Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

The answer is yes, according to Atlantic Monthly writer Nicholas Carr. "Over the past few years I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory," he says. "My mind isn’t going—so far as I can tell—but it’s changing. I’m not thinking the way I used to think. I can feel it most strongly when I’m reading. Immersing myself in a book or a lengthy article used to be easy. My mind would get caught up in the narrative or the turns of the argument, and I’d spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. That’s rarely the case anymore."

The culprit? The one medium we've all come to rely on relentlessly: the Internet. Carr makes the case, quite eloquently I might add, that our infatuation and obsession with this magical tool to learn, communicate and interact with one another is making us have short attention spans, rendering us unable to focus, much less read, for a considerable length of time.

I can definitely relate to his sentiments. I remember when I could easily read just about any book for hours on end, but now it has to be pretty much the most amazing book ever for me to have that kind of focus. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri did the trick; I read that book front to cover in a matter of days. Before that, I had a considerable dry spell where nothing could hold my focus for more than fifteen minutes, save an episode of America's Next Top Model.

So what does this mean for the future of reading? Is the human race doomed to be distracted forever? Decide for yourself by reading Carr's full article at http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google. (If you can focus long enough to do so, that is.)

Friday, September 26, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Date: Saturday, September 27
Philip Pelletier will read from his mixed-media children’s picture book One Night in Frogtown. The reading will feature a video and a live musical performance by Heather Christie.
Where: Borders-Gresham, 687 NW 12th Street, Gresham, OR 97030
When: 1:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.borders.com

Date: Tuesday, September 30
Sean Christensen will Kelly Froh will present their artwork and writings and discuss independent publishing at the Multnomah County Library’s Zinster’s Talking lecture series.
Where: Central Library, US Bank Room, 801 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.multcolib.org

Date: Tuesday, September 30
Nairne Holtz will read from The Skin Beneath. Kathleen Bryson will read from Girl on a Stick. Ariel Gore will read from Hip Mama.
Where: In Other Words, 8 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97200
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org

Date: Wednesday, October 1
Peter H. Fogtdal will read from The Tsar’s Dwarf.
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.annieblooms.com

Date: Wednesday, October 1
Michael Brune will read from Coming Clean.
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Thursday, October 2
Floyd Skloot will read from The Wink of the Zenith and The Snow’s Music.
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.annieblooms.com

Date: Thursday, October 2
Robert Kull will read from Solitude.
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Friday, October 3
Francine Prose will read from Goldengrove.
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Book Outlook: PNBA Recap

Last week brought yet another fantastic PNBA show. It's impossible for me to go to these shows and not feel the urge to clear my calendar of all work and social obligations for the next three months so I can lock myself away with these marvelous works of ink on paper. Alas, life won't let me do that, so I must prioritize my book list.

After two and a half days of interviewing sales reps about books' reader appeal, getting swept up in authors' spiels, and sizing up superhuman abilities to sign hundreds of books in mere minutes, I have deemed these books most worthy of the next slots on my reading list:

All About Lulu, by Jonathan Evison
Publishers Weekly says it straight: All About Lulu is "a freakishly charming tale of star-crossed would-be stebsibling love in a family of failed bodybuilders in suburban Los Angeles." I don't admit to being a rubbernecker, but this I just can't miss.

Doctor Olaf Van Schuler's Brain, by Kirsten Menger-Anderson
Kirsten Menger-Anderson has an endearing smile and shy eyes. How could any reader not love this humble manufacturer of our chosen drug? Her story chronicles generations of doctors and each time period's medical breakthroughs--or so they seem at the time. Menger-Anderson's characters call out to be read just as their patients plead for their sanity. I didn't even get a complimentary copy of Doctor Olaf Van Schuler's Brain, which says a lot that I'm willing to buy it when I have so many free books stacked around me.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven, by Susan Jane Gilman
With travel expenses the way they are, travel memoirs are my ticket out of my living room. Gilman's adventures lead her and a friend around the world, but not in the simply glamorous way she imagined. Plagued by culture shock (I can relate to that!) and government surveillance (I'd rather not experience that), Gilman's tales are sure to entertain the armchair traveler.



