Congratulations to Paula Bryner, winner of our Third Annual “Ode to a Dead Salmon” contest. For her splendid effort in “The Horror: A Tale of Dismemberment,” Paula will soon be proudly sporting a Ray Troll t-shirt. Thanks to judges Dana Stabenow and Sherry Simpson for helping us narrow the field to the best of the truly bad writing, and to all 121 of you who exercised your civic duty in choosing the best of the worst. By the way, Paula is also our Reading and Craft Talk coordinator; writers who’d like to meet up with an audience and sign books should contact Paula at paulabryner@gci.net. She promises not to accost you with any dismemberment tales.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. when New York Times bestseller author Dani Shapiro (Devotion,
Black and White
, Slow Motion
) joins Sherry Simpson (The Accidental Explorer
, The Way Winter Comes
) for a 49 Writers Crosscurrents onstage conversation about the truths and misconceptions that surround memoir writing. Can a rich, dramatic story be paralyzing in its telling? If the writer leaves something out, is she being evasive? What is the writer’s responsibility in truth and fact versus memory? A question and answer session and book-signing will follow. “Memoir Writing: Exposure and Betrayal” will be onstage at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Auditorium. There is no charge for 49 Writers and museum members; a $5 donation is suggested for non-members. Co-sponsored by the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Bookstore and the Copper Whale Inn.
Black and White, Slow Motion) joins Sherry Simpson (The Accidental Explorer, The Way Winter Comes) for a 49 Writers Crosscurrents onstage conversation about the truths and misconceptions that surround memoir writing. Can a rich, dramatic story be paralyzing in its telling? If the writer leaves something out, is she being evasive? What is the writer’s responsibility in truth and fact versus memory? A question and answer session and book-signing will follow. “Memoir Writing: Exposure and Betrayal” will be onstage at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Auditorium. There is no charge for 49 Writers and museum members; a $5 donation is suggested for non-members. Co-sponsored by the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Bookstore and the Copper Whale Inn.
Speaking of Dani, we do have one spot open for the 49 Writers Tutka Bay Retreat where she’s the featured author. If you’re interested, email 49writers@gmail.com by Aug. 24.
With the excitement of school starting up, it’s time to think writing workshops and classes. Registration for the 49 Writers fall term is now open, with a great line-up of courses taught by Andromeda Romano-Lax, Ned Rozell (in Fairbanks, co-sponsored by the Fairbanks Arts Association), Leslie Hsu Oh, Susanna Mishler, Claire Rudolf Murphy, Melinda Moustakis, and David Vann. With intriguing titles like Truth or Dare, Writing as a Contact Sport, Poetry Toolbox, and Time in Narration, who can resist? Space is limited, so don’t delay – sign up today.
If you’re on Facebook, please go there (right now!) and like us at WYAK, our Write Young Alaska initiative. While you’re at it, take our WYAK survey by August 31 for a chance to win an autographed copy of Dark Song, the latest novel by popular YA writer Gail Giles. Then tell five of your closest 20-and under friends to do the same.
Did we mention the WYAK Zombie Writing Contest for young writers that begins Monday, August 15, with entries due by September 2? The winner nabs a signed copy of Sean Schubert’s Infection. And for still more WYAK action, check us out at the Spenard Farmers Market on Aug. 27. We’ll be there from 9 am to 2 pm with homemade cookies and other goodies, including a drawing for a cool prize.
Activities planned for Alaska Book Week Oct. 8-15 keep rolling in. Check out the pages at www.alaskabookweek.com to find out how authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, book clubs, and readers plan to celebrate Alaska Books during that week, and while you’re there, fill out our quick form so we can add your plans to our pages.
A sad farewell to our fabulous summer intern Kayla Beth Moore, who took care of so many 49 Writers projects that we can’t begin to name them. With much gratitude and many hopes that she’ll return, we wish Kayla Beth a stellar senior year.
On Saturday August 20 at 1pm, the Pulpwood Queens Book Group will present a storytime at Barnes and Noble, 200 E. Northern Lights, Anchorage.
On Tuesday August 23 at 7pm, the Anchor Park Reading Group will meet at Barnes and Noble, 200 E. Northern Lights, Anchorage. This month’s book is The Social Animal
by David Brooks.
by David Brooks.
On Friday, August 26 at 4pm, Katie Manglesdorf will be available to sign copies of her book, Champion of Alaskan Huskies, a biography of Joe Redington Sr., the “Father of the Iditarod.” Fireside Books, Palmer.
Sitka writer Tele Aadsen is looking for Sitka authors to interview for her blog for Alaska Book Week. See her blog at http://nerkasalmon.wordpress.com/ for more about her and her writing.