Hello, Kyle Elden here. A book of my poetry is going to be published and released this October. I am collaborating with local painter Kate Whittaker to create a coffee-table-style book with my poems and her paintings throughout.
I just bought and read Proctor native Scott Jurek’s new book Eat and Run and really enjoyed it. As you may know Scott is a dominant athlete in the weird world of ultramarathons and has won many major 50, 100, 135 and 150 mile foot races world wide. He also changed from a backwoods meat-and-potato childhood diet to become a vegan and world-class athlete. His story is an amazing journey of a person who really applies himself and finds the will to complete and win distances most of us cannot imagine running. The book is not an ego trip, preachy, nor attacks omnivores, but rather relates his story and personal thoughts about training, running and racing and the positive effects of a plant-based diet. He includes simple vegan recipes in each chapter.
World Book Night USA will be celebrated on Monday, April 23, which is also William Shakespeare’s birthday. On World Book Night, thousands of people all across the USA will give away free copies of one of 30 titles. That’s right, free books. It’s all part of an international effort to promote print books and literacy and reading.
A 7-year-old boy in Duluth created something called International Book Giving Day last year. This year the effort is actually going international. It’s on Feb. 14, a great alternative to Valentine’s Day. Since it’s kind of a blog-driven initiative I thought I’d link to my post about it here.
Urban Girl Interrupted: Duluth boy’s vision goes global
And There Shall Be Wars is a worthy addition to any World War II library.
When the Twin Towers were struck and fell on my birthday ten years ago, 9/11 was immediately being compared to another Day of Infamy sixty years earlier. What’s striking about the two events is how differently the news reached us. In 2001 Americans across the land were glued to their TV sets seeing replays of the horror and hearing commentaries of related unfolding events as they happened, with varying degrees of accuracy but instantly. With Internet access we could also watch reactions from around the world. Information about the 1941 attack came home to us in a far different manner, as this book excerpt shows.
The last time I ate at the Burrito Union, I had no idea they hosted a cribbage tournament. If I’d known, I would have bought a Starfire Pale Ale and signed up. I don’t live in Duluth anymore, but I’d like to play some crib with Duluthians (and even our neighbors in Superior).
I’d also like to invite everyone to a fantastic event at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis — on Saturday, August 20, the Walker’s Open Field program is collaborating with me on an event called Cribbage in the Field.
May 19–Winners of the 23rd annual Northeastern Minnesota Books Awards (NEMBA) will be announced in an evening celebration on Thursday, May 19, in UMD’s Kirby Ballroom. The free community event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a book fair and dessert reception. Barton Sutter, Duluth’s first poet laureate, will emcee the formal program beginning at 6:30, featuring best-selling children’s author Mary Casanova as guest speaker. Book fair continues until 9 p.m. Free.
More info: http://www.d.umn.edu/lib/nemba/index.htm.
Mary Casanova, a best-selling children's author, will keynote the NEMBA program
“Amanda drove and let Jenny doze in the front seat while Lucy slept in back. They woke just south of Duluth. They spent the night in a little town called Superior. In the morning they stopped at the grocery store in Duluth to stock up for the week.” — (Chapter 17)
“The road they traveled from Duluth had stretched out ruler-straight for miles, cutting farm fields in half, as pastures fell away toward island lakes. Dark clouds gathered in the western sky as they entered the great expanses of forest in Wisconsin.” –(Chapter 21)
from LUCY (A Novel) by Laurence Gonzales (2010)
Heart of a Samurai (Amulet) by Margi Preus, a Duluth resident, has been named a Newbery Honor Book at the ALA’s midwinter meeting in San Diego. Dark Emperor (Houghton Mifflin) by Joyce Sidman of Minneapolis, illustrated by Rick Allen of Duluth’s Kenspeckle LetterPress, has also been named a Newbery Honor Book. They are two of four Newbery Honor Books — basically they were the four runners-up to the book, Moon Over Manifest, that won the Newbery Medal this year.
The Newbery Medal is given each year to the author of that year’s most distinguished contribution to American children’s literature.
This is a very big deal, congratulations to Margi and to Rick!
On Thursday, Dec. 9, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with ballads, opera, and choral music along with Hibbing’s watercolor master on WDSE-TV’s The Playlist.
The ballads of Arna Rennan and Brian Dack explore a rich musical landscape; the cast of Amahl and the Night Visitors previews this holiday classic; award-wining watercolorist Terry Maciej shares his techniques; and members of the Arrowhead Chorale prep for a spectacular holiday concert.
Children’s author Phyllis Root and illustrator and Grand Marais native Betsy Bowen will be signing copies of their new children’s book Big Belching Bog at Northern Lights Books & Gifts on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 1-2 pm.
Each of these fairs has different local artists — only a few overlap.
On Saturday, Dec. 4, the Get it Local Gift Fair will be held at Peace Church, 1111 N. 11th Ave. E., and will have over 30 Duluth-Superior artists, nonprofits, and local-made or grown items for sale. The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will also serve as a drive (please bring items) for new or gently used children’s (picture) books which will be donated to the Red Book Shelf/United Way and there also will be a collection for Hygiene products to go to the local Salvation Army. From wreaths to jewelry to home decor to dog treats you will find plenty of great things to pick up — all in one setting in one day.
Author and former Duluth News-Tribune reporter Laurie Hertzel will be signing copies of her new book News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist at Northern Lights Books & Gifts on Friday, Nov. 26, from 1-2 pm.
Author Jay Weiner will be in Duluth tonight for a talk and book signing for his new book This Is Not Florida: How Al Franken Won the Minnesota Senate Recount.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
5:00-8:00 pm
The Bookstore at Fitger’s
600 E. Superior St.
Duluth, MN 55802
Thursday, Oct. 14, 7pm, Clyde Iron Works
Michael Nordskog and Aaron W. Hautala
The Opposite of Cold: The Northwoods Finnish Sauna Tradition
Thursday, Oct. 21, 7pm, Clyde Iron Works
Peter Smith
A Porch Sofa Almanac
Thursday, Oct. 28, 5-8pm
Jay Weiner
This Is Not Florida: How Al Franken Won the Minnesota Senate Recount
