E-Calendar February 2008
LSW Activities and Events | LSW Kudos | Area Events | News/Contest/Submissions | Lake Superior Writers Information | About the LSW Calendar |
Compiled by LAKE SUPERIOR WRITERS

Here’s your February 2008 Lake Superior Writers E-Calendar! Celebrate Black History Month and Happy Valentine’s Day to All!

LSW member Phil Fitzpatrick is the e-calendar editor. Send your info to him at calendar@lakesuperiorwriters.org.

LSW ACTIVITIES AND NEWS.

Thursday, February 14, 7 pm, UMD Kirby Ballroom - Heid Erdrich and Lise Erdrich Co-sponsored by Lake Superior Writers and UMD. Heid E. Erdrich, is author of three collections of poetry, The Mother's Tongue, National Monuments, and Fishing for Myth, as well as co-editor of Sister Nations: Native American Women on Community . She co-founded the Turtle Mountain Writing Workshop with Louise Erdrich, her sister. Her books have each been nominated for the Minnesota Book Awards and her writing has received numerous grants and honors. Her degrees are from Dartmouth and Johns Hopkins. Lise Erdrich, is the author of Night Train, her first collection of short fiction. She has also published Bears Make Rock Soup and Sacagawea, two books for children. A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, she was born in Minnesota, lives in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and has been occupied in the fields of Indian Health Service and Indian Education for twenty years.

"Poets Go Wild," a reading of nature poems, will take place on Saturday evening, March 22, 2008, 7:30 to 9 pm., at the Hartley Nature Center, 3001 Woodland Avenue in Duluth. The event will feature several local poets and is organized by Bart Sutter, Duluth poet laureate. The poetry reading is free and open to the public; refreshments will be served, and books will be available for purchase. The readers are: Connie Wanek, Deborah Cooper, Al Hunter, Bart Sutter, and Jane Whitledge. Frank Montana will provide music.

LSW ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR 2008-10 DULUTH POET LAUREATE - Feb 15 Deadline
Lake Superior Writers, the sponsoring organization for the Duluth Poet Laureate program, announces that applications are now open for the selection of the 2008/10 Duluth poet laureate. Poets who have lived or worked in the Duluth, Minnesota area for five of the past ten years, and who provide the requested application materials according to the guidelines, are eligible. The 2008/10 Duluth poet laureate will be selected by a committee of representatives from Duluth's literary community, related businesses, colleges and universities and those interested in the field of poetry. The Duluth Poet Laureate project was established in 2005; Barton Sutter was chosen as its first poet laureate in 2006. Sutter has organized five poetry-themed events and his inaugural poet laureate reading was attended by over 250 people. His tenure as Duluth poet laureate will conclude with a nature poetry reading scheduled for March, 2008. Since the establishment of this award, several Minnesota cities have selected poet laureates, including Saint Paul (Carol Connolly), Red Wing (Robert Hedin), and Winona (James Armstrong). Efforts are now underway to select a Minnesota State Poet Laureate, to be announced in January, 2008. The 2008/10 Duluth Poet Laureate will be awarded a $3,000 honorarium for a two-year term. Funding for the poet laureate project is provided by area organizations who are represented on the poet laureate selection committee. Applications guidelines and more information about the 2008/10 Duluth poet laureate project can be found at the Lake Superior Writers website, www.lakesuperiorwriters.org, or by writing to: Duluth Poet Laureate Program, c/o Lake Superior Writers, 1301 Rice Lake Road, Suite 132, Duluth, Minnesota 55811, telephone number 218-722-3904, or by e-mail: pl@lakesuperiorwriters.org. Application guidelines are also available at the Reference Desk of the Duluth Public Library. The application deadline for the 2008/10 Duluth Poet Laureate program is mid-February, 2008. A crowning ceremony and reception for the new Duluth poet laureate will take place on April 12, 2008 at Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth.

Noteworthy: Writers and Musicians Collaborate For Peace: LSW members submitted poetry and prose and area musicians/song-writers each selected a piece from the 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 along with the corresponding music at 6:30 pm on April 12, 2008 at Sacred Heart Music Center. The 2008-2010 Poet Laureate will also be announced that evening. The musician/songwriter and poet combos are listed below. Their selections were made anonymously, of course. Thanks to all who submitted work! Musician/songwriter/Poets include: Steve Horner with Marion Gustafson, Bill Isles with Teresa Falsani, Sara Softich with Clayton Fink, Jamie Ness with Liz Minette, Sam Miltich with Cal Benson, Wendy Grethen with Lezlie Oachs, Sara Thomsen with Deborah Cooper, Georgeann Hunter with Julie Johnson, Jim Hall with Susan Niemela Vollmer, Mary Lou Willams/Dave Winchester with Ann Niedringhaus.

