Literature
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Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month Join the Deschutes Public Library as they recognize the heritage of the Hispanic community with a full month of programs and activities. This is part of a national period that celebrates the cultural contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was approved by President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period September 15-October 15. This period was chosen for this celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of eight separate Latin American countries. Programs and events in order by date: 4th Annual Festival of Cultures Saturday, September 11, 10am–5pm Centennial Park, Redmond The Festival is an international affair including booths set up by the Deschutes Public Library. Also included are local dance troupes, singers, and musicians, ethnic food vendors, and a children’s play area. Carol Burnett at 541-610-3075 Basic Computer Skills for Spanish Speakers Thursdays, September 9–30 Redmond Public Library 9am–10:30am Learn how to use a mouse and get started in Microsoft Word. This four week course covers all the basics you need to create great looking documents, finishing with a resume. Come to any or all sessions. Sarah Van Diest at 541-312-1066. Art Envy: Frida Kahlo Tuesday, September 14, 6pm Bend Public Library, Brooks Room Sunday, October 3, 2pm Sisters Public Library Local artist Paula Bullwinkel discusses the fascinating work and life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, followed by a 45-minute painting workshop inspired by her work. Supplies are included. Class is limited to 25 participants. Registration required. Spanish Story Time Thursday, September 16, 6:30pm Bend Public Library, Brooks Room Monday, October 11, 6:30pm Redmond Public Library An early literacy story time for children ages 0-5 together with a parent or caregiver.Let’s make a piñata! Latin American Guitar Performance Saturday, September 18, 3pm Sunriver Area Public Library Local guitarist Rich Hurdle plays music from Latin America in this live performance. Read, Rhyme, and Romp: The 3 R’s To Grow a Reader Tuesdays, September 21–October 26, 6pm Sisters Public Library A fun workshop for parents and care providers on the importance of sharing stories with children ages 0-5. You’ll learn about early literacy skills, and how it helps with brain development and bonding. Traditional Mexican Cooking Wednesday, September 22, 6pm Bend Public Library, Brooks Room Wednesday, September 29, 6pm Redmond Public Library Thursday, October 7, 3pm La Pine Public Library Local chef Veronica Castro demonstrates how to make a traditional Mexican dish and accompanying drink. Class is limited to 30 participants. Registration required.* Argentinean Folk Dancing Class Saturday, September 25, 4pm Redmond Public Library Monday, October 11, 6pm Bend Public Library, Brooks Room Local Tango instructor Alicia Jumar-Loffler teaches a class on the traditional folk dances of Argentina. Decorate a Sugar Skull Saturday, October 9, 1pm Sisters Public Library Wednesday, October 13, 6pm Redmond Public Library Learn about Dia de los Muertos and decorate your own sugar skull to take home. Class is limited to 20 participants. Registration required. *Registation: Online www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar lisam@deschuteslibrary.org, 541-312-1034 NYT Bestselling Author to Visit Central Oregon
Stein is the author of two other novels, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, winner of a 2006 PNBA Book Award, and Raven Stole the Moon, recently re-released by Harper Collins; he has also written a full-length play, Brother Jones. He worked as a documentary filmmaker for several years, co-producing The Last Party, starring Robert Downey, Jr. In addition, he has directed and/or produced several other films, including When Your Head’s Not a Head, It’s a Nut, which aired nationally on PBS and was awarded a gold medal by the International Epilepsy Foundation. The Art of Racing in the Rain provides a unique perspective on life and love through the eyes of Enzo, a mutt who understands the nature of humanity better than most people. “Couched in the drama of a young middle-class family in Seattle, this book is one of those stories that may earn its place next to Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, and Yann Martel’s Life of Pi,” says the Portland Oregonian. “A fable with a heart….it casts a spell on the readers’ native cynicism and persuades us to dust off old questions about faith and humankind’s better traits.” A fresh and uplifting tale, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a much-needed story for our time. This international bestselling novel has been translated into at least 28 languages, and appeared on the bestseller lists of at least eight foreign countries. It was the Starbucks Coffee spring/summer 2008 literary selection and soon will be turned into a major motion picture starring Patrick Dempsey. www.garthstein.com Schedule of Events: River House an Autobiography
