Sledgehammer Recap

Okay, so I'm a little late in posting on Sledgehammer, but that doesn't mean it hasn't had my adrenaline going for the last week! Sledgehammer took place in Portland on October 18 and 19, and I, for one, had a blast. We had 11 teams register for the 36-hour writing challenge--complete with scavenger hunt and optional teamwork--and 100 percent more who said they wouldn't miss it again for the world. I think that means we'll make it annual!

Teams or individuals were required to write a short story completely within the 36 hours dedicated for the contest. They had to follow clues to three Portland businesses to pick up writing prompts that were required to be included in the final product. Prompts included:

the sushi chef from Mizu Sushi
dialogue written by Writers' Dojo members
a three-line excerpt from the book Visibility
the phrase all girl summer fun

With those same four prompts appearing in each story, results varied greatly. Judge Jan Underwood, 2005 winner of the 3-Day Novel Contest and Portland resident, summed them up with, "These eight stories range in tone from farcical to contemplative. Three include romance and three involve elements of the supernatural. Settings range from a snow-bound prairie town to an antique tractor fair to our own dear Portland."

If you've got your editor eye working, you saw that Jan said "eight stories." Yes, it's true. We had three tragic losses along the way. Actually, we don't know if they were tragic in any capacity other than not finishing the stories, and we certainly hope all contestants are alive, well, and still writing.

From the participants who finished, feedback includes:

"Thanks for getting me started on writing! Writing the story helped me gauge the extent of my imagination, and how difficult it is to be a writer. To be honest, I never expected to write something dark, but that is what came out. I realized that writing is that less explored mode of self-expression, which is something I have never explored earlier. I really appreciate your efforts, and I hope you have great success in this and the future years in SledgeHammer!"

"Nice job putting everything together! It was really fun, even the frantic-revising-until-the-last-minute part."

We also had amazing support from the business community in Portland, with 30 businesses donating to our prize package, which totaled over $3,000 worth of prizes, including a bike tour of Hawaii from Common Circle Expeditions, a lunch meeting with literary agent Cathy Fowler, and oodles of gift certificates for food, books, classes, writing community membership, and much more.

The Oregonian came out too, immortalizing our inaugural event and one participant's sweatpants. Check out the article here.

In short, we love this time-constrained writing challenge and will definitely be doing it again next year. Watch for us next fall!

From Imagination to Draft: A Writing Workshop

FROM IMAGINATION TO DRAFT
A Writing Workshop given by Mary McIntosh, Ph.D.
When: Mondays, Oct. 27- Dec. 15, 7:15-8:45 p.m.
Where: Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main St., Vancouver 98660
Cost: $79.00/ eight weeks.
For info and registration, call 360-433-9044 or e-mail marylmc@comcast.net

How do you develop poems and short prose—personal essay, memoir, or story—from an idea or even a “blank” mind? Discover how to make this happen. Learn how creativity works and how to capture your imagination in writing. This workshop will answer the questions: How does “good” writing get written? How do I generate ideas? How can I overcome writer’s block? How can I find my own voice? We will learn how to create a supportive atmosphere for critiquing each other’s work by writing and sharing our writing each workshop evening. Expect to complete several pieces by the end of eight weeks. On November 17 at 7:30 p.m. we will attend the VoiceCatcher reading at Powell’s Books (Burnside) in Portland. Come and help inspire Vancouver writers.

Mary McIntosh, Ph.D., is a freelance writer and editor who has taught creative writing workshops and college classes in writing for over 25 years. She has published poems in literary magazines and is a contributor to VoiceCatcher 3, an anthology of Portland Women Writers.

