New releases
Marilyn Sigman’s Entangled: People and Ecological Change in Alaska’s Kachemak Bay (University of Alaska Press) | details | See below for upcoming events and stay tuned for more
Laura Hartema’s Bering Sea Strong | A memoir: “How I found solid ground on open ocean.”
Kersten Christianson’s Something Yet to Be Named | (Aldrich Press), poetry.
SOUTHCENTRAL
Marilyn Sigman tour
SEWARD | Friday, March 2, 2018 from 6-9 PM | The Ecology of Desire: A Reading & Talk with Marilyn Sigman, author of Entangled: People and Ecological Change in Alaska’s Kachemak Bay (University of Alaska Press 2018). A long-time Alaskan, Sigman has more than 35 years of experience as a wildlife and habitat biologist, environmental educator, and science communication specialist throughout the state. She has a Master’s degree in wildlife management from UAF and is a recent graduate of the UAA Creative Writing and Literary Arts MFA program. Held at Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery on 320 3rd Ave. Facebook event
SOLDOTNA | Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 5:30 PM, Soldotna Public Library
HOMER | Saturday, March 10, 2018, 5:30 PM, Grace Ridge Brewing Co.
ANCHORAGE | Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 5 PM, UAA Campus Bookstore, details below.
ANCHORAGE | The UAA Campus bookstore will host several literary events during March 2018.
- Saturday, March 3 from 1-3 PM | Jean Anderson presents ShadowPlay: Writing Introspective Fiction in an Action-Oriented World. She will read from her collection, Human Being Songs: Northern Stories and discuss her writing process and explores the notion of introspection as shadow play for fiction writers. Anderson moved to Fairbanks in 1966 and holds BA and MFA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she taught for nearly ten years.
- Monday, March 5 from 5-7 PM | Patricia Watts debuts her new noir suspense novel, The Frayer. The novel’s protagonist is a living building in Fairbanks named Big Blue that is plunged into a duel to the death with the Frayer, who seduces Big Blue’s tenants and threatens the existence of Big Blue itself. This event will challenge participants to creating their own inanimate objects as protagonists in a story. Watts has lived in Alaska for more than two decades, raising her children and working as a journalist and a human-rights investigator.
- Wednesday, March 7, from 5-7 PM | Mystery and suspense authors Stan Jones and Patricia Watts present “The Pitfalls and Triumphs of Co-writing a Book.” The discussion will cover their collaboration on The Big Empty, a forthcoming book in the Nathan Active series based in the fictional Inupiat Eskimo village of Chukchi.
- Thursday, March 22 from 5-7 PM | Book Launch: Martha Amore presents In the Quiet Season and Other Stories with local artist Indra Arriaga. Amore’s story collection features modern day Alaskans navigating life’s issues. Arriaga is the co-founder of Green Bee Studios and also co-founded the Day of the Dead art exhibit and celebration that is held annually in Anchorage.
- Wednesday, March 28 from 5-7 PM | Marilyn Sigman presents Entangled: People and Ecological Change in Alaska’s Kachemak Bay. The novel, Entangled,contemplates the patterns of people staying and leaving, nesting her own journey to Kachemak Bay within diasporas of her Jewish ancestors and of ancient peoples from Asia to the southern coast of Alaska. Along the way, Entangled weaves in scientific facts about the region as well as stories told by Alaska’s indigenous peoples.
ANCHORAGE | Thursday, March 8, 2018 from 6:30-8:30 PM | Literature with a Listening Heart with Brendan Kiely: A discussion about the intersection of literature, social justice, and the art of listening. Kiely received an MFA in creative writing from The City College of New York. His debut novel, The Gospel of Winter, has been published in ten languages, it was selected as one of American Library Association’s Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults 2015, and it was a Kirkus Reviews selection for best of 2014. Facebook event
ANCHORAGE | Saturday, March 10, 2018 from 6:30-8:30 PM | Author’s Reception held in the Z.J. Loussac Public Library atrium. Come introduce your work, sell copies, and meet other artists. Open to authors, writers, illustrators, and creators. Fee for table: $50. Other fees, more information, and registration here. For questions, email program chair Teressa Williams here.
GIRDWOOD | Tuesday, March 13, 2018 from 1-2:30 PM | Youth Book Discussion: “Read A Wrinkle in Time before you see the movie and then we’ll discuss it together.” Youth of all ages are welcome to participate. Hosted by the Anchorage Public Library system, Scott & Wesley Gerrish Library at 250 Egloff Dr.
ANCHORAGE | March – April 2018 | Anchorage Museum’s Unbound Book Club explores art, science, history, design and culture through fiction and non-fiction over three more Friday evenings this spring. Books are available for purchase in the Museum Store. Book club discussion is included with museum admission (free for members) and is part of the museum’s Unbound experimental literary series.
