This week we are excited to announce the opening of registration for two of our key events—the 49 Writers 2012 Write-a-thon on April 13, 5-11pm at Snow City Café in Anchorage, and the Tutka Bay Writers Retreat, September 7-9.
The Write-a-thon is our premiere fundraising event, and this year we are challenging participants to write for 4 hours and 9 minutes and to raise at least $100 each. The evening will be punctuated with hourly breaks for word counts, prizes, and yoga stretches, and includes unlimited coffee, a delicious buffet, and writerly camaraderie galore. An after-party featuring celebrity guests and literary games will commence at 9:30 pm.
49 Writers relies primarily on earned income, membership, and donations to continue offering the quality classes, writing retreats, and literary events for which we are known. To make all these things happen we enjoy incredible support from an impressive team of talented volunteers, but we need your financial support too.
Don’t miss out on the fun! This event is open to all ages and also to satellite and cyber participants. Registration is $10 for adults and $5 for youth, and any amount raised will be greatly appreciated. To register, click here. All you need to do is pay your registration, create your personal fundraising page, and you’re off! For answers to questions about the event, visit the Fundraising page on the 49 Writers website.
This year, Oregon writer Robin Romm will lead our annual Writers Retreat at Tutka Bay, the weekend after Labor Day. Robin is the author of two books, a chapbook, and numerous articles and book reviews. Her story collection, The Mother Garden, was a finalist for the PEN USA prize. Her memoir, The Mercy Papers, was named a best book of the year by The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Entertainment Weekly. Currently she lives in Portland with her partner, Don Waters, and teaches in the low-residency MFA program in writing at Warren Wilson.
A weekend at Tutka Bay Lodge is an unforgettable experience. Join us for two full days of inspiration, relaxation, camaraderie, and instruction amidst the pristine Alaska wilderness. For the Early Bird rates, be sure to sign up before May 15. Remember that members of 49 Writers receive an additional discount! Click here for more information about the retreat and registration.
Volunteer interviewers needed! To maintain our community-building spirit we have always chosen to go with author interviews rather than reviews of new publications, and we like the insights an interview provides into the creative process. But we need to expand our interviewer pool. Have you enjoyed reading interviews in past blog posts? Do you like to engage in literary conversation with writers? Have you ever thought, why didn’t they ask that question? If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please email our Interview Coordinator, Leslie Hsu Oh, at lhsu@post.harvard.edu.
Tonight, Friday March 16, 5.30pm, William Kamkwamba will speak at the Wilda Marston Theatre, Loussac Library, Anchorage. Kamkwamba, whose story is told in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, learned to build a windmill to provide power for lights and a water pump for his Malawi village from a library book.
On Saturday, March 17, 10am, a Writers’ Critique Group will convene at Title Wave Books. All types of genre and writing at all levels welcome. For more information, call Mary at (907) 569 5075.
On Tuesday, March 20, 4.30pm, UAA Faculty Ann Jache will facilitate a conversation about “The Working Poor: Older Adults and their Families.” UAA/APU Books of the Year partners with Loussac Library to co-host the Conversation Salon Series, a series of discussions around the theme of “The Working Poor.” The sessions are moderated by UAA Faculty and are not presentations, but opportunities for attendees to discuss issues relevant to themselves and the community. Call Christina Gheen, 907 786 6374, or email booksoftheyear@uaa.alaska.edu Loussac Library, Ann Stevens Room. 3600 Denali St., Anchorage
Also on Tuesday, March 20, 6pm, Homer Public Library’s Get Lit Series presents fisher poems and poems of the sea. Everyone welcome to bring poems (your own or someone else’s) to recite. Snacks will be provided, and possibly a showing of the 2005 film “Fisher Poets.”
On Wednesday, March 21, 6pm, Poetry Parley will happen at Out North, 3800 DeBarr Rd, Anchorage. A well-known poet is celebrated side by side with a local poet. If you wish to read your own poems or some poems from the well-known poet, please email poetryparley@gmail.com
Next Friday, March 23, 2-3pm, National Book Award nominee Debby Dahl Edwardson will present My Name is Not Easy. UAA Campus Bookstore; cosponsored with Native Student Services.
Also next Friday, March 23, the Interior Alaska Mayors’ Awards for the Arts ceremony will take place at 6pm, Pioneer Park, Fairbanks. Free and open to the public.
Next Sunday, March 25th, the Third Annual Alaska Poets in Late Winter Web-chat will take place via the comments section of this blog. This year, the online conversation will feature poets Tom Sexton, Gretchen Diemer, Kelsea Habecker, and Nicole Stellon O’Donnell, each of whom has a recently published collection. The poets will post something in introduction. Post responses in the comments section as you feel moved. Sandra Kleven will facilitate the discussion. No sign-up needed. The chat will take place between 1 and 4pm, but participants may come and go as suits them.
The Voices of the Wilderness 2012 application season is open. Residencies open to artists and arts professionals in all media in the Chugach and Tongass National Forests and the Western Arctic National Parklands. Residency period: June through September; dates vary. Contact Barbara Lydon at (907) 783 0090 or check out voicesofthewilderness.blogspot.com for full information and application materials.
Deb Vanasse’s Lucy’s Dance has been selected for the 2012-2013 Battle of the Books, in the First Grade tier. Here is the website, with the tentative list.
A 49 Writers interview with John Morgan is reprinted in John’s latest book, Forms of Feeling: Poetry in Our Lives, recently released by Salmon Poetry.
Presenters sought by April 6 for October 5-7 “Writers on the Sound” in Edmonds WA (200 max participants.) There is an honorarium (2011: $134 for 75-minute, $161 for 90-minute workshops), and a stipend is available to those traveling more than 100 miles. Please submit a current resume, including other courses/lectures you have given and where; 2 or 3 references; and a description of one or more classes you would like to teach (75 or 90 Min). Information about the conference and a click-through to the PDF flyer for this Call for Presenters is at http://bit.ly/xd5vSX If you are interested in presenting at the event, please send email to wots@ci.edmonds.wa.us or write to WOTS Presenters, 700 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98020, or call 425 771 0228. Possibility of accommodation for one in private home. View a copy of the 2011 brochure at: www.writeonthesound.com
The Homer Public Library would love to see all of you for the Fisher Poets and Poems of the Sea gathering on March 20th. It starts at 6pm not 5, give you a little time to get some sustenance in you before hand.
Hi Erin, Thanks for the correction – we've gone ahead and changed the time. Hope you get a good turnout!