Sunday, March 30, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Monday, March 31
Ed Docx will present his novel, Pravda
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Monday, March 31
Lisa Lutz will present her most recent novel, Curse of the Spellmans
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Tuesday, April 1
David Shields will present his memoir, The Thing About Life is that One Day You’ll Be Dead
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Wednesday, April 2
Kathleen O’Brien will be presenting her guide, The Northwest Green Home Primer, published by local Timber Press
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Thursday, April 3
Rob Neyer will present his book, Big Book of Baseball Legends: The Truth, the Lies, and Everything Else
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.annieblooms.com/

Thursday, April 3
The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) will be celebrating its tenth anniversary with a birthday cake bake-off
Where: IPRC, 917 SW Oak #218
When: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://iprc.org/

Thursday, April 3
Mike Barenti will present his book, Kayaking Alone: Nine Hundred Miles from Idaho’s Mountains to the Pacific Ocean
Where: Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://23rdavebooks.com/

Sunday, April 6
Lou Rowan and Zachary Mason will be presenting their book, My Last Days
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/




Sunday, March 23, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Monday, March 24
The Oregon Writers Colony present’s Geronimo Tagatac’s collection, The Weight of the Sun.
Where: Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Monday, March 24
The Literary Arts’ Poetry Downtown series will feature poet Edward Hirsch.
Where: Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $14 - $18
For more info: http://www.pcpa.com/

Monday, March 24
Richard Price will read from his novel Lush Life
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Thursday, March 27
J. Harry Wray will be reading from his book, Pedal Power, co-presented by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more information: http://www.powells.com/

Tuesday, March 25
Nicole Burton will read from her memoir, Swimming Up the Sun: A Memoir of Adoption.
Where: Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.portlandmercury.com/

Wednesday, March 26
Chitra Divakaruni will read from her novel, The Palace of Illusions.
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.annieblooms.com/

Friday, March 28
Alison Larkin will be reading from her book, The English American.
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Sunday, March 30
The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) is having an Adventure Zine class for youth (ages ten to fifteen).
Where: IPRC, 917 SW Oak
When: noon to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $5 - $10
For more info: http://iprc.org/

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Five Books Read

So much has happened since last I posted. I'm now at 1,847 published pages read, with almost two weeks left in the month!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Monday, March 17
Elisa Albert will be reading from her debut novel, The Book of Dahlia
Where: Powell’s on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://powells.com/

Tuesday, March 18
Oregonian author Alice Mitchell will read from her novel A Father’s Heart
Where: Courtyard Fountains Retirement Community, 1545 SE 223rd
When: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://wweek.com/words

Tuesday, March 18
The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) will be hosting a Zinesters Talk and Read celebrating their tenth anniversary. Hosted are Nicole Georges (Invincible Summer), Greg Means (Best Zine Ever), and Shawn Granton (Ten Foot Rule).
Where: IPRC, 917 SW Oak, #218
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.iprc.org/

Tuesday, March 18
Poet Saul Williams will be doing spoken word, in connection with his new album The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust
Where: Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie
When: 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $15
For more info: http://wweek.com/words

Wednesday, March 19
Author Scott Heim will be reading from his new novel We Disappear
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Thursday, March 20
Celebrating Small Press month, a five-hour Smallpresspalooza will feature fifteen minute readings by fifteen local writers.
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside
When:
5:00 p.m. Tom Blood

5:15 Geronimo Tagatac
5:30 Mary Rechner
6:00 Keith Rosson
6:15 Kristopher Young
6:30 Kimberly Warner-Cohen
7:00 Kate Lopresti
7:15 Alex Wrekk
7:30 Kate Lopresti
8:00 Lidia Yuknavitch
8:15 Tiffany Edwards
8:30 Steve Katz
9:00 Jeremy Robert Johnson
9:15 Mykle Hansen
9:30 Carlton Mellick III
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Saturday, March 22
Author Neal Donald Walsch will be reading from his book Happier Than God
Where: Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills
When: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com/

Friday, March 14, 2008

Come see us!