Righting the Mother Tongue
, by David Wolman
I'm sure, no positive, every editor in the conference did a double-take (or is that double take, or doubletake?)--scratch that--gravitated to this title. As people whose jobs are to tame the wild vines of dangling modifiers and evolving spelling rules, how could we not? Wolman, with an innocent look and a comfortably comic nature, promises to entertain us languagelubbers and maybe teach us a thing or two too (er, as well).

Live Through This, by Debra Gwartney
Gwartney has proven her ability to make language sing even as it tells an uncomfortable story. That's what memoir is all about. This memoir recounts her harrowing experience as she searches for her teenage runaway daughters. Dropped into a subculture of violence and drugs, Gwartney is sure to shed light on this dark side of life.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Ready, Set, Wordigo!

* Wordigo - October 4th at Design Within Reach
* Featured Writer Celebrates Her Writing Community and Her Birthday
* 18 Fall Workshops Start This Week
* By Popular Demand: A Prompt Workshop at Powell's Just Added on Wednesdays
* Contact Write Around Portland

It's Time to Wordigo!

Join Wordigo Saturday, October 4, at Design Within Reach for an annual benefit and celebration for word lovers like you.
Click here for the details.

What's to love about Wordigo?

Pools of typewriters for you to create your own story
MadLibs written by the best wordsmiths we know
Wordigo Poker invented just for this event
Timeless games like Boggle and Speed Scrabble

And then there's Wordigo's ambiance:
A signature cocktail & delicious desserts and hors d’ouevres
Great music by DJ Safi
A silent auction of Moleskine journals designed by local artists and celebs
Designer furniture in the Pearl District as our backdrop

Where else could you and the rest of Portland’s word lovers have this much fun? Only at Wordigo! Click here to order your Wordigo tickets ($35 - $150) today.



New featured writer celebrates her birthday and her writing community:

"I feel really, really great and honored about being the featured writer," Diane Tamassia, pictured above, told us. "My birthday’s in September, and this is the best birthday present anyone could give, to be featured on a webpage. I am grateful and honored."

"I didn’t write before the workshops, didn’t even think about writing. I was scared to come to the first workshop session."

After participating in the summer workshop at Sisters of the Road Cafe, Diane said, "I learned I can write, and there is nothing to hold people back from writing."

"Write Around Portland is great for people who want to learn about writing and about themselves. It gives feelings of community."
Click here to learn more about this talented writer and read her writing.



Fall workshops start this week:

This week, Write Around Portland launched 18 ten-week writing workshops for adults and youth living with mental illness, survivors of domestic violence, LGBTQ seniors, burn survivors, and many others.

Click here to see a full list of the fall workshops, and mark your calendar now for the fall community reading and anthology release party - December 17th.



By Popular Demand: A Second Prompt Workshop at Powell's Just Added:

"Whether you’ve been writing for eons or have never shared your writing within a group, this experience is not to be missed."
- Rachel Carillo, Prompt Workshop Participant

Write Around Portland is offering a special workshop designed for writers and aspiring writers in the greater Portland area who want to participate in a Write Around Portland workshop and support the communities they traditionally serve:

Ten Wednesdays, September 24 - December 3 (skipping November 26)
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside
Cost: $285 (includes free parking, snacks and access to the “bowels of Powells”)
Workshop Facilitator: Sara Guest

Prompt is your chance to write in community with others following the Write Around model while also providing support to writers who might not otherwise have access to writing and community. Registration is limited to 12 adults per workshop (18 and over). Click here for more information and to register.


Contact Write Around Portland
Web: Write Around Portland
Email: info@writearound.org
Phone: 503.796.9224
Mail: 917 SW Oak St. Suite 406, Portland, OR, 97205


"This workshop has inspired me by opening up my mind to new perspectives."
- Workshop Participant

Buy Tickets to Wordigo

Friday, September 19, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Date: Saturday, September 20
Ink and Paper Group will host a launch party for Alexis Fajardo’s graphic novel Kid Beowulf.
Where: Ink and Paper Group, 1825 SE 7th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
When: 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://inkandpapergroup.com

Date: Saturday, September 20
Eowyn Wood will read from Naked in the Rain.
Where: In Other Words, 8 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97200
When: 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org

