We’re hearing rumors of sunshine in Anchorage this weekend, but even if it’s pouring down rain we’d love for you to stop by our WYAK Write Young Alaska booth at the Spenard Farmers Market on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 9 am to 2 pm at the corner of Spenard and 26th Ave. Our lovely teen liaison volunteer Hillary Walker has arranged freebies, cookies, and a drawing for a fun prize. Come see all the excitement we have planned at WYAK, from a new young writers group starting in October at Teen Underground to a free Jumpstart Your Writing workshop. And did we mention the Zombies Invade Alaska contest deadline has been extended to Sept. 9? Entries are coming in from as far away as Nome, and we want to make sure all you young writers have a shot at the prize.
We know you’re primed for our Crosscurrents event this Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. when New York Times bestseller author Dani Shapiro joins Sherry Simpson for “Memoir Writing: Exposure and Betrayal” onstage at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Auditorium. And don’t forget the no-host “Goodbye Summer” after-party for 49 Writers members and volunteers at Sullivan’s Steakhouse bar from 8:30-10 pm that same evening. Not a member or volunteer? We’d love to have you sign up. Visit www.49writingcenter.org and follow the links under “Get Involved” to join the fun. While the party has no host, the Crosscurrents event is sponsored by the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Bookstore and the Copper Whale Inn.
“Goodbye, summer and hello, fall” means that registration for the 49 Writers fall term is now open, with a great line-up of courses includingTruth or Dare, Writing as a Contact Sport, Poetry Toolbox, Writing and the Creative Spark, Perspectives and Viewpoints, and Time in Narration. Space is limited, so don’t delay – sign up today.
Want a sneak preview of our 49 Writers Café? Come to the Out North Revealing Party and Fundraiser on Sept. 8 from 5:30-8 pm. $35 admission includes food, beer, wine, and entertainment… and believe it or not, we’re part of the entertainment! We’re planning our official café grand opening – no charge for that – with an Open Mic event on Sept. 30.
Plans – and donations (thank you!) for Alaska Book Week Oct. 8-15 keep rolling in. Check out the pages 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. We’ve also added a link for you to request our free pdf poster to print and distribute, plus free bookmarks while they last (bookmarks will be mailed mid-September to early October).
Today, Friday August 26 at 4pm, Katie Manglesdorf will present Champion of Alaskan Huskies. Fireside Books, 720 S Alaska St, Palmer.
On Sunday, August 28 at 4pm, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Dirda will present “Reading Matters: How Books Can Change Your Life;” Wilda Marston Theater, Loussac Library. Free and open to the public.
On Tuesday, August 30 at 7.30pm, Denali Education Center’s Community Series presents an evening of readings from the new anthology “Permanent Vacation: 20 Writers on Work and Life in Our National Parks:” with three authors representing Alaska: Tom Walker, Jeremy Pataky and Christine Byl. The book will be available and the writers will be willing to sign copies. Call 907 683 2597 for more information.
A reminder “for those who still think it’s summer:” the September 1 deadline is fast approaching for the Alaska State Council on the Arts’ Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities nominations (applications for Arts awards; applications for Humanities awards); the Connie Boochever Individual Artist Fellowship Deadline (for visual and media emerging artists this year), and for Career Opportunity Grants, Community Arts Development Grants, Workshop Grants, Helen Walker Presenting/Touring Grants, Master Artist and Apprentice Grants Application deadlines.
Next Friday, September 2, 6-10pm, Carmel Nelson will be at Barnes and Noble, 200 E. Northern Lights, Anchorage, to speak and to sign copies of The Food Allergy Cookbook.
KidsTheseDays.org is on the hunt for new bloggers. They’re open to themes and subjects, but Sarah Gonzales would especially love to have a foodie blog “by someone who makes delicious and healthy meals for their families and wants to write about it each week and share a recipe.” She’d also love to add an adult man’s voice. (Dad? Grandpa?) They’re open to other ideas well. Pay is $25 per blog, one post per week of 500-700 words, plus one or two photos. Check out their current bloggers, Erin Kirkland and “Patrick on the Edge” (a senior writing about high school) for ideas and format.
Anchorage essayist and author Bill Sherwonit will teach a 12-week nature and travel-writing class beginning September 22, in the Sierra Club office downtown. Participants in this workshop-style class will explore and refine their own writing styles, with an emphasis on the personal essay form. The class will also read and discuss works by some of America’s finest nature and travel writers, past and present. The cost is $240. To sign up for this Thursday night class (7-9.30pm), or for more information, contact Sherwonit at 907 245 0283 or akgriz@hotmail.com Further information about the teacher is also available at www.billsherwonit.alaskawriters.com
Libraryjournal.com columnist Barbara Hoffert perused all the novels forthcoming for February 2012 and chose to highlight not one but two Alaska authors among only five special picks, pointing out that those authors – Eowyn Ivey (The Snow Child
, Reagan Arthur Books) and Andromeda Romano-Lax (The Detour, Soho Press) happen to know each other, thanks to their connection via the 49 Alaska Writing Center, specifically mentioned in her article. Of Ivey’s debut novel, Hoffert writes: “I was already intrigued by this book after learning that galleys would be available at BEA and ALA—pretty impressive for a first novel that’s not a slash-and-dash thriller. Then I chatted with the publicist, who reported that it’s fresh and magical and the reason why we all in our various ways go into this book business.” Of Romano-Lax’s second novel, Hoffert writes: “The book is no (inappropriately) jolly picaresque; Romano-Lax, author of the well-received The Spanish Bow
, keeps the palette just dark enough to remind us of the terror that is there—and the terror that’s to come. Nicely paced, brisk with dialog, and lyric at the right moment, this would be great for book clubs.”
, Reagan Arthur Books) and Andromeda Romano-Lax (The Detour, Soho Press) happen to know each other, thanks to their connection via the 49 Alaska Writing Center, specifically mentioned in her article. Of Ivey’s debut novel, Hoffert writes: “I was already intrigued by this book after learning that galleys would be available at BEA and ALA—pretty impressive for a first novel that’s not a slash-and-dash thriller. Then I chatted with the publicist, who reported that it’s fresh and magical and the reason why we all in our various ways go into this book business.” Of Romano-Lax’s second novel, Hoffert writes: “The book is no (inappropriately) jolly picaresque; Romano-Lax, author of the well-received The Spanish Bow, keeps the palette just dark enough to remind us of the terror that is there—and the terror that’s to come. Nicely paced, brisk with dialog, and lyric at the right moment, this would be great for book clubs.”
The Delmarva Review has launched a new short story contest, with three cash prizes, and is seeking submissions. First prize, $500 cash and publication in The Delmarva Review in 2012. Second place wins $200; third place wins $100.
The contest seeks evocative, powerful literary fiction that exemplifies great storytelling and appeals to a wide literary audience. New, previously unpublished stories, from 2,500-5,000 words, will be considered from September 1 to November 1, 2011. The judge, to remain anonymous until the contest concludes, is an award-winning author and writing instructor.
See the Delmarva Review website for additional information on the Contest, or send email to: contest@delmarvareview.com, or write: Contest, The Delmarva Review, PO BOX 544, St Michaels, MD 21663.
Congratulations to Sharon Randolph of Sitka, whose first novel, The DiMensioner’s Revenge
, is now out and available through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
, is now out and available through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
Sitka writer Tele Aadsen is looking for Sitka authors to interview for her blog for Alaska Book Week. Check out her blog for more about her and her writing.