E-Calendar May 2010
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.

Take some time out from gardening, golfing, and gamboling to
support your local writers! Here is your LSW E-Calendar for
the Merry Month of May!

LSW ACTIVITIES AND NEWS.

**Of Special Note:
Duluth poet Sheila Packa has been selected as the 2010/12
Duluth Poet Laureate, in an open selection process by the
Lake Superior Writers'  poet laureate committee. For her two
year term, Ms. Packa will receive an  honorarium of $3,000
and will organize five public events. An inaugural reading
will be presented in the Fall, 2010.

A crowning ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 2nd,  2 pm.
at the Harbor City International School in downtown Duluth.
Ms. Packa is  the first Duluth woman to receive the honor.

The Duluth poet laureate project was founded in 2005 and is
funded by donations from area colleges, bookstores, The
Friends of the Duluth  Public Library, the Duluth Public
Arts Commission, and the Arrowhead Reading  Council. A
13-person advisory committee assists the poet laureate to
implement programming during the two year term. Lake
Superior Writers is the  sponsoring organization for the
Duluth Poet Laureate Project.

Bart Sutter (2006/08) and Jim Johnson (2008/10) were
Duluth's  first and second poet laureates. Duluth is the
first Minnesota city to select  and support a poet laureate
in modern times, followed by Red Wing, Saint Paul,  and
Winona. Robert Bly was recently chosen by Governor Tim
Pawlenty as the   Minnesota state poet laureate.

For additional information, please contact Lake Superior
Writers, 218-722-3904, www.lakesuperiorwriters.org

Sheila Packa, poet, social worker, teacher,  mother, lives
in Duluth. Ms. Packa grew up on Minnesota’s Iron Range,
and she is the granddaughter of Finnish immigrants.  Her
work, influenced  by the Finnish language, explores the
theme of migrations (of birds,  grandmothers, and desire)
and the natural world.

She has published  poetry, short stories and essays in many
literary magazines, including  Ploughshares. Her poems have
been in several anthologies,  including Finnish-North
American Literature in English (Mellen Press,  2009),
Beloved on the Earth: 150 Poems of Grief and Gratitude
(Holy Cow! Press, 2009) and To Sing Along the Way:
Minnesota Women Poets from Pre-Territorial Days to the
Present (New Rivers  Press). Poetry Harbor published her
first chapbook, Always Saying  Good-bye. Dear Bird, Fearful
Journey and Echo  & Lightning are chapbooks with an audio CD
with cellist Kathy McTavish,  available at Northern Lights
Bookstore and at her performances. These works  are also
available as MP3 downloads on her website. Her book of
poems, The Mother Tongue, published by Calyx Press Duluth in
2007,  received a NEMBA honorable mention. She received two
Arrowhead Regional  Arts Council fellowships for poetry, an
ARAC Career Opportunity grant, two Loft  McKnight Awards,
(poetry, 1986 and prose, 1996) and a Loft Mentor Award in
poetry (1995).  Her work is available on her website at
www.sheilapacka.com.

** Saturday, May 1 from 10-2 Young authors will read from
their works at Lake Superior College on Trinity Avenue in
Duluth.

** Sunday, May 2 from 2-4 pm The Lake Superior Writers
Annual Meeting at which the new Duluth Poet Laureate, Sheila
Packa will be crowned. In addition, the winners from their
“Hard Times” Writing Competition will read from their
works. There will also be a performance by Coyote. Harbor
City International School, 332 W. Michigan Avenue, Duluth.

** Saturday, May 15, 2-4 p.m. NEMBA Writing Workshop in the
UMD Library 4th floor Rotunda. In conjunction with NEMBA,
Lake Superior Writers offers a writing workshop with
Beatrice Ojakangas on Saturday afternoon, May 15 (2-4 p.m.
in the UMD Library 4th floor rotunda). Beatrice, who has
published 27 books, will talk about "How to Write a
Cookbook." She will address how to write a recipe, design a
cookbook, and write a book proposal. The writing workshop
will accommodate up to twelve participants. The workshop fee
is $35 for LSW members and $40 for nonmembers. To reserve
your spot, e-mail cbrown@d.umn.edu and send your
pre-registration check to the LSW office, 1301 Rice Lake
Road, Suite 132, Duluth, MN 55811.

