A huge thanks to Kirsten and Carl Dixon of Within the Wild Adventures for hosting another successful Tutka Bay Writers Retreat attended by 16 writers from near (Homer) and far (California). We are once again indebted to them for their generous hospitality, amazing staff, and breathtaking location – even the weather cooperated! Thank you too to retreat leader Pam Houston, whose teaching inspires us all to pay attention to the “glimmers” in our lives and make meaning of them. See this week’s earlier post by Deb Vanasse for more details and Heather Lende’s post for the experience from the perspective of a participating writer.
Don’t miss our event at Out North on Sunday, September 16, 7:00-8:30 pm with Pam Houston and Alaska musician Emma Hill. We’re told “they burnt the house down” in Homer earlier this week! It promises to bring Pam’s Alaska visit to a memorable close. $10 at door, proceeds benefit 49 Writers and Out North. Pam’s books will be on sale, including her latest novel, Contents May Have Shifted. Thanks to Fireside Books in Palmer for providing a selection of her titles. Volunteer needed to assist with admissions and book sales! Just email 49writers@gmail.com if you’d like to help out.
We will be announcing our fall Reading & Craft Talk schedule next week, featuring Kris Farmen (Turn Again), Kaylene Johnson (Canyons and Ice), and Kirsten Dixon. Details for your calendar coming soon.
Plans are under way for Alaska Book Week, October 6-13 – check the calendar on the ABW website for details. You can also download the above poster there and order bookmarks for your event, class, library or bookstore. If you are a writer, reader, teacher, librarian, publisher or bookseller would like to participate, just complete the online form and our ABW coordinator will be in touch with more information. Thanks to our sponsors University of Alaska Press and Epicenter Books.
This fall we are offering two apprenticeships: one in Fiction with Martha Amore and one in Children’s Literature with Deb Vanasse. This is a great way to get more in-depth feedback on your work from an experienced mentor, working with them one-on-one. You can find more details on our website or email 49writers@gmail.com if you have questions.
Do you love social media? We are looking for the right volunteer to help us develop a social media strategy and plan. Just email 49writers@gmail.com if you are interested.
On September 17, 5:00pm-7:00pm, at the UAA Bookstore, John Morgan discusses his new book, Form of Feeling: Poetry in our Lives, Eva Saulitis presents her new collection of poetry, Many Ways to Say It, and poet/playwright Arlitia Jones presents Come to me, Leopards. Click here to read an informative review of John’s book on the New Pages website.
Poetry Out Loud informational teleconferences September 17 and 18 at 3:30 p.m.
The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and the Alaska State Council on the Arts will host two informational teleconferences for teachers, administrators and parents who want to know more about the program. We will discuss the resources available, the process for schools, registration and any other questions about how to make this happen. Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/AKPOLteleconferenceRSVP for a reminder! For more information about Alaska’s Poetry Out Loud program, and to register your school, visit http://jahc.org/arts-education/poetry-out-loud/
Anchorage essayist and author Bill Sherwonit will teach a 12-week nature and travel writing class beginning September 19, 7:00-9:30pm, at the Sierra Club office downtown. Participants will explore and refine their own writing styles, with an emphasis on the personal essay form, and read and discuss works by some of America’s finest nature and travel writers. The cost is $240. To register or for more information, call 907-245-0283 or email akgriz@hotmail.com.
The Great Talkeetna Festival of Books takes place this year on September 21 and 22. Check out their Facebook page for details.
Cirque, an Anchorage-based regional journal, invites emerging and established writers living in the North Pacific Rim (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Yukon Territory, Alberta, British Columbia and Chukotka) to submit short stories, poems, creative nonfiction, translations, plays, reviews of first books, interviews, photographs, and artwork for Cirque’s Winter Solstice 2012 Issue. Submission deadline is September 21 (fall equinox). Click here for submission guidelines.
Call for Artists and Writers: Denali National Park has called for applications from visual artists and writers for the 2013 Artist-in-Residence program (deadline September 30, 2012). Established artists and writers use a historic roadside cabin as a base to explore the park and seek inspiration from it. Many works from previous artists-in-residence are displayed in the Denali and Eielson visitor centers. Artists reside in the East Fork cabin, Mile 43 on the park road, for a 10-day period between now and mid-September. In return, each artist donates a piece of artwork or written piece to the park’s collection. They also offer a public presentation for visitors at the end of their residency. Applications are available online athttp://www.nps.gov/dena/parknews/2013-artist-in-res-announcement.htm
If you have news to share of publishing success, a book signing, or any other literary activity in your community, feel free to email us at 49writers@gmail.com and we’ll help to spread the word.