49 Writers Weekly Round-up

There is so much happening at 49 Writers it’s hard to keep up – 2013 is off to a great start! First, we’d like to thank the Alaska Humanities Forum for funding Crosscurrents: a Confluence of Writers and Readers, a project that enables us to stage two literary weekends with partners in Barrow and Kodiak. On February 2-4, author Alan Heathcock, who is coming to Fairbanks to participate in the UAF English Department’s Midnight Sun Visiting Writers series, will fly to Barrow to give a reading and craft talk, teach a writing workshop, and feature in an on-stage Crosscurrents conversation with acclaimed local writer Debby Dahl Edwardson. We appreciate the support of Tuzzy Consortium Library, our community partner and host. 

April 27-28, Eva Saulitis (our guest blogger for May) will be the featured author at a similar event in Kodiak, in partnership with UAA’s Kodiak College. Her Crosscurrents partner will be Sara Loewen (guest blogger for November). It’s exciting to have the opportunity to engage with other communities and to expand these activities into rural Alaska, while highlighting the new work of Alaska’s writers and introducing visiting writers to a wider audience.

We are partnering again with the Anchorage Public Library to bring you the first Crosscurrents event of 2013: An Evening with Alaska’s Writer Laureate, Nora Marks Dauenhauer. Join us at the Wilda Marston Theatre on Tuesday, February 19, 7:00pm, for an insightful conversation between Nora and Diane Benson, who both hail from Southeast Alaska and who have collaborated on creative projects over the years.

Here’s a reminder of some events announced previously on the blog:

• TONIGHT, January 11, 7:00pm: Resolve to Write gathering for members and volunteers, featuring Andromeda Romano-Lax and Sherry Simpson
• Sunday, January 20, 2:00-4:00pm: “Writing Science Creatively,” a panel at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Hotel Captain Cook Endeavor Room
• Sunday, January 20, 10:00pm: Deadline for entries in the F Magazine 3rd Annual Statewide Youth Art & Writing Competition
• Wednesday, January 23, 7:00pm: “Storytelling and Science,” a Reading & Craft Talk with Bill Streever at Great Harvest Bread Company
• Saturday, February 9 at various times: “Writing Your Place” at Anchorage Reads, a writing workshop, reading by Eowyn Ivey, and panel of Alaska authors

Registration continues for our spring semester classes. Check out the details on the 49 Writers website. We have classes scheduled in Anchorage, Juneau, and Palmer, and writers anywhere can participate in our apprenticeships: this semester you have the choice of working with Science Fiction mentor David Marusek, a notable Fairbanks author, or Non-Fiction mentor, essayist and memoirist Leslie Hsu Oh. Also, if you want to work more in-depth on a piece of work in a small group, be sure to consider our Revision Intensive with Andromeda Romano-Lax, a six-week workshop series at the 49 Writers classroom.

On the publishing front, Alaska Magazine is seeking writers to contribute blog posts of 500 words or less to AlaskaMagazine.com that tell a unique story about Alaska life. Topics of interest to the magazine are fishing, hunting, nature, and all aspects of the outdoor lifestyle. Personal essays, nature poetry, and even video readings are welcome – photos too. At this time the magazine cannot offer compensation, but this is a great opportunity to introduce your writing to a wider audience. To submit your work, email debbie.cutler@alaskamagazine.com and mention “49 Writers” after your name.

Ten writers and two of the biggest pizzas ever seen gathered at Homer's Public Library last night for a "Resolve to Write" event. 

Erin Hollowell and Nancy Lord (and two giant pizzas) at Homer's Resolve to Write event last night

 There's a lot to look forward to on the literary front this year in Homer, both at the library and elsewhere, and it was a joy for many writers to reconnect.

A reminder from last week's round-up: local playwrights will be presenting new plays all through the weekend and into next week. See our interview with one of the playwrights earlier this week.

Anchorage essayist and author Bill Sherwonit will teach a 12-week evening nature and travel writing class beginning January 16, 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 Wednesday night class (7-9:30 pm), or for more information, contact Sherwonit at 245-0283 or akgriz@hotmail.com. Further information about the teacher is also available at www.billsherwonit.alaskawriters.com. 

This month's Poetry Parley, coming up January 16, 7pm, will feature local poet Gabrielle Barnett, and the marquee poet will be H. D.

On February 2, 7:00pm at UAF's Wood Center, Alan Heathcock will read from his work as part of the UAF Midnight Sun Visiting Writers series.

The Rasmuson Foundation is accepting applications for its Individual Artist Awards. Artists may apply now online at www.rasmuson.org Deadline for application is 11.59 pm March 1. Paper applications also accepted; postmark deadline March 1. The 2013 Fellowship disciplines are choreography, crafts, folk and traditional arts, literary arts/scriptworks, and performance art. There will be a free informational webinar/teleconference on January 16, 6-7pm, for artists to learn more about the application process and have the opportunity to ask questions. 

For more information, contact Jayson Smart at (907) 297-2882. For the webinar on January 16, the dial-in is 1 (800) 514-0831. The confirmation number is  34069883.

Cinthia Ritchie's poetry will be featured in an upcoming issue of damselfly press.

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.