We'll be at the Multnomah County Library's Writers Resource Faire this Sunday, March 16th. Stop in to meet us, say hi, or buy a copy of the Ink-Filled Page 2007 anthology. If you have questions about editing, writing, or publishing, this is the perfect time to get them answered and make some great contacts in the publishing field. You'll see plenty of great books you can't live without too!

Sunday, March 16
Writers Resource Faire
Where: Multnomah County Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave.
When: 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.multcolib.org

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

New Release Spotlight: House Rules

House Rules, by Rachel Sontag

“The things we loved about Dad were the things we could predict.” In one simple sentence, Rachel Sontag captures the root of House Rules, a striking memoir about living in family dysfunction.

Family dysfunction is a black cloud that always threatens a torrential storm. It’s hard to live with, it’s hard to read about, and it’s hard to write about. Yet, Rachel Sontag writes about the dark topic in a way that entices readers to take House Rules along for a Sunday afternoon in the park.

On the surface, Rachel’s family seems normal—Mom, Dad, two kids, nice house, sunny family vacations. But Rachel’s father makes their family far from normal. He’s controlling, obsessively. Curfew must be met, no matter if it’s by bussing, walking, or hitchhiking. He’s paranoid, believing his dying mother is upset because Rachel slandered him to her and that his wife wants to divorce him because Rachel brainwashed her. To keep his wife from believing their presumably evil daughter, he puts her on so much Lithium she moves through the world as if a zombie.

As Rachel attempts to cope, she finds herself hating her mother’s lack of control more than her father’s obsession with it. “Mom’s disinterest in questioning uncomfortable territory was the single most frightening quality I could see in a woman.” Rachel becomes rebellious, challenging the arbitrary rules that bind her and searching for attention, any kind of attention, that will give her an escape.

Peppered with profound statements of emotional clarity, House Rules articulates what few people can say but most feel. “It’s never loneliness that nibbles away at a person’s insides,” she says, “but not having room inside themselves to be comfortably alone.” Readers are caught in downpours of the desire to be loved and the desperation to get away, until Rachel breaks free at last. “At some point something shifts and you stop wanting what’s missing and start wanting the things you create for yourself.”

House Rules addresses family dysfunction without the bullets points and worksheets of a self-help book. It tells a story. For readers who can relate personally, the knowledge that others experience the same challenges and are able to surpass them is comforting. And readers whose lives are in no way like Rachel’s see a harsh but genuine description of life—painful, joyful, and often impossible to explain. House Rules is a moment of clear sky in the midst of our personal storms.

Review by Ali McCart, Indigo Editing, LLC

ISBN-13: 978-0-06-134122-9
Publisher: Ecco
Pub Date: April 2008
Hardcover: $24.95


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Creative Writing Competition

The Nature of Words, central Oregon's premier literary event, is holding its third annual Rising Star Creative Writing Competition. This event is open to high school and college-age writers, and offers cash prizes in fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry.

There are two age categories: 15-18 and 19-25. Winners will be recognized at The Nature Of Words literary festival on November 5-9, 2008, in Bend, Oregon. Submissions must be postmarked by May 10, 2008.

For full submission guidelines, go to http://www.thenatureofwords.org.

(Disclaimer: there is a $5 submission fee.)

Monday, March 10, 2008

The Strike is Over; the Fight Isn't

Writers' rights aren't solved for good once one particular strike ends. Stay in touch with what's happening at United Hollywood's new site.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Monday, March 10
The Independent Publishing Resource Center will be offering its Zines 101 class
Where: IPRC, 917 SW Oak #218
When: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $10 members, $20 public
For more info: http://www.iprc.org

Tuesday, March 11
Bitch Magazine “Wired Issue” release party
Where: In Other Words bookstore, 8 NE Killingsworth
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.portlandmercury.com