Ink-Filled Page Readings

Now that Ink-Filled Page Anthology 2008 is on the cusp of its launch, we'd like to announce the following readings by contributors in the anthology:

Tuesday, October 21, 7-10 p.m.
Ink-Filled Page Anthology 2008 Launch
Worksound
SE 8th and Alder, Portland, OR
Featured contributors: Tonia McConnell, Kessa Shipley, Gwen Swanson, Ashley Taylor

Sunday, October 26, 7-9 p.m.
Pianos
158 Ludlow (upstairs), New York, NY
Featured contributors: Alana Cash, Joseph Riippi, Jonathan Willard

Wednesday, November 12, 7-9 p.m.
Blackbird Wineshop
3519 NE 44th Ave., Portland, OR
Featured contributors: Kessa Shipley, Gwen Swanson

Monday, November 17, 5-8 p.m.
Cakeshop
151 Ludlow (downstairs), New York, NY
Featured contributors: Alana Cash, Joseph Riippi, Jonathan Willard

Portland Literary Events

Date: Sunday, October 19
Mykle Hansen will read from Help! A Bear is Eating Me! at the novella’s launch party. The party will feature snacks, drinks, “goth-industrial dancing,” and a bear-safety-themed slideshow.
Where: Plan B, 1305 SE 8th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
When: Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Performance begins at 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Fore more info: (503) 230-9020

Date: Monday, October 20
Tommy Gaffney will host Artists Night Out, an open mic for poets. Signup starts at 6:00 p.m. The event will also feature local authors Elizabeth Archers and Todd Van Voris.
Where: Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison Street, Portland OR 97205
When: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.artistsrep.org

Date: Monday, October 20
Rick Wartzman will read from Obscene in the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.
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: Monday, October 20
Christian Lander will read from Stuff White People Like.
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 NE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland 97214
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Tuesday, October 21
Poet Karen Braucher will read from Aqua Curves, and poet Daniel Nathan Terry will read from Capturing the Dead.
Where: Looking Glass Bookstore, 7983 SE 13th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://lookingglassbook.qwestoffice.net

Date: Tuesday, October 21
In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources will hold a new volunteer orientation.
Where: In Other Words, 8 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97211
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.inotherwords.org

Date: Tuesday, October 21
Bill Kelter will read from Veeps: Profiles in Insignificance.
Where: Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, Portland, OR
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: (503) 284-1726

Date: Wednesday, October 22
Julia Grass will read from I See You Everywhere.
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 23
Penelope Schott and Madeline Tiger will host “Starting Here, Starting Now,” a joint reading and poetry workshop. No registration is necessary.
Where: Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97210
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.23rdavebooks.com

Date: Thursday, October 23
Madeline Albright will read from Memo to the President Elect.
Where: Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR 97214
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $15 (admission includes a copy of the book)
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Friday, October 24
David Wolman will read from Righting the Mother Tongue.
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: Friday, October 24
David Heatley will read from My Brain is Hanging Upside Down.
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 NE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland 97214
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Only Three Days Left Till Sledgehammer!

The writing contest of the century--or at least the weekend--is almost upon us.

Indigo Editing & Publications introduces a new approach to shattering writer’s block: create teams, run around Portland gathering writing prompts and write a story … all within 36 hours.

This weekend will bring the first-ever Sledgehammer writing contest. Starting at noon on Saturday, October 18, teams of writers will converge at Backspace, 115 N.W. 5th Ave. in Portland, to receive their first writing prompt and clues to further writing prompts. They’ll head out to several locations around Portland to gather all four writing prompts, and they’ll have 36 hours to write the best fiction piece they can come up with. Final submissions are due back at Backspace by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 19.

The winning piece will be selected by judge Jan Underwood, 2005 winner of the 3-Day Novel Writing Contest for Day Shift Werewolf. The victorious team takes home the prize package worth over $3,000 and will be scheduled to read during Wordstock, held November 8 and 9 at the Portland Convention Center.

Prizes include a bike tour of Hawaii, writing classes, writing community memberships, books, gift certificates, magazine subscriptions, T-shirts, editing services and much more! The winning piece will be distributed in print at Wordstock and online at www.indigoediting.com/sledgehammer.

Participant registration is open to individuals as well as teams. Register online at www.indigoediting.com/sledgehammer or in person as late as noon on October 18. Cost is $20/individual or $75/team. Open to all ages. Participants 12 and under will receive free feedback on their story, courtesy of Indigo Editing & Publications.

Through the Sledgehammer writing contest, we support writing as a team activity, foster love for the beautiful city of Portland and its small businesses and thrive through cooperative creativity among people and across the arts.

Autumn 2008 Ink-Filled Page Released

Art has many muses and outlets. From family adventures and quarrels to secrets—both good and bad—art allows us to step into the mind of the author or artist. For a few moments, we are transported to a life not our own, perhaps similar or maybe more different than we ever thought possible.

