Spring E-News
Who says writers have to be solitary? Join us this summer for two weeks of unadulterated literary immersion at the 2nd annual Lighthouse Lit Fest, June 8-23. We've got a whole new-line up of craft seminars, thought-provoking salons, and weekend intensives. Start a new novel or screenplay; polish off that story to send out; finish up a collection of poems while writing new ones. Plus, there will be parties and readings, where we can celebrate our literary leanings together. Check it out at www.lighthousewriters.org/litfest.htm.
Last year everything filled up quickly, so if you're so inclined, give us a call: 303.297.1185. We're excited-we hope you are too!
If mountains are your thing, make the trek Grand Lake for our annual Writers Retreat, held at the rustic Shadowcliff Lodge, July 16 to 21. Take part in daily workshops, lectures, write & hikes, fireside get-togethers, and literary readings. Brochures will be available soon! To request one, please email info@lighthousewriters.org.
This month's Writer's Buzz on April 28, 4:00-5:30 PM, Tattered Cover LoDo, brings publicity consultant and general book pro Bella Stander, who will discuss the tools you need to promote your book. The talk will focus on the "4 P's" of book publicity: planning, pitch, presentation and professionalism. Have a book coming out or just want to know more about the business? We'll see you there!
Here's the news:
FACULTY KUDOS
If you find yourself thumbing through Westword's Best of Denver issue, you might find that Lighthouse faculty members have taken the city by storm: William Haywood Henderson's novel, Augusta Locke, was chosen as Best New Book By a Colorado Author, and Mario Acevedo's The Nymphos of Rocky Flats was selected as the Best New Vampire Book by a Colorado Author. Playwriting instructor Terry Dodd was also tapped for Best Interpretation of a Difficult Play, for his production of Wit. We always knew they were Denver's best, but it's nice to have an official announcement!
Plus, William Haywood Henderson learned that Augusta Locke was a finalist (along with Ivan Doig's The Whistling Season) for the SPUR Best Western Long Novel Award. Go, Bill!
As part of their associateship with the Rocky Mountain Women's Institute, Jennifer Vacchiano and Amanda Rea will be reading their fiction April 11 at 6:00 at the King Events Center on Auraria campus (see details below). One of Amanda's short stories was recently selected for publication by the Indiana Review. Plus, short story instructor Paula Younger has a new essay in the current issue of the The Georgetown Review. Be sure to check it out!
One-day instructor Harrison Fletcher recently discovered his piece, "Beautiful City of Tirzah," a chapter from his memoir, Man in the Box is an essay finalist for the 2007 National Magazine Award, representing New Letters. Other finalists include Calvin Trillin of The New Yorker, Paul Theroux of Smithsonian, Thomas Friedman of Foreign Policy, and Michael Donohue of The Georgia Review. We guess that's not terrible company to be in. Work with Harrison next weekend (4/14) at his Experimental Essay workshop! (Details below.)
Finally, master novella and short story instructor Nick Arvin will be giving a Monfort-Professor-in-Residence lecture at CSU on Thursday, May 3, 7:30 PM, Clark 104A on the CSU Campus. More information can be found here Also, Nick will have a short story appearing on the fivechapters.com Web site during the week of April 23. For those clamoring to work with Nick, his six-person Master Novella/Story workshop will be running again starting in June--apply by writing andrea@lighthousewriters.org for more info. He'll also be leading the "Fiction Finish" during the summer Lit Fest.
MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES
Lighthouse members made out like bandits in the ACC Writers Studio 2007 Literary Contest: Susanna Donato took Second Place for Fiction/Creative Nonfiction for "Space Reunion," while Jody Reale, Janelle Lassonde, Jane Binns, Barbara Munyon, David Boop, Sandra Knauf and Johanna Gallers were all Finalists in Fiction/Creative Nonfiction.
Janelle Lassonde also had some of her travel writing published on GoNOMAD.com, while Johanna Gallers won first place in the Pikes Peak Writing Contest in the Mystery/Suspense/Intrigue category for her thriller, "Know the Enemy." Ginny Hoyle will see two of her poems ("House of Clay" and "I Was Sixteen") in the next edition of MARGIE, due Fall 2007. She was also a finalist in their annual poetry contest, Strong Medicine. Her poetry manuscript, completed in the Lighthouse Master Class with Chris Ransick, is on exhibit (in an indoor gallery) at the Museum of Outdoor Art, Englewood, CO as part of ArchiTEXTure, a book art show, April 27 through August 20. The installation, House of Rivers, House of Clay, is a collaboration with noted book artist Judy Anderson.
Far-flung Lighthouser Janie Breggin Braverman will have a piece entitled "Silk" published on the University of Iowa's Daily Palette, and a poem, "Bing," in the Iowa City Art in Public Places Project.
Long-time Lighthouser Morgan Smith published a piece about Columbia in the Denver Post, and Advanced Short Story workshopper Rebecca Mayer was accepted by three MFA programs--Mills, San Francisco State, and Antioch, and counting. Yay, Rebecca.
And youth program regular Justin McElheny recently learned he was accepted into the creative writing program at the Denver School of the Arts. Cheers, Justin! We 'll say we knew you when...
