LSW ACTIVITIES AND NEWS.

POETRY CRUISE 2
Lake Superior Writers and the Vista Fleet are sponsoring a poetry reading on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 11 am on the second deck of one of the Vista Fleet ships.

Back in June, Lake Superior Writers and the Duluth Vista Fleet launched the first Duluth Poetry Cruise, called “Pasta for Poets.” Over 70 people sailed into the Duluth harbor and out into Lake Superior. Aspiring and seasoned poets and writers were inspired by the event which included a reading and workshops lead by Cal Benson and Sister Naomi Tamar.

Participants sent work to Lake Superior Writers and those people are invited to read their prose and poetry on the Poetry Cruise 2. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited to purchase sight-seeing (group rate) tickets at $10 for adults and $4 for children (5-14). Children under 4 are free. Call the Vista Fleet at 218-722-6218 or toll free at 877-883-4002 to make a reservation. We board at 11 am, sail at 11:30 am and are back at 1 pm. Refreshments will be served.

Join us for the event. Later in September enjoy prose and poetry that resulted from the cruise on this LSW site.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS NOTEWORTHY: WRITERS & MUSICIANS COLLABORATE FOR PEACE LSW members are invited to send work for this collaborative project. Each member may submit one prose work (no more than 3 pages) OR one poem related to the theme of peace, in the broadest sense. A membership to Lake Superior Writers is $25 for one year. Area musicians/song-writers will select one piece of written work to serve as the inspiration for an original composition, a song or an instrumental number. The project will culminate with an evening performance of the readings & the corresponding music on April 12, 2008 at Sacred Heart Music Center. There is no entry fee & writers whose work is selected will receive a $50 honorarium. Send 2 copies, one with name & contact info(including an email address) & one without your name or info, BY NOVEMBER 15, 2007 to: ‘Noteworthy,’ Lake Superior Writers, Suite 132, 1301 Rice Lake Rd., Duluth MN 55811(218-722-3094).

MEMOIR WRITING GROUP, Sept 16, Sun 2:00-4:00 pm - meets at Sara’s Table, 1902 E. 8th St. PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE. All welcome.

FICTION/POETRY WRITING GROUP. Sept 19, 6 - 8 p.m. (third Wednesday of the month) at Sara's Table. Contact Jill Hinners (349-6431) or Cheryl Reitan (creitan@d.umn.edu, 218-728-3154).

LSW WRITERS’ SQUARE TABLE, Sept 20, Thur 11:30 am. Meet in the Annex at Sara's Table, 1902 E. 8th Street (to the left as you enter). August Topic: writing opportunities and goals. Open to all. Contact Mara, (218) 728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

LSW PLAY-READING GROUP, Sept 27, Thur, 5 pm. Join fellow Lake Superior in the Annex at Sara’s Table to read from a new anthology, which will be available for purchase. Contact Mara, 218-728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

LSW KUDOS News about LSW Members back to top 

ERIC CHANDLER's article "Message Received?" appears in the September issue of Flying Magazine. It's in the "I Learned About Flying From That" department and is about an important lesson learned while flying in a Cessna 172. Another article called "The Old Man" appears in the September issue of GeezerJock Magazine. It outlines how his teen years running with his father inspire him to continue to run marathons in his 40's.

TRACY NELSON MAURER and illustrator Christina Rodriguez will read and discuss "Storm Codes" at the Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, on September 22 at 10:30 a.m.

MARY ELLEN RYALL’S article "Shell Lake residents raise monarch butterflies" was published in Washburn Country Register on August 29.

MARIE ZHUIKOV and her communications team at UMD's Sea Grant Program received an APEX award of excellence for design and layout of "Building Superior Coastal Communities," a 26-page booklet that helps residents around Lake Superior understand the sensitive landscape and consider options for community development that protect natural resources. This annual international competition is sponsored by Communications Concepts, Inc., an organization that helps public relations and marketing professionals improve communications products and programs. This year there were 578 design entries and a total of 37 awards given.
ZHUIKOV also had her story, "Making Compassionate Connections -- Sign Language Interpreter Natalie Stanley," published in The Woman Today magazine's August/September issue.

