February WordFest welcomes Portland author

The next WordFest gathering will be on Tuesday, February 3, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava, 1333 Broadway in Longview.

Kate Gray-2Portland writer Kate Gray looks at bullying and being different in her debut novel, Carry the Sky. The story centers on a strange and brilliant thirteen-year-old boy at an elite Delaware boarding school in 1983. His story is narrated by two teachers: Taylor Alta, the new rowing coach, who has recently arrived at the school, still reeling from the death of the woman she loved; and physics teacher Jack Song, the only Asian American on campus, struggling with his personal code of honor when he gets too close to a student.  Carry the Sky examines being different in a world of uniformity. Carry the Sky

A teacher at a community college for over twenty years, Kate has published three collections of poetry, one of which was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave RordenDave Rorden will be reading from his novel-in-progress, A Method to His Madness, the story of a young man from a prominent local family who is detained for mental treatment after sitting in the freeway and nearly being run over by an 18-wheel truck. His bizarre behavior sets in motion a high-profile jury trial to decide whether he should be involuntarily committed. His public defender soon learns the freeway-sitting incident was planned to draw public attention to the young man’s goal: putting the state’s system of forced psychiatric treatment on trial.

The story grows out of Dave’s 10 years as a public defender in involuntary mental commitments. He has practiced law locally for 15 years. Before that, he worked at The Daily News for 24 years, including 6-1/2 years as city editor.

 

 

Mary Putka-2Mary Putka was unable to read at the January WordFest as scheduled, so she will be reading from her collection of short stories, Letters To My Oldest Daughter, in February.  When her daughter, Holly, was a young child, Mary’s family was stationed on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, where her husband was a dentist in the military. For Holly’s birthday a year ago, Mary began writing brief vignettes to her about her time in Japan.

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.

 

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.

For more information, contact Alan Rose at 360-425-3430 ext 280, or at www.alan-rose.com

 

 

WordFest opens new chapter in 2015

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 PutkaMary 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 JonesErnie 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-1Pat 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.

November WordFest offers a variety of writing

The next WordFest on Tuesday, November 4, will offer a variety of works by local writers.

 

Steve AndersonSteve Anderson will be reading excerpts from his forthcoming novel, Book of Hours: Peter’s Parchment, which is a sequel to his first novel, Book of Hours: The Beguilement of Brother Alphaios. His stories weave history, mystery and monks together in a modern urban setting.

 

 

 

 

Pat Nelson-1Pat Nelson is bringing another in the Not Your Mother’s Book . . .  series. This one, On Working for a Living, scheduled to be released in November, is a humorous anthology of true stories “by working stiffs.” Pat will be joined by several of the authors of the stories.  Not Your Mothers book--working

 

 

 

 

 

Charolette ConklinCharolette Conklin has previously read her poetry and short stories at Wordfest and has been published in The Salal Review, The Rambunctious Review, and the Wordfest anthology, That Holiday Feeling. She will be reading from a novel she is working on, about a talented artist whose manipulative and controlling husband won’t allow her to leave. The stakes get higher until her life is on the line.

There will be an open mic period following the presentations.

WordFest meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava, 1333 Broadway in Longview.

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

 

Poetry, a novel, and a short story at October WordFest

The next WordFest on Tuesday, October 7, will offer a variety of works by local writers.

Janice HauptThe beach and water have figured prominently in Janice Haupt’s life, as has her family. All are lovingly Call this Beach Mineportrayed in her latest book of poems, Call This Beach Mine, published by Karen Bonaudi, Ink. Cover art and book design were created by Castle Rock artist Sandra Putaansuu. Janice published an earlier chapbook of her poems, Profile of a Thin Woman, as a gift to her four daughters.

 

 

Pam Stanek-2Pamela Deane will be reading from her semi-autobiographical novel, The Translation of Max, the translation of maxstory of a mother’s struggle to help her son through the trauma of schizophrenia. The story of her main character Maggie parallels her own during an eight-year journey to bring her son back to the world of reason.

Pamela is “a home-grown gal,” born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She began teaching high school when she was fifty, retired at sixty-five, and today enjoys spending her time immersed in writing novels rather than lesson plans.

 

Ed Putka-1Over the years, Ed Putka has entertained the WordFest audiences with his humorous stories about people and adventures while growing up in his Polish neighborhood in Cleveland.

Ed will read a new short story called “Sugar Cookies,” about some unusual happenings when his extended family picnicked one August Sunday at Munroe Falls.

 

 

There will be an open mic period following the presentations.

WordFest meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava, 1333 Broadway in Longview.

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

 

 

WordFest begins new season Tuesday, Sept 2

WordFest resumes Tuesday, September 2, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava, 1333 Broadway in Longview.
Fred Hudgin-2Fred Hudgin will be reading from his most recent novel, Ghost Ride, about a former Green Beret medicGhost Ride who returns to his small town in the Pacific Northwest after tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Ghosts abound in this story of love, betrayal, supernatural guides, and unfaithful parents,” says Fred. ” The good guys aren’t entirely good. The bad guys aren’t entirely bad. Nothing is what it seems at first glance.” A computer programmer, Fred has been writing poetry and stories since 1967.

Carolyn Caines-1Carolyn Caines will be reading from her new book of poetry, Sunshine in My Suitcase, a collection of poems from her Travel with a Poettravels.

“In this volume of poetry you can share the feeling of standing near a volcano, riding a catamaran in Hawaii, or eating reindeer stew in Finland,” says Carolyn, who has written several books of poetry and a novel, Passage to Love.

 

Chris BryantChris Bryant will read from his book, Women & Wealth: How To Take Charge of Your Financial Future. A financial Women & Wealthplanner, Chris says the book “looks at different financial topics from a woman’s perspective.” Money management, navigating the business world; the financial implications of marriage and raising a family; divorce; retirement, estate and investment planning are among the topics covered in the book.

 

There is an open mic period following the presentations.

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