This book is a unique memoire of a young woman who travelled all around to find herself back where everything started. Lawrence’s experiences can be inspiring to everyone, and teach readers to get out and try that one thing they’ve always wanted to do. Lawrence’s story, all in all, portrays to the readers that it’s essential to take life by the horns and make as many memories as possible, while also remembering the importance of sticking close to family, even while traveling and seeing new ways of living. Lawrence was born and raised in Terrebonne where she now runs her family’s ranch and owns an organic vegetable farm. After all she has done, Lawrence has found peace back in Oregon, and her memoir greatly shows the intricate story of her 360 degree journey back to her roots. Nature of Words 2010 Festival Guest Authors The Nature of Words (NOW) announced the guest author roster for its November 2010 literary festival, which takes place November 3-7. The names of the participating authors were revealed at NOW’s Bookplate reception and Auction recently. Acclaimed and prize-winning authors in fiction, literary non-fiction and poetry will appear at the five-day event. The 2010 festival guest authors are as follows: • Jimmy Santiago Baca - Born in New Mexico of Chicano and Apache descent, Santiago Baca was raised first by his grandmother and was later sent to an orphanage. A runaway at age thirteen, it was after Baca was sentenced to five years in a maximum security prison at the age of twenty-one that he began to turn his life around: there he learned to read and write. He has devoted his post-prison life to writing and teaching others who are overcoming hardship. • Michael Dickman - began writing poems “after accidentally reading a Neruda ode.” His first collection is The End of the West. Dickman has received several fellowships, including a Hodder Fellowship from Princeton for 2009-2010, and he won the 2008 Narrative Prize. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, The American Poetry Review, Tin House, Narrative Magazine and others. • Kent Haruf - A self-proclaimed “ministry brat,” fiction writer Haruf grew up in eastern Colorado, where his novels are set. For two years he taught English in Turkey as a member of the Peace Corps. Haruf was 41 before his first piece of fiction was published. His novel Plainsong won the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and The New Yorker Book Award. • Hillary Jordan - is a novelist whose authentic and earthy prose is expected to echo for years to come. Of her debut novel Mudbound, Barbara Kingsolver said, “Hillary Jordan writes with the force of a Delta storm.” Mudbound received the 2006 Bellwether Prize for Fiction, a prize founded by Barbara Kingsolver to reward books of conscience, social responsibility, and literary merit. Publishers Weekly hailed Mudbound “as “a superbly rendered depiction of the fury and terror wrought by racism.” • Anne Lamott - writes and speaks about subjects that begin with capital letters: Alcoholism, Motherhood and Jesus. But armed with self-effacing humor – she is laugh out-loud funny – and ruthless honesty, Lamott converts her subjects into enchantment. Lamott is the author of six novels as well as four bestselling books of non-fiction including, Operating Instructions, an account of life as a single mother during her son’s first year, and Traveling Mercies, a collection of autobiographical essays on faith. • Barry Lopez –is an essayist, author, and short-story writer, and has traveled extensively in remote and populated parts of the world. He is the author of Arctic Dreams, for which he received the National Book Award, and eight works of fiction, including, Resistance. His most recent book is Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape, a reader’s dictionary of regional landscape terms, which he edited with Debra Gwartney. Barry Lopez’s writings have frequently been compared to those of Henry David Thoreau. • Paulann Petersen - is Oregon’s newly appointed Poet Laureate. The author of four chapbooks and four full-length collections, she is a former Stegner fellow at Stanford University. Petersen was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for A Bride of Narrow Escape. She is the force behind the annual series of William Stafford Birthday Readings held in January throughout Oregon. • Brian Turner - is a soldier-poet whose much-praised second collection, Phantom Noise, is a window into dealing with the traumatic after-effects of war. Turner’s prizewinning debut book of poems, Here, Bullet, is a harrowing, beautiful first-person account of the Iraq war which won the 2005 Beatrice Hawley Award, the New York Times “Editor’s Choice” selection, the 2006 Pen Center USA “Best in the West” award, and the 2007 Poets Prize, among others. Turner served seven years in the US Army, to include one year as an infantry team leader in Iraq. Prior to that, he was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1999-2000. • David Whyte - a native of Yorkshire, England, is a poet, author and naturalist, whose poetry reflects a living spirituality and a deep connection to the natural world. The author of six books of poetry and three books of prose, Whyte holds a degree in marine zoology and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, the Amazon and the Himalayas. Des Chutes Historical Museum presents