The authors and artists in the Autumn 2008 issue of the Ink-Filled Page have drawn from multiple muses and methods—many of them masters of both the pen and the brush—and their collective talent is drawn together here to present you with one masterpiece. Enjoy.

Visit www.indigoediting.com/ifp to download the Autumn 2008 issue for only $3, or subscribe to all four quarterly online issues of volume 3 as well as the print anthology for just $25.

New Release Spotlight: Live Through This

Live Through This: A Mother's Memoir of Runaway Daughters and Reclaimed Love
By Debra Gwartney

In Live Through This, memoirist Debra Gwartney ventures into the dark and dangerous world of street life to reclaim her daughters. Her voice resounds with honesty and self-reflection as she recalls the trials that changed her own life as well as and her daughters’.

After separating from her husband and moving her four daughters “back home” to the Northwest, Gwartney begins to see the changes affecting her two oldest for the worst. Her oldest daughter, Amanda, picks up some scary habits, including self-mutilation, drugs, and alcohol, while her daughter Stephanie becomes Amanda’s follower. The two girls claim they are there for each other and seem to have an inextricable bond that keeps them together, for better or worse.

That same bond leads Stephanie to run away with her older sister when Amanda gets kicked out of school for arson. Over the course of a few years, the two girls run many times, to the despair of their mother. With the help of her ex-husband and their families and friends, Gwartney puts them into counseling, rehabilitation, a wilderness therapy program, and even foster care in an effort to get them help and bring them home. Yet, despite attempts by their entire family, the girls seem to be getting farther and farther away.

After they finally break away from each other, the sisters begin to make their long, separate journeys home. Amanda comes home first after a heroin overdose; however, Stephanie is nowhere to be found for a long period with no contact with her family. The family waits on pins and needles, while the story drags on in anticipation. Will Stephanie ever come home? And if she does, can Gwartney repair the damage that has been done to her family and her relationship with her daughters—or will they run away again, this time forever?

Gwartney captures the struggle of a single mother trying to recover her lost teenagers as well as keep her family together through divorce and the many changes that come with it. Her ability to look back on her own actions with objectivity and fairness, without blame, lends the story a startling truthfulness. Her honesty of her own actions makes her a trustworthy narrator. She writes:

I knew the cutting was more than a release. And yet I didn’t seek out another therapist, another expert, who might give me a different opinion or offer a solution. I simply told myself that my daughter would get past this soon. Then it was too late.

The story drags on a bit near the end during a period of time in which the story in real life was also stagnant; yet, the reader is rewarded with an ending filled with stunning realizations and emotional insight. By the end of the story, the reader feels an unshakable bond with Gwartney’s family; her fierce love keeps them trudging through the hard times.

Warning: Keep tissues on hand—it will be hard not to cry during this book.

Review by Leah Gibson-Blackfeather, Indigo Editing & Publications, LLC

ISBN: 978-0-5470-5447-6
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Pub Date: February 2009
Hardcover: $24.00

Fall/Winter Writing Workshops with Portland Women Writers

Fall Wednesday Evenings with Rhea Wolf
8 sessions, October 22 to December 17 (no session on November 26)
Time: 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $130

Fall Thursday Mornings with Rhea Wolf
5 sessions, October 22 to November 20
Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Cost: $80

Contact: rhea@pdxwomenwriters.com, (503) 234-8996

Fall Thursday Evenings with Jennifer Springsteen
5 sessions, November 6 to December 11 (no workshop on November 27)
Time: 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $90

Winter Thursday Evenings with Jennifer Springsteen
5 sessions, January 8 to February 5
Time: 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $100

Contact: jennspring@pdxwomenwriters.com, (503) 890-3127

Winter Friday Mornings with Dawn Thompson
6 sessions, January 16 to February 20
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Cost: $120

Contact: dawn@pdxwomenwriters.com, (503) 654-1200

Winter Writing Retreat with Dawn and Emily
Power, Passion, and Desire: A Women's Writing Retreat

When: December 5-7 (Friday evening and Sunday afternoon)

Where: Silver Falls Conference Center in Sublimity, OR

About: At the darkest time of the year we naturally turn inward. This weekend retreat offers the opportunity to retreat, to reconnect, and too regenerate in the magical forest of Silver Falls. We will identify the stories we have been telling that now serve us by using the tools of astrology, Sacred Story writing, visualization, and collage. As we release the past, we will create space to uncover our desires, revitalize our passions, and heighten the true expression of our authentic selves.

