Literary Contest Open To Nw Writers
Get writing if you intend to enter the fifth annual Andres Berger Awards for literary excellence in poetry, fiction and non-fiction.
The contest, sponsored by the Portland-based Northwest Writers Inc., is open to writers living in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Deadline is Jan. 31 and eligible works must have been published in the five years before the contest deadline.
Berger, a Portland-based poet, established the awards in 1993.
Winners in the three categories receive $1,000. For complete guidelines, send a SASE to Northwest Writers, Inc., Andres Berger Awards, P.O. Box 3437, Portland, OR 97208.
Mark your calendar
Those who are so far ahead of the curve they not only have a 1998 calendar, they are filling in the dates, will want to know when the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and Writers’ Conference will be held.
This year’s fest is March 11-15 and, while this will be the 12th year for the festival, the conference is a new addition.
Instructors at the French Quarter Literary Conference, which runs March 12-15, include mystery writer James Lee Burke, novelist Gail Godwin, syndicated columnist and linguist Richard Lederer, humor and travel writer Calvin Trillin, and John Barry, the author of “Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America.”
Other instructors are short story writer Tim Gautreaux, novelist Dorothy Allison, Winston Groom (the author of “Forrest Gump”), poet Fred Chappell, writing instructor Rosemary Daniell and literary agent Pamela Gray Ahearn.
For information on the New Orleans Festival and the Writers’ Conference, call (504) 581-1144 or e-mail twfest@gnofn.org.
Info on the Web
A new catalog of government publications has been created and is available on the Web at http://wagils.wln.com. The database lists state and local government publications from the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia. It will be updated monthly.
Talk turns to writing
The Spokane Branch of the National League of American Penwomen is looking for new members. To be eligible, you must be a woman who is interested in writing, illustration or music composition. It’s as simple as that.
The Penwomen meet the third Wednesday of each month at Riverview Terrace on Upriver Drive (just east of Washington Water Power). The November meeting (Nov. 21) will include a presentation by Florence Boutwell, author of “The Spokane Valley: A History of the Early Years, A History of the Growing Years” and “Out of the Gravel.” For information about the group, call 927-1721.
Reader board
The third year of readings and open mic at Mootsy’s, 406 E. Sprague, begins today at 5 p.m. at the tavern. Admission is free but donations will be welcomed.
Spokane writer Ed Muzatko will give a slide-lecture based on his book “Hooked on Little Goose” Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. The book explores the humorous aspects of steelhead fishing.
Environmental activists John Osborn, Derrick Jensen and George Draffan will discuss their book “Railroads and Clearcuts” Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore. The book uses historical research to detail how millions of acres of Pacific Northwest timberland set aside for homesteading became the property of lumber corporations.
Jack Fecker will read from his new book “Freedom From Work” Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore. Fecker’s book explores the shift in attitudes toward work.
Clearwater River poet Gary Gildner will read from his work Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Idaho Law School Courtroom in Moscow.
Adventurer and Utah chiropractor Wade Brackenbury will read from his book “Yak Butter and Black Tea” Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore. The book is an account of Brackenbury’s travels in southern Tibet; the reading includes slides of the little-traveled area of Tibet bordering China.
Your Halloween could have a literary bent. That is, if you head for Auntie’s Bookstore where the Rogue Readers will celebrate the haunting holiday with poetry, song, dramatic recitation and readings. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
, DataTimes