First, a big thanks to all who turned out Tuesday night for the CLIA award presentation, and to those who were with us in spirit, with thanks as well to the Alaska Center for the Book for honoring us with this recognition. Here’s some coverage from the Juneau Empire. Another big happening this week has been our first-ever workshop for young writers, hosted by Teen Underground at the Loussac Library and taught by travel writer Jenna Schnuer. Watch the blog next week for a write-up on all the fun they had, as well as a link to the travel ‘zine they created.
Watch, too, for our official announcement next week about Alaska Book Week, our “field of dreams” project in which we proclaim that everyone shall celebrate books by Alaskans and/or about Alaska during the week of Oct. 8-15. We’ve got a lovely logo and website set up so you can tell us how you’ll spotlight Alaska books during the week.
So we’ve heard loud and clear from our Anchorage friends and fans that you’d like a physical space to gather as writers. Now, courtesy of Out North Contemporary Arts House, we’ve been invited to open a 49 Writers Café in one of their galleries. It would be a place to gather and write, a place where critique groups and other writing-type groups could meet, and a place where we could host events and eventually classes. Do you like the idea? Would you hang out there? Would you help make it happen? It all starts with your input. Read all about it, including fun details like how you can procure your very own bistro chair, and then take our quick survey – by August 1, please – and let us know what you think.
And if that’s not enough excitement, how about our Third Annual Ode to a Dead Salmon bad writing contest, now open and accepting your best bad work. Click the salmon on the sidebar for details, including links to past winners. The contest runs until August 7. We’ll publish everyone’s entry on our Dead Salmon site, and after our judges comb through for three finalists, we’ll let you vote on the winter.
It’s not too soon to mark your calendars for August 31 when best-selling author Dani Shapiro will appear onstage with Sherry Simpson at 7 pm in our next Crosscurrents event “Writing Memoir: Exposure and Betrayal” at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Auditorium. For a sneak peak at some of the interesting topics that might come up on stage, check out Shapiro’s essay “The Me My Child Mustn’t Know” published last week in the New York Times Review of Books.
Due to a last-minute cancellation, we have a sudden opening for our August featured author spot. The featured author supplies four posts of up to 800 words. Maybe you’ve been reading 49 writers for a while and storing up ideas; maybe you’ve been reflecting on your own writing or publishing life and would like a nudge to get those thoughts down on paper (or screen). Emerging writers and past featured authors welcome. Contact Andromeda if you’re interested at lax@alaska.net.
Congratulations to our own Deb Vanasse for her publication of Lucy’s Dance, published in both English and Yup’ik. See the Juneau Empire’s write-up here.
On Monday July 25 at 1.45pm, Tom Sexton will present readings from I Think Again of those Ancient Chinese Poets
at the UAA Campus Bookstore, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage. All are welcome.
at the UAA Campus Bookstore, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage. All are welcome.Matt Shields of 49th Films 49thfilms.blogspot.com has published an interview with David Hunsacker, who recently ran a screenwriting event for 49 Writers. It can be viewed here. He also has an interview with Nigerian-American writer/director Chinonye Chukwu, who recently finished shooting the movie “AlaskaLand” in Fairbanks. You can read that interview here.
The Alaska State Council on the Arts is recruiting for an Arts Education Manager. This position is responsible for the management of all arts education grants and programs, including Artist in Residence, Rasmuson Foundatin Cultural Collaborations, the annual high school Poetry Out Loud statewide competition and the Teaching Artist roster. In addition, this position works closely with districts, individuals and the Alaska Arts Education Consortium to advance arts education in Alaska’s schools. The position also manages a small presenting and touring grants program. Deadline for applications is August 1. For more information, go to their website.
Nominations are now open at the Alaska State Council on the Arts for the Governor’s Award for the Arts in the following categories: Margaret Nick Cooke Award for Alaska Native Arts and Languages, Business Leadership, Arts Advocacy, Individual Artist. The nomination forms and guidelines may be found on the ASCA website. Nomination deadline is September 1, 2011. The awards will be presented at the annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities on Wednesday October 19 at 6pm at the Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage. Nomination information for the Governor’s Awards for the Humanities is at www.akhf.org.