AREA LITERARY EVENTS back to top

SPIRIT LAKE POETRY SERIES ANNOUNCES ELEVENTH SEASON
The 2007-2008 season of the Spirit Lake Poetry Series will include performances by California's first official poet laureate, a winner of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award in Literature, and two local favorites who have published numerous books.
This diverse range of writers will present their work during free events held in Somers Lounge at the College of St. Scholastica. All of the readings will start at 7:30 p.m. and include music and refreshments. A synopsis of the schedule follows.
Sept. 29 | Quincy Troupe. Quincy Troupe is the author of seventeen books, including eight volumes of poetry, the latest of which is "The Architecture of Language." He was the first official Poet Laureate of California, appointed by Governor Gray Davis in 2002. Troupe is editor of Black Renaissance Noire, an academic, cultural, political and literary journal published by the Africana Studies Program and the Institute of African American Affairs at New York University.
Nov. 10 | Sheila Packa. Duluth's own Sheila Packa has published poems, short stories and essays in numerous literary magazines and anthologies. She has two chapbooks, "Always Saying Good-bye" and "Dear Bird." Her first full-length poetry book, "The Mother Tongue," will be released in November. She has an MFA in creative writing and is an adjunct instructor at Lake Superior College.
Feb. 16 | St. David's Day Open Reading The annual St. David's Day Open Reading honors the anniversary of the canonization of St. David, the patron saint of Wales. Poets of all skill levels, from novice writers to those with established reputations, are invited to read a single original poem and/or a favorite piece by another author.
March 15 | Louis Jenkins. One of America's leading writers of prose poems, Louis Jenkins, will read from his newest book, "North of the Cities." He is a two-time Minnesota Book Award winner, honored in 1995 for "Nice Fish" and in 2005 for "Distance From the Sun: Thirty Poems from Thirty Years." He lives in Duluth and is a favorite guest on Garrison Keillor's radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion."
April 26 | Paul Zimmer. Paul Zimmer has published eleven books of poetry including "Family Reunion," which won an Award for Literature from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. He has read his poems at close to 300 colleges and poetry centers from coast-to-coast, recorded his poems for the Library of Congress, received three Pushcart Prizes and his poems have been widely anthologized.
Book signings will follow each reading, courtesy of Northern Lights Books and Gifts. Funding for the Spirit Lake Poetry Series is provided by grants from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, the College of St. Scholastica, Northern Lights, and the Lee and Rose Warner Foundation.

Sept 6, Thur 7 pm - Writers Read meet in the Blue Room at the Front Porch in Ely. Share writing, do writing exercises.

Sept 8, 1-2 pm, Booksigning, Glen Gilderman, author of “Managing Middle School Madness.” Northern Lights Books & Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. 218-722-5267; www.norlights.com

Sept 10, 17, 24 (Mondays) Open Mics Mondays at Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, 9-11 pm, Dewitt-Seitz Bldg. Sept 5, 12, 19, 20 (Wednesdays) at Beaner's Central, 7-10 pm, Info: 624-5957.

Sept 14, Thur 2 pm, Booksigning, Neel R. Zoss, author of “McDougall’s Great Lakes Whalebacks.” Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1600 Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth, 218-786-0710.

Sept 15, Saturday 1 pm, Booksigning - Martha Aas signs "Pearls on a String: One Woman's Journey to the Past.” Northern Lights Books & Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. 218-722-5267; www.norlights.com

Sept 19, Wed 10 am - Regional author Ellen Baker will discuss her acclaimed debut novel “Keeping the House.” Booksigning will follow. J.W. Beecroft Books & Coffee, 3631 Tower Ave., Superior, WI 54880. 715-394-2665. www.jwbeecroft.com

Sept 20, Thur 12 noon - The Legacy of Sister Noemi Weygant: Photographer, Author, Teacher will be presented by Marlene Wisuri in the Ruth Maney Room at the Depot as part of the St. Louis County Historical Society's "lunch with the history people" series. Sister Noemi Weygant, OSB, 1908-1995, was well known in the region as a nature photographer, writer, and teacher at the College of St. Scholastica. She was the author or co-author of at least 18 books including several children’s books and volumes of poetry. She maintained friendships and correspondence with such well-known figures as Sigurd Olson, Les Blacklock, and Minor White. She wrote about her colorful childhood days growing up on a remote ranch in Montana and her return to Duluth as a young woman. Her photographic works and books can be found in many local collections. This program will explore her legacy through the eyes of one of her former students. A collection of her photographs and books will be displayed.

Sept 20, Thur 7 pm - Reading and Booksigning - Martha Aas reads from and signs "Pearls on a String: One Woman's Journey to the Past." Sacred Heart Music Center, 201 W. Fourth St., Duluth.

Sept 20, Thur 7 pm - "Storm Codes" Presentation/Signing Tracy Nelson Maurer will discuss her new children's picture book, "Storm Codes," at the Superior Public Library (corner of Tower Avenue and Belknap Avenue) on Thursday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. A book signing will follow, with books available onsite for purchase courtesy of J.W. Beecroft. The historically based story is set in the late 1960s and tells of a young girl waiting for her father's steamship to return to Duluth during an ice storm.