Date: Sunday, September 21
Chuck Klosterman will read from Downtown Owl.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Monday, September 22
Irvine Welsh will read from Crime.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Monday, September 22
Join Courtenay Hameister, State by State editor Sean Wilsey, author Daphne Bell, and other special guests for a screening of a 35-minute film about Out of the Book, Volume 3: State by State.
Where: Bagdad Theatre, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $5.00
For more info: (503) 236-9234 or http://www.powells.com

Date: Tuesday, September 23
Judith Barrington will read from her chapbook Lost Lands.
Where: Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: (503) 284-1726

Date: Tuesday, September 23
Kate Imes, Diane Gilleland, and Mark Russell will talk about building community at the Multnomah County Library’s Zinsters Talking series.
Where: Belmont Branch Library, 1038 SE 39th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
When: 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.multcolib.org

Date: Wednesday, September 24
Michelle Sewell will read from Just Like a Girl: A Manifesta!
Where: In Other Words, 8 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97200
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org

Date: Wednesday, September 24
William Claassen will read from Another World: A Retreat in the Ozarks.
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.annieblooms.com

Date: Thursday, September 25
Donna Love will read from Tell Me a Story.
Where: In Other Words, 8 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97200
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org

Date: Thursday, September 25
Steve Reifenberg will read from Santiago’s Children.
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Friday, September 26
John Elder Robinson will read from Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Esquire Introduces E-Ink

As I type away on my computer, my copy of Esquire's 75th anniversary issue is moving and blinking at me. It is, for some reason, unnerving.

In just the past few days, this magazine has made a momentous mark on history and the world of publishing as we once knew it with the introduction of e-ink. A plastic panel on the front cover reads: "The 21st Century Begins Now." The words alternate between gray and white and take turns flashing in cycles of differentiating patterns. Inside the front cover is another plastic panel that portrays a printed picture of the new Ford Flex crossover that flashes, exuding the illusion of movement.

Without Ford's participation in the medium for their advertising, the price of this issue of Esquire would have made it un-publishable. As it is, the cost is already $2 more than usual—a whopping $5.99. But that's cheap. The technology itself costs $8 per issue.

Ford isn't the only company to take advantage of this landmark event; the magazine is jam-packed with big-name advertisers who are hoping to get more exposure. Due to their monetary contributions, the world's introduction to e-ink is made possible. However, due to the costs, Esquire printed only 100,000 copies that incorporate the electronic paper display (EPD) technology (of their almost 800,000 print run). Furthermore, the issue is being sold only at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and select stores.

As an experiment, I put my copy through a series of tests. My hypothesis was that the e-ink technology, which is attached to a battery-and-chip set stuck between sheets of thick paper that make up the front cover, could not withstand the normal, everyday abuse that a regular magazine would be subjected to.

First, I dropped it a few times on the way home from Borders. I smacked my hand down on its plastic screens and its chip set. Then, when the screens kept up their annoying flashing, I proceeded to drop, step on, spill coffee over, bend, and take apart the inner workings of the EPDs. Even when I drew on the flashing picture of the small car as I supposed a small child might do, pressing harder than necessary, nothing happened. The screen kept flashing. The ink from my pen wiped off easily. Only when I took it out from the safety of the pasted pages of the cover and bent it right in two did it show signs of my abuse. Even then, it kept right on flashing.

So the product is durable. But what does it mean in the world of publishing? E ink Corporation, the manufacturer and distributor of EPDs and related products, is coming out with a similar product that is thinner than a pad of paper that can display all sorts of downloadable documents, alike to the Kindle but more useful for business than pleasure. It is larger but much more convenient to use than a bulky computer for displaying PDFs or memos in Word.

The opportunities for this new electronic medium are endless. E-ink is bound to change the landscape of publishing and advertising forever, hence Esquire's futuristic slogan and design. The possibilities are both exciting and scary to consumers; Esquire is only the beginning.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Date: Sunday, September 14
Make comics and drink coffee at the IPRC. This all-ages event repeats every second Sunday.
Where: IPRC, 917 SW Oak Street, #218, Portland, OR 97205
When: 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.iprc.org

Date: Monday, September 15
Tom Moon will read from 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Monday, September 15
Rick Riordan will read from The Maze of Bones, book one in The 39 Clues series.
Where: A Children’s Place Bookstore, 4807 NE Fremont St., Portland, OR 97213
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $12.99 (Admission includes a copy of the book.)
For more info: http://www.achildrensplacebookstore.com