LSW MONTHLY GROUPS

** Monday May 10 at 6:00 pm The Childrens Writer's Group is
scheduled to meet at Chester Creek Cafe. We will review
submitted writings. Feel free to bring some writing or short
book to share.

** Sunday, May 16, 1:30-4 pm - MEMOIR GROUP:  Meets
downstairs at  Chester Creek Cafe.  All are welcome.

** Wednesday, May 19 from 6-8 pm Third Wednesday
Fiction/Poetry Writing Group, at Chester Creek Cafe, 1902 E.
8th Street. Contact Jill Hinners (349-6431) or Cheryl Reitan
 (creitan@d.umn.edu), 218-728-3154.

** Thursday, May 20 at 11:30 am - WRITERS' SQUARE TABLE
meets at  Chester  Creek Cafe.  All are welcome.  Topic for
May:  Travel Writing/Writing   about Place

** PLAYREADING GROUP:  This group will resume in September
2010.

Other Monthly Groups


** Tuesday, May 4 at 7pm In-Store Book Group* The In-Store
Book Group will be meeting to discuss /Lake// of Sorrows/,
/Haunted Ground/, /False Mermaid/ by Erin Hart. This month
we will be joined by Erin Hart herself. Discussions led by
Anita Zager, new members always welcome.

** Thursday, May 13 7:00-8:00 pm The Book Group at Fitger's
We will discuss Pontoon: A Novel of Lake Wobegon by Garrison
Keillor Contact Jill Lyman 218-727-9077
bookstore@fitgers.com free

** Thursday, May 20 from 6:30-8pm  In-Store Book Group:
Chapter & Verse* A book group for adults to read young adult
and children’s books will be  meeting to discuss /The
Thief/ by Megan Whalen Turner and /Funny  Business/ by
Leonard Marcus. Discussions led by Linda Glaser, new members
always welcome.

AREA LITERARY EVENTS back to top

** Saturday, May 1 from 11am-12pm Book Signing: Robert
Townsend* /Spirit// Falls Northern Lights Books & Gifts 307
Canal Park Drive Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5267 or
800-868-8904 http://www.norlights.com


** Saturday, May 1 from 1-2pm Book Signing: David Holmes *
/Secrets/ Northern Lights Books & Gifts 307 Canal Park Drive
Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5267 or 800-868-8904
http://www.norlights.com


** Saturday, May 1. A May Day fundraiser at Barnes & Noble
Booksellers in support of Friends of the Duluth Public
Library will feature Gary Boelhower reading at 10:30 am;
Mary Linda Sather’s storytime at 11 am; Ellie Schoenfeld
reading from “The Dark Honey: New & Used Poems” at 1 pm;
and a hand-spinning demonstration at 2 pm. Barnes & Noble
Booksellers, Miller Hill Mall, 1600 Miller Trunk Highway,
Duluth, 218-786-0710.

** Monday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m. Author and illustrator
Stephanie Stevens of rural Bovey will read from her recently
published children's book "Isabelle and Grandma Birdie" on
at The First Stage of the Lyric Center for the Arts, 514
Chestnut Street, Virginia. The book is about a young girl
who spends a summer with her grandmother, exploring the
nearby woods.  Lessons she learns from nature help her to
cope with the challenges she faces when she returns home.
Stephanie will discuss the process of writing, illustrating,
printing and selling her book, which will be available for
purchase and signing. Stephanie is also an accomplished
poet, with work appearing in "Across the Fence" and
"Uncommon Light." The event is part of "Words & Lyrics," an
evening for celebration of the written and spoken word, held
on the first Monday of each month at The First Stage.  The
program is free and open to the public.

** Monday, May 3, 8-9 pm, Poetry Showcase at Teatro Zuccone.
 A variety of local poets will take the stage at this year's
Homegrown Poetry Showcase.  Some will get all "slam" style
on you, some will choose a more traditional approach and
others will be just plain off the wall.  The line up
includes Trevor Kaldor, Paul Lundgren, Patrick McKinnon,
Devin McKinnon, Amanda Teague and more.   $5 fWeekday Pass
or use your Weeklong Pass for Homegrown Music Festival, sold
at the venue or in advance from Electric Fetus.

