Creative Blockbusters, June 12, 2010 (Sat.), 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. ,Lamb Cottage, Skinner Butte Park, Eugene $30.00

register at http://www.moxiemavericks.com/

Join Lisa Gentile, M.S., Life and Creativity Coach from the San Francisco area, to: * Learn new ways to hear what your work is saying, * Manage anxiety * Prioritize * Stay focused and * Get the feedback you need, when you need it. “I highly recommend this workshop, and Lisa — she’s been a mentor to me for the past three years. A Poetry Anthology I’m coordinating with five other women from across the U.S. is nearing completion. Lisa’s guidance was critical during the process. I’m delighted to be meeting her in person — we’ve worked together online and via phone up to now. I’m happy to talk with anyone interested in more information about my experience working with Lisa.” Michele Graf MGraf@roadwriter.net

and

The Muse Online Writers Conference, - the only FREE conference of its kind!  http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/ Affiliated with the award-winning sites and Writer’s Digest Top 101 Writing Sites: 
The MuseItUp Club & Apollo’s Lyre Registration is now open for the October 11 – 17, 2010 Conference! (Registration deadline: August 15, 2010) No matter where you live, what you write, at what point you are in your writing career, you’ll find a workshop that fits your needs during our weeklong conference. Don’t miss out! JOIN US!

(local contact Michele Graf MGraf@roadwriter.net for more info)

Writing to Explore Your Spiritual Journey, a seven-week, on-line, summer course, will be taught by member, Nan Phifer, author of Memoirs of the Soul: A Writing Guide. Offered through Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, find descriptions at http://www.cdsp.edu/center_online.php and www.memoirworkshops.com. Nan’s description– We’ll go beyond chronological, autobiographical writing to focus on our most significant spiritual experiences.  I’ll guide you in identifying the landmarks of your spiritual journey and lure you with writing prompts that lead into not-yet-explored territory.  You’ll write to recognize your inner light, to reconcile your sorrows and blessings, to forge paths toward altruism, and to express the presence of the numinous.  I’ll illustrate a technique you may employ to breathe life into narration. You’ll write in pace with each other in small, ongoing groups, sharing drafts and responding to them in a prescribed, constructive way.  From the affirmations and questions of group members, you’ll gain personal insights and collegial affiliation, for supportive bonds often form within the small groups.  From the course overall, you’ll master a writing process you can continue to use any time you want to write so vividly that you awaken readers, as well as yourself.

Nan Phifer

http://www.memoirworkshops.com

Sharon Lask Munson has poems in Earth’s Daughters, Brevities, and Groundwaters.  She has forthcoming poems in Goose River Anthology, Silver Boomers, and Drash: Northwest Mosaic.  Her forthcoming chapbook, Silence Settles Down the Lane will be published in the spring, 2010, by Uttered Chaos Press.

Amy MacLennan will have an article appear in the 2011 Poet’s Market. Her work has recently been accepted by the online magazine Connotation Press: An Online Artifact, and she will be a featured guest on Rustin Larson’s poetry radio program out of Fairfield, Iowa.

Thanks, all who attended our 2010 conference! it was a wonderful day, full of information, catching up with old friends and meeting new. Quinton’s special note: “Thanks from the Eugene-Springfield Unit to all the local poets who made the Spring Conference a success by reading poems, donating time, workshop sessions, books, food, drink, strong backs and assistance at every turn. Extra applause for Michael Hanner, Jim Higgins, Joy McDowell, Sharon Munson, Charles Thielman, and Ingrid Wendt who punctuated the Conference with their fine poems during the weekend. Thanks also to the breakout session leaders, Laura LeHew, Sandy Jensen, and Toni Van Deusen who took on two sessions and collected materials for the Conference packs. And Joy McDowell’s amazing amassing of books and other items for the Raffle Basket, Laura LeHew’s gourmet food brigade. Martha, Erik, Michael, Charles, Michele, Cathy, Nancy, Eileen, Lydia, and all others participating, thanks and high praise for all your contributions.”

Ralph Salisbury’s poem “Some Hunts” is included in the anthology, To Topos: Poetry International, Ahani: Poetry of the Indigenous Americas from University of Arizona Press.Valparaiso Review is publishing his poem, “At Play in the Earth of Uncle Jimmy’s Grave.” Ralph will be signing books at the Michigan State University Press table at the April AWP in Denver, and his books will be on display at a number of other tables including University of Arizona Press, earthworks, and Small Press Distributors. He has recently finished guest editing Yellow Medicine Review.

Deb Casey says, Finishing Line Press will be publishing my chapbook, As-Is, Several Sisters late this spring. For anyone who would like a copy (and to support the press & help the print run!), orders are open now through March 26 during the ”advance-sales pre-publication” period. www.finishinglinepress.com (go to New Releases page) or contact the press at PO Box 1626, Georgetown, KY 40324

Finishing Line has recently published Quinton Hallett’s book, Refuge from Flux. Quinton will read from her book at Tsunami on March 20 (see events calendar).