On Tuesday, October 1, WordFest will host the launching of two new books by local authors.

Pat Nelson will present an anthology, Not Your Mother’s Book On Being a Parent, which she created with Dahlynn and Ken McKowen. The McKowen’s co-authored Chicken Soup for the Soul books for 10 years before starting their own humorous, sometimes edgy Not Your Mother’s Book series. The new book consists of 68 true stories about parenting and raising kids. Some of the book’s storytellers will be on hand at WordFest to read their stories that earned them a spot in this new anthology.

Carolyn Caines will be reading from her new book of poems, titled My Substitute Life, drawn from her five years as a substitute teacher in the Kelso School District. She has published two earlier collections of poetry, In the Noiseless Night and A String of Perils, as well as a Young Adult novel, Passage To Love, An Ellis Island Love Story.

Copies of Pat’’s and Carolyn’s books will be available for sale.

Fred Hudgin will read his humorous short story “Nice Day for a Ride.” His short stories and poems have been published in Biker Magazine, Poetry.Com, The Salal Review, and in the anthology, That Holiday Feeling.  He has written two novels available on Amazon’s Kindle site: Sulphur Springs and Green Grass.

WordFest is a monthly gathering of readers and writers who meet the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 pm. In October, they will meet at Gyros Gyros at 1338 Commerce Avenue (Lower Level). A full dinner menu will be offered for those who wish to enjoy a meal with the readings, as well as local wines and brews.

The events are free and open to the public. There is an open mic period following the presentations.

On Tuesday, September 3, WordFest will meet at The Electric Bean, 945 Washington Way in Longview.

Retired physician Dan Roberts will be reading his short story that won second place in the Mystery/Thriller category at this year’s Pacific Northwest Writers Association. “The Trouble with Sam” begins with a text message from Sam that arrives two weeks after Sam’s death.

Becky Bell will be reading from a book she has been writing about four friends from a small town who become widows around the same time.  They decide to take a cruise together to get a renewed appreciation for life and to broaden their perspectives. Bell has written a number of travel pieces for The Daily News.

Rosemary Powelson, a retired visual artist and educator who taught at LCC for 30 years, will read from her travel narratives and excerpts from two articles published by The Daily News.

The events are free and open to the public. There is an open mic period following the presentations.

 

 

Each summer WordFest takes a break in August. We will next gather on Tuesday, September 3rd.

With the closing of The Brits Restaurant, we will be seeking a new location.

You can keep up to date with what’s happening on the WordFest FaceBook page.

Good summer!–Good reading and writing! See you in September.

On Tuesday. July 9, WordFest will meet for the last time at The Brits, 1427 Commerce Avenue In Longview.

The Brits owners closed the restaurant at the end of June, but will open that evening at 5:00 pm for WordFest. In place of a menu, they will be offering a buffet for $10 per person, including water, iced tea and coffee. Hot tea, beer, wine, and sodas will be 50% off.

Cynthia Moyer, a former newspaper reporter new to WordFest, will be reading from two of her published novels, Stolen Spring, an adult mystery, and The Misfortune of the Emerald Thief, a middle grade fantasy, as well as from her new novel, Drowning Summer, coming out this month.

Three other presenters are WordFest regulars who will be reading short stories: Kelley Jacquez and Ron Schauer both contributed pieces to last year’s anthology, That Holiday Feeling. Ned Piper, PUD Commissioner and co-owner of The Columbia River Reader, was one of the original founders of WordFest.

WordFest is a monthly gathering of readers and writers who usually meet the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 pm, but the July gathering was moved to the second Tuesday due to the Fourth of July holiday.

The events are free and open to the public. There is an open mic period following the presentations.

 

On Tuesday, June 4, several local writers will be reading from their works.

Fred Hudgin will be reading his poem, “Breath,” and a nonfiction story titled “The Last Salute.” After serving in the army, including a tour in Viet Nam, Fred earned a BS degree in Computer Science from Rutgers University and has had a career as a computer programmer.

“Technology plays a large part in my books.  I try to find creative ways to use it in the story line,” he said. His short stories and poems have been published in Biker Magazine, Poetry.Com, The Salal Review, and in That Holiday Feeling, a collection of Christmas short stories.  He has written two novels available on Amazon’s Kindle site: Sulphur Springs and Green Grass.

Elaine Cockrell, retired administrator and teacher from the Kelso School District, will be discussing her historical fiction novel about World War II and the internment of Japanese Americans working on the farms in Eastern Oregon.  Using one chapter from her book, she will discuss the sources, the historical setting, and the insights from her writers group in helping to bring her story to life.

Rhoda Karr will be presenting her story, “The Lottery”, which she notes “is not to be confused with ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson, and more along the lines of ‘The Lady or the Tiger?’ by Frank Stockton.” Rhoda has spent her life on the West Coast, from Baja to the Bering Sea, and writes fictional stories from her experiences.

WordFest is a monthly gathering of readers and writers who meet the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 pm., at The Brits, 1427 Commerce Avenue, in Longview, 6:00-8:00 PM.

The events are free and open to the public. There is an open mic period following the presentations.

The Brits offers a full dinner menu as well as selection of wines and beers for those who wish to enjoy a meal and beverage with the readings.