E-Calendar March 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 is your Lion-Hearted LSW March E-Calendar.

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

LSW ACTIVITIES AND NEWS.

"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.

Noteworthy: Writers and Musicians Collaborate For Peace: An evening of original music, poetry and prose will be held 7 pm on April 12, 2008 at Sacred Heart Music Center. 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. 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, Rachael Kilgour with Gary Boelhower, Mary Lou Willams/Dave Winchester with Ann Niedringhaus.

LSW MONTHLY OPEN GROUPS

Monday March 10 (second Monday of the month) The first meeting of the new Children's Writers Group will meet at Amazing Grace Bakery in Canal Park at 6 p.m. Bring something to share with the group. If you have questions, call Julie at 722-4336.

Memoir Writing Group, Sunday March 16, 2 -4 pm at Chester Creek Café. (218) 728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

Fiction/Poetry Writing Group, March 19 (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). **

Writers' Square Table: Thursday March 20, 11:30 AM, Chester Creek Café.Contact Mara Hart, (218) 728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

LSW Play-Reading Group will not meet in March. Contact Mara, 218-728-1253 or mhart2@d.umn.edu.

Freshwater Screenwriting Group - For info, call Marion Gustafson at 247-5720.

LSW KUDOS News about LSW Members back to top 

Linda LeGarde Grover's essay "Redneck Indians" will be published in Bemidji State University's spring 2008 Dust and Fire.

Kathleen Hills' fourth Upper Peninsula mystery, The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies, (Poisoned Pen Press) is included in Kirkus Reviews special issue, best of Mysteries and Thrillers for 2007 (Feb. 15) The article consists of a brief synopsis and interview with Kathleen. \

Deborah Cooper's new chapbook Between the Ceiling & the Moon will be released this spring by Finishing Line Press as part of their New Women's Voices Series. Order on-line at www.finishinglinepress.com under New Releases. The collection costs $14, with free shipping on all advance orders.

Jan Chronister is the recipient of this year's Diane Glancy Award for Poetry from Bemidji State University's Dust and Fire anthology. Her poem "Diamonds are Forever" is being published in the anthology to be released in March.

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.

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 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.

March 3, Spoken Word/ Cello Performance: Sheila Packa with cellist Kathy McTavish, 6 pm, at the First Stage, Lyric Center for the Arts, 514 Chestnut Street, in Virginia, MN

March 4, Tuesday, 7 PM In-Store Book Group "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin Northern Lights Books and Gifts, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com

March 6, Thursday, 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. Public Welcome. Northern Lights Books and Gifts, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com

March 8, Saturday, at 1:00 PM Author Jeff Foster signing Surrounded by Witnesses. Contact Jill Lyman, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 218-786-0710

March 11, Tuesday, at 11:00 AM Author Angela Day will present a sign language Storytime for parents & toddlers. Contact Jill Lyman, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 218-786-0710

March 14, ART WORKS! invites local artists, arts-related organizations, and regional venues to exhibit their offerings from 7:30 AM to 6 PM. at Lake Superior College, 2101 Haines Road, in Duluth. Contact Bob DeArmond at 218-722-0952, 1-800-569-8134, bob@aracouncil.org or visit ARAC at www.aracouncil.org and for all interested in attending ArtWorks!, for more information, the website for is http://www.artworkstwinports.org.

March 14, Friday, 7:30 PM at Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts 6666 E River Rd, Fridley - Hosted by Anna George Meek Free and open to the public. Featuring: NANCY COX, KATHY McTAVISH, and SHELIA PACKA. McTavish performs experimental music and has appeared in many venues throughout the Midwest. Packa grew up on the Iron Range, is the granddaughter of Finnish immigrants, and lives in Duluth. She has published poems, short stories, and essays in many literary magazines and anthologies. For more information, call (612) 871-4444 or visit http://www.intermediaarts.org.Tuesday March 18, 7:00 PM, Rainy River Community College Theater Poetry reading and storytelling by Naomi Woods and Kate Miller

March 15, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Spirit Lake Poetry Series will present Louis Jenkins in the Somers Lounge, at the College of St. Scholastica. Paul Zimmer will be featured on April 26.

March 18, Tuesday, 7 PM Pages & Purls Book Group The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Northern Lights Books and Gifts, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com

March 19, Wednesday, Poet Bill DeRoche will present a workshop 10-11 AM, in room E2148 at Lake Superior College. Readings 12-1 PM, Wednesday, March 26, room S2986. In his workshop, DeRoche will share his creative writing experiences and teach participants to use creative writing to develop their own poems. At the readings, Bill and workshop participants will share their work. For more information, contact Natalie Bothwell at 218-279-2519, n.bothwell@lsc.edu, or Marilyn Mayry at 218-279-2665, m.mayry@lsc.edu. The 2008 Writer’s Series is funded by an LSC Award for Excellence.

