Thanks to all who turned out for our 49 Writers Open Mic and Volunteer Appreciation event last night, with special thanks to volunteers Eric Larson and Debbie Moderow for hosting. Good fun! And remember there’s open studio this Sunday, November 13, from 1 to 4 pm at the 49 Writers Café at Out North, 3800 DeBarr. All writers are welcome; drop by with your laptop or notebook, work on a project, visit with fellow writers, and if you’re a member, have a cup of Raven’s Brew coffee on us.
Writers ages 15-18, don’t forget the WYAK Teen Underground Poetry Workshop tomorrow, November 12 at 1pm on the third floor of the Loussac Library. Whether you write poems feverishly or you’ve never written one, you’re invited to join the fun with an award-winning poet. If you haven’t registered yet, you can do so on-site. Visit www.wyakwriters.com or see our Facebook event for details.
Later this month, on Monday, November 21, our WYAK writers group for ages 15-18 will meet from 6:30 – 8 pm at Teen Underground, and on Monday, November 28, our WYAK writers group for ages 12-14 will meet, also from 6:30-8 pm at Teen Underground.
Tired of the usual nine to five? Want a job that matters? 49 Writers is looking for an Executive Director. Someone creative. Someone excited about Alaska’s growing literary community. 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.
Who doesn’t love getting letters? Of course someone must write them, and that’s pretty fun too. 49 Writers member Rosey Robards alerted us to the Anchorage “letter nerds,” who meet periodically at Kaladi Brothers downtown to share their passion for the not-quite-lost art of letter writing. If you can’t make the meeting, you can still check to report your letter-writing activity: there’s a tally online http://letternerds.com/
Thanks to WYAK/49 Writers volunteers Stefanie Tatalias, Cynthia Monroe, and Cheryl Lovegreen for representing us at the ASD Writing Institute tomorrow, Nov. 12, and helping teachers to motivate young writers.
For a comprehensive calendar of literary events throughout Alaska, visit http://www.alaskalitevents.com/.
This evening, Friday November 11, 5-7pm, the Pratt Museum in Homer hosts the opening of a new Arts and Science collaboration featuring archeological research on the Kenai Peninsula. Local poets Jo Going, Erin Hollowell, Linda Martin and Eva Saulitis will read poems written specially for this occasion. The reading will take place at 6pm.
Also tonight, Friday November 11, 8pm, The University of Alaska Fairbanks English Department presents poet Mariela Griffor as part of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writer Series. Wood Center Ballroom, UAF Campus.
On Monday, November 14, 5-7pm, Dr Diane Hanson presents “The House on the Hill:” new archeological developments in the Aleutian, on excavations from an upland house on Adak Island. This event is held in honor of Alaska Native/American Indian Heritage month. Last year’s event can be found as a podcast. UAA Campus Bookstore.
On Wednesday, November 16, 5-7pm, Ambassador Peter Tornsen presents “The Wars of Afghanistan and US Foreign Policy.” Tornsen’s book, The Wars of Afghanistan: Messianic Terrorism, Tribal Conflicts, and the Failures of Great Powers was published July 2011. UAA Campus Bookstore.
On Thursday, November 17, 7-9pm, there will be a Community Poetry Reading in the UAA Student Union Cafeteria. Come read a poem–your poem, your friend’s poem, any poem you care to share. For more information, email StudentUnionPoetry@gmail.com
Poetry Parley is coming up again this Wednesday, 16, at 7pm–and they need readers! The featured poet will be Joni Mitchell: if you can read a poem or two, please contact DC McKenzie asap. The featured “local poet” for the next two meetings will be the Ten Poets of Anchorage, reading from their new collection, Braided Streams. This time, it will be Marie Lundstrom, Tonja Woelber, Sherry Eckrich, Paul Winkel, Joe Nolting, and possibly Randall Bruns.
Next Thursday, November 17, 5.30-7pm, Daniel Skrzynski will speak on Disaster Preparation at the UAA Campus Bookstore.