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| Publisher Vered Mares with two of her authors, Kris Farmen and Martha Amore |
Another book launch to remember! Between Don Rearden’s musical extravaganza for The Raven’s Gift on June 27 and last night’s party for Weathered Edge (a trio of novellas by Kris Farmen, Martha Amore, and Buffy McKay), complete with roller girls, music by Jonathan Bower, and art by Dave Kennicott and Indra Arriaga, the bar has been set impressively high. It was wonderful to see so many turn out on such a fine summer evening to support the success of these local authors — but, hey, Alaskans do like to party, and we’ve had several fine books to celebrate this year already. After Kris and Martha read from their work, sales were brisk! Although Buffy couldn’t travel from Rhode Island to be there, her sister read an excerpt with the appropriate McKay spirit. Thanks to the Amores for hosting and to Vered Mares of VP&D House for organizing the bash.
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| Jonathan Bower, Don Rearden, and Susanna Mishler (whose collection of poetry, Termination Dust, will be published in 2014 by Boreal Books/Red Hen Press — another launch to look forward to) |
Talking of The Raven’s Gift, if you missed Don Rearden on Talk of Alaska with Steve Heimel earlier this week, you can listen here. Look for it too on 360 North, Alaska’s public affairs TV channel, Saturdays at 5pm. The Kindle version will be out next week.
In conjuction with the UAA MFA Summer Residency, the Northern Renaissance Arts & Sciences Readings begin on Sunday, July 14, 8pm at UAA’s Rasmuson Hall 101, with keynote Linda Hogan. All readings begin at 8pm in Rasmuson 101.
- Monday, July 15: Elizabeth Bradfield, John P. O’Grady, Anne Caston
- Tuesday, July 16: Contributions to Literacy in Alaska awards presentation, Rich Chiappone, Andromeda Romano-Lax
- Wednesday, July 17: Graduating Students read
- Thursday, July 18: Zack Rogow, Valerie Miner
- Saturday, July 20: Gary Freeburg, Craig Childs
- Sunday, July 21: David Stevenson, Ed Allen, Linda McCarriston
- Monday, July 22: Carolyn Turgeon, Eva Saulitis, Joan Kane
- Tuesday, July 23: Sherry Simpson, Nancy Lord, Jo-Ann Mapson
Tuesday, July 16, 7-8:30pm, Loussac Library, the Alaska Writers Guild monthly meeting features the Grammar Game. Whether you’re a grammar champion or it’s your Achilles’ Heel, join the fun and see how you fare. There will be prizes!
At the UAA Campus
Bookstore:
Bookstore:
- Friday, July 12, 4-6pm: Tracks & Treks features Alaskan authors
George Harbeson (Homesteaders in the Headlights), Marguerita
McManus (Sew & Quilt in Comfort and Crazy
Shortcut Quilts), and Tam Linsey (Botanicaust and cookbook You
Can Eat This!), who will come together to read and discuss their
books, works in progress, and their deep connections to Alaska. - July 17, 1-3pm:
Gary Freeburg, photographer extraordinaire and author of Valley of
Ten Thousand Smokes will share stories about living with
volcanoes, Katmai, and Alaska geology. - July 18, 4-6pm:
Tom Reed presents his book Moved by a Mountain: Inspiration from
an Alpine View in Alaska. Tom’s ability to expose the magnificence of
“The Throneroom” through his photography and prose is a
remarkable feat, and his book a gift to hold and to share. - July 24, 4-6pm: Weathered Edge: Three Alaskan Novellas. Kris Farmen and Martha Amore come
together to read and discuss their stories in Weathered Edge, published by VP&D House.
All UAA Campus Bookstore
events are free and open to the public. There is free parking for bookstore
events in the South Lot, the West Campus Central Lot (behind Rasmuson Hall),
and in the Sports Lot. Find out about future events here. If you missed an interesting event, check
out the UAA Campus Bookstore podcasts here.
events are free and open to the public. There is free parking for bookstore
events in the South Lot, the West Campus Central Lot (behind Rasmuson Hall),
and in the Sports Lot. Find out about future events here. If you missed an interesting event, check
out the UAA Campus Bookstore podcasts here.
Saturday, July 13, 7pm, Fairbanks Arts Association Bear Gallery hosts an Alaska Writers
Guild reading featuring Scott Sexton, Priscilla Delgado, Laura Lancaster, and
Amy Jane Helmericks.
Guild reading featuring Scott Sexton, Priscilla Delgado, Laura Lancaster, and
Amy Jane Helmericks.
Friday, July 19, 7pm at Auke Rec (Auke Bay) Woosh Kinaadeiyi will host the monthly BBQ and poetry slam, hosted by Jacque Boucher and Christy NaMee Eriksen. A non-competitive open mic will precede the poetry slam. Poets and performers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Sign up to read at 5:30pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring food to share. Rides from downtown and the valley are available. Volunteers welcome (contact jacque.boucher@gmail.com if interested in helping out). Woosh Kinaadeiyi is a local nonprofit dedicated to diversity, inclusive community, and empowering voice.
Congratulations are in order: Tom Kizzia’s Pilgrim’s Wilderness has just been named a Top 10 Recommended Book for July by Barnes & Noble and a Top 10 Best Book of July by the Apple Store! You can catch up with Tom on July 23, 7pm, Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, when he will discuss this true story of
modern-day Alaskan homesteaders and the chilling secrets of the family’s
spellbinding patriarch, Papa Pilgrim. Free admission. Book signing follows.
modern-day Alaskan homesteaders and the chilling secrets of the family’s
spellbinding patriarch, Papa Pilgrim. Free admission. Book signing follows.
Join Anchorage nature writer and author Bill Sherwonit on Saturday, July 26, when he’ll lead a writing workshop, “Writing the Chugach.” Participants will join Bill on a day-long hike into the Chugach Mountains to learn more about both Anchorage’s “backyard wilderness” and the writing process, from observation to note-taking and journal-keeping, and finally to story. The $125 fee includes pre- and post-trip meetings, a day in the Chugach Mountains, and essay critique. To sign up or for more information, contact him at 245-0283 or akgriz@hotmail.com.
The Aesthetica Creative Writing Competition, now in its sixth year, offer both existing and aspiring writers the chance to showcase their work to a wide, international audience, deadline August 31. The competition celebrates and nurtures creative talent and previous entrants have gone on to achieve success and recognition across the world. Writers and poets are invited to submit their work into either category: Short Fiction and Poetry. Submissions previously published elsewhere are accepted. Each winner receives £500, publication in the Aesthetic Creative Writing Annual, and a selection of books from competition partner organizations.