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Beam me up Shatner Memoirs
William Shatner never intended to write his memoirs. He really didn't have much to say. Anything anyone ever wanted to know was already there, in the open; all you had to do was look at his onscreen roles, his five previous non-fiction books and his unconventional yet acclaimed music career. It was only at the behest of his publisher - and with a good old fashioned dose of ego - that the 77-year-old actor reconsidered. William Shatner never intended to write his memoirs. He really didn't have much to say. Anything anyone ever wanted to know was a... more
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"Writing Women's Lives" Conference in Santa Fe - July 21-25
Writing Women’s Lives
Not so much a writer’s conference…as a conference about writing….
The Southwest Literary Center presents its 23rd annual
Santa Fe Writers’ Conference
Join a distinguished gathering of women writers and publishing professionals for workshops, private conferences, and readings in legendary Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now in its twenty-third year, the Santa Fe Writers Conference each summer brings aspiring writers from near and far to work with accomplished and dedicated faculty and guests.
Writing Women’s Lives, the theme of the four-day conference at the Hotel St. Francis, offers varied discussions on writing, includes readings by authors as well as local literary excursions—and provides time for writing. Events related to the annual Spanish Market, held the weekend of July 26-27, are also a part of this year’s program. This year offers a rare opportunity to hear from the most accomplished women writers in New Mexico and the Southwest.
Two unusual experiences have been added to this year’s program that celebrates the Hispanic culture: participants will be treated to the joys of making tacos with the legendary Denise Chávez, author and performance artist. More than a cooking demonstration, the Taco-Rama also includes reading of passages from Chávez’s memoir, A Taco Testimony: Meditations on Family, Food and Culture.
Another hands-on learning experience is the Corridos Workshop led by Elena Díaz Bjorkquist. Corridos are Mexican folk songs full of broken hearts, daring escapes, and adventures. Bjorkquist, author of Growing Up Chicana in the Shadow of the Smokestack, will guide participants in writing their own forms of the traditional songs—with a song fest planned for later in the day. The Corridos that are written will be preformed by Consuelo Luz a Chilean-Cuban singer/songwriter during the Taco-Rama.
A key panel discussion, “What Make a Reader Care about your Story,” explores the necessity of stories and the varied forms of expression for creating a personal narrative. Authors Laura Hays, Sallie Bingham, and Julie Shigekuni discuss the common life events shared by women and how to knit together a narrative from fragments of personal history and universal experience.
Natalie Goldberg, the celebrated author of Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, who has been conducting writing seminars for some 25 years. She will lead a session on “My Life Is a Storyline.”
Carolyn Wright’s investigative memoir of her experiences in Chile on a Fulbright Study Grant during the presidency of Salvador Allende, The Road to Isla Negra, received the PEN/Jerard Fund Award and the Crossing Boundaries Award from International Quarterly. Wright will be teaching the workshop, “When Politics Gets Personal--The Investigative Memoir in Poetry and Prose”.
Writing children’s books will be explored by award-winning local writers Nancy Wood (who is also a photographer), Barbara Beasley Murphy, and Anna Jane Hays. Susan Gonzales Abraham and Denise Gonzales Abraham, the daughters of Cecilia Gonzales Abraham who created the Cecilia books, will discuss writing for the young adult audience.
The Mystery of Writing Mysteries, Women and the Environment and A Sense of Place are other topics presented by noted writers Ellen Berkovitch, Sandra Blakeslee, Anne Hillerman, Page Lambert and Lesley Poling Kempes. A session on “Getting Published” features Leigh Haber, vice president, Rodale Press, and editorial director of Modern Times, a new imprint of Rodale.
The fee for the five day conference is $575 includes all workshops, talks and receptions. The one-day fee is $130 July 22-24, 2008 and $200 July 25, 2008 (includes lunch and margarita despedida)
Read more at link above.
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from TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com Writing Women’s Lives Not so much a writer’s conference…as a conference about writing…. ... more -
Hemingway: the most inspirational toilet reading
Legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Last year, SMITH Magazine re-ignited the recountre by asking readers for their own six-word memoirs. They sent in short life stories in droves, from the bittersweet (“Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends”) and poignant (“I still make coffee for two”) to the inspirational (“Business school? Bah! Pop music? Hurrah”) and hilarious (“I like big butts, can’t lie”).
Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs from Writers Famous and Obscure [the book] collects almost 1,000 six-word memoirs, including additions from many celebrities including Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, Dave Eggers, Richard Ford, Deepak Chopra, Moby, and more. A New York Times bestseller and subject of hundreds of stories from The New Yorker to NPR and hailed as "American haiku," SMITH's book of six-word memoirs is both a moving peek at the minutia of humanity and the most inspirational toilet reading you'll ever find.
Everyone has a story. Can you tell yours in six words? Submit yours to be considered for SMITH's next six-word memoir book.
http://www.sixwordmemoirs.com
Post below for fun.. Legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”... more -
'Gordon will lose to Cameron' - Blair
Gordon Brown's leadership was in turmoil last night after claims that Tony Blair does not believe he is capable of beating David Cameron and winning the next election.