All women are welcome. Previous astrology or writing experience is not necessary. Please provide your birth information (date, time, and place) when you register.

Cost
$275 (before Nov. 1); $300 (after Nov. 1)
The cost includes all meals and shared lodging. Some singles are available for an extra $45. A $150 deposit reserves your spot. If you cancel with at least two weeks notice before the retreat, your deposit will be refunded, minus the $20 processing fee.

RETREAT LIMITED TO 10 PARTICIPANTS

Contact Emily for more information or to register:
emily@pdxwomenwriters.com, (503) 288-7097

Portland Literary Events

Date: Friday, October 10–Monday, October 13
Buy books, CDs, DVDs, audiotapes, videotapes, maps, and sheet music at the Friends of the Multnomah County Library used book sale. Children’s books and pocket-sized paperbacks start at $.50. Hardcover and larger paperbacks start at $1.50.
Where: 8150 N Lombard Street, Portland, OR 97203
When: Friday (member only presale, 6:00–9:00 p.m.); Saturday (9:00 a.m.–6:00p.m.); Sunday (11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.); Monday (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.)
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.friends-library.org

Date: Saturday, October 11
Nobel Peace Prize candidate Dr. Jeff Halper will speak on the Middle East.
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1624 NE Hancock Street, Portland, OR 97212
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: (503) 287-1289

Date: Sunday, October 12
View original picture book art from the Caldecott Honor winner Bryan Collier. A self-guided tour of his original picture book art, including books to read and explore, will be available to groups throughout the exhibit. All groups who take the tour will receive complimentary Bryan Collier buttons! To reserve a tour, call (503) 988-5340. Defining Moments: An Exhibition of the Works of Bryan Collier lasts until November 6.
Where: Collins Gallery, 3rd Floor, Central Library, 801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205
When: Noon – 5:00 p.m. (other days and times available on the library’s website)
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.multcolib.org

Date: Monday, October 13
David Macaulay will read from The Way We Work.
Where: Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton, OR 97005
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.powells.com

Date: Tuesday, October 14
Sarah Vowell will read from The Wordy Shipmates.
Where: Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR 97214
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 (includes a copy of the book)
For more info: (503) 225-5555

Date: Tuesday, October 14
Floyd Skloot will read from The Wink of the Zenith: The Shaping of the Writer’s Life.
Where: Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: (503) 284-1726

Date: Wednesday, October 15
Betty Fussell will read from Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef.
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 16
Media attorney Derek Green will discuss online news, the First Amendment, and how the Internet has changed journalism.
Where: Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97210
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.23rdavebooks.com

Date: Thursday, October 16
Don Colburn, Annie Lighthart, and Scot Siegal will read from Windfall: A Journal of Poetry of Place.
Where: Looking Glass Bookstore, 7983 SE 13th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://lookingglassbook.qwestoffice.net

New Release Spotlight: Downtown Owl

Downtown Owl
By Chuck Klosterman

Using his well-known wit, dry humor, and sarcastic voice, Chuck Klosterman welcomes readers to Owl, North Dakota. Owl is like many small American towns. There’s a café (Harley’s) where old men drink coffee, rehash arguments, and talk about high school football. Every night the same people drink—and get drunk—at the same bars (Yoda’s, Mick’s Tavern, the White Indian, the Oasis Wheel, and so forth). And teenage boys aimlessly drive around on deserted roads as they argue about the winner of an imaginary fight (Cubby Candy vs. Chris Sellers).

Set in the early 1980s, Downtown Owl is a 273-page character sketch of Owl and its residents. The book follows three main characters: Mitch Hrlicka, a ordinary teenager who is sick of talking about the “fight” between Cubby and Chris; Julia Rabia, a young teacher and new resident of Owl who never has to pay for a drink because she is the only available woman in town; and Horace Jones, a seventy-three-year-old man who enjoys living alone and drinking coffee at Harley’s each afternoon. For the majority of the book, the chapters alternate between each character. Only two chapters are devoted to characters outside the main three. (These two divergences were unneeded and a bit distracting.)