“We were shocked when we realized that used copies were selling on used book websites for as much as $75-100.” When originally produced in 1985, many photographs were borrowed from pioneer families included in the book for production, then returned to the families, making it difficult if not impossible to reassemble the pieces for a reprint. A member of the historical society suggested scanning the book instead, which was completed by a University of Oregon student intern. “What is even better is that the PDF is searchable, which is extremely handy when looking for certain information. Using the find feature, you simply type the word or words you are seeking and the computer will look for those words inside the pages,” Cannon-Miller adds. www.deschuteshistory.org or 541-389-1813. A Sanctuary for Book-Lovers By TRINITY COMBS Cascade AE Feature Writer The local Dudley’s adds flair to Bend’s downtown thanks to owner Terri Cumbie’s fresh outlook on experiencing books. The bookshop and cafe opened in December 2008 and it has been a wonderful addition to Minnesota Avenue ever since. Cumbie said she opened the store because she loves to read and she finds enjoyment in allowing others to experience literature together at her store. With this determination she collected 11,000 books all through donations, bought equipment for an Espresso bar, and hand-painted furniture to set up in the new-found downtown space. Dudly’s is unique because the atmosphere for literature and lounging is warm and inviting -- a perfect place to snuggle up and read. The shop holds fiction on the first floor and non-fiction on the second floor, with a room for children’s books. The second floor has a conference table used by many groups for writing workshops, knitting, business meetings, book clubs and language conversation groups. The shop is clearly more than an everyday book store. “We have eight groups meeting in Dudley’s each week,” Cumbie said. “On Friday nights, we usually have live music, generally bluegrass/folk, but also jazz.” Cumbie said she knows times are changing thanks to Ebooks and online reading, but she is grateful the community still loves the culture radiating from her store. “You can’t get community out of a computer,” Cumbie said. “Our books are still less expensive than buying an electronic book and it’s wonderful to see people meeting each other in the shop and finding they have much in common.” Cumbie loves the people who walk in and out of the store everyday, and she feels good knowing people are experiencing the thrill of literature the way she does. “We really enjoy helping a customer find that special book, maybe that they didn’t even know they were looking for,” Cumbie said. “The customers are my absolute favorite part of the job. We all seem to enjoy each other so much.” “We recently thought we’d be closing our doors,” Cumbie said. “But our community came out of the woodwork to help. It’s been wonderful! People are volunteering in the shop, businesses are working with me on new plans, and a fundraiser was held 48 hours after I sent out my cry for help. That late May fundraiser brought in enough to pay my rent for June. We’re having another FUN-raiser, on June 25. We’ll have jazz, chocolate, wine and raffle items to help us regain our feet.” Even with the recession Dudley’s is now thriving better than ever, with over 40,000 books in the store. Cumbie said she is working on getting a beer and wine license to sell beverages in the evenings. “Many of our customers are not ‘bar’ people, and would prefer a quiet place to have a glass of wine and chat with new and old acquaintances,” Cumbie said. “Now I realize that Dudley’s isn’t MY shop,” Cumbie said. “It belongs to the community.” It seems very fit to say that when a person walks into Dudley’s, they aren’t walking into a shop, they are walking into a lifestyle full of a lot of friendly faces, a lot of love, and a lot of books to be found. 541-749-2010 Nature of Words Secures New Home After three wonderful years in donated office space at Central Oregon Community College, The Nature of Words (NOW) is moving to its own office and workshop space. The College must reclaim all available space to accommodate its explosive growth. On June 1, NOW will open its doors in downtown Bend - 224 NW Oregon Avenue to be exact - across the street from the venerable Pine Tavern. It’s a great location for The Storefront Project and visibility in the community.Now they need to fill their space with all of the stuff that makes an office and workshop space work. The basic office furnishings such as desks and file cabinets are already taken care of, thanks to a generous deal from the consolidating local Hospice offices. But there’s more - much more - they’ll need to set up operations. Email info@thenatureofwords.org or call NOW at 541-480-3933 if you have items to donate or purchase. Oregon Author Honored in International Competition
Timber Beasts is a fast-paced western mystery set in 1902. The action takes place in the cities, towns, farms and logging camps of the Pacific Northwest. Relying on extensive historical research, it deftly weaves an historic timber industry scandal into the fictional adventures of Sage Adair, a man seeking economic justice in a country controlled by America’s twentieth century robber barons. “Last Fall, Timber Beasts was honored by the Oregon Historical Society. Regionally, the book has been growing in popularity, receiving praise from both reviewers and readers. The idea, however, that a regional book has won international praise is thrilling and amazing,” says the author, Susan Stoner. Stoner is a native Oregonian working as a union and civil rights lawyer in the pursuit of social and economic justice. Kasai
by La Pine High School Senior
