Three writers and a film-maker will present their works at WordFest on Tuesday, June 11, 6:00-8:00 pm, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1428 22nd Avenue in Longview.
Lenore Weiss will read from her environmental novel, Pulp into Paper. In the close-knit community of Hentsbury, Arkansas, racism and the local paper mill’s oppressive control over the town collide in this tale set in the 1990s. Rae-Ann, owner of a convenience store and unofficial mayor of the town, and Vernon, the plant’s Environmental Officer, find their budding romance hitting an unexpected roadblock when chemicals from the mill’s runoff claim the life of Rincon, a young black boy battling acute asthma. In a harrowing failed rescue attempt, Vernon relives the trauma of holding the dying boy in his arms.
Lenore’s passion for environmental issues comes from a lifetime of working for women’s rights and health and environmental organizations. She has received the Clark-Gross Award for best novel-in-progress from San Francisco State, and the Distinguished Chapter Service Award from the Society for Technical Communication. Her publishing credits include Cutting Down the Last Tree on Easter Island (West End Press), The Golem (Hakodesh Word Press), and a poetry collection, Video Game Pointers from WordTech Editions. She serves as the Associate Creative Nonfiction editor for the Mud Season Review, and lives in Oakland, California.
Ellen Jacobson will read from Poisoned by the Pier, the third book in her Mollie McGhie cozy mystery series featuring quirky characters, an adorable cat, and way too many dead bodies. In this book, Mollie is thrust into another murder investigation when someone is poisoned during a cake baking competition. While she tries to identify the killer, Coconut Cove’s annual boating festival is in full swing. In between getting ready for her first sailing race and cheating on her diet, Mollie uncovers clues, interviews suspects, and does her best to avoid rutabagas.
Ellen is the author of more than a dozen books in three series: the Mollie McGhie Sailing Mysteries, the North Dakota Library Mysteries, and the Smitten with Travel Romantic Comedies. She has held corporate human resources roles in the United States, Scotland, and New Zealand, and currently lives in St. Helens, Oregon. You can learn more about her books at ellenjacobsonbooks.com.
And now for something very different: Did you ever wish you could share that amazing travel experience with family and friends other than through postcards?
Writer Linda Eddleston and film producer/ musician Ron Walker will share their experiences from a recent adventure on the Princess Discovery Riviera Mexican Cruise Ship. Linda will offer ideas and examples of how to record and document vacation trips by creating travel journals, and Ron will show a short film of their cruise experience.
An open mic will follow the presentations.
The monthly gathering of readers and writers meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, in the fellowship hall of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The events are free and open to the public.