** Tuesday, May 4 at 7pm  Reading: Robert Bly Weber Music
Hall on the campus of UMD. The reading is free and open to
the public, and Northern Lights Books and Gifts will have
books available there.  The reading is brought to you by the
Arrowhead Library System with funding from the Heritage
Amendment.  Mr. Bly will also read the following night in
Grand Marais at the Center for the Arts at 7 pm, another
appearance sponsored by the ALS with Heritage Amendment
funding. Northern Lights Books & Gifts 307 Canal Park Drive
Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5267 or 800-868-8904
http://www.norlights.com


** Thursday, May 6 at 5pm The Power of the Purse* The Power
of the Purse is an event to benefit The Imagination Library.
Guest speaker Judith Viorst. Spirit Mountain Chalet.
Northern Lights Books & Gifts 307 Canal Park Drive Duluth,
MN 55802 218-722-5267 or 800-868-8904
http://www.norlights.com

** Friday-Saturday May 7-8 Friends of the Library Media
Sale: Gently-used vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, VHS, audio
books, and more.  At the Main Library Green Room during
Library open hours.

** Saturday, May 8 from 1-2pm  Book Signing: Gayla Marty*
/Memory of Trees/  Northern Lights Books & Gifts 307 Canal
Park Drive Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5267 or 800-868-8904
http://www.norlights.com

** Thursday, May 13 at 7:30 pm. Connie Wanek and Joyce
Sutphen will read from their new books at the Quaker Church
at 1802 E. 1st St. Sutphen's latest is First Words,
published by Red Dragonfly Press, and Wanek's is On Speaking
Terms, published by Copper Canyon Press, and recently
reviewed in the New York Times Book Review.  For details,
call Northern Lights Books and Gifts at 722-5267.

** Thursday, May 13 from 6:30-9 pm Mary Willette Hughes,
author of Flight on New Wings, will present a workshop
titled Healing Through Poetry.  The program will be
interactive with an emphasis on writing.  Mary has published
two books and will soon release a third.  She is the
recipient of the Public Service Award presented by the
National Association of Poetry Therapists and most recently
received a grant from the Central MN Arts Board as an
individual artist award.  Cost of the workshop is $10, with
a limit of twenty participants.  Reserve your spot by
contacting Dennis Herschbach at dhersch@frontier.com or by
phone at (218)834-2323.

** Sunday, May 16 - Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards Mark
your calendars——for the 22nd annual Northeastern
Minnesota Book Awards, presented from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in
UMD's Kirby Ballroom. Thirty-four books are vying for this
year’s NEMBA awards, recognizing books about northeastern
Minnesota published in 2009. The festivities will include a
reception, book fair, and nominated author readings from
1:30-3 pm and featured speaker Beatrice Ojakangas and the
awards presentation from 3:30-5 pm.  Renowned food writer
Beatrice Ojakangas will give the NEMBA address, titled
“Reading, Writing, and Recipes,” with Barton Sutter,
Duluth’s first poet laureate, serving as emcee.  A winner
and an honorable mention will be announced in five
categories: (1) fiction, (2) poetry, (3) memoir/creative
nonfiction, (4) general nonfiction, and (5) children’s
literature. The winner in each category will receive a cash
prize of $300, and the winning author and honorable mention
will receive a glass plaque. NEMBA is presented by the UMD
Library with support from Friends of Duluth Public Library,
Lake Superior Writers, and Northern Lights Books & Gifts.
The Bookstore at Fitger’s will contribute a prize drawing.
 For more information and a list of nominated titles, visit
the NEMBA Web site at http://www.d.umn.edu/lib/nemba/ or
call 218-726-7889.

** Wednesday, May 26, 6:30 p.m. - Women's Book Group
discusses "Quicksand", by Nella Larsen. Drop in and join the
conversation. Drury Lane Books 12 East Wisconsin St Grand
Marais, MN 128-387-3370

 ** Thursday, May 27, 7 pm. The public is invited to the
book release celebration of Deborah Gordon Cooper's newest
collection of poetry, “Under the Influence of Lilacs,”
published by Clover Valley Press. Deborah will read
selections, accompanied by folksinger-songwriter Sara
Thomsen! Duluth Congregational Church, 3833 E. Superior St.,
Duluth. Refreshments will be served. For information, call
218-525-4552.

