The first WordFest gathering of the year will be on Tuesday, January 6, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava, 1333 Broadway in Longview.

Mary Putka will be reading from her collection of short stories, Letters To My Oldest Daughter.  When her daughter, Holly, was a young child, her family was stationed on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, where her father was a dentist in the military. For her birthday a year ago, Mary began writing brief vignettes to her about her time in Japan. “I wanted to fill in some of her memories from those years. As I began to write them, I realized how each short piece reflected a different trait of Holly’s personality, revealing my daughter to me in a whole new way.”

Mary co-founded Kalama Word Catcher seven years ago with Molly Ciancibelli.  She is very involved in volunteer and civic activities, including serving on the Kalama City Council.

 

Ernie Jones will be reading a short story about a famous writer whose life spirals out of control with drugs and alcohol. He is arrested for drunk driving, and as part of his sentence, he is ordered to conduct a creative writing class for the parks recreation program. A number of those who take the class are members of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Through the stories they write about their losses, he reconsiders his life.

Ernie’s first novel, Book Of Caleb, will be released in early 2015. He’s currently working on his second novel about alien invaders who come to save the earth from the destructive humans infesting the planet.

Pat Nelson will be reading from the latest in her Not Your Mother’s Book . . . series. This one, On Working for a Living, released in November, is a humorous anthology of true stories “by working stiffs.”

There will be an open mic period following the presentations.

The monthly gathering of readers and writers meet the first Tuesday of each month. The events are free and open to the public.

Cassava offers a dinner menu for those who wish to enjoy a meal with the readings, as well as local wines and brews.