E-Notes MARCH 2008

PNWA News PNWA News Summer Conference SUMMER CONFERENCE Author Online Release E-Notes News

Contest/Submissions NY Book Festival Competition

Workshops/Classes Writers’ Retreat Workshop Proposal Write on the River NW Christian Writers Renewal Field’s End Writers’ Conference Non-Fiction Writer’s Workshop TCC Writers’ Conference Writer’s Retreat

Events/Speakers PNWA Member Book Signing A Conversation with Stephin Merrit Hugo House Event

Miscellaneous AUTHOR MAGAZINE Hugo House Writers-in-Residence The Pacific Northwest Writers Association is proud to announce the launch of Author-Editor Clinic Elizabeth Lyon’s 6th Book for Writers its new on-line magazine Author (www.authormagazine.org). Publishing NY Book Festival Vendor Deadline monthly, Author offers articles about writing, book reviews, and video NY Book Festival Call for Submissions interviews (new and best-selling authors).

This month we feature interviews with Clive Cussler (The Chase), Doug Preston (The Wheel of Darkness), Nassim Assefi (Aria), Jennifer Paros (Violet Bing and the Grand House), and Tom Hill (currently Head Writer for TV Land and author of What to Expect When Your Wife’s Expecting).

Also in this month’s issue, Jennifer Paros remembers the day she realized why she loved to write, Bill Kenower takes another look at F. Scott Fitzgerald’s unfinished novel The Last Tycoon, and Brian Mercer has advice for writers needing help with time management.

The magazine is free to all, but in months to come, PNWA members will have access to the Writer’s Corner, which will include more how-to articles, databases of media contacts, up-to-date industry news, and more.

Please stop by the Author website, watch some interviews (such as the Clive Cussler interview included here), read a few articles and book reviews, and tell us what you think.

E-Notes News Our PNWA Newsletter (E-Notes) will no longer be available for non- members beginning April 2008.

Contests/Submission Requests NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL COMPETITION The 2008 New York Book Festival will consider published, self-published, and independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children’s books, teenage, how-to, audio/spoken word, comics/’zines, e-books, poetry, wild card (anything goes!), unpublished stories, science fiction, horror, photography/art, romance and biography/autobiography works.

A panel of judges will determine the winners based on the following criteria: 1) The story-telling ability of the author 2) The potential of the work to win wider recognition

Entries can be in German, Portuguese, English, Spanish, French or Italian and must be published on or after January 1, 2000. Our grand prize for the 2008 New York Book Festival Author of the Year is $1500 and a flight to New York for the awards and our day festival in Central Park.

ENTRIES: Please classify your book and enter it in the following categories. Multiple entries must be accompanied by a separate fee for each book.

1) General Non-fiction 2) General Fiction 3) Children’s books 4) E-books 5) Comics/’zines 6) Wild Card (anything goes) 7) Unpublished Stories 8) Teenage 9) Science Fiction 10) Romance 11) Biography/Autobiography 12) Audio/Spoken Word 13) Poetry 14) Photography/Art

FESTIVAL RULES: New York Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain the official entry form, including your e- mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.

NOTIFICATION AND DEADLINES: We will notify each entry of the receipt of their package via e-mail and will announce the winning entries on this web site shortly after the entry deadline.

Regular registration deadline submissions in each category must be postmarked by the close of business on May 25 , 2008. Winners in each category will be notified by e-mail. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions.

TO ENTER: Click on the "ENTER THE COMPETITION" link at newyorkbookfestival.com and follow the directions to get an entry form. Forms may also be faxed/e-mailed to you by calling our office at 323-665- 8080 or e-mailing us at [email protected]. You may also register over the phone with a credit card. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee via check, money order, credit card payment or PayPal online payment of $50 in U.S. dollars for each submission. Multiple submissions are permitted but each entry must be accompanied by a separate form and entry fee.

Entry fee checks/money orders should be made payable to JM Northern Media LLC. We’re sorry, but entries must be mailed and cannot be delivered in person or by messenger services to the JM Northern Media offices.

Entry packages should include one copy of the book; any relevant marketing material; a copy of your official entry form; and the entry fee or receipt from online payment.

