the web site from the ground up, and open the new
suites to meet the growing demand from writing guests.
Kristen continues to work on weekends and nights as Casa
Libres part-time co-director, while working weekdays as an
associate editor at The University of Arizona.
Cheryl Kohler and Mary Jo Fine, stepped down from the
board this summer with our thanks and appreciation for their
generous contributions to Casas beginnings. Jamie Chandler
and Lee Street joined the board and we look forward to their
fresh perspectives. Kate Street recently returned to Tucson
with her new daughter and husband Lee, and continues to
serve as a vital member of the board as Secretary.
A major project was completed this summer with the help
of board member Jean Nelson, who spent long hours comb-
ing through piles of paperwork as she helped Ann and
Kristen complete the 501(c)(3) application. The application
requesting a determination of nonprot status from the
IRSwas nally mailed o by mid-summer. We should
recieve notice in the next few months. When we do, it will
allow Casa Libre to leave the umbrellaship of Southwest
Alternatives Institute, and function independantly.
Next for Casa Libre is grant writing and program develop-
ment. Casa Libres board is ne-tuning our fundraising ef-
forts, like our Suite Sponsorship program, and focusing on
ways to manifest writers residency programs. We invite you
to think of ways you can get involved with Casas growing
community. In this issue weve included lots of photos, a
timeline of our 2nd year, a schedule of our upcoming events,
and information on donating or volunteering. As always, you
can get the latest at www.casalibre.org. - A & K
20042005: Many Doors Open For Casa Libre
the red door [la puerta roja]
THE NEWSLETTER OF CASA LIBRE EN LA SOLANA
NUMBER 2 ~ SUMMER 2005
I ns i de the red door
Timeline .......................... 2
Suite Notes .................... 4
Programs ....................... 6
Giving Page .................. 7
credit: amf
A Timeline of Highlights in 2004 - 2005
Page 2
junejuly 2004
Fiction writer Naomi Alderman from London, England stays
in Suite Number Two as the
UA Poetry Centers Summer
Writer in Residence. Naomi
worked on her manuscript,
Disobedience, which will be
published by Penguin in
March of 2006. She recenetly
wrote, That quiet month,
just siing with my book, crossing out whole chapters and
making notes and not panicking because I knew I had time,
made all the dierence. So I wanted to say thank you. I really
couldnt have done it without you...
september 2004
Casa hosts book release party for
Kore Presss 2003 First Book Award
winner, Deborah Fries, selected by
Carolyn Forch. Deborahs book,
Various Modes of Departure, was on
hand for purchase and signing by
the poet. Deborah and her daughter
Leah stayed in Number Two. Debo-
rah recently wrote that she plans to
return to Casa Libre next year to
work on a new manuscript.
Astrologer Lynda Hill stayed as Casas guest while working on
her manuscript, 360 Degrees of Wisdom: Charting Your Destiny
With the Sabian Oracle, published by Penguin in November
2004. Lynda checked in recently to our online guestbook: One
day Ill come back (I live in Sydney, Australia)this place (with
its wonderful folks) has a special place in my life.
october 2004
The editorial sta of you are here:
the journal of creative geography,
from the University of Arizona,
holds their magazine release party
with a contributors reading and a
showing of the magazines art and
photography in Casas library and
courtyards.
Poet Robin Blaser and his partner
David Farwell (from Canada) stay in Number Two while in
town as guests of the POG reading series. Robin reads from
his work at the ORTS Theatre of Dance studio.
january 2005
Aer Ann spends all month repair-
ing, painting, cleaning, and decorat-
ing the rst empty apartment, by the
end of January we open our second
suite, Suite Number Six. Kristen and
Ann also begin rebuilding the web
site from the ground up. Aer the
web site is rebuilt we work on build-
ing a new laundry room in the rear
courtyard for guest use.
february 2005
In mid-February New York poet Jenna Osman stays at Casa
as a guest of the POG reading series. Jenna read her po-
ems (while shouting above hard rain
pounding on the metal roof) at ORTS.
Later in the month, poet and editor
Georey Young stays at Casa also as
a guest of the POG reading series.
Geo, the founder and editor of the
small New England press, The Fig-
ures, stays one night only, and leaves
a poem to Casas keepers on the desk
in the room. A few months later Geo
will also send 20 copies of books from his press as a gi to
Casa Libres library. Geo hopes to return for a longer stay
in the near future.
march 2005
In March we open the third writing
suite, Number Five, and host New
York poet Regan Good for a month.
Repair work continues on Casas
suites, library, and oce. Repair -
nally begins on the roofs over Casa
Libres library and oce (as well as
Ann and Kristens house).
At the end of the month Casa Libre has a booth in its parking
lot for the biannual Fourth Avenue
Street Fair. The entire avenue is
closed to trac and lls up with art
vendors from all over the country.
