For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul E. Nelson
Global Voices Radio/SPLAB!
Ilalqo, WA98002
http://splabman.blogspot.com/

Global Voices Radio / SPLAB! E-Fishwrapper

In this E-Fishwrapper, an end to 17 years, 6 months and 2 days of Slaughter, signup for Hugo House Investigative Poetry class, Bookfest Returns, McClure in Seattle?, Jack Straw Writer’s Program applications now open, new book by Jeremy Gaulke, Lit Fuse returns, news on Linda Thompson, and the ramblings of a man who saw his daughter graduate high school and get ready for college.

1) My time in Slaughter has ended! Mixty motions in that, but grateful to be in such a culturally diverse neighborhood, Columbia City. Meredith and I have found a home at 43rd & Alaska and a housewarming party will happen this Fall. We’ll combine it with a release party (one of several) for A Time Before Slaughter. Details coming to a fishwrapper near you. By the way, my daughter Rebecca starts her study at Northwestern next month. Her major? Journalism. Is that fucking great, or what?!?

2) The Hugo House Fall Class Calendar is out here: <http://hugohouseservices.org/home/Class/DisplayClass.aspx?CatalogID=12

and look at this FASCINATING one day course: Investigative Poetry
“News is the first draft of history.” Pity if it turns out to be Fox News, eh? Well, don’t let those fuckers get the last word, do it yourself with a template from Ed Sanders, Joanne Kyger or Allen Ginsberg. We’ll look at some postmodern examples of history in verse form, do some writing exercises to warm us up, then spend a good hunk of the time working on a poem that includes history. Bring a book you’ve read (biographies are good) a news story or a whole file of stories on a subject, along with an open mind.
Instructor: Paul Nelson
Meets: Saturday, October 17, 2009 - Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sunday, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Min: 5 Max: 15

3) Bookfest is Back!
Remember the old Northwest Book Festival on the waterfront? Seattle's Columbia City community is bringing it back. It's going to be very cool event with at least 50 authors in attendance and over 80 exhibitors. This is a grass roots effort with all the funding coming from participants. In order to get started we need you to sign up now.

The event will be held October 24-25 at the Columbia City Event Center, a charmingly converted historic school building at 3528 S. Ferdinand, a block off Rainier and a block from the Columbia City Light Rail Station. So far the response has been terrific with dozens of local writers and bookstores already committed, including POETS Judith Roche, John Marshall, John Olson and others.

Booths are the standard 10 foot by 10 foot space with an 8 foot table and two chairs. They cost $200 if paid by August 31 and $300 if paid by September 30. Don't delay. Send in your booth reservation and check now to:
Seattle Book Fest
4816 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118

http://www.seattlebookfest.com/

4) Michael McClure is touring and interested in a Seattle date this Fall. He’s interested in doing a reading/workshop and lecture. The workshop would have space for 20 at $100 and the lecture space for 30 at $30 each. Would you sign up? Co-sponsors and volunteers are needed, so call me or email back if you can help make this happen. 253.735.MEAT pen (at) splab (dot) org

5) From Jack Straw:
There's lots of news in the Jack Straw Writers world: There are two great public reading events in September at University Book Store and Hedgebrook; the Jack Straw Literary Podcast is going strong with installments on Lana Hechtman Ayers, Anna Balint, and Priscilla Long; and Rachel Dilworth will be on KUOW Presents on Saturday! (Download an application for the 2010 Writer’s Program here: http://www.jackstraw.org)

6) From Charles Potts: What the Master Does Not Speak Of –
Poems and Drawings by Jeremy Gaulke. Available at www.thetemplebookstore.com - the Temple Inc. - $10.00. Few poets of any age focus on their subject matter as intently as Jeremy Gaulke. Subject matter as fuel that is consumed in the propulsion phase of the art leaves little residue. So it is with the poems in What the Master Does Not Speak Of, the long awaited author’s second book, and only by the widest stretch, a sequel to his earlier acclaimed The Ghost of Harrison Sheets. What is consistent in the development of his art is Gaulke’s eschewing any need to rehash material already developed, rendered, and passed beyond. In one way it resembles jazz beyond the noodle, when the musician/poet hits the incipient stride inherent in the improv and creates a passage or passages unrepeatable. Little need to copyright this; no one could repeat it anyway.

7) Lit Fuse Returns (from Michael Schein)
Dear Poet,

Please join us for a weekend of poetry & inspiration!

LiTFUSE combines writing, improvisation, meditation, camaraderie, natural beauty & readings to ignite your muse.

2009 Amazing Faculty:
George Bowering Canada’s Poet Laureate emeritus
Carolyne Wright American Book Award winner
Judith Roche American Book Award winner
Charles Potts Washington Poets Ass’n Lifetime Achievement Award
Tara Hardy Seattle Grand Slam Champ
Mike Hickey Seattle Poet Populist
AK Mimi Allin Poetess of Green Lake
Leonard Orr TS Eliot & Blue Lynx Prizes Finalist
Carol Trenga movement & meditation for the creative spirit
Swil Kanim musical muse
September 25-27 * Tieton, WA

$120 early registration (includes Saturday banquet) / $130 after Sept. 11
Friday Master Class with George Bowering, $50 ($75 if not registered for LiTFUSE weekend)
Registration and schedule at www.litfuse.us

8) News on Linda Thompson, from Jeffrey Side
I have just heard that Linda Thompson, singer-songwriter and former singing
partner to Richard Thompson, is having some difficulty funding her next album
due to various changes in the music industry, which some of us regret. She
has set up an appeal for funding at a site called The Hector Fund (a site which
is something of an innovation in these matters). Her page on the site can be
found here:

http://www.thehectorfund.com/about/linda-thompson/ Also see Jeffrey’s interesting blog at http://jeffrey-side.blogspot.com/

Not since June have I dished out a real Fishwrapper. Sheesh! Those postcards take a lot of energy if you do ‘em right. Plus, golf season has been pretty good this year, the weather, anyway, so that impinges, but who am I to complain? So, walking to Tutta Bella, the cool new ice cream place Full Tilt and an African goods store was never possible in Auburn, go figure. But now it’s necessary because my daughter has my car! (At least til she leaves for Evanston.) Meredith and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Link light rail system and if you haven’t tried it, whaddya waiting for?
The cats have successfully transitioned to the indoor/outdoor life and there is room for all my poetry books! YeeHaw!

On that item #4, can you help? Can you commit funds to make it happen? If so, It wold be a great way to kick off SPLAB! activities in this new neighborhood. We’re also looking for steering committee members and other volunteers. SPLAB! rises again.

Ciao,
xoxo President Postcard.
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