LSW MONTHLY OPEN GROUPS

Fiction/Poetry Writing Group, February 20 (third Wednesday), 6 -8 pm at Chester Creek Cafe, 1902 E. 8th Street. Contact Jill Hinners (349-6431) or Cheryl Reitan (creitan@d.umn.edu, 218-728-3154).

LSW Writers’ Square Writing Table, Thursday Feb. 21 at 11:30 am at Chester Creek Café. Topic: Developing a Year’s Plan for Writing. Open to all. Contact Mara Hart, (218) 728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

Memoir Writing Group, Sunday Feb. 17, 2 -4 pm at Chester Creek Café. (218) 728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

LSW Play-Reading Group, Join LSW members at Chester Creek Café on February 28 at 5 pm All are welcome. Contact Mara, 218-728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

Freshwater Screenwriting Group - Join them on Friday, Feb 29 6 pm at Amazing Grace Cafe. There will be caffeine and encouragement as they talk about writing experiences. For more info, call Marion Gustafson at 247-5720.

LSW KUDOS News about LSW Members back to top 

Marie Zhuikov had the story, "Speedskating: Russian Coach Andrey Zhuikov Combines High Expectations with Friendship to Produce Champions," in the premier (February) issue of Duluth Superior magazine. Zhuikov is also the voice of a new radio show. Superior Science News, which can be heard Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm every other week on KUWS Radio or on the web at: www.seagrant.umn.edu/superior/radio.

Kari Jacobson Hedin’s poem "Awash in the Tub" will appear in this year's anthology of women's poetry that is put out by Bemidji State University. The publication is called "Dust and Fire."

Francine Sterle has two out-of-town readings. Let your relative in the Philly area know about these: - Monday, February 4, 6 p.m. Robin's Bookstore 108 S. 13th (corner of Sansom) Philadelphia, PA 19104 - Thursday, February 7, 7:30 p.m. Inside the Writers Workshop Milkboy 2 East Lancaster Ave. Ardmore, PA

Sherry Rovig’s poem "My Dad Loves the Land" will be included in the upcoming “Dust and Fire” Anthology. There will be a reception and readings at 7pm on Feb. 29th at Bemidji State University .

AREA LITERARY EVENTS back to top

Open Mics: Circular Muse open mic(s): Mondays at Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, 9-11pm, Dewitt-Seitz Bldg. Wednesdays at Beaner's Central, 7-10 pm. Info: 624-5957.

Socrates Club: Every Thursday from 7:00-8:30 pm at Barnes & Noble: Join the "Socrates Cafe" Discussion Group - You are invited to participate in an ongoing gathering of philosophical inquirers. If you enjoy engaging in dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds in an atmosphere of respect, please join us. Discussion questions will be selected weekly by attendees. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 1600 Miller Trunk Highway Duluth, MN 55811 218-786-0710

The Loft: Readings, workshops and classes for writers are offered by the Loft throughout the year. The Loft Literary Center at Suite 200, Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415, http://www.loft.org or contact: Dara Syrkin 612-215-2575 loft@loft.org Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at Open Book.

Tuesday, February 5, 7 PM In-Store Book Group “The Inheritance of Loss” by Kiran Desai Northern Lights Books & Gifts 307 Canal Park Drive Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5267 800-868-8904 www.norlights.com

Thursday, February 7, 6:30 PM “Night for Squares” Knitting Event Learn to knit squares, which will be sewn together into “Afghans for Afghans” and shipped to Afghanistan. In conjunction with city-wide read of “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Northern Lights Books & Gifts 307 Canal Park Drive Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5267 800-868-8904 www.norlights.com