- March 16: Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
- March 30: Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone by Julie Berwald
- April 27: The Discovery of Slowness by Sten Nadolny.
ANCHORAGE | An Evening with Seanan McGuire: the multi-award winning speculative fiction author who wrote Every Heart a Doorway in 2017. She will be holding three separate Anchorage events during March 2018:
- Tuesday, March 20, from 5-7 PM: Mountain View Library
- Wednesday, March 21, from 6-7:30 PM: Chugiak-Eagle River Library
- Thursday, March 22, from 7-8:30 PM: Z.J. Loussac Public Library
ANCHORAGE | Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 7-9 PM | Anchorage writer Jamey Bradbury debuts her book The Wild Inside with a reading, Q&A, and signing at The Writer’s Block on 3956 Spenard Rd. Facebook event
HOMER | Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 6:30 PM | Poet Jericho Brown will hold a public reading and book signing at Kachemak Bay campus. Brown won the Whiting Writers Award; his first book, Please, won the American Book Award, and his second book, The New Testament, was named one of the best poetry books of the year by Library Journal.
ANCHORAGE | Sunday, April 15, 2018 | Demystifying Literary Journals will be a 2-hour class taught by Ronald Spatz, founding editor of Alaska Quarterly Review. With a focus on literary magazines, the class will help students with their own submissions build a strong cover letter, learn about the market, and learn strategies to get noticed by current magazines. All experience levels welcome. Held at the Alaska Humanities Forum, 421 W 1st Ave, Suite 200. Fee: $35 / members: $28. Learn more and register here.
ANCHORAGE | On Saturday, May 5, 2018 in conjunction with the Spring Friends of the Library booksale, Z. J. Loussac Library will host their first ever Local Author book fair. Authors and illustrators will be featured in the atrium of the library for this one-day local author sale. Authors can begin registering on Monday, February 12 at 10 am. Spots will be on a first come, first reserved basis. Learn more and register here.
SEWARD | 49 Writers presents a Reading & Craft Talk Series event with Nancy Lord at 6 PM on Monday, April 9, 2018 at Resurrect Art.
ANCHORAGE | Thursday, May 17, 2018 from 6:30 – 8 PM | Reflections on Attu: Art Show and Reception at Anchorage Public Library. Join USFWS Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge for a slideshow and talk by author Nancy Lord followed by a reception and art show opening. | Facebook event
INTERIOR
FAIRBANKS | Jericho Brown appears March 30, 2018
FAIRBANKS | Marilyn Sigman will teach a 49 Writers class called “The Wild, the Ruined, and the Merely Anomalous: What’s an Alaskan Environmental Writer to Do?” through at the Northern Alaska Environmental Center on April 11, 2018. She will also present a public reading and talk on April 12, 2018.
SOUTHEAST
JUNEAU | Sunday, March 4, 2018 | Writing Workshop: Nicole Stellon O’Donnell – Persona Poetics. This workshop will explore writing in other voices, hosted by O’Donnell, author of Steam Laundry, the 2017-2018 Alaska Reads book. Tuition: $50, or $39 for members. Register: http://49writers.web907.com/class-catalog. Also, an informal reading and reception will take place later that same evening at Rainy Retreat books…
- Class from 2:30-5 PM | Holy Trinity Church, 325 Gold St. Facebook event
- Reception from 6-8 PM | Rainy Retreat Books, 113 Seward St. Facebook event
JUNEAU | Monday, March 5, 2018 at 7 PM at the APK Building | 49 Writers, in partnership with ASCA and the Alaska State Library, presents Vivian Faith Prescott. Facebook event
JUNEAU | Tuesday, March 6, 2018, 5 PM | Statewide Poetry Out Loud recitation competition at 360 North. Live webstream on 360North
HAINES | Wednesday, March 7 from 12-2 PM | Join Alaska Reads’ Author of the Year Nicole Stellon O’Donnell for a writing workshop and a reading from her book, Steam Laundry. Writing workshop at noon followed by book reading, discussion led by Heather Lende, and refreshments. O’Donnell’s first collection, Steam Laundry won the 2013 WILLA Literary Award for Poetry. Free. Held at Haines Borough Public Library, 111 3rd Ave. Facebook event
JUNEAU | Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 5:30 PM | 49 Writers presents a class with Nancy Lord: Science, Nature, and Outdoor Writing. This 3-hour workshop will examine examples of narrative writing (in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry) that brings the outdoors in, and scientific principles and characters to life. This class invites writers of any level, with or without science backgrounds. Lord was an Alaska Writer Laureate 2008-10, is the author of several fiction and nonfiction books including, most recently, pH: A Novel. Member fee: $45 | Nonmembers: $55 | Learn more and register here.
