And now for the non-personal stuff, all of it good: Gail Palmer of Art Services North is looking for Alaska authors wanting to do readings at a major public celebration of Alaska statehood, on January 3, 2009. She writes: “The Anchorage Commission, 50 Years will be coordinating entertainment (including the author readings) for one of […]
Email and internet detox, specifically. I decided last week that November is going to be THE MONTH for getting a ton of writing done, and step one toward that goal is curbing some of my online habits. My own rule for November is this: write 2000 words or write without interruption for 4 hours or
I’m in media detox, day four… anyone want to join me? Read More »
What’s the hardest part of writing a novel? In A New Chapter in Our Lives, YA author May Vanderbilt posts about how she struggles with a book’s beginning. In contrast, I love beginning. The project feels fresh and new. It’s fun to work and rework the first few chapters, discovering people and places that inhabit
Scene last night from Anchorage, Alaska, after the incredible speech by President-Elect Obama: walking from a campaign party through frozen city streets with a growing crowd of friends and acquaintances, including a group of recent African immigrants from Sudan and elsewhere. Sudanese refugees waving American flags and getting hugs from nearly every group of delirious,
You don’t understand me. Leave me alone. It’s not my fault. That’s not fair. I need money. If you’ve parented a teenager – or if you’re honest about having been one yourself – you recognize these refrains. Having spent many years teaching as well as reading and writing about them, I must say there’s nothing
Today marks the 2nd anniversary of my favorite tell-it-like-it-is-from-behind-the-desk litblog, editorialass.blogspot.com, authored by an anonymous editor named Moonrat. I’m taking part in a special temporary surprise-party blog set up by a group of loyal blog-followers to celebrate that milestone, and you’re cordially invited to stop by and enter some contests. There’s haiku, there’s karaoke (don’t
Happy 2nd Anniversary Moonrat! — with a contest link Read More »
Today we’re all authors. If you haven’t already, get out and vote in this historic election. Alaska, the nation is watching.
Source: United States Election Project and other sources. VAP is voting-age population. VEP is total voting-eligible population (a smaller group than voting-age population.) In either case, the records for voter turnout were set in 1908 (about 66 %) and in 1960 (about 64%). Some experts think we could hit close to 80 percent this election.
This arrived from writer Ellen Bielawski, recently profiled on these pages, just in time to run before Tuesday… Ever since the August morning when I stepped out of a portapotty at a campground to the sound of my partner shouting “McCain picked Palin!,” every aspect of my Canadian life has been subjugated to “You’re from
Normally I figure I’m beyond the adolescent angstiness of worrying what others think, but in the face of tomorrow’s election I’ve regressed. “What will the rest of the country think of Alaska,” I fret, “if we re-elect a convicted felon and a buffoon who has spent a million dollars on legal defense? And if they