As with any novel that follows different characters who aren’t connected by a central plotline, the author runs the risk of creating a disjointed story that leaves the reader asking, “How does this all connect?” In the beginning, this question comes floating out of Downtown Owl. The main characters seem to be living different lives. What can a teenager, a teacher in her early twenties, and a seventy-something old man have in common? But then, the question disappears as Klosterman subtly connects Mitch, Julia, and Horace by way of the memories, experiences, and stories (not always their own) that they share. They reveal that the residents are connected by a collective conscious. Simply put, everyone in Owl knows everything about everyone.

Klosterman does a thorough job of developing Mitch, Julia, and Horace. Even more amazing is his ability to move between the characters’ voices, which are all very different. He rarely slips up. It is clear that he understands—and cares—for each of them. He takes the characters, and inadvertently the town, beyond their respective stereotypes and gives them their own unique storylines. Mitch struggles with the fact that his coach and English teacher, who calls Mitch Vanna because of the lack of vowels in his last name, impregnated a student and got away with it. Julia desperately tries to get a local legend and buffalo farmer to love her. Horace reflects on his life in Owl and struggles with a deep secret. And just when Klosterman has you feeling completely connected to the lives of his characters and to Owl, he plops a blizzard into the story and tests all of them.

Almost a character itself is Klosterman’s humor. The novel is filled with laugh-out-loud lines that beg to be read again and again. At the same time, his humor does not feel overdone or forced, but effortless, and he knows when to turn it on and off. There are funny lists scattered throughout the book. A particularly humorous one is Horace’s grocery list filled with “old man” food. It includes: “Campbell’s tomato soup…sausages (these were what he called hot dogs), candy… noodles (this is what he called Kraft Macaroni & Cheese), fake butter (this is what he called margarine), cookies…Elf Krispies (this is what he called Rice Krispies)…Wonder bread, and black licorice (this was not the same as candy, somehow).” This list is just the beginning of many comical lines, scenes, paragraphs, pages, chapters, and so on.

Upon first glance it seems Klosterman is merely regurgitating a story that has already been told. But Downtown Owl is about much more than cantankerous old men hanging out in a café, locals drinking cheap beer, and teenagers talking about a fight that hasn’t even happened.

Review by Megan Wellman, Indigo Editing & Publications, LLC

ISBN: 978-1-4165-4418-0
Publisher: Scribner
Pub Date: September 2008
Hardcover: $24.00

Portland Literary Events

Date: Saturday, October 4
Write Around Portland will host its annual fundraiser Wordigo, featuring Mad Libs, Scrabble, Boggle, Wordigo poker, and a pool open typewriters. There will be prizes, cocktails, desserts, music by DJ Safi, and a silent auction.
Where: Design Within Reach, 1200 NW Everett, Portland, OR 97232
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: General admission ($35), supporters ($75), and patrons ($150)
For more info: http://www.writearound.org/

Date: Sunday, October 5
Danny Goldberg will read from Bumping into Geniuses.
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: Monday, October 6
Graeme Base will read from Enigma: A Magical Mystery.
Where: 4807 NE Fremont Street, Portland, OR 97213
When: 10:00 a.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.achildrensplacebookstore.com/

Date: Monday, October 6
Mississippi Pizza will host its weekly adult spelling bee.
Where: Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland, OR 97227
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.mississippipizza.com/

Date: Tuesday, October 7
Local playwrights Marc Acito, Cynthia Whitcomb, and Storm Large will speak about the art and craft of writing for the stage.
Where: The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201
When: 7:00 pm.
Cost: Members (free), guests of members and students ($5), all others ($10)
For more info: http://www.williamettewriters.com/

Date: Wednesday, October 8
Kim Barnes will read from A Country Called Home.
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 9
Pete Jordan, author of Dishwater, will present a slide show lecture from his upcoming title, In the City of Bikes: An Up Close Look at Amsterdam. Nickey Robare will screen her film Small Movements and chat about the Sprockettes, the world’s fist mini-bike dance team. The event will also feature artwork by Tiago DeJerk and music by Baby Dollars.
Where: The Cleaners, 403 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $3.00 and up (sliding scale)
For more info: http://www.readingfrenzy.com