Casa sells hand-decorated candles
with literary quotes on them that
friends of Casa Libre volunteered
to decorate.
Page 3
september 2005 and forward
Casa Libre will host Professor Emeritus to the UA Classics
Department, Norman Austin, for the fall semester.
Casa will host 10-week Writers Studio class with Eleanor
Kedney, starting in September, and a new six week contem-
porary poetry workshop with poet Megan Johnson beginning
in November. Lee Street will teach two all-day beginners
bookbinding classes in Casas library: one in November and
one the rst weekend of December.
The Tucson Poetry Festival (TPF) will begin to utilitze Casa
Libre by having us host its guest poets: one in October, and
four in April of next year. TPF will also have workshops and
readings at Casa in the spring of next year.
In November there will be a themed Open Mic Reading/Gath-
ering in the courtyards at Casa, as the community is invited
to Bring Out Your Dead and come dressed as a favorite
dead literary gure.

Casa will host other open mics, book release parties, and
special readings. Please visit the web site for updates.
may 2005
Despite the rain, by the end of May we are ready to open suite
Number Four. Amidst all the other chaos going on Ann and
Kristen manage to get the suite ready and rented for the sum-
mer. Few events and visiting writers
are scheduled during the month. In the
meantime the suites are rented to UA
interns and professors. Suite numbers
Two and Four are reserved for writing
guests, and the Poetry Centers Summer
Writer in Residence to come later in the
summer. In May, the library gets new
carpeting and is put back together for
upcoming classes.
april 2005
One week aer hosting a successful Open House/Open Mic
event in our center courtyards, Casa Libres oce, library, and
Anns and Kristens house are all ooded. A single night of
unexpected hard Spring rain leaves water gushing through
the vulnerable crevaces in the new roof decking. The roofers
leave for the weekend without puing protective tarps over
the new decking, and everything, even the cat, got soaked. We
run around covering everything with plastic tarping to save
what we can. Some things
are saved, but there is
also some loss. The rain
turns Kristen and Anns
lives upside down for the
next couple of months
as they are forced to live
and work out of one of
the writing suites until
all the water is removed,
damages are repaired, and everything is put in normal work-
ing/living order again.
The rain (or the loss as the insurance company calls it) puts
us a few months behind in our plans and work for Casa. We
have to cancel some reservations and even have one poet,
David Lee Strauss who comes as a guest of the POG read-
ing series, stay here while roofers and construction workers
knock noisily about all over the property. He is a gracious
guest, and said he enjoyed his stay in spite of the chaos.
The newsleer gets put on the back burner, to make way for
planning and scheduling of new classes, and Ann and Kristen
get ready to x up the next writing suite to open in May.
Summer 05 Writers Studio Class taking a break
julyaugust 2005
UA Poetry Centers Summer Writer
in Residence, poet Eric Abbot, from
Santa Fe, New Mexico, stays in Suite
Number Four for one month. Eric
writes everyday and swims in the
pool every night. Ann and Kristen
have the privalige of sharing many
nights in the courtyard sipping beer
and talking poetry, politics, and
punchlines with Eric.
In the beginning of the month our new front entrance gates
are installed, the 501(c)(3) application is mailed o, and Casa
joins the 4th Avenue Merchants Association.
june 2005
Casa Libre hosts its rst writing class with poet Eleanor
Kedney teaching a course for the 19-year old New York City
Writers Studio. This is the rst class held outside of NYC
ever, and is successful with nine people registered. The 10-
week class starts on June 6th and runs until August 15th.
Number Two
Number Four
Number Two was the one and only writing suite we had
for the rst year of operation. It is a one bedroom suite
with a king-size bed, a living room with a pullout couch,
and a writing desk. Number Two is closest to the library
and faces the pool and spa areas. Most of our writing
guests so far have stayed in Number Two. It is the only
suite with carpeting and an actual closet with a door.
We recommend Number Two to our taller guests who
need a roomier bed. As with all of the suites, there is
high-speed internet access, a fully stocked kitchen, cable
television, and a stereo that plays compact discs of your
liking. Number Two currently has three Suite Sponsors,
Jean Nelson, Wendy Traver, and Phillip Noto, who help
subsidize Casa Libre oering lower rates to non-prots
and other visiting writers.
Number Four has undergone the most dramatic repairs
and renovations. The spacious kitchen was once a dark
cluered storage room which we completely tore down
and rebuilt. It is a one bedroom suite with a queen-size
pillowtop bed. Number Four is located in the rear of the
property, and shares a comfy breezeway with Number
Five where guests oen congregate late into the mild
desert evenings while lounging in the wicker chairs out-
side their doors. The saltillo tile oors were laid down in
the bedroom and writing room where musty old carpet
once lay. This suite is now reserved through January of
2006 by various writing guests, and currently has one
suite sponsor, Stephanie Feingold from New York. New
suite sponsors are always welcome; see page 7 of this
newsleer for more information on Suite Sponsoring.
