WordFest begins its fourth year on Tuesday, September 7, 6:00-8:00 PM, at The Brits Tea Shoppe, 1427 Commerce Avenue, in Longview.

Kicking off the season will be three presenters reading their short stories.

Ron Naff, a pastor for more than 30 years, and just finishing a fifteen year pastorate at the First Christian Church in Longview, will read, “Hattie’s World,” a humorous account of what happens when the pastor of a church in a small town is asked to conduct the funeral service for a parishioner he absolutely could not stand.  “It’s a situation that many pastors can probably identify with but don’t want to admit,”  says Ron.

Joan Delgado will read “Another Dance”, a story by her husband, Ed Delgado, based on his experiences during World War II as an aerial gunner in the South Pacific. Ed worked for Boeing in quality control for many years before he retired. He has been writing short stories since he was 10.

Ned Piper, a WordFest regular, will read, “First Born”, about a newly married man whose younger brother, returning from Viet Nam, moves in with the newlyweds, causing unpleasant results. Ned, a Cowlitz PUD Commissioner, started writing plays, poetry, short stories and novels during his college days at Lower Columbia College and the University of Washington.

In upcoming months, Alan Rose will be reading from his newest novel, Tales of Tokyo, at the October WordFest; and in November, naturalist Robert Michael Pyle will be reading from his new book, “Mariposa Road”; also at the November WordFest, poets Judith Irwin and Carolyn Norred will be leading a “Poet’s Night,” where they will be providing feedback to presenters on their poems.

The Brits offers a select menu for those who wish to have a meal with the readings, and wine is available from Capstone Cellars.

The Brits opens at 5:30 pm.

Posted on September 2nd, 2010 by Alan
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WordFest takes a summer break in August. Join us on Tuesday, September 7^th!

Looking Ahead:

NORTHWEST AUTHORS DAY

          Sponsored by the Rainier Marina Saturday Market

Where? Rainier Marina Saturday Market next to the Bank of America on 2^nd and  “A” Streets in Rainier, OR

When?   Saturday September 25^th 10-3

Why?  To meet other Northwest authors, sign and sell your books, and read from your book

Details: Contact Sue Drummond 503-556-1220 (Marina Market)

You provide:   A $20 registration fee, your books, literature and information for sale to shoppers.  You may also read from your work (10 minutes limit).  You are responsible for your own change, table coverings, display materials, signing and selling your own books, and handling money from your sales.

Marina Market Provides:  One six foot table, two chairs,

and a PA system for the reading, plus chairs for customers.  The market has several food vendors and coffee vendors who sell lunch items.

————————————————————————————–

Print, clip and mail this registration form to:  Sue Drummond, Rainier Marina Market 72182 Little Jack Falls Road, Rainier, OR 97048  

Include $20 check made out to Rainier Marina Market

Author name_____________________________________________________________________

Book (s) Title(s)__________________________________________________________________

Brief Description of book(s)____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E mail address___________________________________________phone________________

Mailing Address_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________Zip_________________

I wish to read from my book:  (10 min. limit) yes______no___

Posted on August 3rd, 2010 by Alan
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At the next WordFest gathering on Tuesday, July 6,  the audience will be invited to give feedback to the evening’s four presenters, on both their writing and their delivery. This is a departure from the usual format where there is a Guest Reviewer for the evening who provides the feedback.

The presenters on July 6 will:

Cindie Jackson,  reading her essay, “Ribbons, and Plaques, and Trophies! Oh, My!”, which ponders whether awards matter to those who receive them.

Kitty Royston, a high school student, will read “Little Secrets”, which she describes as “a short story about two anthropomorphic felines who fall in love.”

Dan Roberts, a retired family physician living in Kalama, will be reading from his work, entitled “Transplant,”—“Dr. Jerry WIlder, medical director for Lear Biomedical, has spent months conducting a daring new experiment. Unfortunately he has neglected to tell his boss. Today is the day of reckoning.” Dan has written this as a short story, but sees it as becoming the first chapter of a novel.

Harry Myers has delighted the WordFest crowd on several occasions with his quirky, humorous poetry and wordplay, most recently with his updated ballad about the urbanization of the west, “Homes, Homes on the Range.” He will be reading his first short story, “Space Junk”.

The Brits opens at 5:30 pm for those who wish to order dinner and wine to accompany the readings. The presentations begin at 6:00 pm.

Posted on July 3rd, 2010 by Alan
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WordFest will be celebrating two book launches on Tuesday, May 4, with wine and dinner.

