Are you ready for our very first, not-to-be-missed Raven Write-a-thon? The event is a month away, but registration and pledge-gathering starts Monday – be among the first and help us rally support for our main fundraiser of the year. Participants are challenged to write for 4.9 hours at Snow City Café in Anchorage on Friday, April 8, starting at 5 pm. The cafe will be open only to writer-participants, who will work on their own independent writing projects while being encouraged and feted with light appetizers, giveaways, inspirational moments, and an after-party (10 to 11 pm) with local celebrity guests. Registration is $10. Participants will be asked to raise a minimum of $100 in pledges using an easy online system with individualized web pages. (Start now and you have one month to spread the word; you can also link up to form teams.) This is an all-ages event, also open to satellite groups and cyber-participants, who are eligible for gift cards donated by wonderful co-sponsors Bear Tooth, Moose’s Tooth, Snow City Cafe, Spenard Roadhouse and much more. If you don’t live in Anchorage, or don’t want to write in public, we still encourage you to register and join the fun. Questions? Email lax@alaska.net.
April promises to be busy in other ways as well, with lots of great literary happenings including our April 1 Crosscurrents event, “To Tell the Truth: Writing People and Place” featuring frequent New Yorker contributor Susan Orlean and Anchorage writer Julia O’Malley in conversation at the Anchorage Museum (7 pm). And on April 16th, in honor of national poetry month, a Synergies series event will feature Fairbanks poet John Morgan (who is also teaching a one-day clinic for us, “A Formal Feeling”) and Arctic Alaska poet Kelsea Habecker (7 pm, in the MTS Gallery in Mountain View).
We’ve got room in these upcoming classes: Alaskan Screenwriting 101 (starts March 15th), Publishing in the Literary Market (March 26th), Beginnings: A Workshop (starts April 2nd), and the poetry class mentioned above, A Formal Feeling (April 16th). Registration is also open for the September 2-5 Tutka Bay Retreat featuring bestselling author Dani Shapiro; the annual retreat fills fast, so take note if you’re dreaming of a special writing weekend across Kachemak Bay. More info at www.49writingcenter.org.
Have you heard about Raven Words, our new youth creative writing initiative? Applications for instructors will be accepted through March 15th; more info at our website.
On Saturday March 12th, at 2:00pm, Carol Nash Reed, author of “Musk Ox Magic” will read at Fireside Books, 720 S. Alaska Street, Palmer, AK
Rilke’s Duino Elegies
Discussion Group meets again on Sunday March 13th, at 2:30pm. Fireside Books, 720 S Alaska St., Palmer. They’re reading Stephen Mitchell’s translation.
Discussion Group meets again on Sunday March 13th, at 2:30pm. Fireside Books, 720 S Alaska St., Palmer. They’re reading Stephen Mitchell’s translation.On Sunday, March 13th, at 7pm, at the Wilda Marston Theater, Loussac Library, Anchorage, author, scientist and poet Dr Sandra Steingraber presents “Toxic Trespass:” Chemicals in our Environment and Effects on Reproductive Health.” There will be a reception at 6.30pm, open to the public.
There is a full lineup of events at the UAA Campus Bookstore this week.
On Monday March 14 from 5:00pm-7:00pm, Betty Bang and Geran Tarr present From Eve’s Herbs to The Pill: The History of Empowering Women through Contraception: 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 a panel including 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 will present Fishing in Bristol Bay: Past, Present, and Future.
Everyone is invited to hear about controversial and sensitive issues surrounding Bristol Bay, Alaska. Dave Acheson’s book Hidden Alaska: Bristol Bay and Beyond
, was published by National Geographic Society in February 2011.
, was published by National Geographic Society in February 2011. On Wednesday March 16th from 5:00pm- 7:00pm the theme will be Songwriters of Alaska: Women in Songwriting. Guest artists are Amy Lou Hettinger, Melanie Trost, Robin Hopper and Ruby. Alaskan songwriters come together to share their stories and views on song writing. Everyone is invited to learn about the art of writing lyrics and hear free live performances.
On Thursday March 17 from 5:00pm-7:00pm, Julie Rahm presents Bessie the Amazing Cow: a story about friendship and what matters most in life. “Everyone has special talents to contribute to make the world a better place. Bessie discovers hers, giving her confidence to be herself.” Everyone of all ages is invited to meet author Julie Rahm and delight in Bessie’s heartfelt story. Julie Rahm works as a Special Education pre-school teacher in Anchorage and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
And on Friday March 18 from 1:00pm-4:00pm, it’s Preludes to the Spenard Jazz Fest: Musicians Discuss their Art and Craft plus the Launch of the Alaska Music Section
Everyone is invited to a discussion about jazz, to hear live music and celebrate the launching of our Local Music section at the bookstore. Musicians include Yngvil van Guttu John Damberg, Liz Malys, Michael Faubion, Mellissa Bledsoe, Rogue and Wenches, and others.
