NEWS tive committee, which also of Kennelly’s The Peaceable King- includes Dean Hughes, Ken Hun- dom indicated that the neglect was saker, Lowell Durham, Jr., and undeserved. Linda Sillitoe. The association also Unlike the other novels discussed AML SYMPOSIUM CONSIDERS announced the formation of read- at the conference, Audrey Godfrey ing groups to provide opportuni- said the conflict in John D. Fitz- VIRGINIA SORENSON AND ties for authors to present their gerald’s books arises from children work in progress. Linda Sillitoe testing family-taught principles HER CONTEMPORARIES chairs this program. rather than individuals searching William Wilson’s presidential for faith. Although sentimental, By ValerieHolladay address, read by Levi Peterson, Fitzgerald’s books, such as Papa THE ASSOCIATION of Mormon cussed Sorenson’s The Proper Gods descnbed how folklore differs Married a Mormon, charm and Letters (AML) gathered at Weber where the author departs from her from literature in that "the artistic humor the reader. State College Library on 28 Janu- usual Mormon historical fiction in tensions developed in a folklore Karin Anderson England ary 1989 for its annual sympo- telling a tale of a young, moder- performance occur directly and reviewed Juanita Brooks’s biogra- sium. Highlighting the theme of nized Indian who finds peace and dynamically between listener and phy of John D. Lee’s seventeenth Virginia Sorenson and her con- stability in his traditions. Both performer," rather than between wife, Emma. Lacking the depth of temporaries, there were presenta- Edward Geary and Linda Berlin the reader and the written lines on Brooks’s previous works, Emma tions by both professors and defended the merits of On This the page. He related examples of Lee does not explore the questions students on the works of several Star, which Berlin felt was both missionary folklore perpetuated in she might have faced in a challeng- Utah authors of a generation ago Sorenson’s "best and worst" work. the mission field and described ing society, but it does give a voice including Sorenson, Ardyth Ken- After an initial reading Geary how these serve both to comfort to a "vibrant spirit." nelly, John D. Fitzgerald, and Juan- found the book flawed but com- and to exhort the participants of The sessions cultivated a desire ita Brooks. pelling; his second reading yielded the folklore performance. As a in many to read these almost for- After opening comments by strong parallels to Rene Girard’s unique culture, he stated, Mor- gotten authors. Visits to Bench- 1989 AML President Levi Peter- psychological criticism. mons have a responsibility to mark Book’s display table proved son, the moming panel focused on During the luncheon the 1988 understand their own folklore and that most of these out-of-print Sorenson’s works, Where Nothing awards were announced (see side- the literature of their heritage. books are also hard-to-find and is Long Ago, The Proper Gods, and bar) and new officers were The first afternoon session the book search requests On This Star. Eugene England announced: Levi Peterson, presi- covered a diverse array of Utah multiplied. descnbed Sorenson not only as a dent; Bruce Jorgensen, president- writers. Patricia Truxler-Aikins After examination of these skilled fictionalist but as "a wit- elect; William A. Wilson, immedi- called Ardyth Kennelly the "most early Utah writers, three current ness" because her short stories ate past president and program neglected Utah woman writer." Utah writers-Linda Sillitoe, Dean contain the piercing troth of the chair. Linda Brummet and Dennis The laughter that rippled through Hughes, and Gordon Allred- personal essay. Jackie Bums dis- M. Clark were added to the execu- the room when she read passages discussed their own writing. Each SUNSTONE !CALENDAR THE ASSOCIATION OF MORMON COUNSELORS AND PSY- following categories: short story, poetry, personal essay, and critical CHOTHERAPISTS (AMCAP) spring convention will address the topic essay. Literature and Belief is interested in literature that achieves a "Building Self-Esteem in Families" and feature keynote speaker Dr. meaningful blend of artistic form and moral content. Entries that Richard L. Bednar followed by a case-oriented, audience-involved represent religious values in the Judeo-Christian tradition are workshop designed to make concepts useful in changing families. The encouraged; the sentimental or artlessly preachy are discouraged. conference is open to the public and will be held on 30 March 1989 Entries must be received before May 15. For more details see previ- at the University Park Hotel in Salt Lake City from 3:00 to 9:30 ous issue of SUNSTONE or contact: Literature and Belief Writing Con- For registration information call the AMCAP office at 801/226-2525. test, 3134 JKHB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602. THE BROOKIE AND D.K. BROWN MEMORIAL FICTION MORMON HISTORY ASSOCIATION (MHA). The 1989 annual CONTEST deadline for short stories dealing with LDS issues (25 page meeting