Robin Cody will be reading from his newest book, Another Way the River Has. Robin has written two other books set in the Pacific Northwest, a novel, Ricochet River, and Voyage of a Summer Sun, about his solo canoe trip from the source of the Columbia River to the ocean, and which received an Oregon Book Award.

Jane Isfeld Still, a WordFest regular, will be reading from her book, Mother’s Daze, a collection of short humorous pieces on motherhood. In March of last year, Jane read one of the essays which was well received by those attending WordFest. Encouraged by this response, she sent off her manuscript and it was accepted by Cedar Fort Publishers.

Both Robin and Jane will have copies of their books available for sale and to autograph.

WordFest’s literary experience will now be enhanced with wine. Each month Joel McNelly will be offering a selection of wines from Capstone Cellars for participants’ enjoyment, and Brits owner Alice Dietz will be adding a special dish for that night only to her usual menu offerings.

For Tuesday, May 4, The Brits will be offering Crab Cake Caesar Salad, and Capstone Cellars will be offering a special wine to complement the dish, along with other wines.

A select menu of dinners and desserts is available for those who wish to enjoy food with the readings. The Brits opens at 5:30 pm.
 

Posted on April 28th, 2010 by Alan
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In place of our usual gathering on the first Tuesday in March, WordFesters are encouraged to attend the Celebration of Literacy Week reading by Jamie Ford at 7:00 pm, at the Longview Public Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Jamie Ford’s novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was selected by Altrusa International and Northwest Voices (a collaboration of Lower Columbia College and the Longview Library) for this year’s “One Book-Cowlitz Reads.”

WordFest will resume on the first Tuesday in April (6th) at The Brits.

Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Alan
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On February 2,  WordFest will host one of the legends of modern science fiction. William F. Nolan and fellow author and documentary maker, Jason V. Brock, will launch their new anthology of science fiction, horror and dark fantasy, titled The Bleeding Edge.

Nolan, most famous for his science fiction classic, Logan’s Run, has written over 80 books of fiction, essays, biographies, anthologies,  and poetry. He wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for the films, The Legend of Machine Gun Kelly (1975), Logan’s Run (1976), and Burnt Offerings (1976), as well as the television adaptation of Henry James’ Turn of the Screw, Terror at London Bridge, and The Kansas City Massacre. Career collections of his writings have been published in Things Beyond Midnight (1984) and William F. Nolan’s Dark Universe (2001).

He has received numerous awards, including twice winning the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America, being voted a “Living Legend in Dark Fantasy” by the International Horror Guild, and receiving the honorary title of “Author Emeritus” by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. He was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Horror Writers of America,

He talked about the art of writing and read a short story at WordFest last October.

The new anthology features original and never before published works by Ray Bradbury, Earl Hamner, George Clayton Johnson, Richard Matheson, Lisa Morton, as well as by Nolan and Brock, and others. They will each read a story from the anthology and discuss writing horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy.

Copies will be available for purchase. The deluxe hardcover edition is signed by over 20 contributors. The trade paperback edition is signed by both Nolan and Brock.

An interview with Nolan and Brock can currently be viewed on KLTV’s program, “Book Chat.”

The Brits owner Alice Dietz offers a select menu and desserts for those who wish to enjoy a meal during the presentations. The Brits opens at 5:30 pm.

Posted on January 31st, 2010 by Alan
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Dan Di Iullo will be reading a chapter from his novel, “White Rock Chronicles.” In addition to the novel, Dan has written a play that was performed at the Loves Street Playhouse in Woodland last November, and another play that will be produced at the Astor Street Opry Playhouse in Astoria in February.

E. Bryan Calhoun has been writing for a number years, especially screenplays. He will be reading a short story entitled, “Fireman, Brothers are Forever,” about a young man whose family died in a fire that he believes he caused.

The third presenter will be Ned Piper, a regular at WordFest and one of its founders. Ned will read a short story entitled, “Too Big for His Britches,” concerning some mobsters welcoming home one of their members who spent a week with the boss at his villa in Puerto Vallarta. Ned, an avid reader, is also a Cowlitz PUD commissioner, and writes a monthly column for The Columbia River Reader.

WordFest occurs on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 pm, at The Brits Tea Shoppe, located at 1427 Commerce Avenue in Longview. It is free and open to the public, and offers an open mic time following the presenters.