Entries should be mailed to:

JM Northern Media LLC 7095 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 864 Hollywood, CA 90028

AWARDS: Winners of the 2008 New York Book Festival will be honored at a gala ceremony held the night before our annual day festival in Central Park. You do not need to be present to accept your award or accompanying prizes.

New York Book Festival winners in each category will be admitted free to the awards ceremony. The New York Book Festival selection committee reserves the right to determine the category eligibility of any project.

The New York Book Festival is produced by JM Northern Media LLC, producers of the Hollywood Book Festival, DIY Convention, London Book Festival and DIY Book Festival, and is sponsored by The Hollywood Creative Directory, eDivvy, Westside Websites and Shopanista.

Workshops/Retreats/Classes/Conferences WRITERS’ RETREAT Once again Writer’s Retreat has reserved Dumas Bay Centre on beautiful Puget Sound for an event supporting the art and business of writing

-Elizabeth Lyon, author of six books for writers of fiction and nonfiction, including The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit, is our keynote speaker, talking about "Banishing the Three Blind Mice of Writing: Doubt, Distraction, and Perfectionism". She will also lead a roundtable discussion called "Novel Writing From Beginning To End";

-Seattle Times reporter and Pulitzer nominee Nancy Bartley, who will be presiding over a roundtable called "Writing Your Life Story";

-Heather Larson, who supports herself by writing, will be leading a workshop called "Freelancing: Getting Paid to Write";

-Terry Persun, an award winning author who has published four novels, twenty short stories, one book and six chapbooks of poetry, will teach us all about "The Business of Writing", and will also lead a seminar specifically about poetry;

-Jacquie Rodgers, a fiction writer for almost a decade, has produced several completed novel-length manuscripts. Her next release will be a short novel, Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues. She will lead a seminar dealing with short stories.

The last thing that happens is a panel discussion, "From Pen to Publication", with Editor Terence Maikels from Sasquatch Books, Elizabeth Wales - Literary Agent from Wales Literary Services, and Author Terry Persun.

As I sit here writing this email, watching the snow fall and the wind blow, I look forward to this spring and the sunsets of Dumas Bay. We hope all writers and aspiring writers in the Pacific Northwest can join us there, April 25 and 26, 2008. There will be great gourmet meals. People actually raved last year. We also offer very reasonable overnight accommodations - nothing fancy, but they're right in the same conference center as the Retreat.

All the information is at the web address, www.cityoffederalway.com. It is also available via snail mail at Writer's Retreat, P.O. Box 9718, Federal Way, WA 98063 (we can send you a brochure). Our phone number is 253-835- 6900.

CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS Emerald City Writers’ Conference October 10 - 12, 2008

Name of Workshop Name of Presenter(s) Phone and email of point of contact for presenter(s) Length of Workshop (1 or 2 hours) Type of Workshop (panel, discussion, etc) Do you need any additional Audio/Visual over the standard package over flipchart and mic? Beginner or Advanced class? Any additional considerations?

Short summary of workshop:

Please attach bio and full workshop proposal by March 14, 2008 to the Program Chair at [email protected] with subject ECWC Workshop Proposal.

WRITE ON THE RIVER Writers, Readers and Dedicated Wordsmiths

Elizabeth George, internationally acclaimed and New York Times best selling author is on her way to Wenatchee. She will kick off the Write On The River 3rd Annual Writers’ Conference on May 17th at Wenatchee Valley College. With 12 inspiring workshops taught by established Pacific Northwest outstanding authors, you can take your writing to the next level with professional guidance and instruction. To reserve your space go to www.writeontheriver.org and register early for the $10.00 Early Bird discount. Write On The River is a project of the Community Foundation of North Central Washington.

In Detail Join others who share your interest and passion for writing on Saturday, May 17 at the 3rd Annual Write On The River Conference. It’s an easy drive to the beautiful new Wenatchee Hall on the Wenatchee Valley College campus.

This year internationally acclaimed author Elizabeth George will open the day as the keynote speaker. She is a New York Times best selling author of thirteen novels of psychological suspense, one book of non-fiction and two- short story collections.

A choice of twelve workshops taught by established Northwest writers follows – a full day of exploring wide-ranging topics from the realities of the publishing world, what galvanizes readers, and the young reader market to writing authentic dialogue, shaping memoirs, and entering into the writers’ life. You can make this conference the most inspiring day of the spring!

