The October 2007 E-News
Thanks to the hundreds who came out to see and hear Tobias Wolff, the fifth visiting author in our Writer's Studio series. If you missed the weekend events--and what a Shakespearean tragedy if you did!--check out Part I of the on-stage interview audio on our blog. Featured in Part I are Wolff's audience-slaying readings from Old School and the classic short story "Bullet in the Brain," as well as his thoughts on that eternal question: How do you make boring characters (and people) interesting? Part II will be up sometime next week, pending our mastery of audio editing technology.
If this leaves you inspired, you almost have no choice but to further fuel your writing life with our weekend Fairplay Retreat, October 12-14 (more details below). Sometimes nature even catches the spirit and dusts the area with snow while we cozy in by the fire at the historic Hand Hotel. Also, there's plenty to do back here in Dodge, like celebrate Lighthouse instructor Nick Arvin's One Book, One Denver pick and Lighthouse member Gary Schanbacher's book signing, Saturday, October 6, 5:00-7:00 PM. All of this and more elaborated below!
E-news follows:
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FAIRPLAY RETREAT at the Historic Hand Hotel, 531 Front Street, Fairplay. October 12-14. Geared for writers immersed in book-length projects (novels, memoirs, story collections) or for those who want to dive right into a new one, this weekend intensive retreat will concentrate on overall shape and vision of book-length projects, including narrative arc, thematic development, and voice. In addition, retreaters will receive individual consultations—either an overall review of the shape of the book, or in-depth analysis of the first chapter, such as locating and refining the central dramatic question, setting of scene, time, and place, and establishment of character and narrative voice.
If you're finished with the book, you'll have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Sandra Bond of the Sandra Bond Literary Agency, or if you're still working, meet with instructors William Haywood Henderson, Michael J. Henry, or Karen Palmer. Cost for the weekend is $275-$470 depending on lodging preferences. Find more information here. Or on our blog here.
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GARY SCHANBACHER BOOK SIGNING & RECEPTION at the Ferril House on October 6, from 5-7 PM. Lighthouse story writer Gary Schanbacher will be feted at a party at the Ferril House, celebrating the October release of his collection of stories, Migration Patterns (Fulcrum). The publishers say: "This beautifully drawn collection of short stories features characters living in or touched by the American West. Young and old, with heartbreaking pasts and uncertain futures, these characters lead lives filled with tender compassions and incidental cruelties." RSVP info@lighthousewriters.org -- wine and refreshments will be served.
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WRITE YOUR FIRST NOVEL, with Lighthouse Writers Workshop and Nick Arvin, a discussion October 11, at 7 PM at the University of Colorado at Denver. Come hear Nick talk about the process of writing his award-winning debut novel (and One Book One Denver pick), Articles of War, along with group discussion and writing exercises designed to help you with your own novel. RSVP to 303-297-1185 or info@lighthousewriters.org.
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VIRTUAL FICTION
If it's tough for you to fit into our more traditionally scheduled classes, check out our Online Fiction class starting October 22. Taught by Eric Olson, this eight-week, online forum is suitable for writers of the short story or longer works of fiction. Weekly exercises focus on the dramatic elements of fiction, such as character development, dynamic scenes, dialogue, pacing, and finding the heart of the story. Find more information here.
FACULTY NEWS & KUDOS
Congratulations to Nick Arvin, whose book Articles of War was not only named for One Book, One Denver -- Mayor Hickenlooper said “I guarantee if you read this book, it will be the best book you’ve read all year.” Big news for Mario Acevedo: the next two books in his Felix Gomez vampire private detective series, Jailbait Vampire and Werewolf Super Sex Club were sold to HarperCollins. Eli Gottlieb's new novel Now You See Him, will be coming out in January; you can pre-order it here. Just as we bid a bon voyage to Amanda Rea, who begins her 7-month Provincetown fellowship October 1, Lighthouse welcomes a new Program Assistant and Youth Program Coordinator Jennie Dorris, classically trained percussionist, boxer, teacher, and writer whose work can be read in the pages of the current 5280. If you have news items for her, questions, or just want to say Hi, her e-mail is jennie@lighthousewriters.org. Welcome!
Up this month for Colorado Book Awards are instructors Shari Caudron and Mario Acevedo. The awards dinner is held at the Seawell Ballroom, Wednesday, October 17, beginning at 6:00 PM. If you'd like to sit at the Lighthouse table, tickets are $55. Contact andrea@lighthousewriters.org or call 303.297.1185.
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MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES
Huge news for longtime member Sarah Ockler! Her debut novel, Twenty Boy Summer, just sold for six figures (two books) in a pre-empt to Little, Brown. Also, great news for master poet Colette Anderson Gill --she has learned of the upcoming publication of her chapbook Silk and Sting by Finishing Line Press, with an estimated February '08 release. Kim Reid's memoir, No Safe Place, is now out from Dafina, and you can catch Kim's readings at Borders, 29th Street Mall in Boulder, Oct. 6 at 1:00, or at the Borders, Flatiron Crossing in Broomfield, Oct. 13 at 2:00. Both Publisher's Weekly and Booklist are raving about the book already! Malinda Miller recently received a first-place award for her poetry in the Ghost Road Press annual contest. And in the Ferril House, we've added an exhibit of Lighthouse member Rachel Lynn Miller's photographs to the wall space. Come and check it out!
And if you can't make it to Gary Schanbacher's release party on October 6, or even if you can, be sure to catch him reading from and signing Migration Patterns at the Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch on Thursday, October 25, 2007, 7:30 PM.
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THE RETURN OF THE BOOKCLUB
The Lighthouse book club returns for the fall on October 27, 2:00 PM, at the Ferril House to meet and discuss Nick Arvin's Articles of War. There will be an informal discussion of the book and snacks; the event is open to members and their guests. To get on the Bookclub e-news list, please contact Lighthouse super volunteer Katharine Smith.
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WRITER'S BUZZ SABBATICAL
The Buzz will be taking a brief break while we help celebrate all the events around One Book, One Denver. Look for the series to return in force with William Haywood Henderson on January 27, 2008, with details to be announced soon.
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LIGHTHOUSE BLOG
Have you noticed? We've started a new blog to keep you up on all things Lighthouse and offer you extra literary news--bookmark lighthousedenver.wordpress.com. Head over there now and you can listen to "The Tobias Tapes," which include audio of a recent interview with Tobias Wolff and his reading of "Bullet in the Brain." We also have various bits of gossip and subliminal messages trying to get you to do things against your will.
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INTERESTED IN MORE ONE BOOK, ONE DENVER EVENTS?
October is full of events to celebrate Nick Arvin's Articles of War, from an electric guitar concert and reading at the Lab in Belmar on October 2, to a Power Read with actors from Stories on Stage at the Denver Public Library-Central on October 13. Find all the events here. And if you favor hardcover books for your library, Lighthouse has a limited number of new hardcover Articles of War copies for members, $12 each. We'll even get them signed.
If you need to get a paperback copy of Articles of War, consider making your Tattered Cover or Amazon purchases through our site, so as to pass a few pennies our way. The Lighthouse nonprofit affiliate page is here: http://www.lighthousewriters.org/page/view/id/7/ And stay tuned for information on our annual appeal, which will feature an online auction of the Lighthouse Serviette Project (scribbled napkin stories penned by Tobias Wolff, William Haywood Henderson, Shari Caudron, Ryan Kelly, Michael J. Henry, Alexandre Philippe, Harrison Fletcher, Chris Ransick, and more).