Friday, February 8, 7:30 pm, CSS, Somers Hall. Denise Duhamel will read as part of this year's (fourth annual) Warner Reading Series at the College of St. Scholastica. Author of 13 collections of poetry, Denise has been hailed as one of poetry’s most raucous and unstoppable young voices. Denise’s poems have been featured in over 50 anthologies, including several of the Best American Poetry series, and have appeared in nearly every significant literary journal published in the United States. A National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, Denise has received numerous awards for her work. Her most recent titles are “Two and Two” (University of Pittsburgh, 2005) and “Mille et un sentiments” (Firewheel Editions, 2005). She is currently an Associate Professor of English at Florida International University. The reading is free and open to the public. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Saturday, February 9 at 11:00 AM Bonnie Shallbetter and Arvid Williams signing “Hawk’s Quest: A Superior Pursuit” Barnes & Noble Booksellers 1600 Miller Trunk Highway Duluth, MN 55811 218-786-0710

Saturday, February 9, 1 pm, Margaret Olson Webster signing “Life-times Six: Intimate Glimpses Into the Joys and Struggles of Six Generations of Northland Immigrants.” Barnes & Noble Booksellers 1600 Miller Trunk Highway Duluth, MN 55811 218-786-0710

Saturday, February 9, 3 pm, Steve Keillor signing “Shaping Minnesota’s Identity.” Barnes & Noble Booksellers 1600 Miller Trunk Highway Duluth, MN 55811 218-786-0710

Sunday, February 10, 1 pm, Tom Isbell signing “Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major.” Barnes & Noble Booksellers 1600 Miller Trunk Highway Duluth, MN 55811 218-786-0710

Tuesday, February 12, 4 pm, Sweetheart Poetry Reading - Bring your favorite love poems (or some not so lovely) to Peter & Annie's World Market Cafe in Cumberland. The free event begins with an open reading at 4 pm. Read your own or someone else's poem. All ages welcome. The open reading will be followed by featured reader Kelly Green of Centuria, Wisconsin. Coffee and sweets will be available for purchase. The cafe is located at 1387

Second Avenue in downtown Cumberland. For more information, call the cafe at 715-822-9959 or email janchronister@yahoo.com This event is sponsored by Peter & Annie's Global Market and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets.

Saturday, February 16, 7 pm, Poetry & Cello Performance: Red Strings Ellie Schoenfeld, Sheila Packa and Kathy McTavish at the Women's Coffeehouse, The Building for Women, 32 E. 1st St., Duluth

Saturday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m., the Spirit Lake Poetry Series will present its 12th annual St. David's Day Open Reading in Somers Lounge at the College of St. Scholastica. The event will include brief readings by noted local poets such as Jean Alice Jacobson, Jim Johnson, Paul Lundgren, Ann Neidringhaus, Ryan Vine and Duluth Poet Laureate Barton Sutter, but anyone, published or not, is welcome to participate. The first half of the evening is devoted to original work, the second half to favorite poems by other authors. Readers must limit themselves to three minutes in order to give equal time to everyone. The brainchild of Minnesota Book Award winner Louis Jenkins, the St. David's Day Open Reading honors the anniversary of the canonization of St. David, the patron saint of Wales. The event is designed to showcase the variety of voices in the Northland and kiss the worst of winter goodbye. Readers are urged to sign up at the start of the event. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Upcoming readings in the Spirit Lake Poetry Series include Louis Jenkins on March 15 and Paul Zimmer on April 26.

Saturday, February 23 at 1 pm, The Asian Lion Dance Team will perform at Barnes & Noble to celebrate Chinese New Year. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 1600 Miller Trunk Highway Duluth, MN 55811 218-786-0710

March 2, 9, 16, and 30: The Inter-Religious Forum of The College of St. Scholastica is sponsoring a Sacred Poetry group that will meet on Sunday afternoons from 3-5 pm on March 2, 9, 16, and 30 at the College in Tower Hall, room T-1115 (first floor, main hallway). Deborah Cooper and Gary Boelhower will lead the group in reading and exploring sacred poetry from various religious traditions and personal perspectives. Participants will be invited to write poetry or prose that connects with their experiences of the sacred. Each session will include some time for reading and reflecting on the writing of others and for writing and sharing in a meditative and accepting environment. The group is free and open to all. If you have questions, please call Gary Boelhower at 218-724-4985.