Date: Tuesday, September 16
Joel Magnuson will present Mindful Economics.
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capital Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.annieblooms.com

Date: Tuesday, September 16
Join Write Around Portland (WAP) for Prompt, a ten-week seminar devoted to generative writing and the transformative power of writing in the community. The workshop will meet on Tuesdays, September 16 through November 18. Advance registration is required. To register call (503) 796-9224.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Cost: $285 (Registration fee includes free parking, snacks, and access to the bowels of Powell’s.)
For more info: http://www.writearound.org

Date: Wednesday, September 17
Diane Hammond will read from Hannah’s Dream.
Where: Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Portland, OR 97225
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Thursday, September 18
The Portland Arts & Lectures series presents Richard Russo, author of Empire Falls and Bridge of Sighs.
Where: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland OR 97205
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5:00 high school students; $10.00 upper balcony seating; $20.00 college students and teachers; $26.00 adults
For more info: http://www.literary-arts.org

Date: Thursday, September 18
Thor Hanson will read from The Impenetrable Forest: My Gorilla Years in Uganda.
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Friday, September 19
A Children’s Place will hold a midnight release party for Brisingr, book three of The Inheritance Cycle. There will be costumes, activities, and a screening of Eragon.
Where: A Children’s Place Bookstore, 4807 NE Fremont St., Portland, OR 97213
When: 11:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.achildrensplacebookstore.com

Date: Friday, September 19
Paul Auster will read from Man in the Dark.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Fore more info: http://www.powells.com

Thursday, September 11, 2008

PNWA Fall Novel Writing Workshop Series with Author Megan Chance

Information provided by PNWA.

PNWA Fall Novel Writing Workshop Series with author Megan Chance


Workshop Description
Learn techniques that will help structure and polish your novel. Megan will discuss plotting, characterization, and how to utilize those elements to plan, edit and polish your manuscript—starting with broad strokes and leading to the finer points of revision.

This class includes instruction, exercises, and in-class critiques to show authors the way to a finished product.

Teacher Biography
Megan Chance is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author of several novels. Her first book won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award for excellence in Romantic Fiction, and since then, her novels have received several awards and award nominations. The Best Reviews has said she writes “fascinating historical fiction.” A former television news photographer with a BA from Western Washington University, Megan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters. Visit her website at http://www.meganchance.com.

Workshop Information
When: September 25th, October 1st, October 8th, and October 15th (four-week series)

Location: Chinook Middle School, 2001 98th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 456-6300

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Cost: $150.00 PNWA member; $195.00 non-PNWA member

Requirements
Submit the first two chapters of your novel with the class registration form for consideration to:
PNWA Fall Novel Writing Workshop Series
PMB 2717 - 1420 NW Gilman, Blvd, Suite 2
Issaquah, WA 98027

Registration Deadline: Monday, September 22nd.

Download the registration form at http://www.pnwa.org.

PNWA reserves the right to cancel the workshop if we do not have a minimum of 10 students.

Ink and Paper Group Workshop: The Role of Myths in Our Stories and Lives

Information provided by Ink and Paper Group.

The Role of Myths in Our Stories and Lives


"The Role of Myth" will feature a two-hour writing workshop on the use of
archetypal themes in storytelling. Portland writer Dave Jarecki, along with
the screenwriting team of Dan and Stacy Chariton, will lead the workshop.

Afterward, guests are invited to stay for a 90-minute panel discussion on
the place myth has in our daily lives. Joining Jarecki and the Chariton's
will be Rick Watson, practicing integral coach; Eleanore Hunter, a doctor in
depth psychology; and Alexis Fajardo, author and illustrator of Kid Beowulf.
Fajardo will also be signing copies of the book, which will be distributed
to each class participant.

Instructed by Dave Jarecki with special guests: Alexis E. Fajardo, Dan and
Stacy Chariton, Eleanore Hunter, and Rick Watson
Date: September 20, 2008
Time: 1-5 pm
Cost: $20

For more information on this class and attendance, please visit:
http://inkandpapergroup.com/products-page/scheduled/the-role-of-myths-in-our
-stories-and-lives/

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

New Release Spotlight: Templeton Turtle Goes Exploring

Templeton Turtle Goes Exploring
By Ron Pridmore
Illustrated by Michele-lee Phelan

Meet Templeton turtle, fresh out of the egg and ready to explore. But what happens when he wanders too far from his mother? The result is a beautifully illustrated and well-written story that captures what it is like to live in a community of diverse members who look out for one another when someone is in trouble.

