At the next WordFest, on Tuesday, May 6, a new magazine will be launched.

Northwest Coast is a 64-page, full color quarterly celebrating the people, culture, and landscape of the greater Columbia-Pacific region.

Editor and Publisher Bryan Penttila will discuss his vision and goal for the magazine, and will have complimentary copies of the first issue available at the WordFest gathering (regular cover price is $4.95.)

Several local writers are featured in the first issue, including Irene Martin of Skamokawa, Jim LeMonds of Castle Rock, and Joe Green from Lower Columbia College.

Bryan is from an old-line logging family from Naselle and the author of Columbia River: A Pictorial History of Life on the Columbia River Estuary (Frank Amato Publications, 2003.)

Also at WordFest, Mary Lyons will read from her completed version of “It’s A Fearful Thing.” Mary brings a respectful, heartfelt and sometimes humorous voice to her experiences of being a home hospice volunteer.

 Regular contributor Ned Piper will be reading an essay, entitled “On Writing,” which distills his experience of writing for much of his adult life. Ned has written five novels, and over 50 short stories and 300 poems. He is now seeking a literary agent, with the hope of publishing his latest novel, Dead Pigeons.

 

Next Tuesday, April 1, WordFest will offer a variety of works by local writers.

 

Jim LeMonds will be reading a short story, “Days of Future Past,” about logging, and also a short, non-fiction piece on getting a tattoo, entitled, “Inscription on a Human Canvas.” Jim was a teacher in the Longview School District for thirty years and is the author of two books about the Pacific Northwest, “Deadfall” and “South of Seattle.” He now works as a freelance writer, editor and marketer.

Local poet Linda Eddleston will be reading from her book, “Poems A through Z,” which was a gift for her daughter, and includes some of her daughter’s poems as well. Linda is a substitute teacher in elementary and special education classes for the Longview and Kelso school districts. 

Joan Lemieux will be reading a personal essay from her collection of essays, “The Second ‘Coming of Age,’” entitled “Cleaning House”—which is more about aging than housekeeping. Joan is a retired Cowlitz County commissioner and was a teacher for many years. 

There will also be an Open Mic time for people to share their writings. 

WordFest is a monthly celebration of the magic and power of words. It meets on the first Tuesday of each month in the community room in the Columbia Bank building, located at

1338 Commerce Avenue, Longview

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The program goes from 6:00-8:00 PM. The second hour offers a time for refreshments, social networking, and an open mic, when the public can read their own works.

 

The event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages are available for purchase from Frank’s European Cellar, next to the community room.

Literary Swapmeet?

 A new idea for a new year: During the holidays I was going through my bookshelves and drawers and found books on writing and old copies of writing magazines that I hadn’t looked at in years, and I thought–“Why not share them with others who could enjoy them, too?”

And then I thought: WordFest could be a place where people bring books and periodicals to share with others–like a literary swapmeet! Except you don’t need to bring anything in order to take something that interests you. You can bring the book or magazine back when you’re done with it for someone else to use.

 Well, every good idea deserves a chance. Let’s start at the February WordFest, Tuesday, February 5th.

 And here is the line-up of presenters for that night:

 Longtime editor Ruth Thompson will read what she calls “a most unusual love story” (although I tend to think that any love story is unusual) entitled, “Souvenirs d’Anjou” by Glen Ethier, whose work Ruth has edited in the past.

Tedine Roos, a retired librarian originally from Maine, will read a piece she wrote while living there, about gardening when a woodchuck moves in, called, “Woodchuck Away!”

LCC Instructor Deborah Brink, returning after a year of travel and study in Latin America, is moving beyond her regular genre of poetry to read a short story she wrote while away, entitled “When No One is Watching.”

And local poet Peggy Williams will read a selection of her poems.

 There will be an Open Mic time at the end of the evening for those who want to try out a reading that takes ten minutes or less.

NOTE: Because the first Tuesday of January was New Year’s Day, WordFest this month has been moved to the second Tuesday, January 8^th.

At the January WordFest, Richard Robinson will be reading from his recently published book, “The Sixteenth Horseman.” His first novel, the story spans fifty years, from Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939 to the collapse of theSoviet Union in 1989. Rich, who lives in Kalama, is a former college dean, with degrees in history and political science. His book provides a historical context for the major events stretching between those dates, including theKorean War, theVietnam conflict, the rise of modern jihadism, and the Soviet invasion ofAfghanistan, all told through the viewpoint of his main protagonist, Joe Gaultworth.

Also reading that evening will be Mary Lyons. As the survivor of a sudden cardiac arrest in 1987, Mary has discovered both, “an intentional voice of gratitude and a first-hand-fearlessness” when writing about life and death.  She will be reading a story from the collection she has been writing, called, “It’s a Fearful Thing…”, based on her experience as a home hospice volunteer.

The third presenter will be Douglas Gilbert, who will be reading from his recently published book, “Art and Soul.” Douglas has been a practicing artist for over 40 years. With graduate degrees in both Art Therapy and Fine Art, he has been able to bridge those two fields in his work helping groups and individuals heal through contact with their deepest creativity. He will be reading a chapter from his book, entitled, “Sacred Fire”, about the essential purpose of art making.

Both Rich and Douglas will have copies of their books available to purchase and to autograph.

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007   6:00-8:00 PM

 The December WordFest gathering will be celebrating the holidays in verse and prose.

A number of local writers will be sharing their thoughts, memories, and reflections on this season:

 Cathy Zimmerman and John Knudsen will be reading personal essays.

Charolette Conklin and Elizabeth Schartz will be reading short stories.

Jane Still will share a poem that she wrote for her grandchildren who were afraid of Santa Claus.

Other poets reading that night will be Lillian Bushnell, Peggy Williams, Roger Belton, and Rene Cathcart.

 It promises to be a very full evening, rich with the spirit of the season.