A select menu is offered by Brits owner Alice Dietz for those who wish to enjoy a meal with the readings. Doors open at 5:30 pm.

Posted on December 31st, 2009 by Alan
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On December 1st, Leslie Slape will be reading from “The Comedy of Crime,” funny stories drawn from her life as a crime reporter for The Daily News.

 Leslie is also a professional storyteller with the Storytellers Network. Her non-journalism writing has appeared in The Cowlitz County Historical Quarterly, The Salal Review, and in the book, “The Healing Heart: Families,” edited by Dave Albert and Allison Cox. She also wrote the play, “This Island Earth,” with Don Correll, which was produced at Lower Columbia College in spring 2009.

Peg Miller will read her story, “A Christmas Mistake,” about things that go wrong and go right at a Christmas dinner. It’s part of a series of short stories where food plays a prominent role.

Peg is a retired teacher and school librarian. Over a period of twenty-four years, she taught Literature for Children at Lower Columbia College, and in 2010, she will be teaching a class, “Write Your Life Story,” also through LCC.

Chuck Taylor will be reading from his 4th novel, in progress, “The Caverns of Acold,” a young adult novel about a brother and sister, who, on a visit with their father to Antarctica, fall through a crevasse, landing in another realm far below the surface, populated by the descendents of the Oceanids, who were featured in the myths of the Greeks and Romans.

Jane Still will be the guest reviewer for the evening. Her first book, a collection of humorous essays entitled, “Mother’s Daze/No Dignity,” will be released this spring.

Following the scheduled presenters, there will be an open mic time.

WordFest is a gathering of writers and readers who meet on the first Tuesday of each month at The Brits Tea Shoppe, 1427 Commerce Avenue, in Longview, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A select menu is available for people who wish to enjoy a meal or coffee and dessert with the readings. Doors open at 5:30 pm.

Posted on November 28th, 2009 by Alan
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On Tuesday, November 3,  WordFest will feature long-time editor Ruth Thompson as November’s guest reviewer. Ruth is the editor for Illumination Arts, a publisher of illustrated children’s books. She is also an independent editor, was the Kelso High School librarian for over 20 years, and is President Emeritus of the Washington State Association of School Librarians.

Ruth will be reviewing  three stories. Judge Ed Putka will read his story, “A Union Ship.” Poet Elizabeth Evans will present her short story, “Moving On,” about a young girl and her family seeking food and work during the Great Depression.

And a  younger voice at WordFest, Chris Mahon who is a student, will read his tale, “Tarinen and His Gaining of the Staff of Anu Nairan”–”one of many legends of Tairinen, the wizard who would live to see the End of All Things,” says Chris. “I’ve studied myths and legends for about four years and have enjoyed writing since elementary school.”

We will meet at The Brits, 1427 Commerce Avenue in Longview, 6:00-8:00 pm.

The Brits owner, Alice Dietz, will again offer a select menu  for those who wish to enjoy a meal with the readings (Did you see those luscious desserts she had last time?) The Brits opens at 5:30 pm.

Posted on October 31st, 2009 by Alan
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Featured at WordFest on October 6th will be one of the giants of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror writing.

William F. Nolan, best known for his science fiction classic, Logan’s Run, has written novels, short stories, verse, screenplays for film and television, as well as critical studies of Dashiell Hammett and Ray Bradbury.

He has received numerous awards, including twice winning the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America, being voted a “Living Legend in Dark Fantasy” by the International Horror Guild, and receiving the honorary title of “Author Emeritus” by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc.

He wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for the films, The Legend of Machine Gun Kelly (1975), Logan’s Run (1976), and Burnt Offerings (1976), as well as the television adaptation of Henry James’ Turn of the Screw, Terror at London Bridge, and The Kansas City Massacre. Career collections of his writings have been published in Things Beyond Midnight (1984) and William F. Nolan’s Dark Universe (2001).

Joining Nolan will be James R. Beach, publisher of Dark Discoveries magazine, and his co-editor and writer, Jason V. Brock. They will be speaking about the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres, and with Nolan, will take questions from the audience. Complimentary copies of Dark Discoveries will be available.

During the Open Mic period, participants are encouraged to share their own creepy stories and writings in recognition of Hallowe’en. People can sign up to read for 10 minutes.

The event is free and open to the public. The Brits owner Alice Dietz offers a select menu for those who wish to enjoy dinner with the readings and discussion. The Brits opens at 5:30 pm.

Posted on October 1st, 2009 by Alan
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