“I was still living on our forty-three acres of property in Napa County California and attending middle school when I went on my very first trip out of the U.S,” Brian said. “I went as a student ambassador for two weeks to British Columbia and Alberta Canada.” Wood’s book, Kasai, is no where near Canada, but instead the equatorial rain forest of Africa where crypto zoologists search for prehistoric creatures that were thought to be extinct for millions of years. “[The scientists] get caught up in a battle against an evil scientist who wants to make millions off the new discoveries,” Wood said. Wood has always enjoyed writing stories, crypto zoology, wildlife conservation and ecology, so he decided to mold all his interests into one. Even while continuing high school, he spent a long period of time writing and rewriting to perfect the book. The process of writing and publishing the book was very lengthy thanks to long-distance communication and publishing expenses, but Wood was and is still very relieved to have his first book out and ready for the public. Wood is now continuing to live his normal life in La Pine as a senior getting ready for graduation and college. “Still being in high school and already having a book published really isn't that much different than everyday life has always been for me-I guess it's just who I am,” Wood said. “But a few more people know my name now and they occasionally ask about my book, what it's about, how they can get one, etc.” Wood is already on his way to finishing the sequel to Kasai, which will be based on his recent ambassador studies in Australia. Kasai can be purchased online at dorrancebookstore.com or amazon.com and he also hopes to get the book in different stores around the country soon. COCC's Visiting Scholar Program Hosts Richard Louv
In his best-selling book, Last Child in the Woods, Louv has documented how American children and families are increasingly losing touch with nature and the costs of this growing alienation, including obesity, attention disorders and depression. It is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and the physical and emotional health of children and adults. In addition to raising the alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to reverse this trend. Louv will also speak at a dialogue with community and civic leaders on May 13 and a watershed summit highlighting student projects. The City Club and the Deschutes County Library are also planning programming around Louv’s visit. Tickets are $10 at the COCC Box Office or 541-383-7575, at Paulina Springs Books in Redmond and Sisters, at Camalli Book Company in West Bend or online at BendTicket.com. 541-541-318-3770. Grace
& the Female Art of Aging Bend photographer/writer, Valorie Webster, released her first book, Grace and the Female Art of Aging. This anthology is a collection of essays written by women ranging in age from 48 to 82 and from around the globe including the United States, Canada and as far afield as South Africa and Turkey. The book explores the challenges of aging gracefully…or not. Fears, turning points and solutions are bravely addressed. Local contributors include Jude Brown, Katlin Friedman, Mary Alice Willson and Nancy Friedman. These women, along with the others, express their thoughts in compelling prose and lyrical poetry that evoke an emotional response from the reader. This is a collection of insights by women, for women, that stirs the mind and the heart as it challenges each one to prevail over the preconceived notions of aging. www.valoriewebster.com. Subjective Catalogue Features Artists
The series featured in the catalog is a joint project called Subjective. For it, the two artists have painted themselves and each other, as well as their parents, partners, and other relations. Subjective consists of two views each of ten subjects: twenty paintings of loved ones immortalized once by a stranger and once by their kin. This series reveals how portraiture is more than mere mimesis. While this genre is perhaps one of the most traditional art forms, Bernstein and Seemel’s concept and methods are intended for a contemporary audience who expect more than just a pretty face from art. Subjective, a blind collaboration between Portland artists Becca Bernstein and Gwenn Seemel will be in Bend in April at COCC. Tales of Africa by Local Author
Tucker recently authored a book called Tales/Tails of Africa. The 165-page soft covered book consists of some chapters full of short quips and stories on things people do and say when traveling as a group to Africa; some funny, some strange, some just plain stupid. Some chapters are dedicated to a special adventure or unusual happenings during the many experiences he’s had on the continent some people would call dark. Tucker says Africa is not at all dark, but is enlightening, and to most clients it’s one of the most exciting and best destinations they have visited in their lifetime. www.tuckerfamilypress.com Central Oregon Writers Guild Professional editor Jami Carpenter will speak at the Central Oregon Writers Guild April 22. She will offer writers tips for success and share pitfalls to avoid and explain and demystify the editing process. She discusses the role of the editor and the expectations (both realistic and unrealistic) of authors, giving real-world examples that both writers and readers can appreciate. Her advice, drawn from experience with two publishing houses as well as with self-published authors, will provide the audience an opportunity to see and hear what makes one book more memorable than another. Carpenter has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a master’s from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Carpenter was executive producer and host of the Vegas PBS television show, Book Club, which featured interviews with local, national, and international authors. Carpenter currently works as a ghostwriter and editor with independent writers as well as with Stephens Press and American Book Publishers. Meeting takes place at the COCC Redmond Campus, 2030 SE College Loop, Building 1 Room 122, 6:30-9pm. The meeting is free and open to the public. Contact President Elsie Rochna at 541-923-0896, elsiemariewrites@gmail.com or www.CentralOregonWritersGuild.com.