Tuesday, March 11
The Portland Arts and Lectures series presents Stephen Sondheim and Frank Rich
Where: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 - $26
For more info: http://www.literary-arts.org

Tuesday, March 11
Newberry-winning author Lois Lowry will read at this year’s Children’s Author Lecture by the Multnomah County Library.
Where: First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $5 for students (K-12), $10 for adults
For more info: http://www.multcolib.org/kids/lecture/

Thursday, March 13
Philip L. Fradkin will read from his biography Wallace Stegner and the American West
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Thursday, March 13
Poets Elizabeth Bradfield and Nickole Brown will be reading from their debut works Interpretive Work and Sister
Where: In Other Words Bookstore, 8 NE Killingsworth
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org

Sunday, March 16
Fred Krupp will read from his book
Earth: The Sequel
Where: Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Friday, March 07, 2008

One Book Down, Most of a Month Left

I finished my first book, of the ones I'm reading for Oregon Literacy's March read-a-thon, last night. That's right—383 published pages, and it's not even technically the end of week one. Take that, Kate!

But I didn't come here to cheer myself on. Okay, I did, but that's not my primary purpose. Rather, I wanted to share the book I read: The Big Over Easy, a Jack Spratt Investigates book by Jasper Fforde. Now I've read one book from his Thursday Next series and one starring Spratt, and I think I like the latter better. I can't say why exactly yet (it's not a secret; I just don't quite know). But I do like both for their smartness and humor, for their good writing and for being about books, the magic of literature, and yes, sometimes it's clichés. In Fforde's books, fictional characters are alive and well (or not) among us, and no one thinks that's strange at all. In the Spratt books, the literary detectives have to be not only great investigators but also great writers, as they strive to publish their accounts and their accounts are considered real news to the general public.

Consider one of his books when you need something silly to sink your teeth into—or when you just need a reminder that fiction really is important to life.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

New Release Spotlight: Gods Behaving Badly

Gods Behaving Badly, by Marie Phillips

It’s a tough thing, to pull off something as silly as the down-on-their-luck gods of Olympus bickering and shagging in a fraternity-like house in present-day London, as slapstick as Aphrodite working as a phone-sex operator and Artemis as a dog walker. Even if it hasn’t been done before, it feels like it has—surely that was a Saturday Night Live or Monty Python sketch, right? But in her first novel, based on those details, Marie Phillips has created a satisfying popcorn read, one that’s more fun-smart than fun-foolish.

Driven from their lives of splendor, fortune, and power because no one believes in them anymore, the Greek gods are strapped with mortal concerns—rent, housecleaning, unglamorous jobs—and new godly ones, such as, every time they use their powers, their strength diminishes with no chance of replenishment. But since they are still gods, they’re relatively immortal, so living forever in that kind of life equals torturous boredom.

One of the opening scenes, in which Apollo and Aphrodite are having sex in the bathroom—while discussing redecorating and Ares, who’s demanding to come in to shave before work—is perfect in detailing the boredom everyone feels, the routines they’ve ground themselves into. In fact, that’s the main reason this book succeeds as something more: Phillips doesn’t just leave the characters at one level. Artemis meets with a real estate agent and tries to find the good in the tenement he shows her; she also dreams of death and what that would be like for a god. Alice, the mortal and mousy cleaner who winds up keeping house for the gods, forgets for a little bit her favorite hobby, Scrabble, and her crush, Neil, to fall for Apollo’s seduction.

Considering the end of the book is full of big action, including the changing of the beliefs of the entire human race, everything falls into place unbelievably quickly. But if what started as a good comedy turns into wild action, well, that’s okay—it may be popcorn, but it’s still gourmet popcorn.

Review by Kristin Thiel, Indigo Editing, LLC

ISBN-13: 978-0-316-06762
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pub date: December 2007
Hardcover: $23.99


Monday, March 03, 2008

Read-a-Thon: One Editor Plunges Forward

We recently posted about Oregon Literacy's Read-a-thon, and I for one decided to take the plunge. It's day three, and I've only read eighty-two pages. Now eighty-two pages would be a fine total—under normal circumstances. But in addition to doing my sponsors proud, I've also entered into a friendly wager with this woman. She had read ninety-one pages before dinner on the first day.