Kate Rogers, editor and chief of Mountaineer Books in Seattle, will be available for a lunch roundtable discussion to provide feedback on works of non-fiction. You may submit ideas for discussion or audit this session.

The day ends with a catered reception and time to mingle with fellow writers of all levels and interests, as well as the several workshop presenters.

Write On The River is a North Central Washington conference with the goal of helping the community of writers in this region explore and expand their craft. Look for more literary events and opportunities throughout 2008.

Find registration information for the May 17 conference, as well as much more workshop detail at www.writerontheriver.org or call (509)293-9215. Give yourself a one-day gift of the good company of writers! Come away from a day of workshops with the inspiration and energy you need to boost your writing, whether you are a professional, an aspiring professional, or solely a pleasure writer.

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN WRITERS RENEWAL May 2-3, 2008 Northshore Baptist Church, Bothell, WA

“My Hands in His” with keynote speaker Cec Murphey, co-author of Touchdown Alexander (with famed Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander) and the bestselling 90 Minutes in Heaven, now optioned for a feature film. Twenty-two workshops. Editorial reps from Christian publishing houses and an agent. For more information or to register, see www.nwchristianwriters.org. For a brochure, contact Judy Bodmer at [email protected].

FIELD’S END WRITERS’ CONFERENCE Writing in the Garden of the Gods

WHO: This year’s line-up of authors and speakers includes: Roy Blount, Jr. (keynote speaker), Stephanie Kallos (opening speaker), Knute Berger, Alice Acheson, Lyall Bush, Laura Kalpakian, Thomas Kohnstamm, Rosina Lippi (aka Sara Donati), Jennifer Louden, Nancy Pagh, George Shannon, Charley Pavlosky, Sheila Rabe (aka Sheila Roberts), Suzanne Selfors, David Wagoner, and Timothy Egan (closing speaker). Professional actor Ron Milton will be on hand for the Page One sessions.

WHAT: Third annual Field’s End Writers’ Conference, “Writing in the Garden of the Gods.”

WHEN: Saturday, April 26, 2008 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Kiana Lodge 14976 Sandy Hook Rd. NE Poulsbo, WA 98370

DETAILS: This one-day conference, held at the spectacularly beautiful Kiana Lodge near Bainbridge Island, is a combination of lectures and breakout sessions presented by an eclectic group of people in the literary world.

The day offers three groupings of breakout sessions. Guests will select three workshops to attend according to their interest (literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screen writing, dialogue, genre, travel writing, editing, journalism, historical fiction, and commercial fiction). Each breakout session will also offer a Page One workshop, where conference guests can anonymously submit the first page of something they’ve written for possible live reading and critique by the guest authors.

Lunch is provided and there will be an early evening wine and cheese reception and book signing, providing conference guests, authors, and speakers a chance to mingle. Shuttle buses will be available to carry walk-on ferry passengers to and from Kiana Lodge.

Registration begins February 1, 2008. Early registration is recommended as the conference is limited to 250 guests and has sold out in the past. Cost to attend is $135 if you register before February 28, 2008 and $150 after March 1, 2008. Groups of 5 or more can register for $130/person. To register for the 2008 Field’s End Writers’ Conference, visit www.fieldsend.org.

Founded in 2002, Field’s End is a writers’ community whose mission is to inspire writers and nurture the written word through lectures, workshops, and instruction in the art and craft of writing. Located across Puget Sound from Seattle on beautiful Bainbridge Island, Field’s End is an affiliate of the nonprofit Bainbridge Public Library, which is located at 1270 Madison Avenue on Bainbridge Island. For more information, call (206) 842-4162 or visit www.fieldsend.org.

NON-FICTION WRITER’S WORKSHOP Delve into the art & craft of creative nonfiction in San Miguel de Allende, a colonial town in Mexico’s central highlands. Richard Hugo House writer-in- residence Wendy Call (www.wendycall.com) will teach a one-week, intensive writing workshop June 22 to 27, 2008, at Casa Chepitos (www.casachepitos.com). See more information here: http://www.wendycall.com/teaching/smaflyer.pdf For details and registration information, contact Judith Gille ([email protected]).

TACOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE Tacoma Community College Writers' Conference proudly presents Margie Lawson in a rare two-day fiction-writing master class

April 12 & 13, 2008, 9am to 4:30pm

Sponsored by Tacoma Community College Writers’ Conference Tacoma Community College, Main Campus 6501 South 19th Street Tacoma, WA 98466 For more information, or to register, call the Tacoma CC Continuing Education Department at 253.566.5020

Day One: Empowering Character Emotions Day Two: Deep Editing: the EDITS System

Both Days, only $110 ($125 after March 7th)

Wouldn't you love to grab your readers on the first page and hold onto them until the last? In Empowering Character Emotions, Margie Lawson will show you how to pack an emotional punch in what your characters don't say. In Deep Editing, Margie will show you how to tell, at a glance, if each page is packed with power. Both of these workshops are HANDS-ON, so plan to bring 3 chapters of your work. More details in your confirmation email.

To Register Call 253.566.5020

Empowering Character Emotions

• Deep Editing: the EDITS System • Day One: Empowering Character Emotions • The EDITS System • Backstory management • Facial expressions, involuntary physical responses • Levels of intimacy, love signals • Nonverbal gender differences • Emotional authenticity • Projecting emotion for a non-POV character • Carrying a nonverbal image forward • Empowering characters' emotions checklist

Day Two: Deep Editing: the EDITS System

• Take the EDITS System deeper. Work with your manuscript. See what's needed in your scene. • Learn 25 rhetorical devices. Practice using them and read examples from bestselling authors. • Use worksheets to develop skills and keep them as a handy reference. • Learn Margie's Five Q. • Develop a personal editing checklist from the Master Editing Checklist. • Learn how to make a FINAL EDITING PASS.

Read what others had to say about Margie's Workshops:

Karin Tabke, best-selling author of Good Girl Gone Bad, had this to say about Margie's deep editing techniques:

"I had so many epiphany moments Saturday my head was twitching. It's still twitching! writing is stronger, more vivid, more emotional. The effects of the workshop were immediate. I highly recommend if you have the opportunity to take Margie's workshop in person, do it."

Award-winning sci-fi/fantasy author Jeri Smith-Ready says:

"Margie Lawson's 'Empowering Character Emotions' was incredible. I apply her EDITS System to every final draft, taking the prose to new levels of potency and richness. The principles have become second nature, resulting in first drafts that require much less 'medical attention.”

From Colleen Coble, award-winning author and CEO of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writer):

Girls, I just had to say that Lawson's was the best I've ever been to, bar none. And I've been to plenty. Margie’s workshop was so awesome . . . I'm going over my notes from what she taught before I start my next book. She’s a genius, pure and simple.

A WILDERNESS WRITER’S RETREAT Glacier National Park, Montana Moss Mountain Inn is an award-winning, fully organic writer’s retreat in the Northern Rocky wilderness on the edge of Glacier National Park, offering exquisite silence and breathtaking beauty in one of the most pristine and spiritual places on earth. Each writer’s suite offers workspace, wireless Internet connection, and views of the mountains. A gourmet organic breakfast is served daily.

Retreat owner Debra Moss has written professionally since 1984. Over 150 of her articles and essays have appeared in fifty publications. She is the author of a biography, co-author and editor of two nonfiction books, author of three mystery novels, and the recipient of seven writing awards. She has held positions as a columnist for three magazines, legal brief writer, speechwriter for a U.S. Virgin Islands senator, and as a media consultant for numerous businesses.

Debra offers her “Writers in Residence” personalized mentoring in the following areas: Short and Novel-length Fiction Nonfiction Essay and Memoir Internet Research Biography and Autobiography Writing for Magazines Manuscript Critique Manuscript Editing Selling to Publishers, Agents and Magazines Organizing Your Data Synopsis and Query Writing

Moss Mountain Inn operates as a bed and breakfast in the summer and as a writer’s retreat in the quieter months from September through May.

Moss Mountain Inn 4655 North Fork Road Columbia Falls, Montana 59912 (406) 387-4605 [email protected] www.mossmountaininn.com

Events/Speakers/Book Signings BOOK SIGNING BY KAY KENYON, PNWA MEMBER Kay Kenyon will sign her new book, A World Too Near (starred review in Publishers Weekly) at University Bookstore on Wednesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. This is book two of a sci-fantasy series. Book one (Bright of the Sky, now in paperback) was listed by PW as one of the top 150 books of 2007. It was also a top books pick of the American Library Association. The story follows Titus Quinn's journey in search of his family through the Entire, a tunnel universe with a river of fire for a sky. Website: www.kaykenyon.com.