Upcoming One-Day Workshops
Colorado in Black and White: Writing from this Place
Saturday, April 21, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Panera Bakery. Led by David Rothman, PhD
Those who write about Colorado face a wonderful situation: the state is popular and prosperous; it is beautiful; it is diverse; and it continues to come into its own as a literary community (in which Lighthouse plays a growing part). Whether you write poetry, fiction, drama, history or other genres of non-fiction prose, there is a fascinating history of writing in and about the state, from the high plains, to the mountains, to the western desert, from wilderness to town to city. Join us for a day to discuss the various ways to write of and about place, focusing on this place in particular. We will also look at how some of the strongest writers in Colorado's past and present have thought about and written about the state and ponder the question "What, if anything, distinguishes Colorado writing from that of other regions?" If you've never experienced a course with David Rothman, you're missing out!
Masterpiece, not Murder: How to Collaborate Effectively without Killing Each Other
Half-Day Workshop, Saturday, May 12, 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Panera Bakery
Led by Lisa Ray Turner and Kimberly Field
Are you tired of the romantic image of the solitary writer in the garret? Do you have an idea for a collaborative writing project, but don't know how to make it work? Or have you and a writer-friend been bouncing ideas around and you're ready to turn those ideas into a book, story, or article? If so, this workshop is for you. Co-authoring can be fantastic. You divide the labor. You benefit from the energy of two writers. You access two sets of skills and strengths However, collaboration can also be a migraine-inducing, friendship-shattering experience. This workshop gives potential co-authors tips and techniques on how to successfully create together. Lisa and Kim will discuss the pitfalls and pleasures and guide writers through exercises that help them determine how they can effectively collaborate. They will give ideas and techniques for maximizing the collaborative writing process. They have garnered these ideas from interviews with other successful collaborators and, most of all, used them while writing their bestselling book, The Denver Mint: 100 Years of Gangsters, Gold and Ghosts.
LIGHTHOUSE BOOK GROUP
Saturday April 7th at 2:00 PM, the Lighthouse Book Group will discuss Who Are You People?, a funny and insightful book of essays by Lighthouse instructor Shari Caudron. Shari will join us for Q&A. LOCATION: Ferril House, 2123 Downing Street, Denver. And on May 5th, at 2:00 PM: Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Eric Larson. LOCATION: Miss Prothero's Books, 1112 Santa Fe Drive in Denver (303-572-2260). For more information or to be added to the Book Group e-mailer, contact jenavac@mho.com.
Plus, here are some upcoming titles and times for the Urban Skye book group (learn more by visiting www.urbanskye.org):
Thursday, April 12 -- The Translator, acclaimed debut novel by Leila Aboulela.
Thursday, May 3 -- The Face of A Stranger, a mystery by Anne Perry.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
Some of Denver's best writers and artists have spent time at the Rocky Mountain Women's Institute, and now is your chance to see first-hand what it has to offer. On Wednesday, April 11, 6:00 PM at the King Center on Auraria Campus, Lighthouse instructors Jenny Vacchiano and Amanda Rea will be part of a sterling program featuring their writing, the work of some of the other associates, and the voice of soprano Irene VanHam Friedlob. If you want to meet at the Tivoli before the event and walk over together, contact andrea@lighthousewriters.org for more details. Parking in the Tivoli Lot is free with validation. The reading is also free. Women writers and artists are encouraged to apply to be an associate next year: http://www.rmwico.org/apply.html. See you all there!
A WEEK OF WORDS: LIGHTHOUSE SUMMER YOUTH CAMP JULY 30 to AUGUST 3
It's almost time for our 2nd annual Summer Youth Camp, where young writers age 10-18 will fill the Ferril House with their energy and talent. We'll take only 24 writers this year, 8 in each age group, accepted on the basis of their really wanting to be here and available space. Applications are accepted now! Visit our Web site for more information.
HOLY SOTO! COME SEE HIM READ!
The poet Gary Soto, author of ten poetry collections, including New and Selected Poems, a 1995 finalist for both the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Award, will present his new book, A Simple Plan: the Poetry of Gary Soto on Monday, April 9 at 7:00 PM at Cultural Legacy Bookstore, 3633 W. 32nd Ave., Denver Please call 303.964.9049 for more info.
A EVENING EXPLORING YOUR PASSIONS-WHATEVER THEY MAY BE
Whether you collect old coins, can recite dialogue from every Star Wars movie, or ski or garden or play Scrabble like a maniac, your interests say something about who you are-and where you'd like to go in life. In this entertaining seminar, Lighthouse instructor Shari Caudron (Who Are You People?) will reveal the life-affirming secrets of people who get passionately into things, and discuss how you can reshape your life, your community and your future by following your own unique interests. The talk will have you looking differently at the passions in your life-and where they might take you. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, April 11th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Craig Hall Community Room located at 2148 S. High Street, Denver, Colorado. The cost for the seminar is $10 and includes parking and refreshments. To register: www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/UDN/events/event_order.cgi?tmpl=events&event=2091454.
TRIPLE THREAT SIGNING
Triple Threat Signing: Get your fantasy fix with an entire realm from the supernatural Seattle author Richelle Mead (Succubus Blues) and Denver writers Jeanne Stein (The Becoming) and Mario Acevedo (X-Rated Bloodsuckers) will be signing 3PM, Sunday April 22, the Denver Book Mall, 32 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202.
TALKING GOURDS POETRY FESTIVAL
Catch the Denver National Slam Team All-Stars and the outrageously talented Roc'em Soc'em hip-hop word trio at this year's annual Talking Gourds poetry festival in Telluride April 20-22, 2007. The festival features regional poets, storytellers, singers, actors, dancers, fiction and nature writers, stargazers, ponderers and wanderers who share their work at Talking Gourd circles, on stage, and in interactive workshops. For more info, contact Lighthouse member Art Goodtimes at mgourds@paleohippie.com.