Deb: 49 Writers weekly round-up

He’s not technically Alaskan, but he used to be, and he’s (unintentionally) adding to this week’s discussion of online vs. in-person promotion by getting his photo in Publisher’s Weekly PW Daily, emailed daily (for free) to subscribers – not once, but twice.  You might recall that Erik Brooks, illustrator of my Totem Tale, returned to Anchorage a couple of weeks ago for a series of school visits.  He submitted this photo to PW Daily, and on Monday they zapped it to all their subscribers with this caption:  “Erik Brooks, author and illustrator of Polar Opposites (Marshall Cavendish), recently returned from a 5-day school tour in Anchorage, Ala. During a stop at Taku Elementary on January 14 Brooks reconnected with his own second grade teacher, Eileen Apodoca, now a Title 1 Reading Specialist.”  A few months ago, PW Daily featured a photo of Brooks with other winners of a Jacketflap contest.  Moral:  it’s not that tough to get free online publicity, at least if you’re a good-looking guy like Erik who’ll take a few minutes to submit a photo to PW Daily.

Speaking of online promotion, Ketchikan’s long-time public radio show  “Booktalk” is now available in a digital format at www.krbd.org under the link “downloadable KRBD.”  Ketchikan librarian Charlotte Glover, who has hosted the show for nineteen of its thirty-some years, says it’s a thirty-minute broadcast, primarily for adults but kid-appropriate, that features library, book and publishing news, best-sellers, and a book review/excerpt each week. Maybe we should talk to Charlotte about going statewide???

Ever wonder why your book or writing news doesn’t land here?  Easy answer:  you didn’t tell us about it.  Andromeda and I are both tied up with that pesky daily grind of churning out our own writing, leaving little time to ferret out news for this round-up.  What we get comes mostly from you, our readers.  For instance, as a follow-up to Nancy Lord’s recent 49 Writers guest post on the special literary edition of The Northern Review, UAA Bookstore manager wrote to tell us that you can get copies of The Northern Review at the bookstore.  Thanks, Rachel!

The Alaska Center for the Book has announced winners in its 2009 Contributions to Literacy in Alaska Awards (CLIA). The awards, established in 1993, recognize people and institutions who have made a significant contribution in literacy, the literary arts, or the preservation of the written or spoken word in Alaska.  Included are Ed Bovy and Alissa Crandall of Anchorage, honored for the Read Alaska book fair held each winter at the Anchorage Museum. For seventeen years, the Greatland Graphics publishing team has volunteered to organize the event, an annual showcase for Alaskan authors, illustrators and publishers.

Carol Swartz was also honored for her efforts in establishing the Kachemak Bay Writers Conference, held each June in Homer.  In addition, Anne Coray of Port Alsworth, author of several poetry books and chapbooks, as well as non-fiction work on Alaska and the environment, was recognized for the creation of Northshore Press, a small literary publishing house run from her home on the shores of Lake Clark.  We’ll try to bring you interviews with each of this honorees in the weeks ahead.

Poet Sandra Kleven, host of our 49 Writers poetry discussion earlier this month, reports that you can now view production stills for her film “Where is Ted Roethke?”, which she recently finished shooting at the Blue Moon tavern in Seattle.  For more on the film – you can even get t-shirts! – visit http://www.heartworksak.net/roethke.html.

In a comment attached to our recent post about the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award, there was mention of the Kiriyama Prize, with Alaskans as winners or finalists is years past.  Currently, the Kiriyama Prize is being restructured, and entries are not being accepted.

On a more positive note, the Wrangell Mountains Writing Workshop “Creative Cross-pollinations” (July 17-24, 2010) is accepting registrations for this summer’s sessions in McCarthy, Alaska, featuring Frank Soos, Margo Klass, Nancy Cook, Jonathon Gray and Maria Shell. Prince William Sound Community College.  Surrounded by the mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. While crafting original writings, participants will help piece a community quilt and produce non-traditional book structures.  Other activities include individual conferences, staff and participant readings, and guided opportunities to explore the area. Limited to 14 participants, workshop fees of $595.00 include meals and camping.

The UAA Low-Residency MFA Program pleased announces that poet and novelist Kim Addonizio will be this summer’s keynote speaker.  Addonizio’s fifth poetry collection, Lucifer at the Starlite, was recently published by W.W. Norton., and her collection Tell Me was a National Book Award Finalist.  Addonizio has also authored two instructional books on writing poetry: The Poet’s Companion (with Dorianne Laux), and Ordinary Genius: A Guide for the Poet Within, both from W.W. Norton. Her first novel, Little Beauties, was chosen as “Best Book of the Month” by Book of the Month Club. My Dreams Out in the Street, her second novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in 2007. You may read more about her at: .  In conjunction with UAA’s MFA Summer Residency, July 10-22, 2010, Kim Addonizio is tentatively scheduled to give a free, public author reading on the evening of Sunday, July 11, 2010.

Alaskan author, movie maker, and musher Rod Perry will speak Tuesday, February 16th at 7 p.m., at Barnes and Noble in Anchorage for the monthly meeting of the Alaska Writers’ Guild.  The Guild is also sponsoring a second seminar on writing, with Professor Lee Goodman presenting on character at the Anchorage YWCA on Saturday, Feb. 20 and Feb. 27.  The cost is $60 for members and $75 for non-members. 

Young writers:  check out Inkpop, the new Harper site that offers opportunities to connect and possibly publish.