August 2021 "rEMEMBERING THE dAWN"
The Literary Art Guild of CFA, along with the Newbury Library and the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum sponsored a virtual evening entitled: REMEMBERING THE DAWN: A bilingual program of traditional Abenaki songs and stories by father and son culture bearers Joseph and Jesse Bruchac.
For over forty years Joseph Bruchac has been creating literature and music that reflect his indigenous heritage and traditions, as a proud Nulhegan Abenaki citizen and respected elder among his people. He is the author of more than 120 books for children and adults. His best-selling Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children series, with its remarkable integration of science and folklore, continue to receive critical acclaim and to be used in classrooms throughout the country.
His son Jesse follows in the tradition as a traditional storyteller, musician, and Abenaki language instructor. He works as co-director of his family run education center Ndakinna, where he teaches Native American Life Ways, Martial Arts, and the Abenaki language. Jesse has written and published several bilingual books, and recordings in the language. He has lectured at Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, and is currently co-teaching (alongside Conor McDonough Quinn) a Wabanaki Language course at the University of Southern Maine. Jesse has also acted as consultant, translator, composer, and language coach for programs on AMC, National Geographic, and PBS.
Photo Credit - Eric Jenks
June 2021 "Life and Times of a Penobscot Poetess"
The Literary Art Guild of CFA, along with the Newbury Library and the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum sponsored a virtual evening with Carol Dana, Penobscot Language Keeper. Carol has devoted years to Penobscot language revitalization, working on the Penobscot dictionary project during the 1980s, and teaching Penobscot at the Indian Island School during the 1990s. She is the author of two books of poetry, When No One Is Looking and Return to Spirit and Other Musings, both published by Bowman Books.
Read about Carol Dana and the Penobscot Language in the New Yorker
Joy Harjo, US Poet Laureate
May 2021, The New Hampshire Humanities Council presented...
A Virtual Evening With U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo
In 2019, Joy Harjo was appointed the 23rd United States Poet Laureate and is the first Native American to hold the position. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harjo is an internationally renowned award-winning poet, writer, performer, and saxophone player of the Mvskoke/Creek Nation.
Hear Joy Harjo talk about her appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate in this short video from the Library of Congress.
Ernest Hebert
December 2020
In his words:
I have two identities as a writer. Part of me is a realist. I want my novels to be truthful to the real world as I have experienced it. But I'm also a dreamer. I believe in the life of the imagination.
My interest in novel writing is the interior world of the characters. Everyone has two dramas in their lives, the drama on the outside--how we relate to our loved ones, our jobs, our friends, our enemies--and the drama on the inside--how we relate to that steamy, dreamy on-going nut-case story in our heads. When the story in the head comes into conflict with the story in the outside, well, that's a problem for this novelist.
Eleven novels in all with some prizes along the way.
Phyllis Curott
November 2020
Join us for a virtual presentation on Wiccan spirituality and personal history, as presented by one of the first public witches in America! Phyllis Curott, a Wiccan Priestess and lawyer, has been writing about her experiences in the Wiccan spiritual community for decades, pulling back the veil and bringing Wicca to the wider public.
Curott will discuss the inspiration and writing process for her five books including her latest release, The Witches' Wisdom Tarot.
This event will be held via Zoom. Sign-up by e-mailing Dianalee Velie at dianaleevelie@aol.com to obtain access.
The event is free and open to all and is sponsored by the Literary Arts Guild of the Center for the Arts
Marie Harris
September 2020
Join us for a visit with Marie Harris, Poet Laureate of NH from 1999-2004. Harris is a writer, teacher and editor who has served as writer-in-residence at elementary and secondary schools throughout New England and is the author of five books of poetry, the most recent of which is DESIRE LINES, the latest volume in the Hobblebush Books Granite State Poetry Series.
She will read from her new poetry book, DESIRE LINES, and from her 2 children's books, G is for GRANITE and THE GIRL WHO HEARD COLORS. There will be time at the end for questions.
The event is free and open to all and is sponsored by the Literary Arts Guild of the Center for the Arts, Lake Sunapee Region and the Newbury Public Library.
Saturday September 12th
2 p.m.
NEWBURY TOWN OFFICES
This program is part of the Literary Arts Guild for
the Center for the Arts 2020 Snapshots in Time Series.
Amy Makechnie
August 2020
"From Mom to Published Author"
Best-selling Andover author Amy Makechnie will offer her thoughts and experiences on becoming a published writer in a public "conversation" beginning at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Aug. 6.
A resident of East Andover since 1997, a science teacher at Proctor Academy since 1998 (with a ten-year motherhood hiatus), and the author of a critically acclaimed middle-grade novel -- "The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair" -- in 2018, Makechnie has recently completed a second novel -- "Golden" -- to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2021.
At the Aug. 6 event, Mackechnie will describe and read from her new novel; then describe her "journey" to becoming a published novelist (while engaging in a part-time teaching career and serving as a wife and mother of four); and then engage in conversation with attendees. Local writers and "will-be" writers (especially elementary and middle-schoolers) are invited to participate, she said.
Her first novel is available in hardback or paperback at any online retailer, at Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London, and with signed copies at Gibson's Bookstore in Concord. Makechnie is also happy to mail signed bookplates to anyone requesting one.
Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Makechnie and her husband Gregor are the parents to four children. She studied Health and Human Performance at Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree, and holds former certifications in Personal Training and Sports Nutrition.
Makechnie's other published works include many essays available online and in local magazines. You can follow her on Instagram @amymakechnie and Twitter @amymakechnie, and sign up for her "monthly-ish" author newsletter at amymakechnie.com.
What Kirkus Reviews wrote about Makechnie's first novel: "If Scout Finch had had a sister, she would be future 'world-famous lawyer' Guinevere St. Clair...100 percent unforgettable."
The event is co-sponsored by the Literary Arts Guild of the Center for the Arts, Lake Sunapee Region, and The Andover Community Hub.
The event will be delivered "live" over the internet to local homes via an easy-to-use technology called Zoom. There it can be viewed interactively on home computers and hand-held devices. Up to 100 households can reserve "seats" in advance by sending an e-mail request to TheAndoverHub@gmail.com
Ken Tentarelli
July 2020
Join us for a virtual visit with Ken Tentarelli, the author of the
Nico Argenti Series. The series follows Argenti, a young lawyer
fresh out of law school at the University of Bologna. Argenti is
called upon to assist in a political plot to stabilize the
government following Cosimo de Medici's death. The series is
filled with mystery, intrigue, political maneuvers and a cast of
real and fictional characters from Renaissance Italy. Hosted by
the Literary Arts Guild and the Newbury Public Library, this
event will take you into the writing process and inspiration for
the series. There will be time for questions from the audience.
Call 763-5803 or email director@newburynhlibrary.net to obtain
a link for the author talk. Books are available for purchase
through Amazon, Apple Books or your local bookstore.
This program is part of the Literary Arts Guild for the Center for
the Arts 2020 Snapshots in Time Series.
