The sad news, as we shared yesterday, is the passing of one of our finest Alaska writers, John Haines. For more on John’s life and work, read our recent posts here and here. It may be early, but some of us are wondering about the best way to honor him. If you have thoughts, please share.
It’s First Friday, and tonight from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art at 427 D St. in Anchorage, our own Don Rearden will sign copies of his debut novel The Raven’s Gift, an apocalyptic story of survival set in the Alaska wilderness. Published by Penguin Canada, the novel is available in limited U.S. locations, and this is one. Rearden, by the way, is also a produced screenwriter (his Screenwriting 101 begins March 15), a published poet, and a professor at UAA.
Our new “Raven Words” program — two weeks of youth creative writing classes — is fledging the nest, and that means we need a few excellent instructors. Go to our website for program and position details; applications accepted until March 15.
At the recently updated website, you’ll find lots of other news as well:
Registration has just opened for our 49 Writers Tutka Bay Retreat. Last year’s retreat filled within a few weeks, so check out the details (and early bird rates) now. Featuring the same world-class setting, lodging and meals (with thanks always to Carl and Kirsten Dixon of Within the Wild Adventure Company), this year’s Sept. 2-5 event is a night longer than last year’s, and we’re very excited that it will be led by Dani Shapiro, bestselling author of the memoirs Devotion and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, One Story, Elle, The New York Times Book Review, The Los Angeles Times, and has been widely anthologized.
Can’t wait until fall to get some writing inspiration? You shouldn’t have to! We have room in our next four classes, including Don Rearden’s Alaskan Screenwriting 101, mentioned above, starting March 15.
We also have an unpcoming write-a-thon event on Friday, April 8 at Snow City Cafe. Yes, it’s our most important fundraiser of the year, but it’s also a chance to challenge yourself to write for 4.9 hours, while celebrating our writing community in a festive setting, with prizes, celebrity guests, and lots of irreverent fun promised. More details soon.
Today, Friday March 4th at 7pm, Alaska State Writer Laureate Peggy Shumaker will be giving a reading in Homer: UAA Kachemak Bay Campus, Pioneer Ave.
Today, Friday March 4th, at 7pm, the Alaska Quarterly Review presents its First Friday Reading: an evening of readings and eclectic music. Jitters, 11401 Old Glenn Hwy, Eagle River, AK
Today, Friday March 4th, at 7pm, the UAF Visiting Writers Series presents poet Cecily Parks. UAF Museum of the North.
On Saturday, March 5th at 7 p.m., Lance Twitchell and John Morgan are reading at the Bear Gallery, Pioneer Park, Fairbanks.
On Monday March 14, from 5:00pm-7:00pm, UAA Campus Bookstore presents From Eve’s Herbs to The Pill: The History of Empowering Women through Contraception.
Betty Bang and Geran Tarr present an overview of women’s choices and attitudes toward reproductive health . This event is sponsored by UAA Student Health and Counseling Center, UAA Campus Bookstore, and Alliance for Reproductive Justice.
On Tuesday March 15, from 5:00pm-7:00pm, UAA Campus Bookstore presents
Fishing in Bristol Bay: Past, Present, and Future.
Fishing in Bristol Bay: Past, Present, and Future.
Panelists include author Dave Atcheson (Kenai Peninsula College/UAA), Tim Troll, Director of SW Alaska Programs for The Nature Conservancy; Biologist Dr. Carol Ann Woody (US Geological Survey; UAF); and Melvin Brown, Bristol Bay subsistence and commercial fisherman. Everyone is invited to hear about controversial and sensitive issues surrounding Bristol Bay, Alaska.
The submissions deadline for the Summer Solstice 2011 issue of Cirque is approaching, on March 21st. Please send your best work and a brief bio.
Prose, no more than 10 pages; 2-4 poems; artwork, photos in JPEG.
Electronic submissions only.
Please attach a Word document to email or include within the body of the email; use 12pt font in a common, easy to read typeface (Times, Arial, etc.)
title your email “poetry submission,” “fiction submission,” “play submission,” “non-fiction submission,” etc.
Submissions will be recycled. Replies average two to three months.
Send inquiries and electronic submissions only to: cirquejournal@yahoo.com
The second annual North Words Writers Symposium in Skagway, June 1-4, is now open for registration. The faculty has been completed with the inclusion of Elisabeth Dabney of the University of Alaska Press, and the keynote speaker will be best-selling nonfiction writer Harold Blum
conference contact: Buckwheat Donahue, 907 983 2854.
Dana Stabenow’s latest novel, Though Not Dead
, rocketed out of the gate at Number 16 on the New York Times bestseller list and is already into a second printing!
, rocketed out of the gate at Number 16 on the New York Times bestseller list and is already into a second printing!Congratulations to Fairbanksian Sue Ann Bowling, whose novel Homecoming got 2nd place in the Science Fiction category of the ReaderViews awards.
Hi, just an additional heads-up. Lance Twitchell and I are reading tonight (Saturday) at the Bear Gallery, Pioneer Park, Fairbanks at 7 p.m.
John Morgan
Thanks, John. Sorry we missed that…I've added it to the main body of the round-up as well.