When Templeton hatches from his egg, he immediately goes off on his first adventure around the pond where he lives. His mother warns him of dangers, but he has to see them for himself to believe her. Along the way he meets a grumpy blue heron named Mr. Blue, a quiet snake, a nice frog named Mr. Longlegs, and Mrs. Raccoon and her four babies. Only some of the animals are friendly to him—namely Mr. Longlegs and Mrs. Raccoon—so imagine Templeton’s surprise when he finds himself in the path of three scary cattle, and the one who saves him from being trampled is Mr. Blue himself, the grumpiest of all the animals.

While the theme of helping one another is an important one, its execution needs some work, particularly where the characters are concerned. In general, the rhythm and sequencing of Templeton’s adventure feels out of sync in places. Repetition is important in books like these—in which the main character encounters different animals and situations—in order to give it a powerful hook for children. While Templeton’s walk is varied, there are no repeating sequences or sentences to give it further meaning or to increase the tension. What’s more, every animal Templeton meets has a name except the snake, who slithers away without a word. This interaction felt choppy because he was able to interact on some level with all the other animals, who not only have names, but are more developed as well. These kinds of details are important for uniformity and consistency.

The endearing part of the story is clearly when Mr. Blue helps Templeton escape from danger, even when he had been gruff with him before. Earlier when Templeton had met him and asked him his name, Mr. Blue scowled and said, “Young turtle, go home. You are scaring away the fish!” That’s why it is such a surprise when Mr. Blue takes him out of harm’s way. When Templeton is safely back with his mother, she tells him, “Whether we have fur, feathers, flippers, wings, scales, or shells, we all watch over each other down here by the pond.” There is a great lesson in community here, but it could have been more powerfully rendered if each animal helped rescue Templeton in some way, with Mr. Longlegs swimming to tell the snake, who slithered over to Mrs. Raccoon, who found Mr. Blue and told him what was happening. This would further show the important community and diversity of the pond by showcasing each animal’s talents and abilities.

Despite these few problems, Templeton Turtle Goes Exploring is a great read for kids who love nature and the outdoors. The illustrations by Phelan really make the story come to life, and the book design was also a nice change from some other children’s books out there. This is a great book to incorporate a child’s newfound interest in nature, and would be beneficial for teachers to read to their students before doing an outdoor lesson in biodiversity or habitat. Such vivid images of the natural world will truly inspire children to further explore their natural surroundings

Review by Andrea Deeken, Indigo Editing, LLC

ISBN: 978-1-934454-21-3
Publisher: Bridgeway Books
Pub date: July 2008
Hardcover: $14.95

Monday, September 08, 2008

Northwest Author Series

Information provided by the Northwest Author Series.

The Northwest Author Series recently announced their 2008-2009 schedule of presenters.

The First Workshop…
How to Write and Market Personal Stories with Samantha Ducloux Waltz
Date: Sunday, September 21
Time: 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Oak Room, Wilsonville Public Library
Cost: $5.00
Description: Tell your story. Draw the reader in. Paint a whole world with words. In this ninety-minute writing workshop, you'll have the opportunity to pull up a story from within, begin to polish it, and decide where to submit it. You'll get tips for creating successful leads, compelling plots, sensory-rich settings, and convincing characters. You'll have the opportunity to explore markets and discuss effective ways to place your personal stories. So bring a pen and your passion for writing. The power of your own words will surprise you.

The Rest of the Workshops…
Sunday, October 19
The Play's the Thing with Cynthia Whitcomb

Sunday, November 16
The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing with Linda Kuhlmann

Sunday, January 25
Platform Primer For Aspiring Authors with Christina Katz

Sunday, February 22
Essential Skills For Every Fiction Writer with Christine Fletcher

Sunday, March 15
Flex Your Freelance Potential with Brian Libby

Sunday, April 19
Writing Children's Books with Carmen T Bernier Grand

Sunday, May 17
The Successful Nonfiction Book Proposal with Elizabeth Lyon

For more information, please contact Christina Katz at christinakatz@earthlink.net, and to learn about the featured authors, visit the NAS blog.