** Thursday, May 27, 5 p.m. - Full Moon Reading - Outside,
on the shore of Lake Superior, featuring Bob Carter. Drury
Lane Books 12 East Wisconsin St Grand Marais, MN
128-387-3370

** Saturday, May 29, 11 a.m. - Muffin Man reads stories to
children. Drury Lane Books 12 East Wisconsin St Grand
Marais, MN 128-387-3370

** Saturday, May 29,5 p.m. - Salon, featuring Margot
Fortunato Galt and Suzanne Swanson of the Laurel Poetry
Collective. Drury Lane Books 12 East Wisconsin St Grand
Marais, MN 128-387-3370

** Thursday mornings 11:00 to 11:30 am Story time at The
Bookstore at Fitger's May 6 Celebrate Mothers & Grandmothers
May 13 Let's Go Fishing
May 20 Sesame Street Stories
May 27 Ball Games

LSW KUDOS News about LSW Members back to top 

** Copper Canyon Press has released Connie Wanek's third
book of poems, On Speaking Terms. It's available now at
Northern Lights Books and Gifts
(http://www.norlights.com/speaking-terms) Futher
information can be found at:
http://www.coppercanyonpress.org/catalog/index.cfm?action=displayBook&book_ID=1417
or at the author's website: www.conniewanek.com

Announcements/Contests/Deadlines/Workshops/Summer Events back to top 

** This summer you could be writing in a milkhouse, on a
farm, in the middle of an island, on Lake Superior ... with
12 excellent teachers as guides. Madeline School of the Arts
announces the debut of its Summer Writing Program. Workshops
in poetry, creative nonfiction, writing for children,
fiction, memoir, and creative process are offered from June
through August. Each workshop runs Monday through Friday and
includes one-on-one consultation with your instructor, plus
the opportunity to participate in a student/teacher reading.
Here's your chance to work with award-winning, accomplished
writers while enjoying the area's most inspiring setting.
Teachers include: Todd Boss, John Hildebrand, Frank Bures,
Sharon Chmielarz, Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, Faith Sullivan,
Sandra Benitez, Jude Nutter, Mary Carroll Moore, Michael
Kiesow Moore, Rosanne Bane, and Cheri Register. Visit
www.madelineschool.com for full descriptions and enrollment,
or call (715) 747-2054
** CALL FOR MN POETS AND WRITERS: The 2010 mnLIT cycle is
now taking submissions SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SUNDAY, MAY 16
(midnight)  Get the full call for writers, eligibility
requirements, and detailed instructions for submission on
mnartists.org:
http://www.mnartists.org/article.do?rid=259654 About the
2010 mnLIT program: mnLIT is a competitive literary program
presented by mnartists.org, which consists of the What Light
Poetry Project and the miniStories flash fiction series.
mnLIT showcases original work by Minnesota poets and writers
and is sponsored, in part, by The Onion/A.V. Club: Twin
Cities. Interested writers are welcome to submit work for
consideration in both the What Light and miniStories
competition.  

** ARROWHEAD REGIONAL ARTS  COUNCIL TO PRESENT ITS ANNUAL
ARROWHEAD ARTS AWARDS

     On Friday, June  4, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC)  is honored to
present the twelfth annual Arts and Cultural Heritage
Arrowhead  Arts Awards in a ceremony at the Encore
Performing Arts Center and Gallery at  2035 Highway 33 South
in Cloquet, Minnesota.  The Arts and Cultural  Heritage
Arrowhead Arts Awards were created to recognize two
individuals who  have made significant contributions to the
arts in the Arrowhead Region.   Robert DeArmond, Executive
Director of the ARAC, explains, "These individuals  play an
essential role in all of our lives and it is important for
us to  recognize the artists and individuals in our
communities who work tirelessly to  make the arts a part of
our everyday life."

