Writeful

a weblog for readers and writers

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Inspiring Children in Need

Last week, Flightless Goose had a very special afternoon inspiring the children of Gaudenzia at Park Heights. Gaudenzia is a residential for men, women, and women with children.

Flightless Goose’s publisher, Shana Johnson, and I visited the shelter to share the story book with the children. After reading the book to the children, each child got a free Flightless Goose pencil and animal - eraser head. A copy of the book was autographed and donated to the facility’s daycare.

Stay in the know about future Flightless Goose events by hitting the “News & Events” button at http://www.rungoose.com/.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Goose a Hit at Catonsville Book Festival

Last weekend, book aficionados and lovers of literature celebrated Catonsville Library’s 4th Annual Book Festival. The event kicked off with an Authors’ Wine and Cheese Reception. Flightless Goose was one of the featured books at the event.

There were more than a dozen featured authors, including yours truly. There were even more bottles of wine than authors, more cheeses than wine, and more books than anything else! It made for an exciting Friday night.

Surrounded by books, with live music in the background, fans and authors mingled over wine and cheese and books. All of the featured authors had books for sale at the library desk (and copies of Flightless Goose flew off the shelves). Proceeds from the event benefit Catonsville High School’s Ellipsis Literary Magazine, the Catonsville Library, and the Dictionary Projects of the Rotary Club of Catonsville-Sunrise.

Stay in the know about future Flightless Goose events by hitting the “News & Events” button at www.RunGoose.com.

Friday, April 17, 2009

My Guest Spot in Baltimore Sun’s Read Street

As a panelist at tomorrow’s CityLit Festival, I was asked by the editors of the Baltimore Sun’s Read Street to submit a guest column.

In my spot, I wrote about my own history with the CityLit Project — my own introduction to Baltimore’s thriving literary scene. I also talk a bit about my book, Flightless Goose, which is being featured in the exhibitor’s booth all day long, is available at CityLit’s official bookseller, Barnes & Noble, and is one of the “fist books” featured in one of the panel discussions.

The CityLit Project (and the CityLit Festival in particular) is one of the reasons for Baltimore’s lively literary community. If you love literature, you won’t want to miss tomorrow’s day-long event.

Read my column in the Baltimore Sun’s Read Street.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

CityLit Fest Set to be Best Yet!

Baltimore has long been known as "The City that Reads." And it is true that there is a thriving literary community in city. If you need evidence of this (or just want to have a great day), look no further than this Saturday’s CityLit Festival VI.

If you love books and literature, you won’t want to miss the CityLit Festival at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral Street. You’ll have the chance to see last year’s winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Literature, Junot Diaz, and last year’s National Book Award for Poetry winner Mark Doty. There are sessions on what’s becoming of our book culture, lifelong literature — too much to mention here! Plus, exhibitors will be showing off their books, literary journals, services, and all things bookish in the exhibitors’ hall all day long.

I’ll be there for a session on “first books, new authors,” and my children’s book, Flightless Goose, will be in the exhibitor’s hall all day. There really is something for everyone!

Hope to see you there. If you love books, it’s a great way to “get lit” this Saturday.

Learn more (and see a full schedule of events) at CityLit’s website.

www.citylitproject.org/index.php?q=node/262

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Thursday, April 09, 2009

Roland Park Library Features Maryland Authors

Need an excuse to visit the library this weekend? How about the chance to meet several local authors, and to listen to them read from their published work?

This Saturday, April 11, the Roland Park library hosts an afternoon with Maryland authors featured in the popular book, New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers. The reading begins at 2 p.m. and offers something for everyone.

The reading includes short works from authors Eric D. Goodman, Austin S. Camacho, Lalita Noronha, Liz Moser, Frank S. Joseph, and Barbara Morrison. New Lines will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the readings. In addition, authors will have their own published works on had for sale and signing — including the children’s story book, Flightless Goose!

New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers is the first book published by MWA Books. For more information about the book, visit the Maryland Writers’ Association website.

www.marylandwriters.org

Learn more about the recently renovated Roland Park Library, directions and this event at their website.

www.prattlibrary.org/calendar/atpratt.aspx?id=27882

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Where in the World are the Goodmans and the Goose?

Where are the Goodmans and the Goose? Back in Baltimore for the moment. But last week, we spent a bit of time migrating north, to Stamford, Connecticut for a reading.

While in Stamford, we did a bit of sight seeing. There was the Stamford Cone, a sort of artistic beacon of colored light, a tall cone of stained glass that you can actually go inside. In daylight, the sun shines in; at night, lights inside shine out and the cone glows in warm hues.

The murals at Norwalk City Hall were interesting. And the Hoyt-Barnum House, a historic home built in 1699 and made in part of clay and animal hair. The First Presbeterian Church, shaped a bit like a ship, had some interesting stained glass.

But now the Goodmans and the Goose are back in the Baltimore area, ready for some readings closer to home!

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Alice McDermott Headlines Fitzgerald Spring Event

Renowned author and National Book Award winner Alice McDermott will read from her work and lead a literary discussion at the Spring Event of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference.

The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 at the Faculty Staff Dining Room in the Campus Center of Montgomery College’s Rockville campus.

Alice McDermott has been a finalist for the National Book Award twice and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize twice. She charmed her way to the National Book Award with 1988’s Charming Billy. Other acclaimed novels include The Bigamist’s Daughter, That Night, At Weddings and Wakes, Child of My Heart and most recently After This.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Alice McDermott read from her work and answer questions from the audience. The author will be available to sign books after the presentation.

The event is free to members of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference, Inc. and their guests. Admission is $10 for the general public and $6 for students and seniors. Refreshments will be served.

Support comes from the City of Rockville, Montgomery College, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Gazette Newspapers, the Rockville Cultural Arts Commission, Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation, Ltd., Chase Hotel Suites and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society.

To learn more about the spring event, about the F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story Contest or about the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/potomacreview/fsf_notice.html