NEWS / CONFERENCES / SUBMISSIONS/ OPPORTUNITIES back to top

What Light: This Week's Poem - call for poems ? Please submit up to three short, previously unpublished poems (maximum 50 lines or 300 words each) as attachments to poems@mnartists.org. You must be a resident of Minnesota and a member of mnartists.org to enter this contest. If you would like to register as a member artist of mnartists.org, it's easy and fast and free: click here to join mnartists.org. Our judges?locally and nationally prominent poets, editors, writers, and readers?will select twelve winning poems to be posted, one poem per week for the next three months, on mnartists.org and magersandquinn.com. Please submit up to three short poems (maximum 50 lines or 300 words each) as attachments to poems@mnartists.org Deadline: February 16, 2008 "What Light" Party--Celebrating our third year of providing a poem a week! Sunday, February 17, 5:00pm - Magers And Quinn Booksellers at 3038 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Executive Director COMPAS is a nonprofit arts organization that strengthens people and communities in Minnesota by engaging them in creating art. Information is on their website at: http://www.compas.org/pages/jobs.html. To apply: send resume and cover letter by February 13, 2008, via postal mail to: Ms. Barbara Davis COMPAS 75 5th Street W., Suite 304 St. Paul, MN 55102-1496 Or via e-mail to: Barbara@compas.org.

Writer-to-Writer: Spring 2008 Mentorships Application Deadline: Friday, February 8, 2008 Calling all writers! Applications are now available for our spring session of Writer-to-Writer, the artistic mentorship program designed to give advanced writers the opportunity to reach their next level of artistic development. Writer-to-Writer creates intimate relationships between artists; mentors act as artistic catalysts and partners, providing each mentee with artistic feedback and professional guidance. Visit http://www.intermediaarts.org to learn more about fall mentorships with Anya Achtenberg (fiction/memoir) and Sherry Quan Lee (poetry). This program is supported by the Jerome Foundation in celebration of the Jerome Hill Centennial and in recognition of the valuable cultural contributions of artists to society. For more information, call (612) 871-4444 or visit http://www.intermediaarts.org.

Call for submissions: The League of Minnesota Poets invites all Minnesota poets to send poems that represent their own county or other MN counties for a sesquicentennial anthology titled County Lines. Poems showcasing any aspect of county life-culture, nature, people and history-will be considered for the anthology. We especially seek poems by natives of each county and poets whose work reflects ethnic diversity. Both new poems and previously published poems are welcome. Deadline: February 7, 2008 postmark. For more details about submission guidelines, visit the LOMP website at http://www.mnpoets.org. Submission Guidelines: Submissions to County Lines may include up to three poems, one page each, single-spaced in 12-point type. The upper left corner of each page should include the poet's name, address, and phone number or email address. The upper right corner should list the county the poem pertains to and the poet's county of residence. In the lower right corner of each page specify whether the poem is unpublished or previously published. A separate sheet should be included listing the poet's name and titles of submitted poems, along with information about previous publication (if any) including publication title, date of publication, and address of publication. Please mail an SASE with your submission, addressed to LOMP Editors, "County Lines" Anthology, PO Box 96, Pine City, MN 55063. The deadline for submissions is a February 7, 2008 postmark. Publication is scheduled for Summer 2008. Payment to each selected poet is two copies of the anthology.

Overview of the Artists Count Survey:
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts has published its Artists Count survey at http://mncitizensforthearts.org/learn/artsresearch/artists-count-2/. The results of this survey are significant and should help reinforce the economic impact of artists and our arts community. For info contact Sheila Smith, MCA Executive Director Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) 2233 University Ave. W. #355 St. Paul, MN 55155 651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561 mca@mtn.org | www.mtn.org/mca .

FUNNY BONE: announcing the 2008 Periphery Online International Contest for Magical Realist Flash Fiction/Prose Poetry || Theme: "Funny Bone" || Prize: $50 and publication at the new Periphery Online. Winner and selected honorable mentions published in April 2008. Postmark deadline: March 28, 2008. Entry fee: Free entry for MRCentral.net members; for nonmembers, $5 per story or poem. Submissions of 4 or more entries by any one writer awards them a lifetime membership at MRCentral.net, which guarantees free entry fees for all future contests. Checks payable to: MRCentral, or send fee via PayPal at the payment portal. Proceeds go to MRCentral.net operating expenses and to pay the prize. Judged by MRCentral director, Tamara Kaye Sellman. GENERAL CONTEST GUIDELINES: The main thrust of any contest entry MUST INCLUDE an organic and obvious tie-in to literary magical realism.? Please send only your best work.? Submission format: Submit one copy of each manuscript with no identifying marks, plus a cover letter with titles entered and name, address, phone and email.? No online submissions. (Exception: non-US entrants may send submissions as MSWord attachments to magicalrealismmaven [@] hotmail [dot] com with the words FUNNY BONE in the Subject line. ( Example: RE: FUNNY BONE.) Failure to do this will result in the possible rejection of your manuscript by spam filters.)? Cover letters must include a 50-word author's bio plus your own personal definition of literary magical realism (under 100 words). Failure to include these could disqualify you. Simultaneous submissions okay with notification, but entry fee nonrefundable. Previously published work okay if writer holds copyright; please credit first publisher on cover letter.? Winner and selected honorable mentions will see virtual "galleys" before publication.? Include an e-mail address in your cover letter for reply. Manuscripts will not be returned. If you do not have an e-mail address, please enclose a SASE.? Inquiries only + international (nonUS) submissions: magicalrealismmaven [@] hotmail [dot] com ? Send surface entries to: Periphery Online, Contest: Funny Bone, 321 High School Road N.E., PMB #204, Ste. D3, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA

Face of Poetry - The Open Book in Minneapolis, Minnesota's center for reading, writing, and book arts, will sponsor a photographic exhibit and several interactive events to celebrate National Poetry Month. Open Book will host the exhibition “The Face of Poetry” from March 7 through April 30. The exhibit features portraits by photographer Margaretta Mitchell of such notable contemporary poets as Robert Pinsky, Billy Collins, Maxine Hong Kingston, and more. For info about the exhibit or the events see www.openbookmn.org.

Travel and Study Grant Program
The 2008 Travel and Study Grant Program will award grants to emerging creative artists (writers of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and spoken work; film and video directors; and choreographers). Minnesota-based executive and program administrators working for nonprofit organizations in literature, film/video, and dance are also eligible to apply. The deadline for proposals in Literature, Film/Video and Dance is February 13, 2008. Applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline to be eligible for consideration. Fax and e-mail submissions are not permitted. Application materials are available on the web site at www.jeromefdn.org and in paper form upon request to the Jerome Foundation office. The 2008 Travel and Study Grant Program is supported by the General Mills Foundation, the Art and Martha Kaemmer Fund of HRK Foundation, and the Jerome Foundation. Music, Theater, and Visual Arts applications will be accepted in 2009. Guidelines and application forms for the 2009 Program will be available in November 2008. The Travel and Study Grant Program places emphasis on individual exploration and growth. The program supports dialogue on aesthetic issues, the experience of seeing work outside of Minnesota or New York City, time for reflection and individualized study, the development of collaborations, participation in specific training programs, and research leading to the creation of new work. This is NOT a grants program that supports the production of new work. Applications and guidelines in Literature, Film/Video and Dance may be found on the Foundation's website: http://www.jeromefdn.org. They may also be obtained from the Jerome Foundation, 400 Sibley Street, Suire 125, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101-1928. Telephone: 651.224.9431 or 1-800-995-3766. Travel and Study Grant Program Administered by: Jerome Foundation, 400 Sibley Street, Suite 125, St. Paul, MN 55101.

Poetry Therapists Conference
The National Association of Poetry Therapists will hold its 28th Annual Conference. "Reaching out/Reaching In: Expressive Writing for Healing, Growth and Well-being." in Minneapolis from April 2-6, 2008 at the Millenium Hotel. The conference features poet Patricia Smith; Keynote Speaker Ruth Gender. To register or for more information, contact NAPTKeller@yahoo.com or to free (866) 844-6278. http://www.poetrytherapy.org/

NEMBA Winning and honored authors will be announced at a reception and awards ceremony at the Tweed Museum of Art and the Weber Music Hall on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus the afternoon of Sunday, May 18, 2008. A cash prize of $300 will be offered for the winner in each category:(1) Fiction, Poetry, Drama; (2) Nonfiction, Memoir; (3) Art, Photography; or (4) Children's Literature. NEMBA is presented by the UMD Library and Friends of the Duluth Public Library, in collaboration with Lake Superior Writers. Additional support is provided by Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Northern Lights Books & Gifts, and UMD Stores. The NEMBA Awards Celebration is a free, community event.

THE DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE is interested in Lake Superior Writers. They seek wider, broader, deeper(etc.) coverage of literature in the region, news of LSW activities--new books and book contracts, awards, classes, readings, collaborations, publication projects, etc. Call 279-5536; or email aklefstad@duluthnews.com.

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

THIS CALENDAR is a benefit of your membership in Lake Superior Writers. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the literary arts. We welcome information from you regarding events, classes, kudos or announcements to be included in upcoming calendars.We reserve the right to edit all submissions.

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