      This year's  recipient of the George Morrison Artist
Award is young adult  author Mary Casanova of Ranier,
Minnesota.  Casanova is the author of over  twenty books,
from contemporary novels and historical fiction, series,
books  (and movies) for American Girl, picture books, and a
biography.  Her book  awards include an American Library
Association "Notable," Booklist "Editor's  Choice," Parent's
Choice "Gold" Award, Aesop's Storyteller Award, plus
numerous  state reading list nominations, several
Northeastern Minnesota Book nominations,  and two Minnesota
Book Awards.
 
     Casanova  initially set her books in Minnesota, but has
ventured as far away as Norway,  France, and Belize to
research stories,  She is invited to speak nationally  and
occasionally internationally but prefers to be home in the
north woods of  Minnesota where she finds the quiet she
needs to write.  Casanova is  currently working on an
historical novel set in northern Minnesota in  1920.

     "We have a  wealth of talented artists and writers in
northern Minnesota," Casanova stated,  "I'm humbled and
honored to be selected as this year's award  recipient."

     The  George Morrison Artist Award is named after
internationally  acclaimed visual artist George Morrison who
was an important member of the  second generation of
American abstract expressionist artists and was heralded
for successfully synthesizing American Indian themes with
abstraction and  surrealism.  Morrison, a member of the
Grand Portage Chippewa, was a long  time resident of the
Arrowhead Region.

     This year's  recipient of the Maddie Simons Advocate
Award is Cheryl  Kramer-Milder of Cloquet, Minnesota, in
recognition of her contributions to the  arts and community
theater in Cloquet and Carlton County.  Her passion for
community theater began 33 years ago in Weeping Water,
Nebraska, before moving  to Minnesota.  in 1987,
Kramer-Milder founded the County Seat Theater  Company, the
only full season community theater in Carlton County.  It
began as a fund raiser for the Carlton County High School
Band.  The County  Seat Theater Company moved three times in
its first several years before finding  a stable home in the
Old Country Church Theater in Atkinson in rural Carlton
County.  A few years ago the County Seat Theater Company
made a major move  into its new and expanded location, the
Encore Performing Arts Center and  Gallery in Cloquet.
Kramer-Milder spearheaded the huge undertaking of a  major
capital campaign and gathering and developing community
support.  The  new Center and Gallery is becoming a focal
point for community theater, music,  poetry readings and art
exhibitions.  "There is so much talent in community  people
that is just waiting to be discovered or showcased,"
Kramer-Milder  stated, "that I take every opportunity to
speak to service groups in the  community, or anyone who
will listen, about the arts and what we do at Encore  every
day of the year."

      Kramer-Milder  has been involved as an actor and
director with the Lofte Community Theater in  Nebraska, the
Swea City Patent Pending Players in Iowa, Civic Summer
Theater in  Fairmont, MN, and Renegade Comedy Theater,
Access Theater and the Duluth  Playhouse in Duluth.  She has
also directed for several high schools  including Carlton
and Barnum.  She was recognized for Outstanding  Achievement
in Directing and Set Design by the Minnesota Association of
Community Theaters in 2007.

      Kramer-Milder  served as the Artistic Coordinator for
a Violence Prevention Grant Program for  Carlton County
Schools from 1993 to 1995 and has also served on the board
of  directors of two community theaters.
 
     The  Maddie Simons Award is named after the first
volunteer  Chairperson of the ARAC Board, Madeline Simons.
Simons, a long time  resident of Grand Marais, owned a dance
studio, helped start the Grand Marais  Playhouse, the Lutsen
Art Fair, and Minnesota Citizens for the  Arts.

     The Arts and  Cultural Heritage Arrowhead Arts Award
Ceremony will be held from 6:30 p.m. to  8:00 p.m. at the
Encore Performing Arts Center and Gallery at 2035 Highway 33
 South in Cloquet, Minnesota, on Friday, June 4, 2010.  The
awards  presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be
followed by a celebratory  reception.

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.

Board of Directors: LSW is governed by an 11-member board. Potential board members are interviewed by a nomination committee and presented to the board for vote. In the past, many board members have been chosen from the group of members who serve on our committees and who volunteer.

Respectfully submitted for your delight,
Phil Fitzpatrick
Newsletter and E-Calendar Editor
Lake Superior Writers

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.