E-Calendar January 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

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

LSW ACTIVITIES AND NEWS.

Feature Writing: The Art and Craft, February 2, Sat 1-3:30 pm Learn to write feature articles for magazines and newspapers with professional writers. They will discuss profiles, news features, and seizing the reader’s attention. About the instructors: Claire Kirch is the Midwest Correspondent for Publishers Weekly, the country’s leading book publishing industry trade magazine, where she regularly writes news and features on the region’s publishers, authors, and bookselling. Cheryl Reitan has been writing feature stories for 20 years. In addition to writing/editing university alumni magazines and university web pages, she has written newspaper opinion-editorials and book chapters. Lake Superior Writers Meeting Room - $25 members $35 non-members, 1301 Rice Lake Rd, (next to Sylvan Learning Ctr). Scholarships available. To register, call 218-722-3094 and leave a message.

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.

Advance Notice: "Poets Go Wild," a reading of nature poems, will take place on Saturday evening, March 22nd, 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.

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 ... Poet

Steve Horner ... Marion Gustafson
Bill Isles. .. Teresa Falsani
Sara Softich ... Clayton Fink
Jamie Ness ... Liz Minette
Sam Miltich .. Cal Benson
Wendy Grethen. ... Lezlie Oachs
Sara Thomsen ... Deborah Cooper
Georgeann Hunter .... Julie Johnson
Jim Hall ..... Susan Niemela Vollmer
Mary Lou Willams/Dave Winchester... Ann Niedringhaus

LSW MONTHLY OPEN GROUPS

Fiction/Poetry Writing Group, January 16, 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, January 17 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, January 20, 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 January 24 at 5:00 pm All are welcome. Contact Mara, 218-728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

Freshwater Screenwriters’ Group, Friday, January 25 at Amazing Grace Café at 6:00 pm. Bring old samples, new samples or whatever you're currently working on. Lots of encouragement and caffeine! Questions: Contact Marion Gustafson at 279-5720 (work) or marionkae@yahoo.com.

LSW KUDOS News about LSW Members back to top 

Announcing the publication of Cal Benson's book, "Dakota Boy." The book is illustrated by Cecilia Lieder and published by Calyx Press Duluth.

Eric Chandler’s articles "Virtual Snow" and "Classic Korkki" appear in the Winter issue of Northern Wilds: The Outdoor Newspaper of the North. The first describes internet resources to help forecast snowfall and the second describes the joys of Korkki Nordic Ski Center near Two Harbors, MN.

Kathleen Hills' fourth Upper Peninsula mystery, The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies, is out now from Poisoned Pen Press. Publisher's Weekly says, "(Hills') characters-untamed, reticent, lonely and proud --- are exquisitely rendered."

Shirley Wuchter and the book, Shining Through the Darkness, Sermons for the Winter Season was featured in the December 10 edition of the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun newspaper after she held a book signing at Logos Book Store in Springfield, Ohio on November 24. Now the third book in the seasonal series of sermons of her deceased husband, The Rev. Dr. Michael D. Wuchter, formerly pastor of First Lutheran Church in Duluth (1997-2000) is coming out. Growing in Christ, Sermons for the Spring Season, has just been released. This new book in the series focuses on the Lenten season, including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter, and includes Mother's Day and Holy Trinity Sunday. The collection of a dozen sermons can be used as a devotional or inspirational gift as well. Shirley Wuchter swuchter@juno.com .

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.

January 10: Thursday, January 10, 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 and Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth MN 55802, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com

January 11: Tuesday, January 15, 7 pm Pages & Purls Book Group Bel Canto by Ann Patchett . Northern Lights Books and Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth MN 55802, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com.

January 11: Kickstart the New Year with a reading by Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dee Sweet and Kelly Green. Friday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cafe Wren, 2596 Wisconsin Highway 35, just north of Luck, Wisconsin. This event is co-sponsored by the Cafe Wren and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. For more information, call 715-472-4700 or email cafewren@lakeland.ws This event is free and open to the public.