Sept 22, Sat 1 pm - Wisconsin writer Victoria Houston will sign her latest Loon Lake fishing mystery, "Dead Madonna.” J.W. Beecroft Books & Coffee, 3631 Tower Ave., Superior, WI 54880. 715-394-2665. www.jwbeecroft.com

Sept 26, Sat 11:30 am - Local author Jen Wright will sign her debut mystery set in the Northland “Killer Storm.” J.W. Beecroft Books & Coffee, 3631 Tower Ave., Superior, WI 54880. 715-394-2665. www.jwbeecroft.com

Sept. 29, Sat., 11:30 am-12:30 pm Booksigning, Jen Wright signs "Killer Storm" at J. W. Beecroft Books & Gifts, 3631 Tower Ave., Superior, WI. 715-394-2665.

Sept 29, Sat 1 pm, Booksigning, Jen Wright, author of “Knee High by the Fourth of July: A Murder by Month Mystery. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1600 Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth, 218-786-0710.

Oct 1, (First Monday) 6 pm - Sounds of Poetry at The First Stage on Bring your own poetry or your favorites to read or recite, or sit back, listen and enjoy the evening. A $3.00 donation is asked to cover costs of refreshments. The First Stage is located at 514 Chestnut Street in Virginia. For more information call 218-741-5577.

Oct 11, Thur 6:15 pm, Dinner with Lorna Landvik, author of “The View from Mount Joy,” Radisson Hotel, $33. Call 722-5267 for reservations; deadline is

Oct. 8. Northern Lights Books & Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. 218-722-5267; www.norlights.com

Oct 13, Sat 1-2 pm, Booksigning, Daniel James Brown, author of “Under a Flaming Sky.” Northern Lights Books & Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. 218-722-5267; www.norlights.com

Oct 20, Sat 1-2 pm, Booksigning, Eugene Fornea, author of “The Finding.” Northern Lights Books & Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. 218-722-5267; www.norlights.com

NEWS / CONFERENCES / SUBMISSIONS/ OPPORTUNITIES back to top

COACHING THE WRITER WITHIN - Oct 6, Sat 8 am - Workshop featuring Eric Maisel, renowned creativity coach and author. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Holiday Inn Select (I-494 and 34th Ave. S.), Bloomington, MN. $85 for MFW members, $95 for nonmembers. Registration fee increases $10 after September 1. Includes continental breakfast and lunch. Sponsor: Midwest Fiction Writers. Get registration information at www.midwestfiction.com or 612-928-8736.

THE POWER OF POETRY, Sept 27, Oct 18, 6:30-9 pm. This four-week writing workshop, will be held at WITC in Superior on Thursday nights from 6:30-9:00 on 9/27-10/18. Topics include craft, revision, and reaching audiences. The instructor is Jan Chronister. To register, go to www.witc.edu and select "Search and Register for Classes". The course is listed under Communication Skills and the fee is $27. For more information, contact Jan at janchronister@yahoo.com

RED STEP PRESS is a new small publishing company started by Lake Superior Writers' member LINDSY O’BRIEN. The company specializes in local nonfiction that celebrates our small communities and unique way of life in the Northland. Red Step Press is now accepting book manuscripts. Visit www.redsteppress.com for submission information.

POETRY COLLECTION TO HONOR JAMES WRIGHT - A collection of poems by various hands is being compiled to honor the memory of James Wright. Contributions are arriving from around the country, but space remains. For guidelines, email Bruce at bhenricksn@charter.net and type "James Wright" on the subject line.

MANUSCRIPTS WANTED FOR POETRY ANTHOLOGY - Holy Cow! Press would like to consider poems that express grief and gratitude for lost loved ones (parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, lovers, et al). We would especially like to include poems from a wide variety of religious, spiritual, and cultural beliefs. Both new work and previously published poems are welcome. Limit: up to three poems and six pages in length. Deadline for submissions: October 1st, 2007, with publication in Fall, 2008. Please include a SASE and adress your poems to: The Editors, "Poems of Grief and Gratitude Anthology," Holy Cow! Press, PO Box 3170, Mount Royal Station, Duluth, Minnesota
Your editor for this issue of the e-calendar was LSW member and volunteer Gail Trowbridge.

LSW INFORMATION back to top

Lake Superior Writers prohibits discrimination in its programs, membership, and board of directors participation on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status or family status.

ABOUT THE LSW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE LSW MEMBERSHIP Member Involvement: We value our membership and encourage your involvement in LSW. An annual meeting for LSW members is held in the spring. All members are invited to participate. Financial reports and a summary of the year's activities are presented to the membership at the annual meeting for review. The LSW board meets monthly throughout the year. Members are invited to attend board meetings, review minutes, and look over financial statements.

Lake Superior Writers Calendar back to top

Your editor for this issue of the e-calendar was LSW member and volunteer Gail Trowbridge.