A CONVERSATION WITH STEPHIN MERRITT (Magnetic Fields) Presented by Hugo House

Seattle – Richard Hugo House is pleased to announce that on March 5 the lead singer and songwriter of The Magnetic Fields, Stephin Merritt, will join Hugo House for the first of an occasional series at Hugo House called Songwriters on Writing. Lyall Bush, Hugo House’s executive director, will hold the conversation with Merritt about his droll lyrics and, among other things, his boredom with love songs.

“We started commissioning new songs for our Hugo Literary Series,” said Bush. “This is a logical extension: interviewing songwriters as authors. I’m really looking forward to sitting down with Stephin.”

The event starts at 8 p.m. Admission is free. 1634 11th Ave, Seattle (206) 322-7030 www.hugohouse.org

About the Artist Stephin Merritt has released seven albums by his band The Magnetic Fields (including "69 Love Songs" and this month’s “Distortion”) and two albums from The 6ths. He also makes music under the names Future Bible Heroes and The Gothic Archies. Spin and Rolling Stone magazines, along with dozens of major national magazines and newspapers, praised "69 Love Songs" as one of the best albums of 1999. Some called him the Cole Porter of his generation. (His favorite band is ABBA, to whom he credits his compositional impulses.)

About Richard Hugo House Richard Hugo House is a home for writers and readers. Our mission is to provide writers of all ages and backgrounds with the resources they need, connect audiences with the world of writing, foster the creation of new work and promote the literary arts as a vital part of our culture. Hugo House is located at 1634 11th Ave., Seattle. Richard Hugo House receives funding from ArtsFund, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, The Charles Engelhard Foundation, 4Culture,the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and The Hearst Foundation.

HUGO HOUSE PRESENTS: Answered Prayers and Other Tragedies The final event of the 2007-2008 Hugo Literary Series—Mar. 28-29

Seattle—Richard Hugo House’s 2007-2008 Hugo Literary Series’ culminating event is “Answered Prayers and Other Tragedies” on Mar. 28 at Town Hall Seattle. Featured will be National Book Award winner Sherman Alexie, memoirist Michelle Tea, monologist David Schmader, musician Sean Nelson, and Ben Blum, the winner of Hugo House’s New Works Competition. The “Answered Prayers and Other Tragedies” reading starts at 7:30 p.m.; a party follows featuring live music from the Lamar Lofton Trio, food and Elysian Brewing Company beer.

On Saturday, Mar. 29, Tea and Schmader will teach workshops through Hugo Writing Classes. Michelle Tea will draw from her professional career to teach “Performing Your Life: A Performance Workshop.” And David Schmader will teach “Navel Gazing 101: A First-Person Writing Workshop” appropriate for students working on the page or on performance.

At 9:30 on Saturday morning Sherman Alexie will lead a discussion for teenagers called “The Writing Life” in which he will talk about the business of writing and how to turn a fondness and knack for the form into a career. The program is open to high-school students only and is free.

The 2007-2008 Hugo Literary Series has so far debuted new work at three events, each one built around a central theme. Both established authors and new, talented voices are chosen to write something brand-new for the event. “I have to admit it’s a little disconcerting to have no idea what you’re going to hear until the minute these writers go on stage,” says program director Alix Wilber. “From the start we put our trust in the talent of the writers we’ve invited, figuring that whatever they produce will be worth listening to, love it or hate it—and so far they’ve more than exceeded our expectations.”

Lyall Bush, executive director, concurs, adding, “This is the event I’ve been looking forward to all year. Sherman Alexie is always surprising and I know that David Schmader, Michelle Tea and Sean Nelson will all be bringing something fresh.”

All the writers started with the same writing prompt. The prompt for Answered Prayers and Other Tragedies was this:

We live in an era in which the pursuit of happiness is relentless, and completely predicated on our getting what we want—the right car, the perfect mate, the dream job. Yet Oscar Wilde once remarked that “the only real tragedy in life is getting what you want.” What happens when our dreams come true? Is there a downside to answered prayers?