The Writing Suites
2
4
Visit the suites page on our website for more photos, rates, and reservation information
Page 4
Number Five Number Six
The Writing Suites
5
6
Number Five has had extensive adobe wall repairs and
was entirely rewired when we began xing it up. The
oors used to be covered with black vinyl squares, and
are now stained concrete. This suite holds a special place
in Anns heart as it seems to her the most comfortable and
intimate suite for a writer. It is a small one bedroom suite
with a full-size bed and a larger kitchen. Almost all day
the sun pours ltered light down through the skylight
over the writing desk. The kitchen is open and airy, and
has a locking metal screen door to let the cool desert
breeze in during fall nights. Number Five is across the
breezeway from Number Four. It has the same ameni-
ties as all the suties do. The following generous people
currently sponsor this suite: Deborah Shellenberger and
Stanley and Roxanne Aueri.
Number Six is the largest of the suites we now have avail-
able. It is a one bedroom with a full-size bed, kitchen,
bath, living, and breakfast rooms. The shower is the
largest of the four suites as well. This suite has saltillo
tiles throughout and a large skylight in the bedroom. It
is perhaps the most quiet and private suite of all. We put
the writing area in the room farthest from all activity.
The breakfast room has a picture window looking onto
the pool area. Its kind of a shotgun suite that starts by
the pool area and ends in the rear courtyard by the laun-
dryroomfront door by the pool and back door by the
rear courtyard where a picnic table and barbeque pit are
located. Our most private guests enjoy the seclusion this
suite provides. The following generous people sponsor
this suite: Anne Petrolito, Karin Oo, and Ida Malloy.
Visit the suites page on our website for more photos, rates, and reservation information
Page 5
Page 6
Fall 05Clas s es and Events
for more program information visit www.casalibre.org
All-day Intensive Bookbinding Workshops Beginner Level

Two separate weekend classes (open to all ages):
Saturday, November 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (w/one hour lunch break)
Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (w/one hour lunch break)
$75 fee includes a hand-made bookbinding loom, supplies, and your book
This class is open to anyone interested in making new books, or taking care of their old
books. Lee Street has studied bookbinding and book repair for many years. He used to teach
bookbinding classes at Antigone Books on Fourth Avenue. Now Lee brings his valuable
cra class and extensive book-care knowlege to Casa Libre. Students will produce their
own handbound book to keep, and Lee will provide each student with their own loom to
take home and continue using. These will be the rst in a series of classes to continue in
2006, including advanced bookbinding and book repair workshops.
Intensive Poetry Workshop with Megan Johnson
Six-week course begins Wednesday, November 6
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. * $200 for 6 weeks + $10 material fee ($50 deposit w/registration)
FREE presession/reading w/Megan - Weds., Oct. 26, 6:30 to 8:30
What makes a poem good or successful? This question is the basis for this poetry work-
shop, a seing where we will explore the relationship between the poems we write, ourselves
and our readers. Alongside working on our own poems, well read some contemporary poets
and discuss issues of cra, form, voice, and the line.
Megan Johnsons rst collection of poetry, The Waiting, won the 2004 Iowa Poetry Prize. She holds
an MFA from Iowa Writers Workshop, is the recipient of the Glenn Schaeer Award in Poetry,
and has published poems in Colorado Review, Antioch Review, Epoch, and Interim, among other
journals. She was recently a visiting professor at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. This fall, Johnson will also
teach a six-week course entitled Contemporary Lyric Poetry: A Workshop for the University of Arizona Poetry Center.
For registration forms and more information on our programs visit www.casalibre.org/
programs/programs.html, call 520-325-9145, or email casakeepers@casalibre.org.

Bring Out Your Dead Poetry Open MIC Themed/Costume Party Reading
Mark your calendars for Friday night, November 4th , 7 - Midnight, and save your Day of the Dead parade costumes for this
Open MIC. Come as your favorite dead poet, author, or famous ctional character who died in their story. There will be a
cover charge and refreshments served. All are welcome. Check the web site for more details coming soon.
Eleanor Kedney, a graduate of S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook, has been trained to teach The Writers
Studio method and now lives in Tucson. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in American
Poets & Poetry, NY Quarterly, Return of Puppy Poetry (sponsored by Borders Books), and Many
Mountains Moving. She is currently working on a book-length collection of poems.