will be held 11-14 May in Quincy, Illinois, at the Holiday Inn, maximum length) is 15 June 1985. For more details see the announce- and feature over 50 papers including some at historical sites in Nau- ment in the September 1988 Sunstone or contact the Sunstone Foun- voo, Carthage, and Warsaw. Optional pre- and post-conference tours dation, 331 Rio Grande Street, Suite 30, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1136 to Nauvoo are being arranged. The conference promises to be intellec- (801/355-5926). tual activity with a commitment to understanding in a climate of shared EXPONENT lI is sponsoring the second Helen Candland Stark vision. Program chair: Roger D. Launius, 1001 East Cedar Street, New Essay Contest. Submissions are being accepted until 1 June 1989. Baden, IL 62265. Essays should be typed and not exceed twelve double-spaced MORMON WOMEN’S FORUM April 5 meeting at 7:00 e.M. at manuscript pages. If possible, please submit essays on a computer the University of Utah’s Art and Architecture Building will feature Jan disc. Exponent II, Box 37, Arlington, MA 02174. Tyler on "Transcending the Cassandra Complex: Overcoming Spiritual I, ITERATURE AND BEI.,IEF has announced the Literature and Abuse and Abandonment: The May 16 event, "Celebration of Women~’ Belief Writing Contest for verified student and non-students in the will be a reception at the Lion House from 6:00 to 9:00 eM. PAGE 50 FEBRUARY 1989 acknowledged the difficulties in that it’s lonely," addingis her own creative process, so for- with an evening buffet and read- combining writing with rearing humorously, "sometimes in the gery became Hofmann’s creative ings by firelight at the home of families and voiced the dilemmaafternoon I wish I could go to a process. "The figuring it out and Candadai and Neila Seshachai, in producing for both regional and faculty meeting." Sillitoe provided devising little things to convince both on the English faculty at national audiences. a glimpse into Mark Hofmann, are more fun than the production," Weber State College. The 1988 Hughes admitted soberly that whom she studied as she she said. award winners read selections "the worst thing about writing is wrote Salamander. Just as writing The conference concluded from their works. (:~ THE ASSOCIATION FOR MORMON LETTERS 1988 AWARDS Special Recognition in Biography both in conceiving and helping to found the first An Award in Poetry Levi S. Peterson modern journal of Mormon letter, Brigham Young University Studies, and in setting new standards for Dennis Marden Clark Juanita Brooks: Mormon Woman Historian Mormon writers in the quality and content of his Tinder: answer might be. With an almost (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988) poetry. We honor him for the splendid lyrics that have Augustinian Dry Poems Levi Peterson’s study of Mormonism’s first modern -- appeared regularly throughout his career and are (Orem, Utah: United Order Books, 1988) and most heroically self-made -- historian is already gathered in Selected Poems. And we honor him that in Dennis Marden Clark’s first collection of poems acclaimed as the winner of the David W. and Beatrice his fifth decade as a publishing poet he continues to provides an occasion to honor him as one of the best C. Evans Biography Award, given by the Mountain produce good work and to nurture and challenge us of younger Mormon poets. He is not only an excep- West Center for Regional Studies, and readers along all. tional poet, but has served the cause of poetry -- and the Wasatch Front and elsewhere applaud its richly of Mormon letters -- as a fine editor (of poetry for enthralling, highly readable story of the life of a great An Award in the Personal Essay Sunstone), anthologist (of a forthcoming collection of woman, a fiercely loving and fearlessly critical mav- Karin Anderson England Mormon poetry), and critic and bibliographer. And he erick riding the edge of the herd as long as body and "The Man at the Chapel" has now founded his own press for publishing poetry. brain would endure. In its breadth and depth of Dialogue 21.4 (Winter 1988): 133-41 Tinder provides us, in a lovingly chapbook, twenty- research, its generous and judicious use of that one of Dennis Clark’s best poems. They reveal the research, and its sky-wide, canyon-deep, native-born Mormon literature includes sizeable amounts of serious great range of his subject matter, from a sonnet for his sympathy for Juanita Brooks and for the native earth fiction -- especially stories and story-cycles -- about daughter’s baptism, to an elegy for his brother’s deaf that nourished her and the implanted Mormon com- missionary experience. And the missionary home- ear, to an ode for his father’s garden, from immersion munity whose history and dynamics she used her life coming talk must be one of our most stable and in a glacial lake to utter rejection of a nuclear doings to comprehend, Levi Peterson’s Juanita Brooks: perennial oral narrative genres, with conventions nearly on Jackass Flats, Nevada.