In addition to the writers commissioned to perform new work, a musician joins each event (rocker and writer Sean Nelson joins us on Mar. 28), and for Answered Prayers and Other Tragedies, the winner of the New Works Competition, Ben Blum, will open the night’s reading.

All pieces written for the Hugo Literary Series will be published on the Hugo House Web site. Browse the writing here: www.hugohouse.org/newwork

Tickets are on sale at www.brownpapertickets.org starting at $15. More info at www.hugohouse.org

About the Artists Sherman Alexie grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington, about 50 miles northwest of the city of Spokane. Since 1991 Alexie has published 17 books, and has found success as a writer of novels, short stories, poems and screenplays, including The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven; Reservation Blues; Smoke Signals and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, for which he won a National Book Award in 2007.

Ben Blum (winner of the New Works Competition) has spent the last year and a half in Seattle as a visiting graduate student at the University of Washington. His current research is on protein structure prediction. His scientific articles have appeared in Cognitive Science and the Journal of Machine Learning Research and his short stories have appeared primarily in a small bin on the windowsill of the communal bathroom at the house where he used to live on 25th Street. He plays the accordion.

Lyall Bush is executive director of Richard Hugo House. His writing has appeared in the Iowa Review, Film Comment, the Seattle Times and The Stranger, among other publications. In 2006 he was shortlisted for a Stranger Genius award.

Sean Nelson is a writer and musician best known as the front man for Harvey Danger. In his career as a musician he has also worked with Death Cab for Cutie, The Minus 5, Nada Surf, and The Long Winters. He writes for The Stranger; his book Court and Spark (about Joni Mitchell) was published as part of the 33 1/3 series by Continuum Books.

David Schmader is the author of the solo plays Straight and Letter to Axl, which he has performed in Seattle and across the United States. Since 1998, Schmader has worked for The Stranger, the Seattle newsweekly where he’s an associate editor and columnist, writing the pop culture and politics column “Last Days.” In his spare time, he’s the world’s foremost authority on the brilliant horribleness of Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls, hosting annotated screenings around the country and supplying the commentary track for MGM's DVD rerelease of the film in 2003. In June 2007, Schmader presented a portion of his new solo play, Litter, as part of the On the Boards Northwest New Works Festival, and is continuing work on the piece as you read this.

Michelle Tea is originally from Chelsea, Massachusetts but currently lives in San Francisco. Tea was the co-founder of the Sister Spit spoken word tour. Her books, mostly memoirs, are known for their views into the riot grrrl and queercore communities. She has toured with the Sex Worker’s Art Show. She is also a contributor to The Believer magazine and is the co-writer for the weekly astrology column, “Double Team Psychic Dream,” in San Francisco’s Bay Guardian newspaper.

Tickets On sale at www.brownpapertickets.com Tickets are $25 general public, $20 members, $15 students & seniors.

We meet every two weeks to critique each others’ work and discuss science fiction and/or fantasy writing and writers. Your work for the meeting should be uploaded to our dotMac group folder a week before (you don’t have to use a Mac or have a .Mac account).

As well, we suggest bringing two or three hard copies to the meeting to share (not everyone will have had time to review your work before hand). Material should be around ten pages unless you’re finishing a chapter or short story (we haven’t hung anyone for eleven pages so far). Members attending can range from three to ten, so the more the merrier. The café obviously serves coffee in many iterations as well as pastries and soft drinks. It has open seating so we try to grab a couple of tables near the entrance but sometimes find ourselves in the back (north end) of the café.

If you’d like to join us for the next meeting, January 24th, please send an email to [email protected]. However if you’re able to come at the last moment, you will still be welcome.

Miscellaneous HUGO HOUSE SEEK WRITERS IN RESIDENCE: Live in Residence at the Belltown Cottages Seattle—Richard Hugo House is accepting applications for its arts residency program—the “Hugo Huts”—that will provide two writers with subsidized housing in Seattle’s historic Belltown Cottages, plus the opportunity to teach in the Hugo Writing Classes.

The writers will begin their residency on September 1, 2008, with a term of 12 months, subject to a month-to-month approval by the Parks Department. The residency is renewable, with a two-term limit. The below-market rent does not include utilities. Applications are due by April 11 (see full details below).

