Alaska Book Week 2014 (Oct. 4-11) is ramping up! The organizing committee (Alaska Center for the Book, 49 Writers, Alaska State Library, Anchorage Public Library) has been working hard behind the scenes and you can now sign up to participate at the Alaska Book Week website at www.AlaskaBookWeek.com. Questions? Contact ABW coordinator Jathan Day at akbookweek (at) gmail (dot) com.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the various sponsors who have stepped forward to lend their support to this annual celebration of Alaska’s authors and their books, helping us to run and promote the event: Alaska Center for the Book, University of Alaska Press, Associated General Contractors of Alaska, Epicenter Press, VP&D House, Arctic Cliffhangers, Great Northwest, Inc., Alaska Northwest Books, and Graphic Arts Books.
Looking for an author to invite to your Alaska Book Week activity? Check out the Alaska Writers Directory. Want to participate in the Great Alaska Book Fair at Loussac Library on October 11? Click here for more information and to register for a table.
Congratulations to Stefanie Tatalias, whose picture book manuscript Whatever You Do, Don’t Think About A Dragon took first in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s literary contest, children’s category. Stefanie has been a finalist four out of the last five years, and reports it was a thrill to win this time.
Only four days left to sign up for the annual Sledgehammer contest, which takes place July 26 & 27. What’s Sledgehammer, you ask? It’s a quirky writing contest that incorporates a scavenger hunt, four writing prompts, a 36-hour deadline, the option to write as a team or solo, celebrity judge Ariel Gore, and prizes worth thousands (including 49 Writers memberships). Last year, 49 Writers member Kellie Doherty was a winner in the online category. You can also follow the contest on Facebook.
Events in Anchorage
Wednesday, July 30, 8pm,Embassy Suites Hotel in Anchorage: Reading by poets and writers from the pages of Cirque. Readers include Mary Mullen, Sherry Eckrich, Sandra Kleven, Paul Winkel, Tonja Woelber, Cynthia Sims and Matthew Morse. Joe Craig will entertain with jazzy, bluesy guitar. The hotel is staffing the event, offering a selection of great wines and beers, as well as an appetizer menu. Donations accepted at the door. Get a copy of the new Cirque. See it, full-text, at www.cirquejournal.com. The next submission deadline is September 21, 2014.
Donate new and gently used books to thread‘s 8th annual children’s book drive. Through July 31, collection bins are available at Anchorage Fred Meyer stores and four Credit Union 1 branches (Bragaw, Eureka, 8th Avenue, Abbott). Donated books will be distributed to children and families at thread’s Book Party in the Park on Aug. 14, 4-7pm, at 3350 Commercial Drive in Mountain View.
Today, Friday, July 25, 9am, Yaw Chapel on Sheldon Jackson Campus: As part of the Sitka Symposium held this week by the Island Institute, Luis Urrea will talk on the theme of “Radical Imagining: Changing the Story with Stories of Change.” Open to anyone not able to attend the Symposium full-time. $25 at the door.
Tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, 1-2pm, Palmer Public Library and via video-conference: Join Dan Bigley (Beyond the Bear) and readers at other libraries in the OWL Project to hear his story about triumphing over a devastating tragedy. Bring your questions and join in the conversation.
Tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, 7pm, Bear Gallery at Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park: Fairbanks Arts Association Community Writers’ Group presents a reading by Jean McDermott, Gregory Shipman, Emma Thomas, Dick Ourada, Pamela DeWitt, Sue Ann Bowling, and visiting artist G.M. Whitley.
August 22-24, Center for Alaska Coastal Studies‘ Peterson Bay Field Station (across Kachemak Bay from Homer): Line by Line in Kachemak Bay: a writer and artist retreat led by Marilyn Sigman and Marilyn Kirkham. Registration $225, including water taxi transportation, food, two nights lodging, and a journal. For more information and to sign up, contact info@akcoastalstudies.org or 907-235-6667.
Opportunities for Alaskan Writers
Did you know that if you’re an Alaskan writer you can get listed for free in the Alaska Writers Directory? It’s easy to do, just click here to complete the online form. If you’re already listed, do check your information to make sure it’s current–updates can be submitted using the same form. As Alaska Book Week approaches (Oct. 4-11, 2014), it’s a great way for schools, book clubs, and other groups to connect with writers to invite to their Alaska Book Week celebration.
Need an author photo for your upcoming book? Affinityfilms, Inc., an Anchorage non-profit, will create your photo in exchange for a donation to the organization. Visit their website to contact them and make a donation online. Big thanks to Mary Katzke for this generous offer.
Anchorage Public Library is looking for fall writing group leaders, one for a teen group and one for an adult group. This is a great way to share your love of writing. For more information, contact Jim Curran at curranjm@ci.anchorage.ak.us or 343-2938.
Rasmuson Foundation is now accepting its next round of applications from all previous Rasmuson Individual Artist Award Recipients for its Artist Residency Program. Online applications for 2015 residencies will be accepted now through August 15, 2014. Questions about the program can be directed to Program Coordinator Jeremy Pataky at jeremy.pataky (at) gmail.com or 907-244-7717.
The Alaska Literary Awards, established in 2014 by the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation through a generous gift from Peggy Shumaker and Joe Usibelli, are accepting applications. The Alaska Literary Awards recognize and support writers of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and mixed genres. Any Alaska writer over the age of 18 who is not a full-time student is eligible to apply. Quality of the work submitted is the primary consideration in determining who receives the awards. There are no restrictions on the writer’s use of the award and no formal report is required. Application deadline is Tuesday, September 2, 2014, 9:59pm (AKDT).