January 16: The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council will conduct an Art Project Grant Writing Workshop on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Common Area of the Marshall School Annex Building, 1301 Rice Lake Road, Duluth. Bob DeArmond, Executive Director, will provide technical assistance in the preparation and submission of an Art Project grant application, discuss grant writing tips and review project eligibility. Representatives from arts organizations interested in applying for Art Project Grant support are encouraged to attend this workshop. The workshop is free. The Art Project Grant Application deadline is Thursday, January 31, 2008. Guidelines are available by calling, writing or emailing: Bob DeArmond, Executive Director Arrowhead Regional Arts Council 1301 Rice Lake Road, Suite 111 Duluth, MN 55811 1-218-722-0952 or 1-800-569-8134 info@aracouncil.org

January 17: Chapbook Publishing Party for "What I Left Behind" by Lezlie Oachs at Northern Lights Books & Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth, MN, on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:00-8:30 p.m. Reading from the chapbook at 7:45 and refreshments all night! For more information, call Northern Lights (722-5267) or Lezlie Oachs (724-5860). What I Left Behind is in the Pudding House Chapbook Series (Columbus, Ohio).

January 24: Thursday, January 24, 7 pm Presentation and book signing: Arnold Alanen Morgan Park: Duluth, U.S. Steel and the Forging of a Company Town United Protestant Church, 88th Ave. W & Arbor St., Morgan Park Free and open to the public Northern Lights Books and Gifts, 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth MN 55802, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com

January 19: Spoken Word Cello Performance: Sheila Packa & Kathy McTavish will perform spoken word/cello at the Red Mug Coffeehouse in Superior, WI on January 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Join us for an interactive, collaborative poetry/music performance of new work, "Night Language." Sheila Packa is the author of The Mother Tongue, published by Calyx Press Duluth.North: The True Story of Ernie Nevers and the Duluth Eskimos. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1600 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN 55811, 218-786-0710.

SPIRIT LAKE POETRY SERIES
Spirit Lake Poetry Series performances are held in Somers Lounge at the College of St. Scholastica at 7:30 p.m. and include music and refreshments. The schedule includes: Feb. 16 - St. David's Day Open Reading, March 15 - Louis Jenkins, April 26 - Paul Zimmer.

NEWS / CONFERENCES / SUBMISSIONS/ OPPORTUNITIES back to top

NEMBA Call for Nominations Nominations for the 20th Annual Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards (NEMBA) opened December 1, 2007, and entries are due February 1, 2008. Winners will be announced at an afternoon book fair, reception, and awards ceremony on Sunday, May 18, 2008. The NEMBA Awards recognize books published in 2007 that substantially represent northeastern Minnesota in the areas of history, culture, heritage, or lifestyle. To nominate a book, visit the NEMBA Web site at http://www.d.umn.edu/lib/nemba, complete a nomination form, and send it along with one copy of each nominated title to Brenda Bonnema, UMD Library, 416 Library Drive, Duluth, MN 55812. For more information, call 218/726-6843 or e-mail bbonnema@d.umn.edu. Nominations may be submitted in one of four categories: (1) Fiction, Poetry, Drama; (2) Nonfiction, Memoir; (3) Art, Photography; or (4) Children's Literature. Reading teams will choose a winner and honorable mention in each category. If a book is nominated in more than one area, the UMD Library Communication and Events Team will determine the category for the entry. 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. 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.

FROM THE DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE: Dear Lake Superior Writers: in the interests of wider, broader, deeper(etc.) coverage of literature in the region, I welcome news of any of your activities--new books and book contracts, awards, classes, readings, collaborations, publication projects, etc. Please stay in touch! My number at the News Tribune is 279-5536; my email there is aklefstad@duluthnews.com.

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.

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Arts administration job opportunity in the Arrowhead Region. The Grand Marais Art Colony is seeking an Executive Director to manage its program and facilities. Expected salary range is $28,000 to $30,000. Please respond by January 7, 2008 with a resume, cover letter and references to: Leah Thomas, Executive Director, Grand Marais Art Colony, P. O. Box 626, Grand Marais, MN 55604. For a full job description or any questions, please contact the Art Colony at (218) 387-2737 or email arts@boreal.org.

The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets is now accepting submissions for the 2009 Wisconsin Poets Calendar. Wisconsin residents over 18 may submit up to three poems for consideration and there is no entry fee. Deadline is February 1. For more information, go to the calendar section at www.wfop.org. WFOP is also accepting entries for the annual Muse contest. Wisconsin residents may submit one poem. There is an entry
fee and the deadline is February 1. The First Place award is $250. For more information, go to the contests section at
www.wfop.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/

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.