Nature of Words Hosts Innovative Writing Project Like a secret nook where a teenager might find refuge from everyday pressures with pen and paper, the second floor of Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe offers a place where local middle and high school students can find new ways to express themselves creatively. Once a week, the bookstore will host an innovative creative writing project for adolescents called the Storefront Project. Administered by Central Oregon’s premiere literary organization, the Nature of Words, the Storefront Project provides free drop-in creative writing workshops and one-on-one writing and language arts tutoring. The grand opening of the Storefront Project, modeled after an idea that started out in San Francisco and spread across the country, was well-attended by students. Nature of Words director Ellen Waterston said the response has been positive and enrollment has grown quickly. Workshops are held between 3:30-4:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays. 541-330-4381, info@thenatureofwords.org, www.thenatureofwords.org Central Oregon Writers Guild The Central Oregon Writers Guild is planning the Annual 4th Grade Book Writing Contest. The Guild needs volunteers for promotion, funding (to cover printing and prizes), to assist students at schools and judging. You may also help fund the contest with your contribution to the Friends of the Redmond Library-4th Grade Book Writing Contest. Kathy Duffy, reference librarian at the Redmond Public Library, originated and organized the contest for all 4th graders in the Redmond area from 2005-08. Duffy retired and moved away this past year so there is no contest scheduled for the current school year. However, the Library has asked Central Oregon Writers Guild to take the lead in conducting this popular contest for the 2010-2011 school year The Guild has been an active partner in the past with the Redmond Library, the Friends of the Redmond Library, the Redmond Rotary, and the High Desert Society of the Arts and will direct the communications and organization of the contest. The Redmond Public Library will continue to host a reception for the contest winners and catalog the winner and runner-up books. ElsieMarie Rochna at centraloregonwritersguild@gmail.com or 541-923-0896 Youth Sports Essay Competition for High School Seniors This year, Group Photographers Association (GPA) and Bend’s Hall of Fame Photo are launching a national, regional and local scholarship competition. Twelve graduating high school seniors on their way to a four-year college will win scholarships based upon their essays about how participating in youth sports has benefitted their lives. Student athletes from around the country will compete for the contest’s top honors and a $3,000 scholarship awarded by GPA, a top, full service youth sports photo lab. The association is also offering ten $1,000 regional awards. To shorten the odds, local Hall of Fame Photo owner/operator Diane Kulpinski decided to throw in a $500 cash prize, which students from the Bend-La Pine, Redmond and Sisters school districts are eligible to vie for. “I grew up being a jock,” says Kulpinski, whose Bend based company specializes in organized sports photography and whose work has been featured in Sports Photography - How to Capture Action and Emotion. “I played basketball and softball in high school and then crewed and played rugby in college. So it’s important to me encourage other young sports competitors. The memories that photos capture are one way to do that. This contest is another.” Kulpinski, who along with her staff has been photographing youth sports organizations since 2000, has another reason for wanting to add a local award to GPA’s national scholarship contest. “It fits in with my philosophy of giving back to the community that supports me,” she says. “That’s why for the past several years I’ve donated a portion of my sales to all the organizations, schools and leagues I shoot for. I want to continue to build those relationships and be an integral part of the community I’ve lived in for the past 28 years.” Entries must be received by March 20, 2010. Eligibility requirements to enter the essay contest are simple. You must: · Be a graduating high school senior who’s been admitted to a four year college. · Write a 250-word essay about how participating in youth sports has enhanced you as a person and a student. · Include your name, address, city, state, zip code, telephone number, email, current high school, college or university you plan to attend, intended major, sports played, favorite youth sports program and favorite coach’s name. Remit one copy of the contestant’s entry directly to: GPA Attn: Scholarship Program 10220 East Spague Ave., Main Floor Spokane Valley, WA 99206 www.groupphotographers.com For local consideration and a chance at Hall of Fame Photo’s $500 prize, remit a second copy to: Hall of Fame Photo 431 NE McCartney Bend, OR 97701 diane@hofphoto.com Downloadable flyers about this scholarship contest are available on the Hall of Fame Photo website at www.hofphoto.com under the contact page. Winners will be announced on that same www.hofphoto.com contact page on Wednesday, April 21. Storefront Project Offers Creative Writing Projects for Youth The Nature of Words has launched The Storefront Project, a creative writing workshop and tutoring site for middle- and high-schoolers at Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe at 135 Minnesota Ave. in downtown Bend. Students can enroll in a four-workshop series on a drop-in basis at no charge. Taking a page from David Eggers’ 826 Valencia concept in San Francisco, which is now in urban centers nationwide, NOW’s Storefront Project offers its workshops and one-on-one tutoring on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30pm with special programs offered on Saturdays. In addition, field trips