A big thanks to John Morgan and Kelsea Habecker (pictured above) for a wonderful evening of poetry at our April 16 Synergies/Still North Reading and Performance event. Kudos to volunteer coordinator Jeremy Pataky for all the arrangements, including the John Haines documentary-in-progress that was shown during the event.
Writers statewide are mourning the loss of poet Joe Enzweiler of Fairbanks, who died Saturday, April 17. A poet, physicist, stone wall builder, carpenter, storyteller, friend, Joe lived the Alaskan cabin poet’s life and left us six books of poetry. Cindy Hardy has posted some thoughts on his life on www.mattiespillow.wordpress.com.
On a happier note, congratulations to Ray Troll of Ketchikan, who recently received one of 180 Guggenheim fellowships to work on his next book with paleontologist Kirk Johnson, Cruisin’ the Eternal Coastline. You might see the two of them poking around Alaska’s coastline this summer. The book is scheduled for 2012 release.
Early-bird rates for our Tutka Bay Writers Retreat (Sept. 2-5) end on May 1. Five slots remain for the three-day retreat with acclaimed author Dani Shapiro at the world-class Tutka Bay Lodge, a short water-taxi right from Homer. For our Raven Words Summer Youth Writing Workshops, early bird rates end on May 15. And in the rush toward summer, don’t forget Bruce Hale’s two-hour session “Funny Business: Seven Secrets of Writing Humor” on June 16 and our “Memoir Weekend with Kim Rich” June 24-27.
In our blog sidebar: vote for our Write-a-thon “People’s Choice” winner. Polling ends April 27.
Tonight, Friday April 22nd, 7-9pm, UAA’s Directing II class presents “Love, Sex and Marriage: An Evening of Student-Directed One Acts in the Harper Studio, UAA. $7 General; $5 Student. For more information, see here.
On Saturday April 23rd at 1pm, Muldoon public library will present a special storytime with a Pirates theme: stories, songs and crafts for 8-year-olds and under.
On Saturday April 23rd, at 2pm, Patricia Custard will be signing books at Hearthside Books, Nugget Mall, Juneau.
F Magazine’s Statewide Writing Competition is coming up this Saturday, April 23rd, 10pm
On Monday April 25th, from 5.30-7pm, the UAA Campus Bookstore presents Tonie Marie Quaintaince on Meaning in Life among Rural Alaska Native and American Indian college students.
On Tuesday, April 26th, at 7pm, the Anchor Park reading group will meet at Barnes and Noble, 200 E. Northern Lights, Anchorage.
On Tuesday, April 26th, from 5-7pm, the UAA Campus Bookstore presents ecosystem biologist Carl Wassilie to speak on Lessons and Updates on the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power accident.
On Wednesday, April 27th, at 8pm, Mark Doty and Paul Lisicky will present poetry and fiction as part of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series at UAF, Schaible Auditorium.
Jonas Lamb has reviewed former Alaska Laureate Tom Sexton’s new work, I Think Again of Those Ancient Chinese Poets
. The review can be found in the Juneau Empire. Lamb calls the work “a gateway that transcends space and time to bring closer the poetic traditions of East and West. Sexton’s focus on natural observations — moon cycles, seasons, bird migrations and the brief yet wondrous life cycle of perennial plants — bring the seemingly disparate worlds of 8th century China and 21st century Alaska closer.” Click here for the full review.
. The review can be found in the Juneau Empire. Lamb calls the work “a gateway that transcends space and time to bring closer the poetic traditions of East and West. Sexton’s focus on natural observations — moon cycles, seasons, bird migrations and the brief yet wondrous life cycle of perennial plants — bring the seemingly disparate worlds of 8th century China and 21st century Alaska closer.” Click here for the full review.Congratulations to 49 Writers volunteer Leslie Hsu Oh, whose piece “Between the Lines” was listed as a Notable Essay in 2010 Best American Essays collection.
Anchorage Public Library’s Summer Reading Celebration “One World, Many Stories” takes off with the 11th Annual Reading Rendezvous on Saturday, May 14th, from noon to 4 pm on the Lawn at Loussac Library. Grab your ticket to fun and get on board for a global good time. Anchorage Public Library, Alaska Center for the Book and Friends of Pets co-host this free outdoor family event.
Register for the Summer Reading Celebration at the Reading Rendezvous or any APL neighborhood library starting May 14th. A number of prizes are up for grabs, thanks to generous community sponsors. For more information, check www.anchoragelibrary.org.
For more information or to volunteer for the event, contact event coordinator Brandy Curtis Richards at 677-7439 – OR- APL Youth Services Librarian, Sue Sommers at 343-2853.