The series is sponsored by the Wilsonville Public Library, the Wilsonville Arts & Culture Council, and the Friends of the Wilsonville Library.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Date: Saturday, September 6
Poet David Elsey will host From Out of the Stacks: Library Writers Share Their Works.
Where: Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97205
When: 1:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: (503) 988-5123 or http://www. multcolib.org/

Date: Monday, September 8
Nena Baker will read from The Body Toxic.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Monday, September 8
Megan Clark will read from Seduce Me.
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland OR 97214
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Tuesday, September 9
In Other Words will host a reception featuring art created by their very own leadership. There will also be refreshments and a silent auction. The art will be featured in the store for the entire month.
Where: In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources, 8 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97211
When: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org

Date: Tuesday, September 9
Oregon Book Award-winner Robin Cody will read from his forthcoming collection of essays, and Brian Doyle will read from his new book of poems, Thirsty for Joy.
Where: Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway Street, Portland, OR 97232
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: (503) 284-1726

Date: Wednesday, September 10
In Other Words will host the launch party for the new issue of Bitch magazine.
Where: In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources, 8 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97211
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org or http://www.bitchmagazine.com

Date: Thursday, September 11
Molly Dwyer will read from Requiem for the Author of Frankenstein.
Where: 23rd Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Ave., Portland, OR 97210
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.23rdavebooks.com

Date: Thursday, September 11
Join the Letter Writing Group at the IPRC and write a letter to a friend or maybe even a foe. This event repeats every second and third Thursday of the month.
Where: IPRC, 917 SW Oak Street, #218, Portland, OR 97205
When: 6 – 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.iprc.org

Date: Friday, September 12
Stuart Archer Cohen will read from The Army of the Republic.
Where: Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Portland, OR 97225
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Fore more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Friday, September 12
James E. McWilliams will read from American Pests: The Losing War on Insects from Colonial Times to DDT.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

New Release Spotlight: The Cruelest Cut

The Cruelest Cut
by Eugene Rontal

Sometimes a reader just wants to turn off her or his brain, craves simply the book equivalent of a Saturday-afternoon TV movie. The latest in Gene Rontal’s Detective Ben Daily, M.D. series, The Cruelest Cut, is that book.

Set in Detroit, this mystery reunites laryngologist Ben Daily with homicide lieutenant George Sennett to solve what looks like the work of a particularly gore-loving serial killer. Daily is kept on retainer with the police department, officially as “police surgeon,” the real reason is never clear. He may have more people skills than Sennett, and he may have honed deduction skills, but they’re nothing special. What kind of cop is Sennett if he relies on a crutch in the form of a larynx-and-nose doctor?

Of course no one seems particularly competent—the coroner is too repulsed by one of the killings to do a thorough examination, demands a reason before he’ll show Sennett and Daily the body again, brushes aside their find of a piece of foreign matter as “just debris,” and when he reluctantly determines that it’s a piece of surgical glove, it takes more prodding for him to add that it’s covered in blood. And then he is shocked that they want to test the DNA in the blood.

Detroit’s Arab residents play into both the victim and suspect sides of the case. The main characters make some questionable comments—“ ‘There are 500,000 people in the Detroit area of Arab descent, many of them unwilling to culturally assimilate…now one of them is killed, and my girlfriend is right in the middle of it. Why do they want to pick on her?’ ” Daily asks, calling attention to his belief that the States has one culture to which all people must conform and his conceit that a vague connection to his fiancĂ©e is more important than a young man’s tortured death. Throughout the book both Rontal’s genuine clues and his red herrings are often inserted clunkily—for example, when Daily’s assistant hands him an envelope delivered for him, she describes the courier as, “…in a hurry. He spoke with an accent.” It sounds awkward for someone to mention that detail, especially when not directly asked for it. It sounds too coincidental.

Finally, the ending is unsatisfactory. Though the reader has met the killer earlier in the book, the final reveal is unexpected because we were never told enough about this person to put together the clues. The killer info dumps a strange reasoning for the murders, and readers may feel cheated. Lots of mysteries conclude this way, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it works.

Review by Kristin Thiel, Indigo Editing, LLC

ISBN: 978-1-563154-20-1
Publisher: SterlingHouse Publisher, Inc.
Pub Date: June 2008
Paperback: $14.95