Writeful

a weblog for readers and writers

Friday, September 28, 2012

Party Like a Librarian!

The Baltimore Book Festival begins today at Noon, and the party continues through Sunday evening at 7 p.m.

All weekend long, book lovers in Baltimore will party like librarians!

The party is at Mt. Vernon Place, surrounding the monument, and features such authors as Emily Griffin, Laura Lippman, Kate Dolan, Joya Fields, Michael Kimball, Kevin O’Malley, Marion Winik, and Justin Sirois.

Learn more about the Baltimore Book Festival and get a full schedule of events at www.baltimorebookfestival.com.



Lit and Art at the Baltimore Book Festival

The highlight of the literary weekend? Don’t miss Lit & Art at the Baltimore Book Festival's CityLit Stage on Sunday, September 30 at 2:30 p.m.

Featured authors include Bathsheba Monk, Jessica Anya Blau, Charles Rammelkamp, Fernando Quijano III, and Nancy Greene with music by Goodloe Byron and original art by Manzar. Hosted by Eric D. Goodman and Nitin Jagdish, the event takes place at the CityLit Stage and promises to be one literary-packed hour. Thanks goes to Gregg Wilhelm for the gig!

Learn more about Lit & Art at the Baltimore Book Festival’s CityLit Stage at www.baltimorebookfestival.com/schedule/event-detail/334/Event%20Details.

Finally, Baltimore Book Fest Video! Pay attention at the 2:09 minute mark and you may see someone you recognize!

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=i5vXQed674o


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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Book it to Baltimore and DC This Weekend

This weekend will be a book-blast. Two big book festivals, three fulfilling days. It’s what many local authors refer to as “literary new year,” a term I believe was coined by author Paul Lagasse.

The National Book Festival takes place on the National Mall in Washington DC on September 22 and 23, and it features such heavyweights as T.C. Boyle, Jeffrey Eugenides, Geraldine Brooks, Stephen L. Carter, Patricia Cornwell, Michael Connelly, and Jewel.

Learn more about the National Book Fest at www.loc.gov/bookfest.

The Baltimore Book Festival takes place on September 28, 29, and 30 at Mt. Vernon Place and features such authors as Emily Griffin, Laura Lippman, Kate Dolan, Joya Fields, Michael Kimball, Kevin O’Malley, Marion Winik, and Justin Sirois.

Learn more about the Baltimore Book Festival at www.baltimorebookfestival.com.

And be sure not to miss Lit & Art at the Baltimore Book Festival on Sunday, September 30 at 2:30 p.m. Featured authors include Bathsheba Monk, Jessica Anya Blau, Charles Rammelkamp, Fernando Quijano III, and Nancy Greene with music by Goodloe Byron and original art by Manzar. Hosted by Eric D. Goodman and Nitin Jagdish, the event takes place at the CityLit Stage and promises to be one literary-packed hour. Thanks goes to Gregg Wilhelm for the gig! Learn more at www.baltimorebookfestival.com/schedule/event-detail/334/Event%20Details.

Finally, take a look at last year’s Baltimore Book Fest Video; pay attention at the 2:09 minute mark and you may see someone you recognize!

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=i5vXQed674o

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Monday, September 24, 2012

Back from Ox-Bow, One Novel Heavier

I’m back after a two-week writing residency at Ox-Bow! And I’m happy to say that I have a rough draft to my new novel as a result.

Affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Ox-Bow is located along the shores of Lake Michigan and offers 115 acres of inspirational space: pristine natural forests, dunes, a lagoon, and historic buildings.

This was my second time as a writer-in-residence at Ox-Bow. I was there in 2010, working on the novel currently with my literary agent: Womb.

This time, I plunged into a new novel and actually completed a full rough draft. Setting the Family Free is 319 pages and about 83,000 words in its current state. Half if it may end up on the cutting room floor when revision time comes, but for now the novel draft will simmer on the back burner for a few months.

Ox-Bow reminded me of how productive (and yet relaxed) you can be when you’re given an opportunity to focus only on your art, without worrying about other obligations. I get more fiction down on paper during a two week writing residency than I’d normally write in half a year of stolen hours and days at a time.

Ox-Bow’s residency program is all about immersion, commitment, freedom, and focus. Founded in 1910, Ox-Bow is celebrating 102 years as a haven for artists, writers, and thinkers.

Learn more about Ox-Bow by visiting their online campus.

www.ox-bow.org

For more about my most recent novel in progress … just keep tuning in here!

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Friday, September 07, 2012

Gone Writing: The (Second) Ox-Bow Residency

This weekend, I’m headed for my second two-week writing residency at Ox-Bow!

Affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Ox-Bow is located along the shores of Lake Michigan and offers 115 acres of inspirational space: pristine natural forests, dunes, a lagoon, and historic buildings.

Writers at this artists’ colony are provided with a small apartment, private lodge with inspirational views, three gourmet meals a day, and snacks around the clock — all from local farms.

Last time I was in Ox-Bow, as I prepared for Tracks to be published, I was working on a revision of my novel, Womb.

This time, I plan to plunge into a new novel: Setting the Family Free.

I also plan to take some appropriate reading material to start and end my days: Thoraeu’s Walden, O’Brien’s In The Lake of the Woods, and Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven.

Ox-Bow offers the opportunity to meet other artists from around the world, and (most importantly) uninterrupted time to write. Not to mention gourmet meals three times a day using local, organic food.

Ox-Bow’s residency program is all about immersion, commitment, freedom, and focus. Founded in 1910, Ox-Bow is celebrating 102 years as a haven for artists, writers, and thinkers.

I plan to live by the bell for the two weeks, leaving my watch behind. I may spend an hour a day online, but plan to spend most of the two weeks unplugged, and writing.

If I stay the course and manage to get in a full day of writing each day, maybe I’ll even have time to partake in other writer-in-residence duties, such as eating, hiking, canoeing, and carousing.

Learn more about Ox-Bow by visiting their online campus.

www.ox-bow.org


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Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Two Book Fests, Hundreds of Events, and a Video

The last weekend of September will be a book-blast. Two big book festivals, three fulfilling days.

The National Book Festival takes place on the National Mall in Washington DC on September 22 and 23, and it features such notables as T.C. Boyle, Jeffrey Eugenides, Geraldine Brooks, Stephen L. Carter, Patricia Cornwell, Michael Connelly, and Jewel.

Learn more about the National Book Fest at www.loc.gov/bookfest.  

The Baltimore Book Festival takes place on September 28, 29, and 30 at Mt. Vernon Place and features such authors as Emily Griffin, Laura Lippman, Kate Dolan, Joya Fields, Michael Kimball, Kevin O’Malley, Marion Winik, and Justin Sirois.

Learn more about the Baltimore Book Festival at www.baltimorebookfestival.com.

And be sure not to miss Lit & Art at the Baltimore Book Festival on Sunday, September 30 at 2:30 p.m. Featured authors include Bathsheba Monk, Jessica Anya Blau, Charles Rammelkamp, Fernando Quijano III, and Nancy Greene with music by Goodloe Byron and original art by Manzar. Hosted by Eric D. Goodman and Nitin Jagdish, the event takes place at the CityLit Stage and promises to be one literary-packed hour. Learn more at www.baltimorebookfestival.com/schedule/event-detail/334/Event%20Details.

Finally, take a look at last year’s Baltimore Book Fest Video; pay attention at the 2:09 minute mark and you may see someone you recognize!
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=i5vXQed674o