Wait a minute—what am I doing blogging? I need to get back to reading.

I'll return later this week.

New Media Internship

About the Organization
B-Word is a nonprofit feminist media organization devoted to feminist
pop culture analysis and incisive media criticism. Although we're
best known for publishing Bitch | Feminist Response to Pop Culture,
we're in the process of evolving into a noncommercial, multimedia
organization. For more information, please visit the magazine's Web site and pick up a copy of the magazine at a local independent bookstore.

Internship Overview
The role of the new media intern is to support the organization's
efforts in developing a stronger online presence, creating audio and
visual supplements, incorporating social networking capabilities, and
assisting with efforts to develop new publishing ventures that build
upon the mission of feminist analysis, media criticism, and
independent publishing. The intern will also assist with outreach and
community-building efforts and general office operations.

Who should apply
Publishing/media students with a strong interest in new media
(online, audio, video, etc.). Although you need not be a long-time
reader, it's a much more valuable experience for all involved if you
are interested in feminism, pop culture, and noncommercial
publishing. We're committed to an inclusive and diverse organization
and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

Responsibilities
- Assisting with development/redesign of organization's website
- Assisting with coordinating/production of podcasts and videocasts
- Strategizing ways in which online/audio/video technologies can be
incorporated into organization's work
- Assisting with reader survey efforts
- Researching innovative models of noncommercial multimedia production
- Assisting with outreach efforts
- Supporting publisher and other staff as needed
- Attending weekly staff meeting (Wednesdays at 10:00 am)

Skills
- Understanding the fundamentals of grassroots, nonprofit publishing
- Understanding the ways in which new media and print publishing
support and build upon one another.
- Familiarity with new media technologies (podcasting, videocasting,
social/organizational networking, etc.)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills

Compensation
Because we're a small, under-funded nonprofit organization, this is
an unpaid position. Students are encouraged to work toward class
credit allowed by school.

Schedule
Interns are expected to come in at least one day a week (which can be
2 half days)—we can work around your schedule for the most part.
Interns must, however, be present on Wednesday morning to participate
in the weekly editorial/staff meeting.

Duration
3–6 months. Exceptions can be made if necessary and feasible.

How to Apply
Please send a detailed cover letter explaining your interests and
experience, along with a résumé to: debbie@bitchmagazine.org. Please
do not call or drop in to the office.



::
debbie rasmussen
b-word, publishers of bitch: feminist response to pop culture
nonprofit, independent, reader-supported
www.bitchmagazine.org

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Portland Literary Events

Monday March 3
Tony D’Souza will read from his second novel, The Konkans
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: www.portlandmercury.com

Tuesday March 4
Local freelancer Brian Libby will be speaking about how to make a living as a freelance writer
Where: The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $10 general, $5 members and students
For more info: http://wweek.com/words

Tuesday March 4
Margaret Jones will read from her critically acclaimed memoir, Love and Consequences.
Where: Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://wweek.com/words

Tuesday March 4
The Literary Arts’ Poetry Downtown series presents Eavan Boland, who will read from her latest book, New Collected Poems.
Where: Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $18
For more info: http://wweek.com/words

Tuesday March 4
The first of four Tuesday classes on the poet Rumi begins, facilitated by Grace Kuhns.
Where: First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th
When: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $30 for four classes
For more info: http://wweek.com/words

Tuesday March 4
Gin Phillips presents The Well and the Mine
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://annieblooms.com


Friday March 7
PSU's Students in Publishing and Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC) are pleased to co–host the Electronic Book Education and Outreach Event.
Where: Smith Memorial Union Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway
When: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.ooliganpress.pdx.edu/news.html

Saturday March 6
The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a Zine Art Show open house
Where: IPRC, 917 SW Oak
When: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://iprc.org/