Required Reading: "Just Before the Black" by James Franco

It's rare these days that a talented actor can be found in Hollywood - save for those of old. Enter James Franco: At first, I think nothing of him. He's just the pretty boy cast to play Peter Parker's best friend in Spider-Man. Like any nerd, this deeply insults me.

Still there's something alluring about James Franco that I can't quite point out - at least, not during the first movie. Two Spider-Man sequels later, I watch a little film called Pineapple Express where Franco plays drug dealer/best friend to the main character played by that fat guy whose name I hardly remember. Then it hits me: James Franco has talent. Fuck that - he's brimming with talent. He's a guy who's not using the term actor loosely in this world of Robert Pattinsons. 

Then an explosion of sorts happens when I discover the April 2010 issue of Esquire in my mailbox one afternoon. Not only is the ever sexy Tina Fey on the cover, but within its pages also lies a short story by one James Franco. Surely this cannot be the James Franco who has won our hearts over the years. No man can have that much talent, right? 

I turned to page 20 only to find out that yes, it is that James Franco. I also learned that he's coming out with a book called Palo Alto this coming October, published by Scribner.  It's a collection of short stories and I'm guessing that "Just Before the Black" is one of its features. Steady now - we all know that actors want to be more than just actors and usually fail at doing their moonlighting jobs. Could James Franco be a great writer? 

I wasn't even done with the piece when I called El Senor and told him he had to go out and buy a copy of Esquire only to read the story. Hell, I'd lend him mine if he didn't want to pay for it. Because James Franco is a great writer, or at least he has promise of being a great writer. 

In this short story, James writes about life right before death. Only someone with great talent can pull this off. I tip my hat to you, James. Well played, hombre.

Chocolate lovers theme

We weren't exactly the motley crew I was expecting, but we were all in attendance even if some of us (El Senor) didn't read. Richard Sanchez, as always, proved a better MC that I'll ever be. The night's theme was Chocolate Lovers, which was completely obvious by the oddles of chocolate candy thrown about - no complaints here, people.

The Texas Rio Writers, led by author Jan Seale, I believe, was also in attendance. They presented and read from their recently published anthology, Valleysong. They included Richard Sanchez, Siân Taylor Gonzalez - the one with the British accent - Jim Evins - who read from his collection of essays, A Happy Man - Ann Greenfield, Olga Valle-Herr and Jan Seale herself. Also in attendance and a part of the anthology, was Dr. Anne Estevis - a dear friend of mine and retired educator (though, as I've seen, one never truly retires from education). I had Anne's book, Down Garrapata Road, in my bag - the copy belonging to my mother who wanted Anne to sign it. Amado Balderas, another good friend of mine, also made an appearance and, as they say, was our the-best-is-saved-for-last reader.

Several other writers were in attendance and read. The night started off with the young writers of the Valley, which included Anne Estevis's granddaughter, Richard Sanchez's son and one little girl whose name escapes me. I read my short story, "12 Notes to my 12-Year-Old Self," which details an awkward period of my life and the receiving of my first love letter from a secret admirer.

All in all, it was a great night of reading, amour, humor and experience. For me, these readings aren't just a gathering of friends. They are a family reunion.