Date: Thursday, October 9
Kevin Vowles will read from 21st Century Hippies: Activists in Pursuit of Peace and Social Justice.
Where: Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97210
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.23rdavebooks.com

Date: Thursday, October 9
Art Spiegelman, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus, presents Breakdowns, a reprint of his 1978 collection along with a new illustrated essay.
Where: Bagdad Theater, 3702 Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $5
For more info: http://www.portlandmercury.com

Date: Thursday, October 9
Jewell Parker Rhodes will read from Yellow Moon, the second book in the New Orleans-based trilogy.
Where: Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: http://www.portlandmercury.com

Date: Friday, October 10
Deborah Copaken Kogan will read from Between Here and April.
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

Banned Book Week

Thanks to Kate who got us involved with this!

In honor of Banned Book Week 2008, here is the ALA's list of the 100 most frequently challenged books from 1990-2000. The ones in red are the ones we have read.

1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Writers to your marks. Get set. Bang!

Sledgehammer Writing Contest

Let Indigo shatter your writer's block!

When: October 18, 12 p.m. to October 19, 11:59 p.m.

How the Contest Works: Teams of writers converge in downtown Portland at noon on Saturday, October 18 to receive their first writing prompt and clues to further writing prompts. They head out to several locations around Portland to gather all four writing prompts, and have thirty-six hours to write the best fiction piece they can come up with. Final submissions are due back at the original location by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 19.

The winning team’s story will be published in a pamphlet to be distributed at Wordstock and available for download on our Web site. The winning team will also have opportunities to read their story at local literary venues, including Wordstock, and will win a stellar prize package.

Through the Sledgehammer writing contest, we support writing as a team activity, foster love for the beautiful city of Portland and its small businesses, and thrive through cooperative creativity among people and across the arts.

Writers, register now!
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New Release Spotlight: Schooled

Schooled
by Anisha Lakhani

The year 2008 is a tough one for teachers-turned-writers trying to shock other adults about the “secret” lives of teenagers. We may have missed the books it was based on, but it’s been difficult not to notice Gossip Girl the television show. Manhattan teens attending prep schools can be rich and rotten? Sometimes they pay for good grades, sleep around, emotionally abuse each other, and take Ritalin like candy? Even teachers get swept away by the society-in-a-bubble they spend most of their waking hours in? Yeah, Cecily von Ziegesa’s hair tossers and back stabbers taught us that already—and more graphically than Anisha Lakhani’s fictional account of her teaching days.

Readers won’t be amazed by Lakhani’s teen characters so much as they will be that her alter ego, Anna, a woman barely one generation removed from her students and who grew up near New York and attended Columbia, is so shocked. That said, Schooled is fun reading for this time of year, when the crisp fall air sounds like cracking textbook spines and reminds one wistfully that summer really is gone for another year.

Anna’s first job out of college is teaching junior high English to a class of, except for one brief exception, wealthy and spoiled kids who have wealthy and spoiled parents and cowing teachers and administration. Despite showing off a facade of glamour—amazing resources, a gourmet cafeteria, and new laptops for every teacher to keep as her own—the school soon shows its true colors, and Anna finds not her intelligence, leadership ability, or organizational skills challenged but her very ethics and morals. Sprinkled generously with chitchat about designer clothes, elegant lunches, and fantastical parties (turns out there is a segment of our society that really does get to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory), the story juicily slides along—that final sweet drop of nectar that the reader taps out of the stem dimple in her cocktail glass.

Lakhani isn’t always kind to Anna—the character readily narrates that she’s aware of, and just doesn’t care about, many of the negative choices she begins to make—but her writing is careful enough that the reader won’t ultimately turn on Anna and stop identifying with her.

Of course, the bigger point that readers may be left thinking about is that our education system isn’t just slippery for rich Manhanttanites, or for other Americans living off gold-paved streets. Students from all ilk can whine, cheat, lie, and show up hungover—why didn’t the college teachers of Anna, and by assumed extension Lakhani, teach her to anticipate and to successfully deal with that?

Review by Kristin Thiel, Indigo Editing & Publications, LLC

ISBN: 978-1-401322-87-8
Publisher: Hyperion
Pub Date: August 2008
Hardcover: $23.95