The humiliating charge from Blair's former fundraiser and confidant Lord Levy came as Labour MPs pleaded for Brown to stay away from the campaign trail in this week's critical London mayoral elections for fear of wrecking Ken Livingstone's chances. Levy's intervention will confirm fears that Brown is becoming an electoral liability.
Even though Blair last night issued a statement categorically denying the claims and insisting he did believe Labour could win under his successor, there was consternation in Downing Street.
In his memoirs, serialised today in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Levy writes that Blair 'told me on a number of occasions he was convinced Gordon "could never beat Cameron"'. The peer added in an interview yesterday that Blair was 'disappointed to see Labour's slide' under his successor, with an ICM poll of marginal seats showing yesterday that on current polling trends 131 Labour MPs could lose their seats, handing David Cameron a solid majority.
Brown had been 'indecisive' and was 'not honest' about the reasons he failed to hold an election last autumn, Levy said. His book also claims Brown knew about the controversial secret loans from Labour donors at the heart of the 'cash for honours' allegations - but also blames Blair for the decision to start taking loans from donors, saying that he himself had been strongly against it. Levy also reveals that Blair decided which donors got peerages.
Levy was arrested during the inquiry into whether peerages were effectively 'sold' to Labour party donors, but did not face charges.
Levy said Blair still believed he could have won a fourth election, adding: 'But Gordon? "He can't defeat Cameron," Tony told me. Blair believed Cameron had major strengths - political timing, a winning personality and a natural ability to communicate to Middle England that Gordon would be unable to match.'
Blair's spokesman said the former PM 'doesn't agree with the views attributed to him by Lord Levy and fully believes Labour with Gordon Brown's leadership can win the next election.'
Levy's disclosures will fuel growing panic in Labour ranks, with ministers now openly discussing whether Brown could be persuaded to stand aside if Labour does badly in Thursday's London and local elections. His prospects were not helped by an oil refinery strike in Scotland prompting panic-buying of petrol and fears of rationing yesterday. Gordon Brown's leadership was in turmoil last night after claims that Tony Blair does not believe he is capable of beating David ... more -
Baby Boomer Autobiography - A very compelling read.
Book Pleasures Karen Atwood Reviews IT STOPS WITH ME: MEMOIR OF A CANUCK GIRL.
There are a number of motivations to write a memoir: proximity to fame, a story that speaks to or is representative of an entire generation, or a life that simply has a fascinating angle. In many ways, Charleen Touchette’s book, It Stops With Me: Memoir Of A Canuck Girl falls into both of the last two catagories.
Like many “baby boomers,” she was born into a picture perfect world, which in her case included a large extended Catholic French-Canadian family, two extremely handsome parents, and a lovely suburban home. Touchette was a wide-eyed, perfectly coiffed, privately educated little girl, who later attended Wellesley College and art school. After meeting her soul mate in college, they lived together, enjoying a Bohemian lifestyle in New York City, befriending inner city people as well as artists before settling down (in a manner of speaking), marrying and having four beautiful children together.
Did she live happily ever after? Well, yes and no. Book Pleasures Karen Atwood Reviews IT STOPS WITH ME: MEMOIR OF A CANUCK GIRL. ... more -
IT STOPS WITH ME by Charleen Touchette
Drinking Daddy, I'm Trying to Be a Good Girl, The Strap.
Art by American Artist Charleen Touchette from her award-winning memoir IT STOPS WITH ME: MEMOIR OF A CANUCK GIRL. Drinking Daddy, I'm Trying to Be a Good Girl, The Strap. ... more -
PEN CENTER USA - Woonsocket, Rhode Island: Public Library Returns Challenged Book ...
UPDATE: Woonsocket Public Library has decided to return It Stops With Me to its shelves. PEN USA would like to thank everyone who wrote letters of appeal in support of Charleen Touchetteâs book and freedom of expression. UPDATE: Woonsocket Public Library has decided to return It Stops With Me to its shelves. PEN USA would like to thank everyone who wr... more
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The Truth About Hunter S. Thompson
It wasn't a reckless obsession with liquor, drugs and gunplay that made the late Hunter S. Thompson the undisputed king of Gonzo journalism, his wife says. Instead, it was old-fashioned principles such as working hard and telling the truth, enlivened by the glee Thompson took from learning and from being right.
In her new book, "The Gonzo Way: A Celebration of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson," Thompson says her husband built his career with a tireless dedication to the craft of reporting, a keen awareness of his own shortcomings and his personal blend of patriotism: loving his country while mistrusting authority. It wasn't a reckless obsession with liquor, drugs and gunplay that made the late Hunter S. Thompson the undisputed king of Gonzo ... more -
Life on a check card
Mixing the anonymity and sincerity of personal blogs and secret confession Web sites, Proof of Purchase showcases one Oklahoman's life as scribbled on his Visa check card receipts. Let's just hope that it's as sincere as it seems charming nonetheless. Mixing the anonymity and sincerity of personal blogs and secret confession Web sites, Proof of Purchase showcases one Oklahoman's... more
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Memoir