The Belltown Cottage Park Project is a collaboration between Friends of Belltown P-Patch, Seattle Parks and Recreation and Richard Hugo House. The housing is in two refurbished cannery cottages at Elliott and Vine Streets in Belltown, an evolving neighborhood north of downtown Seattle. A third cottage at the site is available as a community venue for neighborhood meetings and events. Each cottage is 440 square feet, with a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and living room.

Hugo House, a 10-year-old literary arts center based on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, has a philosophy of seeking to support writers with the resources they need. One need of most practicing artists is affordable housing. Current studies on urban affairs show that communities thrive with the meaningful participation of artists. Belltown is a neighborhood that once surged with artists but has been overtaken with development and expensive housing. The cottages can help to return artists to the neighborhood.

The cottage residences are part of Hugo House’s Writer-in-Residence program, which has four other writer/mentors—including two teenagers— who serve our community by holding office hours (open to the public by appointment) and by participating in innovative programs to serve the Seattle community.

The writers who take residency of the cottages will: 1) hold open office hours one afternoon a week in the community cottage or a nearby coffee shop; 2) make a public presentation of their work; and 3) have the opportunity (under separate contract) to teach in the Hugo Writing Classes at Hugo House or in the community cottage. Each cottage will be limited to two people, one of whom will be the applicant writer.

Applicants should send the following by April 11 to “Hugo Huts,” Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122: • a letter of interest that explains why the cottage residency would serve your artistic needs; • a resume, or statement of your writing history; • a description of your proposed writing project; and • names of three references attesting to your ability to pay rent, treat the property respectfully and interact in a lively urban environment; • a writing sample of 5-7 pages.

The criteria for selecting the writers will include: • artistic quality of writing sample; • desire to live in an ultra-urban neighborhood (the cottages must be lived in, not used as studio space in addition to another residence); • ability to hold open office hours and keep appointments with the public, one afternoon a week; • statement of need; • design of and participation in a public presentation of his/her work; • reliability in paying full rent on time.

The selection process will be complete by the first two weeks in June. For more information about Richard Hugo House, please see www.hugohouse.org. No phone calls, please.

AUTHOR-EDITOR CLINIC Have you made a new year's resolution to yourself that you'll get your novel, memoir, or nonfiction manuscript in shape? The Seattle-based Author-Editor Clinic has been helping authors revise and polish their books-in-progress since 2004. We offer one reasonable rate for a complete read and thorough editorial critique. We’re currently accepting manuscript submissions for our Spring 2008 Clinic beginning April 21 (application deadline is March 31, but space may be filled sooner). We will also be holding two Clinic sessions in Fall 2008: watch for further announcements in June. See our website at www.authoreditorclinic.com or contact session manager Kyra Freestar ([email protected], 206-300-2601) for more information.

ELIZABETH LYON’S SIXTH BOOK FOR WRITERS Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore is the most comprehensive—368 pages, practical—What can go wrong? How can you fix it?, and economical—$14.95, how-to book on revising fiction. It can be pre-ordered from any online bookseller. Get free shipping by purchasing the whole set of Elizabeth’s books on fiction craft, including: A Writer’s Guide to Fiction and The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit. (Perigee Trade Paperback Original. $14.95. 68 pgs. ISBN: 978-0-399-53395- 2) Elizabeth Lyon is a professional book editor, a writing teacher, and a regular speaker and presenter at conferences in the US and Canada. For more info: [email protected] or www.elizabethlyon.com.

NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL – Early-Bird Deadline for Vendors The 2008 New York Book Festival's early-bird vendor deadline arrives on March 1 for its annual program celebrating books that deserve greater recognition from the world’s publishing capital. Last year, over 20,000 attendees enjoyed the beauty and serenity of Manhattan’s Central Park as they browsed books, listened to music and author readings and enjoyed our food vendors. This year, the day festival will offer expanded stages and new opportunities for authors, publishers, musicians and vendors. The early-bird deadline for vendors, which offers lower rates and preferred placement, arrives at midnight on March 1. Please e-mail [email protected] for an application.

MUSICIANS: If you would like to be a part of our day festival in Central Park, please e-mail us at [email protected] for an application.

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