(NOTE: Due to the presidential debates, WordFest has been postponed one week to Tuesday, October 14th.)

Getting into the spirit of the season, our next WordFest gathering will celebrate “spooky words”–providing what Edith Wharton called “the fun of the shudder.”

Local storyteller Leslie Slape will offer two short tales, one is fiction, “The Haunted Hatchery,” and one is nonfiction(?), “The Haunted Motorcycle.”

Mary Lyons departs from her usual adult memoir format to read a short story for children, “‘Not too scary, Mary!'”–about family and fears during a time of ghosts, goblins and war.

Richard Yates will read several poems from a sequence he wrote entitled, “Different Ways the World Ends,” based on apocalyptic dreams he’s had. Richard is a student in the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) Program at Portland State University. He was one of the presenters at the Raymond Carver Writing Festival in May, has been the poetry editor for the Salmon Creek Journal, and is an independent “zine” publisher.

Linda Eddleston will read a short story she wrote for a Hallowe’en party, entitled “The Haunted House,” complete with sound effects (woooooo!)

Humorist Jane Still reads a very short poem about something spooky, “Oh, What a Sight!”

Alan Rose, organizer of the monthly WordFest series and the host of the new KLTV program, “Book Chat,” will read a scene from his paranormal mystery, The Legacy of Emily Hargraves.

Following the presenters, there will be the Open Mic time, and people are encouraged to read from works that fit the spooky theme for the evening.

The Brits Tea Shoppe will open at 5:30 p.m. and people can order a light supper prior to the program. Owner Alice Dietz offers a special menu for the evening:

Turkey Pesto Sandwich    $7.50

Veggie Sandwich   $7.00

Chicken Caesar Wraps   $7.50

Soups   $3.75                                                                                      Chicken Dumpling, Vegetarian Lentil, and Split Pea with Ham

To make it easier and more convenient for everyone, people can order and pay for their food when they first arrive. Alice will also have two coffee stations available for people to serve themselves.

It’s been two years since we initiated WordFest–Who’d have thought it would last this long?

We will be celebrating our second anniversary on Tuesday, September 2nd, at a new location. With the closing of Frank’s European Cellar, we will be gathering at The Brits Tea Shoppe, 1427 Commerce Avenue in Longview. New owner Alice Dietz has graciously offered her cozy and charming establishment just for us.

The Brits will be open at 5:30 p.m. on WordFest nights (First Tuesdays), and Alice is offering a delicious select menu for those who may wish to have a light dinner before or during the readings:

Shepherd’s Pie–Slow cooked beef with fresh veggies and gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and cheese, and served with soup or salad–$10.95

Cheese and Veggie Pasties–Fresh, sauteed veggies and cheese baked in a puff pastry, served with soup or salad–$8.95

English Muffin Melts–English muffins toasted with jack cheese and the Brit’s own special touch–$4.25

Chicken and Dumplings or Vegetarian Lentil Soup–$3.75

Come early and enjoy a meal!

And we have quite a line-up of presenters to kick off our third year:

Playwright and screenwriter Caroline Wood will present a scene from her play, “The Orchard,” about a couple who believe they have fallen out of love. The play was produced in a festival by Love Productions and Samuel French in New York. It took first place among the plays presented that week, and went on to compete with the winners from other weeks. Caroline says of her play, “There is dialogue in this play that hums in my mind like music.”

Ned Piper will read a short story entitled “Night Visitors,” which he describes as “a dark drama about a married couple who have lost trust in each other.” (Hm, I think I see a theme emerging.)

Ned has been writing–poetry, short stories, plays, novels, insurance books–since his teens. He has served as a PUD commissioner for the past 15 years, and helps his wife, Sue, with her monthly northwest magazine, The Columbia River Reader.

For a change of pace, Patrick Kubin, will be reading another section from his novel-in-progress, “A Time of Trial,” a courtroom thriller about a small town lawyer defending a young man for robbery and murder, offering twists and turns that will cast the case in a new light (Patrick read a portion of this novel at a previous WordFest–gripping stuff!)

Patrick is a local attorney, Superior Court Commissioner, and District Court Judge Pro Tem and Mediator, drawing on more than twenty years experience in writing “A Time of Trial.”

Cathy Zimmerman, features editor for The Daily News, will be reading…well, she wasn’t sure, but she thinks it will be a short story she is currently working on entitled, “True to His Word,” about different types of honesty, or lack of it.

And, as usual, following the presenters, we will have an open mic time.

There will be no WordFest gathering in August –so enjoy your vacation, kick back and read a good book.

Or, even better, write one!

We will resume our monthly schedule of first Tuesdays on September 2, 6:00 p.m., at a new location: The Brits, 1427 Commerce Avenue in Longview–just a block from where we used to meet. Owner Alice Dietz is kindly opening her restaurant to us on the first Tuesday of each month. The Brits has a charming and cozy ambience, and Alice will offer a special menu for those evenings if people wish to dine before–or even during–the readings.

 See you then!

 Alan

The next WordFest gathering on Tuesday, July 1, will offer poetry, a short story, an essay, and a selection from an autobiography.

Local poet Lorraine Merrin will be reading from her forthcoming chapbook, “Ancient Voices.” Her poetry, which reflects a Native American experience, has appeared in The Salal Review, Quercus Review, RATTLE, Tar Wolf, and will be appearing in Moon Journal and The Great American Poetry Show.

Retired librarian Tedine Roos will be reading a piece entitled, “Worldly Goods,” the beginning of a saga about a family’s move from Oregon to Montana. The moving van delivers another family’s furniture and possessions, and the story explores what material things mean to us and the memories they carry. She will invite the WordFest participants in helping to develop the story from this premise.

Lyle Sentman will be reading from his autobiography, “The Quest,” and Bruce Mahan will be reading an essay on time.

 Following the scheduled presenters, there will be an open mic time for people to read.

PLEASE NOTE: WordFest will take a break in August and re-convene on Tuesday, September 2.

At the next WordFest gathering on June 3, popular storyteller Leslie Slape will be presenting a play she co-wrote with Lower Columbia College drama instructor Don Correll, titled “The Time Traveler’s Story Guide to Planet Earth.”

The play, comprising folklore and myths about Earth, was first produced at LCC in 1998, and is being revised for a new production in 2009.

Leslie has been involved in local theater since 1975 as a stage manager, director, actor, singer, dancer, and light designer. She has served as a judge of the annual high school one-act play festival and has reviewed plays for The Daily News. She is also a crime reporter for the local newspaper.

Joining Leslie at WordFest will be fellow writer, Elaine Crabb, who will read a playful parody of her friend, “The Story of Leslie Slape.” A lifelong resident of Longview, Elaine will also read a short story for children, “Where the Sturgeon Swim Free,” about memories of fishing at Willow Grove.

Chuck Taylor returns to read a short story, “The Conversation.” Chuck has been an engineer, navigator, artist, singer, computer analyst and programmer. He has led a varied life of much travel–he estimates he attended 65 grammar schools–and has met a number of famous persons along the way: as a child he played with President Hoover’s dogs on the White House lawn while his father was visiting the president, flew with Lindberg (although not across the Atlantic), and played golf with the hotel tycoon, Conrad Hilton.

Tim Shay of Kalama will be reading from his novel, “The Ragged Edge,” offering an insider’s view of skydiving. Tim has had over twenty years of parachuting experience, first in the military, then as a civilian.

An open mic session will follow the presenters.

 Presenters are now being sought for the July WordFest. If you would like to share your writing with others, please contact Alan from this website or call at 360-425-3430 ext 280.