On Tuesday, March 1, Greg Mortenson, author of the bestselling “Three Cups of Tea” and “Stones into Schools,” will be in Longview for the day. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 and 2010, Mortenson has inspired people the world over by his commitment to literacy through the building of more than 140 schools in rural and war-torn parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He will be meeting with students during the day, and at 7:00 pm in the evening, he will be speaking to the community at RA Long High School auditorium. Tickets are available at www.lowercolumbiacap.org for $35, or can be purchased at CAP, 1526 Commerce Ave., in Longview.

In honor of his visit, WordFest will not occur that night, and people are encouraged to attend Mortenson’s address at RA Long.

WordFest will resume on the first Tuesday of April (5th).

Castle Rock writer Jim LeMonds will be presenting at next Tuesday’s WordFest on February 1. Jim is the author of two books, South of Seattle and Deadfall.  After teaching for 30 years, he started his own business, WriteTek Northwest, which handles a wide range of editing and marketing projects. As the editor of the Cowlitz Historical Quarterly since 2006, Jim will be discussing his approach to editing the CHQ and read several selections from recent issues. 

Local poet Janice Haupt will be reading from her first book of poetry, The Profile of a Thin Woman. The poems span three generations and are about “joy and pathos and all kinds of human experience.” Copies will be available for purchase for $8.00.

WordFest regular Chuck Taylor will be reading a short story titled, “Gebediah,” set in the early 1940s, about a road trip crossing the desert. Chuck describes himself as “an antiquated retiree who still writes for the joy of creating and who believes it’s not too late to see something in print, now or posthumously.”

Following the presentations there will be an open mic time.

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

Doors open at 5:30. The Brits owner Alice Dietz will offer a new menu and choice of wines for those who wish to enjoy a meal and beverage with the readings.

 

The 2011 WordFest series starts on Tuesday, January 4, with three writers who will be presenting their works..

Lorraine Merrin will be reading from her collection of poetry, entitled “Holding Tight to Gravity’s Tail,” which she calls “poetry about real people living and surviving in a real world that often seems as cruel as it is beautiful.”

Lorraine’s work has appeared in The Salal Review, Rattle, Thema, Tar Wolf, and other journals, as well as in the anthology, “The Great American Poetry Show,” Vol. II.

Her book will be available at WordFest for $15.  The book is usually $19.95 (plus $3 shipping/handling) from Lorraine and can also be ordered at Amazon.com.

Chuck Ramsdell will be reading from his children’s book, “Quack.” A boat builder who has lived on the Columbia River for over thirty eight years, Chuck wrote the stories for his grandson. The book will be available for $10.

Ellysa Champ will read a short story called “Haunted,” about a young Japanese girl with a strange gift. An outcast, she has only one friend, who no one else can see.

Ellysa is an avid fan of the paranormal and Japanese culture, which she has blended into her short story.

An open mic time follows the the presentations.

The Brits opens at 5:30 pm.

 Leslie Slape, local storyteller, playwright and crime reporter for The Daily News, will host the next WordFest gathering on December 7, 6:00-8:00 pm, at The Brits in Longview.

 

Leslie will introduce the three presenters for the evening and facilitate feedback of their readings.

 

Kelley Jacquez, a former newspaper journalist, will read from her collection of interrelated short stories, “Holding Woman and Other Stories of Acceptable Madness,” that take place in the hamlet of El Nido, New Mexico. Four of the stories from this collection have been published in anthologies or literary magazines.

 

 

Ed Putka will be reading his short story, “Kolenda,” a warm, humorous tale about the blessing of the houses in his old Polish neighborhood in Cleveland. Ed, a local judge, says that he was fortunate to have grown up in a culture rich with stories.

 

Joe Evelyn Schwab will be reading from his book, “Outlaws on the Big River,” about his experiences as a Wildlife Enforcement Officer on the Columbia River. Joe will have copies of his book available for sale and to autograph.

 

An open mic session follows the three presenters, where people can read their own material.

 

WordFest is a gathering of readers and writers who meet on the first Tuesday of each month at The Brits, 1427 Commerce Avenue.

 

The events are free and open to the public.

 

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

 

Robert Michael Pyle will be launching his newest book, Mariposa Road, at the next WordFest gathering on Tuesday, November 2, at 6:00 pm at The Brits.

Bob is a Yale-trained naturalist and the author of fourteen books, including Chasing Monarchs, Where Bigfoot Walks, and Wintergreen (These books are all available at The Brits’ bookshop.)

He will be discussing and reading from Mariposa Road, which relates his travels in 2008, when he set out to see as many North American butterflies as he could in one year. He relates stories of the people, experiences, as well as the butterflies he encountered along the way. Copies of his book will be available for sale and to be autographed.

During the second hour, poets Carolyn Norred and Karen Bonaudi will host a “Poetry Night” where local poets will read and receive feedback on their poems.

Carolyn, a WordFest favorite, is a retired instructor of language and literature, and brings years of experience of helping poets find their voices.

Karen is a former president of the Washington Poets Association. Her poetry has been published in a number of journals, and she has received awards from the Washington Poets Association and the Washington Community College Humanities Association. Her chapbook of poems, Editing a Vapor Trail, was published in August by Pudding House Press.

The restaurant opens at 5:30 and a select menu is available for those who wish to enjoy a meal, and Capstone Cellars offers a variety of wines.