This week our Writers in the Schools (WITS) program got off to a great start at Kasuun Elementary in Anchorage, where Teeka Ballas, publisher of F Magazine, taught two classes on “Feature Writing” to 6th graders. We’re told the students didn’t want to leave, and that Teeka was mobbed for autographs!
The WITS program continues this month and next at four other elementary schools, each of which will have their own writer visiting for a week to teach a particular topic. Coming up next: Carol Loftfield will teach “Shifting Perspective: Tools for Imaginative Writing” to Grades 1-6 at Turnagain Elementary, and Kelsea Habecker will work on poetry with 6th graders at Kasuun Elementary. More to follow!
The WITS program has been funded by the Anchorage School District Title 1 program and Kasuun Elementary PTA.
Katey Schultz has arrived in Anchorage, where she will be teaching a Submission Workshop for us on Tuesdays, from February 7 through 28. Katey has been traveling around the country for more than two years, participating in writing residencies and teaching the craft to writers of all ages, and her three-year odyssey will end in August 2012. She comes to Anchorage this time from North Carolina by way of the Island Institute in Sitka. Be sure to stop by her Reading and Craft Talk at Metro Books next week, on Wednesday, February 8, 7-8:30pm, to learn more about her current manuscript, “Flashes of War” – a collection of stories involving characters in and around the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On February 1, Eowyn Ivey’s book launch for The Snow Child at the Colony Inn turned out to be the biggest literary event Palmer has ever seen! Sales were brisk and the Inn was packed with fiction fans seeking her signature, including neighbors from Chickaloon and even her high school teachers. Everyone in the Valley is thrilled with her success, and we wish her well on her upcoming book tour of the United Kingdom.
For a comprehensive calendar of literary events throughout Alaska, visit http://www.alaskalitevents.com/.
Tonight, Friday February 3, 7pm, The Alaska Quarterly Review First Friday Series will feature Jeff Silverman, reading selections from the Fall 2011 edition of the Alaska Quarterly Review. Musical Guest will be the UAA Jazz Combo, including the talents of Arkady Futerman, Chad Meyer, Carlos Alvarez, Andrea Maglinger, Sujin Scott. Brave the cold and come out for the warmth of a cafe among friends! Sponsored by the Alaska Quarterly Review, the AQR First Friday Series brings together creative voices in visual, performing and literary arts. Jitters Cafe,11401 Old Glenn Hwy, Eagle River.
Tonight, Friday February 3, 7pm, the University of Alaska Fairbanks English department presents poet Nicole Stellon O’Donnell as part of the 2011-2012 Midnight Sun Visiting Writer Series. Wood Center Ballroom, UAF Campus.
Don’t forget the deadline for the 18th Annual Statewide Poetry Contest sponsored by the Fairbanks Arts Association: it’s 6pm, Monday February 6. The purpose of the contest is to encourage, publicize, and reward the writing of high quality poetry. Winners of the contest will be invited to read at a scheduled event in their honor on March 10, 2012 at 5:00pm. Entries will be accepted in
Adult, High School and Middle and Elementary School Categories.
On Thurdsay, February 9, 7.30pm, UAA Student Activities presents Dan Savage in “Savage Love Live.” Dan Savage delivers his unique brand of sex advice in the wildly popular “Savage Love,” an internationally syndicated column read by millions of people every weeks. Wendy Williamson Auditorium, 2533 Providence Drive, Anchorage.
This event has been known to sell out quickly! Pricing information not available at time of posting round-up: contact events@uaa.alaska.edu or call (907) 786 1219.
On Thursday, February 9, 6pm, Juneau author Lynn Schooler will discuss the process of writing his first book, The Blue Bear, after the death of his friend, celebrated wildlife photographer Michio Hoshino, and describe the laborious process of turning that memoir into a script for a play. Wilda Marston Theatre, Loussac Library, 3600 Denali St, Anchorage.
Don’t forget that the deadline for the 30th Annual Statewide Creative Writing Contest, sponsored by the Anchorage Daily News and UAA, is 5.30pm, Friday February 10th.
Former CWLA program co-ordinator at UAA Kathleen Tarr has an interview with poet, Linda McCarriston, published in TriQuarterly (online) via Northwestern University:
http://triquarterly.org/interviews/linda-mccarriston-interview. McCarriston teaches poetry in UAA’s MFA Program. In the TriQuarterly interview, McCarriston shares her perspective on teaching poetry, and discusses poetry’s often overlooked role as an utterance of public speech and power.
Call for Submissions: Alaska Women Speak is a quarterly journal currently soliciting prose and poetry from Alaskan women. The editorial staff is currently
reviewing submissions of previously unpublished poetry, fiction, book reviews, and essays to include in its upcoming 19th year of publication. Preference for submissions is 1200 words or less. Art is also welcome for cover consideration including photography and other forms of mixed media.
Their spring theme is “ADVENTURES IN FOREIGN LANDS”. Deadline for
submissions is February 15, 2012.
E-mail submissions are preferred and should be sent as text or as a Word attachment via e-mail to: alaskawomenspeak@yahoo.com. Handwritten submissions will also be considered and may be mailed to: Alaska Women Speak, P.O. Box 210045, Anchorage, Alaska 99521-0045