The Writers Studioa 19-year old writing school based in New York Citys Greenwich Village
introduced its rst live program at Casa Libre last June with a highly successful 10-week creative
writing workshop. To launch its fall session, the writing school is oering a free introductory
class Tuesday, September 20th, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Eleanor Kedney, will explain the
method, share a writing exercise and read from her own poetry. Following the introductory
class, Eleanor will teach a live 10-week workshop in Fiction and Poetry, beginning September
27 th ($310 for a full 10-week cycle). Classes will meet on Tuesdays, from 6:30 8:30 PM at
Casa Libre. For more information about The Writers Studio, and to register for the class, visit:
www.writerstudio.com.
credit: judy ray
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About Our Suite Spons or Program and Our Spons ors
We also welcome Vice President, Lee Street, to the board
of directors. Lee currently teaches studio and digital arts
at Canyon del
Oro high school.
He has lived in
Tucson with his
wife Kate since
1998. He earned
his BFA in arts
education from
the University
of Arizona, and
has worked with
such arts education programs in Tucson as the Arizona Mini
Arts Academy. Lee is a photographer, printmaker, book-
binder, and the proud father of his and Kates new daughter
Zora. We are especially fortunate to have Lees high energy
and endless creative skills to add to Casa Libres eorts.
Newes t Members of the Board
Casa is pleased to welcome our
new co-treasurer, Jaime Chandler.
Jaime has lived in Tucson for 10
years. She owns her own home
from which she runs her private
bodywork clinic, The Bamboo
Room where she gives shiatsu
and massage treatments to clients.
She teaches and practices at The
Providence Institute, and is a DJ on
the side. Jaime is a dedicated, en-
thusiastic, and commied addition
to our board. We look forward to
gaining from her experience serv-
ing on other boards such as a local
neighborhood gardening program
Spirit of Service.
Jaime Chandler
Co-treasurer
FOR ALL WRITERS, A ROOM OF ONES OWN IS A VITAL RESOURCE ~ at Casa Libre we not only pro-
vide the room, we also provide other important resources to help writers and non-prot groups succeed. With
a monthly pledge you can play a vital role in supporting writers and non-prots in Tucson. We oer a unique
way to participate by inviting you to become a Writing Suite Sponsor. When you become a Suite Sponsor you
pledge to send a monthly donation of $10 or more to help keep Casa Libre going throughout the year. As a thank
you for your sponsorship Casa Libre will give you a number of free nights stay in the writing suites per 12 month
pledge, and other benets depending on your pledge level. Sponsors can use the suite stays for themselves, for a
personal guest, or may opt to donate them to writers in need. Here are the options for becoming a Suite Sponsor:
Henry David Thoreau Sponsor: For a pledge of $10 to $49 per month for 12 months Thoreau Sponsors receive 2 nights of
free stay per year.
Emily Dickenson Sponsor: For a pledge of $50 to $99 per month for 12 months Dickenson Sponsors receive 4 nights free
stay (consecutive or not) during any available regular week.
Virginia Woolf Sponsor: For a pledge of $100 or more per month for 12 months Woolf Sponsors may aend one class of-
fered at Casa Libre for free and receive one full week (7 days, consecutive or not) free stay per year in any suite available.
To nd out more about our suite sponsor program email: casakeepers@casalibre.org, or call: 520-325-9145. Give us your
name and address and we will mail you a detailed brochure and a pledge form. Please visit the Donations page on our web
site to nd out about other ways to give to Casa Libre. Casa Libre en la Solana is a registered not-for-prot organization in
the state of Arizona, and is soley supported by suite rentals and donations.
Casa Libre thanks the following Suite Sponsors who help support
the writing suites with their monthly contributions:
Jean Nelson, NY
Stephanie Feingold, NY
Phillip Noto, NY
Wendy Traver, NY
Ida Molloy, NY
Stanley and Roxanne Aueri, NY
Anne Petrolito, FL
Deborah Shellenberger, NJ
Karin Oo, FL
Lee Street
Vice President
Page 8
www.casalibre.org
228 N. Fourth Ave. #2
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 325-9145
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Casa Libre en la Solana is a not-for-prot community re-
source center and inn for professional and novice writers.
Our mission is to contribute to the development of a more
cohesive literary culture in Tucson, by acting as a physical
hub where smaller independently functioning groups may
nd refuge and helpful connections. Casa Libre aims to
build symbiotic relationships with individuals and local
established literary and non-prot groups in order to fa-
cilitate connections between these groups and the public.
Casas primary service is to provide low-rental writing
suites furnished especially to serve the needs of writers
and scholars who desire private writing space away from
home. We provide an onsite special reference library
(non-lending) for further study and writing support. We
provide and manage a physical venue and classroom
space. We host meetings, workshops, literacy programs
and other events concerned with arts and leers.
_______________________________________________
upcoming events to take note of:
September 27 - Writers Studio class begins
November 2 - Intensive Poetry Workshop begins
November 4 - Bring Out Your Dead Open MIC
November 26 - One-day Bookbinding Workshop
Vist www.casalibre.org for detailed information on all of Casa
Libres events, programs, and latest news.