Everyone is invited to a discussion about jazz, to hear live music and celebrate the launching of our Local Music section at the bookstore. Musicians include Yngvil van Guttu John Damberg, Liz Malys, Michael Faubion, Mellissa Bledsoe, Rogue and Wenches, and others.
On Saturday, March 19th, at 7pm, the Fairbanks Arts Association presents a special event: a reading by poet Nuala ni Dhomhnaill at the Bear Gallery, Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer park. For more information, call Carey at 907 456 6485 ext. 222.
On Friday March 25th, at 6:00pm, UAF presents visiting poets Visiting Writers: Mark Doty & Paul Lisicky
UAF Museum of the North, Fairbanks, AK
Check out this article at Assembly Journal for Nancy Lord’s pick of five Alaskan books that have nothing to do with anyone named Palin.
Congratulations to author and publisher Lael Morgan (Good Time Girls
, Epicenter Press) who was one of several notable women inducted last night into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame.
, Epicenter Press) who was one of several notable women inducted last night into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame. The 2011 Interior Alaska Mayors’ Awards for the Arts are coming soon! This event awards individuals or groups residing in the interior of Alaska who have made significant contributions to contemporary and/or traditional arts in the interior. There are five categories: Arts and Leadership Award, Volunteer Award, Arts Advocacy Award, Youth Arts Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Deadline for nominations is March 18th: for nomination forms click here.
After 13 successful years of the annual week-long Wrangell Mountains Writing Workshop, the Wrangell Mountains Center offers two creative writing workshops this year —
Kathleen Dean Moore returns to teach a creative nonfiction workshop with Nancy Cook and Maria Shell July 24th-30th, …
and Elizabeth Bradfield will teach a week-long poetry workshop with Jeremy Pataky August 12th-18th; the first Wrangell Mountains Poetry Workshop.
Both workshops are headquartered in the WMC’s historic Old Hardware Store facility (celebrating its centennial this year) and feature craft talks, writing prompts and exercises, guided field excursions to the toe of the Kennicott Glacier and onto the Root Glacier, a public reading featuring workshop faculty and a chance to share your own work in a literary open mic night open to the public, group and one-on-one feedback, a deadline to complete a new piece by week’s end, great home-cooked meals, and an intimate and supportive atmosphere in one of the most beautiful and inspiring regions in Alaska. Transferable credit from Prince William Sound Community College will be available for both courses. Register soon! Space is limited, and discounts are available for early bird registration. Contact Jeremy Pataky with any questions at jeremy@wrangells.org or 907 244-7717.
The Wrangell Mountains Center also offers a storytelling workshop with Jack Dalton this summer in McCarthy June 4th-6th. “Telling Alaska’s Stories with Jack Dalton: Teaching Natural History & Native Culture through Storytelling” is a continuing education workshop for teachers, but will be suitable for anyone interested in storytelling. Details and registration info are available at http://wrangells.org/sw.html
Fairbanks Arts Association’s Literary Arts Committee is now accepting entries for its Sixteenth Annual Poetry Contest.
Winners will be announced at the Literary Reading on May 7, at 7pm in the Fairbanks Arts Association Bear Gallery, Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park 2300 Airport Way.
There are four divisions: Elementary, Middle and High School (entry fee: $3 per poem), and Adult (entry fee: $4 per poem); current Alaska residents only. Up to four poems (original, not previously published). A separate cover page should include name, address, phone number, division as well as titles of poems submitted. The poet’s name should not appear on any poem.
Deadline: Friday April 15th (postmark deadline for mail entries: mail entries and entry fee to Fairbanks Arts Association; FAA Poetry Contest 2011 PO Box 72786, Fairbanks AK 99707
11.59pm for email deliveries; to digitalfaa@gmail.com: attach the cover sheet and each poem as separate documents. (.doc or .dock); pay with PayPal at http://www.fairbanksarts.org/and attach PayPal receipt to submission.
6pm for entries hand-delivered to Fairbanks Arts Association, Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way: NOT the mailing address.)
More information: 907 4566485 ext. 222 or visit their website.
F Magazine is now accepting submissions for their special June issue: their inaugural annual statewide writing competition, open to all genres and styles. Submit 1-2 pages of Poetry or 1,000-5,000 words of Fiction, Essay, Creative Non-Fiction.
Deadline: April 24th
$5 reading fee per submission, payable on via PayPal on their website under “Donation.”
Send electronic submissions to fwritingcomp@gmail.com and include the PayPal receipt number in the email content.
Send paper submissions, with a check payable to F Magazine, to:
F Magazine
Writing Competition
3142 Mountain View Drive
Anchorage, AK 99501 Postmark deadline: April 20th