March 20, Thursday, 7 PM - THIRD THURSDAY PUBLICATION READING SERIES ? Freya Manfred, author of Swimming With a Hundred Year Old Snapping Turtle, and Louis Jenkins, author of North of the Cities, will read with introductions by Robert Bly. Free. Open Book,1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis

Saturday, March 22, 1-2 PM Booksigning: Brian Freeman Stalked. Northern Lights Books and Gifts, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com

March 27, 5-7:30 p.m. Book release party for JULES ON SCHOOLS: TEACHING, LEARNING, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN by Julia M. Williams. Grandma's Restaurant, Canal Park, Sand Bar Room. For information, contact Clover Valley Press, LLC, charlene@clovervalleypress.com, 218-525-4552.

Sunday, March 30, 7:00 PM - LITERARY LEGENDS READING SERIES - MARY OLIVER - The number one selling poet in America, Mary Oliver has celebrated nature, intuition and the beauty of observation in her acclaimed poems for nearly five decades. This luminous evening of poetry and commentary will be followed by audience questions. This joint presentation by the Loft and Hennepin Theatre Trust is the first in an annual writers’ series featuring today’s most influential writers in rare live appearances. At the State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. For tickets, call 612-673-0404 or visit www.hennepintheatredistrict.org/LiteraryLegends

March 29, Saturday, at 1:00 PM Children’s author William Durbin signing "The Winter War." Contact Jill Lyman, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 218-786-0710

March 30, Sunday, at 2:00 PM Author Brian Freeman signing Stalked. Contact Jill Lyman, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 218-786-0710

April 1, Tuesday, Writer/Blogger Carolyn Colburn will present a workshop from 1-2:30 PM, in room W2646 at Lake Superior College. Blog Sharing, 1-2 PM, Tuesday, April 8 in room W2646. In her workshop, Colburn will teach students how they can use blogs and technology to generate and share their creative writing. Instructions will be available for those students who have limited experience with the use of blogs to introduce them to the possibility of creative blogging. For more information, contact Natalie Bothwell at 218-279-2519, n.bothwell@lsc.edu, or Marilyn Mayry at 218-279-2665, m.mayry@lsc.edu. .

April 1, Tuesday, 7 PM In-Store Book Group Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. Northern Lights Books and Gifts, 218-722-5267, 800-868-8904, www.norlights.com.

April 2- 6, The National Association for Poetry Therapy’s (NAPT) 28th Annual Conference will be held at the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis. This year’s conference theme aptly captures the mission of the NAPT, “Reaching Out and Reaching In: Expressive Writing for Growth and Healing.” For nearly three decades, the organization and its members have engaged in the art and practice of healing through bibliotherapy. NAPT’s annual conference attracts therapists, writers, teachers, and students from around the world, with a wide selection of workshops and social events for practitioners and interested visitors. In her keynote address, Friday, April 4, writer J. Ruth Gendler will offer “An Invitation to Beauty.” Gendler’s work focuses on reclaiming the qualities that belong to all people in a creative, compassionate universe. Her books include Notes on the Need for Beauty, The Book of Qualities and Changing Light.Patricia Smith, internationally renowned performance poet and Pushcart Prize winner, is the conference’s featured poet and will address participants on Saturday, April 5. It has been said that Smith’s work is a testament to the power of words to change lives. Teahouse of the Almighty was named the best poetry book of 2006 by About.com, and her next book, Blood Dazzler, will be released by Coffee House in fall, 2008. To register or for more information, contact NAPTKeller@yahoo.com or to free (866) 844-6278. http://www.poetrytherapy.org/

April 3, 5:30 PM, Carlton County Historical Society, Cloquet WHAT WOULD GREAT GRANDMA SAY? A discussion of new book LIFE-TIMES SIX by Margaret Olson Webster- some foods featured in book will be served (not a full meal).

April 3, 'What We Keep' - An exhibit of the collaborative images of Deborah & Joel Cooper, poems & prints, opens at Lizzards Gallery (11 W Superior St). The reception will be held on Thursday, April 3rd from 5 to 8 pm.

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.