can be arranged allowing classrooms to visit The Storefront during school hours for creative writing instruction. NOW will host a grand opening event for The Storefront Project at Dudley’s on February 11 at 4pm. Workshops will be theme-based to help inspire young writers, and limited to 15 students. The theme for the winter term is “Outside Looking In.” It is the goal of The Nature of Words to make creative writing cool, to make the Storefront Project a desired place to see and be seen. “The Storefront Project is an exciting extension of our Creative-Writing-in-the-Schools program, since it will bring creative writing opportunities to students who might not otherwise have access to the school-based workshops,” said Ellen Waterston, executive director of the Nature of Words. In conjunction with The Storefront Project, NOW has published The Teachers’ Guide to NOW, a resource to help teachers use NOW’s programs to inspire their students. Those programs include an annual literary festival held the first week of November, and the Rising Star Creative Writing Competition, now accepting submissions, which recognizes young writers ages 15-25 for excellence in fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry and nature essays. Deadline for submissions is May 10, 2010. Teachers who have not received a copy of The Teachers’ Guide to NOW can request a copy by calling The Nature of Words at 541-330-4381 or by emailing info@thenatureofwords.org. Debut Novelist Naseem Rakha Wins 2010 PNBA Book Award Naseem Rakha’s The Crying Tree has won a 2010 Pacific Northwest Booksellers award for fiction. This is Rakha’s debut novel, but she is a well-known, award-winning journalist whose stories have been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition, as well as Marketplace Radio, Christian Science Monitor and Living on Earth. The winners were selected by a committee of independent booksellers from more than 200 nominated titles, each written by a Northwest author and published in 2009. “The Northwest is known for its readers, authors and independent booksellers, and I am honored that The Crying Tree received this recognition from the region’s literary community,” says Rakha. “I keep hearing that the book tells a timely and important story and this award helps validate those comments. From my launch at Powell’s City of Books in Portland, to my visit with a group at the women’s correctional facility in Wilsonville, OR, I’ve been thrilled to see the enthusiasm this story evokes. I again want to say ‘thank you’ to all the wonderful folks who have supported me and I hope the celebration of this award touches those who have graciously invited me into their lives.” The Crying Tree reaches into the heart of a family nearly torn apart by a mother’s act of forgiveness. It is a story of things not being what they seem, family secrets, and how these furtive actions reverberate through many lives. Dramatic, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, The Crying Tree is an unforgettable story of love and redemption, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the transformative power of forgiveness. Who Wrote the Book of Love? What’s your take on The Grand Passion? The Deschutes Public Library will present a very Valentine’s Second Sunday. February’s theme will be love, and the program will take place on Sunday, February 14 at 2pm in the Brooks Room of the Bend Public Library. Open mic will follow. From Shakespeare’s How do I love thee to Lucille Clifton’s Hips to Philip Memmer’s What He’ll Do If She Leaves, a thousand poets heave taken to pen and paper - sometimes with passion, sometimes with exasperation or regret, sometimes all three at once! - to take on the subject of love. Local poetry groups the Skyhooks (mostly women) and the High Desert Poetry Cell (men) will alternately light up the pages of famous and infamous poet’s words on love, reading both from their own work and across centuries and cultures to explore the wit and wonder of falling in - and out - of love. Then - it’s your turn. Please bring a favorite love poem (your own or another poet’s) to share at the open mic that follows the group readings. Following the reading, there will be a box of chocolates that awaits the luck winner of the Book of Love raffle. www.dpls.us/calendar or Lisa McGean at 541-312-1034. Book Honors Late Writer Jim Witty A different kind of book about Central Oregon is now available just in time for the holiday season. Meet Me in the Badlands, Exploring Central Oregon with Jim Witty is a collection of articles by the late Outing writer for The Bulletin newspaper in Bend. In his articles, Witty took readers with him on the trails, lakes, rivers, desert and mountains of Central Oregon. He had a unique way of capturing the most subtle and intimate details of the Central Oregon outdoors, drawing his readers in and making them feel like they were walking along side of him. Witty’s writing was friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic and humorous -- just like him. Whether you’re a casual hiker or an outdoors junkie, this book is a must-have for Central Oregon visitors and locals alike. Witty passed away unexpectedly on November 17, 2008 and his family and friends took it upon themselves to finish a project he had been talking about for several years; to publish a book of his Outing articles. With the help of The Bulletin and countless volunteers, this dream has become a reality. The book is now available throughout Central Oregon at a cost of $19.95. Book proceeds go directly to The Jim Witty Memorial Fund and will benefit Witty’s wife and sons. Information: www.outings.webs.com or Mark Quon at mquon@quondc.com or 541-617-1911. Cleaning Out Closets Will Never Seem the Same Again Clutter is distracting, and it takes people away from their priorities. That is why there is a real point to getting rid of clutter - and that point is to reclaim your life – especially at this time of year. It is important for all of us to learn how to achieve the benefit of more time and energy for the important things in life – family, work, hobbies – the list is endless. In Clutter Clearing Choices (O-Books), Barbara Tako not only offers practical advice on clutter clearing, home organizing, and simple living, but she does it in a humorous and entertaining way. Readers will undoubtedly be thrilled with the quantity of helpful ideas and resources her book contains and, as Tako is quick to point out, will enjoy the ‘feel good factor’ that comes from donating, recycling, or gifting whatever our excess happens to be. Since we live in a country of consumerism, what better way to utilize our clutter than to pass it on – after all, ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.’ The book offers readers motivating ways to pick and choose which mode of de-cluttering works best for them. Clutter happens to us all – it just does – and it seems to develop a life of its own as it accumulates around us. Countless corporations understand that an unorganized and cluttered worker is not as productive as an organized one. For this reason, Tako’s organizing expertise has earned her so much respect that her services as a guest speaker are often requested by corporate giants such as 3M, Medtronic, Target and Securian. She captivates audiences with her humorous, down-to-earth, common sense strategy, and her advice helps people free up their lives. www.clutterclearingchoices.com One Ring Circus Unveiled by Author Deschutes Public Library will highlight Katherine Dunn, author of the cult classic Geek Love and the recently published One Ring Circus: Dispatches from the World of Boxing during the month of July with programs and readings as part of the Celebrate Oregon Authors series being offered through 2009. The programs are free and open to the public. Dunn is a Portland novelist and journalist. In May, One Ring Circus: Dispatches from the World of Boxing, an anthology of Dunn’s essays about boxing was published. Her essays, written while she was a boxing correspondent for the Associated Press, cover the sport in all its forms and at its many levels. Ranging from portraits of legendary fighters such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, and Mike Tyson to the unsung stories of trainers, amateurs, promoters, cutmen, and a pair of pugilistic priests, Dunn uses her characteristic vernacular to elevate the sport and communicate its beauty, passion, and character. Dunn's novel Geek Love, tells the unforgettable story of a traveling side show family and was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1989. She also wrote the novels Attic (1970) and Truck (1971) and is currently at work on a new book. Born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1945, Dunn went to high school in Tigard, Oregon, and later attended Reed College in Portland. Following her time at Reed, Dunn spent several years in Europe traveling. In addition to writing novels, she has had varied careers as a journalist, house painter, bartender, teacher, radio personality and writer of an advice column. During July, join Deschutes Public Library in celebrating Katherine Dunn. Information 541/312-1032, lizg@dpls.us Handmade and Homecooked: Cookbook author and artist Mary Marquiss will teach a series of cookbook creation classes this summer at Atelier 6000. The classes begin with an overview that free to the public on July 10 at 7pm at Atelier 6000 for the people to learn more about the cookbook creation process, and meet the instructor. The cookbook creation process will be taught with three separate classes, each focusing on a different aspect of the process so students can take one class, a combination, or the series of three. The cost of each class is $95 and a discount is offered when students sign up for all three. To learn more about the classes go to www.marymarquiss.com and click on classes. To sign up for the classes contact Atelier 6000 541/330-8759. A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick Returning to her Midwest roots, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick draws a page from her grandmother’s photo album to capture the interplay between shadow and light, temptation and faith that marks a woman’s pursuit of her dreams.She took exquisite photographs, but her heart was the true image exposed. Fifteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele loves nothing more than capturing a gorgeous Minnesota landscape when the sunlight casts its most mesmerizing shadows. So when F.J. Bauer hires her in 1907 to assist in his studio and darkroom, her dreams for a career in photography appear to find root in reality. With the infamous hazards of the explosive powder used for lighting and the toxic darkroom chemicals, photography is considered a man’s profession. Yet Jessie shows remarkable talent in both the artistry and business of running a studio. She proves less skillful, however, at managing her growing attraction to the very married Mr. Bauer.This luminous coming-of-age tale deftly exposes the intricate shadows that play across every dream worth pursuing–and the irresistible light that beckons the dreamer on. |
EVENTS Bend
Library Farewell
Bend Writers Roundtable Second
Sunday Readings in Bend 419-2389 Redmond
Library 312-1050 La
Pine Library 312-1090 Sisters
Library 312-1072 Sunriver
Area Library 312-1081 Jefferson County Public Library 475-3351 www.jcld.org Central
Oregon Writers Guild
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Garth
Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain,
will be visiting Portland and Central Oregon in October. With appearances
scheduled in Portland, Prineville, Bend and Sunriver, this much-loved
Northwest literary superstar is set to inspire and entertain fans across
the state. 
