Hard to believe, but our 49 Writers Fall 2011 Literary Season is winding down. We’ll celebrate the great work of our students and others at a 49 Writers Open Mic on Thursday, November 10, 7-9 pm at the 49 Writers’ Cafe at Out North Contemporary Art House at 3800 De Barr Road in Anchorage. If you are interested in reading, email 49WritersOpenMic@gmail.com. Include your name and the genre you plan to read (poetry, fiction, or nonfiction) plus a two to three sentence bio, including your achievements as a writer. November is also our volunteer appreciation month, so during the Open Mic event, we’ll also take a few moments to recognize our great 49 Writers volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you!
Mark your calendars, too, for the 49 Writers Café open studio from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, November 13. Free Raven’s Brew coffee if you bring your 49 Writers membership card.
Thanks to a bunch of fabulous WYAK volunteers, especially Hillary Walker, Stefanie Tatalias, and Cynthia Monroe, we’ve had a nice turnout for our young writers workshops and young writers groups at Teen Underground. Next up: a WYAK Teen Underground Poetry Workshop on Saturday, November 12 at 1 pm. Whether you write poems feverishly or you’ve never written one, you’re invited to join the fun with an award-winning poet. The workshop is for young writers ages 15-18, and registration is required. Visit www.wyakwriters.com or see our Facebook event for details.
And speaking of WYAK, a big congrats to Hannah O’Brien and Naomi Fale, first and second place winners respectively in the WYAK Kids These Days contest. Their writing will be featured on the radio, and they’ll each receive a Kids These Days! tote bag.
Are you a writer, a fan of writers, or perhaps as obsessed with building an Alaskan writing community as we are? If so, you might be the person 49 Writers is looking for! We’re searching for an Executive Director to help build and sustain our incredible little non-profit. For a full job description and information on how to apply, go to http://www.49writingcenter.org and look for the downloadable .pdf document toward the bottom of the home page. The Board is accepting applications through November 22.
For a comprehensive calendar of literary events throughout Alaska, visit http://www.alaskalitevents.com/.
Today (November 4) is First Friday, and Alaska Quarterly Review presents its series at Jitters, 11401 Old Glenn Highway, Eagle River, tonight, 7-8.30pm. Contributor Marybeth Holleman will be reading her new essay “350 Pounds” from the Fall and Winter 2011 edition. The musical guest will be singer-songwriter Melanie Trost. Admission is free.
Tomorrow, Saturday November 5, 7pm, the Fairbanks Arts Association presents a reading by James Engelhardt as part of the 2011 Literary Series. Engelhardt will read poems from his unpublished collection, “Boomtown:” recent poems inspired by his move to Alaska, and short selections from his current nonfiction project exploring the word of board games. Bear Gallery, Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer park, 2300 Airport Way. Free and open to all. For more information, call Anna at (907 456 6485 ext. 227.
On Tuesday, November 8, 4pm, Loussac Library in Anchorage presents Sophie’s Stories. Storyteller Sophie Mizak-Goozmer, who has worked for the Anchorage Public Library for 36 years, weaves together events and people from her Yupik upbringing, featuring aspects of village and family life, blended with the humor and love between mother and daughter. This program is for youth aged 8 and up, through adult. Loussac Public Library, Storytheater, Level 2.
On Thursday, November 10, 11.30am, the Alaska Association of Environmental Professionals Meeting will feature writers Bill Streever and our own Deb Vanasse, in a presentation titled “Writing for Environmental Professionals: Tips fro 49 Writers/49 Alaska Writing Center and Lessons Learned from Writing the Best-Selling “Cold: Adventures in the World’s Frozen Places.”” The meeting is open to the public and will take place at the BP Energy Center (Fir/Spruce/Willow Room), 900 E. Benson Blvd, Anchorage (Seward Hwy between 36th and Benson).
On Sunday, November 13, Noon-4pm, Juneau’s Woosh Kinaadeiyk spoken word group will host their first ever Writers’ Retreat. Connect with fellow writers in a relaxed, supportive environment. There will be some facilitated exercises, and this is an opportunity to start new work, generate new ideas, make new friends. The retreat will open with a potluck lunch, so please bring something to share and register early, so the organizers know how much food to prepare! Contact info@canvasarts.org or (907) 586 1750. The cost is $10, and scholarships are available. The Canvas, 223 Seward Street, Juneau.
On Tuesday, November 15 at 8.30am AK time (12.30 EDT), Alaska’s National Book Award Finalist Debby Dahl Edwardson and four other writers will be reading from their books and fielding questions from teen reporters as part of the National Book Awards Teen Press Conference. It will be streaming live from Scholastic Books in NYC–you can register to view the live stream at the Conference Website.
Registration is open for the 2012 Alaska Arts and Culture Conference in Anchorage, which will take place January 12-14. The conference is intended for artists, arts organization staff, volunteers, board members and arts educators. Early registration ends December 1, and carries the premium of discounted admission, entertainment tickets, and pre-conference workshop. Sponsored by the Alaska State Council on the Arts in partnership with the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation. Support provided by Wells Fargo, the Rasmuson Foundation and ConocoPhillips Alaska.
Preparations are underway for next year’s Kachemak Bay Writer’s Conference in Homer. See the website for full information about this year’s faculty. Also, check out their Facebook page and “like” it!