NEWS / CONFERENCES / SUBMISSIONS/ OPPORTUNITIES back to top

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

The Minnesota State Arts Board is seeking proposals from individuals or firms with expertise in research design, data analysis, and research training. For more information, or to request a copy of the full solicitation, please visit: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/rfp/assessment_rfp.htm?NewsId=260

The Tallahassee Writers Association (TWA) will host the 2008 Seven Hills Writers' Retreat in early April. It will be held at the Killearn Country Club and Inn, Tallahassee, Florida. Editors and agents will be on hand for on-on-one 15-minute talks with those interested in pursuing publication. Cost for the retreat is just $295 for the entire 3-1/2 day event, $85 for a single day. Check TWA's website http://www.tallahasseewriters.net for more complete info. You can also email Ted Simmons at treasurer@tallahasseewriters.net

miniStories, a quarterly short-short fiction competition coordinated by Electric Arc Radio's Geoff Herbach (author of /The Miracle Letters of T. Rimburg/, forthcoming from Three Rivers Press). This new literary series will showcase previously unpublished short stories (from 5-500 words) by Minnesota writers which will be selected by authors, editors, and publishing industry veterans from across the country. The deadline for submissions for the first round in a new short fiction contest is March 28, 2008. Winning stories will be published on mnartists.org and in the e-magazine /access+ENGAGE/. One grand-prize winning author will be selected from each quarter's miniStories winners by series coordinator Geoff Herbach to receive a paid commission for a longer-form short story which will be published on mnartists.org. There will be readings at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis at the end of each quarter's contest cycle, at which miniStories winners and judges will read their fiction. An anthology collecting the inaugural year's miniStories winning fiction will be published in April 2009 and available for sale at area bookstores. For more info, see: http://www.mnartists.org/article.do?rid=180466

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is excited to be able to make scholarship available to regional artists, representative of arts organizations, and art supporters to attend the Arts WORKS! conference taking place Friday, March 14, 2008, in Duluth. Information about the conference and how to register follows. The ARAC will offer 10 scholarships on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in receiving a scholarship to attend the Art WORKS! Conference, contact the ARAC office before registering; then register; mail or email a copy of your registration information to the Council office; and when the Council receives your registration information we will reimburse you the $30 registration fee. If you have questions about how to receive a scholarship to attend the Art WORKS! Conference, contact Bob DeArmond at the contact information listed below. If you have questions about the conference, contact Kat Eldred, Artworks! Co-chair, kat@zeppa.org. Contact Bob DeArmond at 218-722-0952 for all other questions.

SEEKING PERSONAL ESSAYS
The bestselling book series A Cup of Comfort is now seeking authentic and compelling personal essays for the three new volumes: A CUP OF COMFORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES,Submission deadline: April 1, 2008, $500 grand prize; $100 each; A CUP OF COMFORT FOR NEW MOTHERS Submission deadline: April 15, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each and A CUP OF COMFORT FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES, Submission deadline: June 15, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each. All Cup of Comfort stories must be true, original, and positive; narrative essays (creation nonfiction); and 1,000-2,000 words. Entrants pay no fees. Writer's guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm

CALL FOR MINNESOTA WRITERS : mnartists.org is launching a new short-short fiction competition and publication series for Minnesota writers. Submission deadline is March 28, 2008. mnartists.org is launching miniStories, a quarterly flash fiction competition coordinated by novelist Geoff Herbach (The Miracle Letters of T. Rimburg and 89.3 The Current's Electric Arc Radio). This new literary series will showcase previously unpublished short stories by Minnesota writers which will be selected by authors, editors, and publishing industry veterans from across the country. Winning stories will be published on mnartists.org and in the e-magazine access+ENGAGE. There will be readings at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis at the end of each quarter's contest cycle, and an anthology collecting the inaugural year's miniStories fiction will be published in April 2009 and available for sale at area bookstores. See http://www.mnartists.org/article.do?rid=180466for the full call for writers. Email at info@mnartists.org. Any previously unpublished short fiction, from 5-500 words in length, may be submitted for consideration (submissions longer than 500 words will not be considered). Entrants may submit up to, but no more than, three pieces per competition cycle. Story submissions should be emailed as attachments (preferably as Word documents--.doc) to stories@mnartists.org.

Minnesota Poet Laureate Announced Robert Bly, who lives in Minneapolis, has been named Minnesota’s first poet laureate by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The 81-year-old Bly has written more than 30 books of poetry but is probably best known for “Iron John: A Book About Men,” a 1990 prose exploration of mythology.

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.

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. Thank you for contributing and for reading. Address all calendar events to calendar@lakesuperiorwriters.org. Address all concerns or questions about the calendar to Phil Fitzpatrick c/o pfitzpa@charter.net.