Local
author Sarahlee Lawrence goes above and beyond in her book River House,
an autobiography by TinHouse Books on the Oregonian’s well-rounded life
of love, adventure, family and nature. In River House, Lawrence’s writing
allows the reader to feel all the five senses as if experiencing nature
first-hand while reading this refreshing autobiography. Lawrence grabs
hold of every small-town child’s dream of getting out and experiencing
the world, sharing her adventures of rafting and traveling. Lawrence then
wraps up the story with an essence of family and the home she remembers
growing up in, ending back on her ranch in the small town where she belongs.
The
Des Chutes Historical Museum is now selling electronic copies of A History
of the Deschutes Country. Originally published in 1985 by the Deschutes
County Historical Society, which operates the Des Chutes Historical Museum,
the book has been out of print and unavailable for the past several years.
The new electronic version sells for $24.95, with members receiving a
10 percent discount. “The book is a valuable reference tool for both the
basic facts of Deschutes County history, but also for genealogical research
into Deschutes County’s pioneer families,” states Kelly Cannon-Miller,
Executive Director for DCHS. 
The
Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group has named Timber Beasts,
winner in the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Mystery category.
The contest had entrants from around the world. The Indie Book Awards
were established to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently
published books and are presented by IBPPG in cooperation with Marilyn
Allen of the Allen O’Shea Literary Agency in New York. 
After
two years of writing, local high school student Brian Wood from La Pine
has finished an original novel named Kasai. The novel, about the adventures
of traveling in a new country, greatly portrays Wood’s own traveling expertise,
for he has been from Canada to Australia to Argentina and many places
in between. 
The
Central Oregon Community College Foundation’s Nancy R. Chandler Visiting
Scholar Program is presenting a lecture by Richard Louv, internationally
recognized expert on the connections among family, nature and community.
Louv is talk is called Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from
Nature-Deficit Disorder at 6:30pm on Wednesday, May 12, at Summit High
School Auditorium in Bend. From 5:30-9pm there will be a Resource Fair
supporting the healthy development of children and families in the Commons
area of the high school. 
Last
summer, Becca Bernstein and Gwenn Seemel received a delightful hand-typed
letter in the mail. Dr. Richard Brilliant was writing to say that he
would author the essay for their upcoming exhibition catalog. Member
of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and Anna S. Garbedian Professor
in the Humanities at Columbia University, Brilliant has received many
honors, including the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, a
Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright grant. For two portrait artists
painting on the fine line between a floundering tradition and a building
renaissance, his interest in their work was excellent news. 
Keith
Tucker (Bend High School Lava Bear 1949) has had a lifetime in the travel
business from Scandinavian Airlines to owning his own San Diego travel
agency. His specialty has been, for the past 37 years, the continent of
Africa. Tucker has also been the chief American representative for the
Nairobi based East African Wildlife Society. Tucker has led small safari
groups 47 times to the African continent, and has visited 16 countries
from west, east, north and South Africa. He has led groups to many other
nature-oriented destinations in the world from the Amazon to the Galapagos,
India and Nepal to Tibet and Mongolia as well as Iceland and Greenland
to Scandinavia. He’s visited 112 countries in his adventures. 