KETCHIKAN | Friday, March 16, 2018, 6 PM | Nancy Lord presents pH: a Novel at the Ketchikan Public Library.
SITKA | Friday, March 16, 2018 at 6:30 PM | Reading and Author Talk with Nicole Stellon O’Donnell. Her novel, Steam Laundry is written in poems and is based on the true story of Sarah Ellen Gibson, a miner’s wife during the Klondike and Alaska gold rushes.
WRANGELL | Flying Island Writers & Artists group meets every other Monday 6:30-8 PM. Contact Vivian Faith Prescott for more information doctorviv@yahoo.com.
SOUTHWEST
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ARCTIC
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OUT OF STATE
SEATTLE | Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 7 PM | Laura Hartema releases her memoir, Bering Sea Strong: How I found solid ground on open ocean. Hear the struggle and the humor in her personal account as the only woman and scientist working alongside commercial fishermen on Alaska’s Bering Sea. Books will be available for signing. Free event. Held at University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington.
CONFERENCES, RETREATS, and RESIDENCIES
PALMER | May 11-13, 2018 SCBWI Alaska’s 2nd Annual Alaska Big Thaw Retreat For all Authors: picture book, middle grade, young adult, adult literature, and illustrators at the Knik River Lodge. Workshops by Stephen Barr of Writers House Lit. Agency, optional critique groups and loads of quiet writing and illustrating time, optional professional critique, AK cuisine, a cabin, a classroom yurt with a wood burning stove, and amazing views, and more. Register
SKAGWAY | May 30 – June 2, 2018 | North Words Writers Symposium in Skagway is now taking registrations for its 2018. Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief, is the keynote writer. Other faculty include Juneau Writer Laureate and Ernestine Hayes, Portland novelist Willy Vlautin, Juneau poet Emily Wall, Ketchikan writer-artist Ray Troll, Washington writer Colleen Mondor, and Fairbanks writer Frank Soos. Features include author panels, writing workshops, and outdoor activities. Limited to 40 participants. Organizers include Buckwheat Donahue, Jeff Brady, Daniel Henry, and John Straley. For more information, click here.
HOMER, ALASKA | June 8-12, 2018 | Registration is open now for the seventeenth annual Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference. Held in Homer, Alaska, this nationally recognized writing conference features workshops, readings and panel presentations in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and the business of writing. Keynote presenter Anthony Doerr, Pulitzer Prize winner and National Book Award finalist, will be joined by fifteen other writers, poets, and publishing industry professionals. Optional manuscript reviews, agent/editor meetings, post-conference workshop and boat cruise. Scholarships available. All information and faculty bios at our website: http://sites.kpc.alaska.edu/writersconf/.
TUTKA BAY LODGE | The 9th Annual 49 Writers Tutka Bay Writers Retreat with Hannah Tinti will take place September 7-9, 2018. Retreat details to be announced soon along with application information.
OPPORTUNITIES and AWARDS for WRITERS
ANCHORAGE | Saturday, March 10th, 6:30-8:30 PM | Author’s Reception, part of the Alaska Library Association Annual Conference, will be held in the Z.J. Loussac Public Library atrium. Come introduce your work, sell copies, and meet other artists. Open to authors, writers, illustrators, and creators. Fee for table: $50. Other fees, more information, and registration here. For questions, email program chair Teressa Williams here.
Rasmuson Foundation is now accepting Individual Artist Awards grant applications. Project Awards and Fellowship nominations are due March 1, 2018. Learn more Monthly deadline on the 15th: Awesome Foundation Alaska Chapter | $1,000 grants for awesome ideas. Learn more and apply.
Wildheart, a new print publication featuring Alaskan women’s writing, photography, and art is soliciting work for its first issue. Accepting submissions for its summer issue through March 31. Information here.
Permafrost Magazine | 2018 New Alchemy Contest deadline April 15, 2018. All formats welcome. $500, publication, and web feature prizes. More details.
Alaska Women Speak is now accepting written submission and cover art ideas for the upcoming Summer 2018 issue, Walls. Deadline is May 15, 2018. Details
49 Writers’ Active Voice: Writers Respond | In the series, we ask Alaska writers to reflect on the current state of the democratic values of justice, freedom, equality, and liberty in our society. Is there an issue or event that has shaped your writing in recent months? Share it with us by submitting your Active Voice: Writers Respond piece to our blog editor at cmboyle@gmail.com.
What’s missing? Submit your announcement for the next Roundup. Send an email with “Roundup” as the subject to 49blog@gmail.com
Kathleen Witkowska Tarr signing books at her well-attended 49 Writers talk on March 1, 2018 at Indigo Tea Lounge in Anchorage. Photo: Jeremy Pataky
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