January, 2011

FROM THE BIRD'S NEST
Judy Redbird Bridges

A Sweet Surprise...

I knew I'd be happy to have my book finished and beautiful and well received. I did not know how much fun it would be to stand up in front of a room full of people and share the excitement.

We've had three readings so far - at Redbird, Boswell Book Shop and Next Chapter Book Store - each one a major success thanks to our gracious hosts, engaged audiences, and the writer-friends who read with me. (see names in the "news" below) No question about it, we were hot.

The next event (in addition to the Shut Up & Write class) is an evening conversation about writing at Muskego Public Library on Thursday, January 13th. And then an afternoon visit to the Waupaca Community Art Center on Sunday, February 20th.

I keep telling myself to cool it, that this book is legacy, not product, and I don't have to run all over the place trying to sell it. But then a friend -- sometimes a voice from long ago -- says, "Hey, how about this?" and I'm off and excited.

One thing that adds a little serenity to our lives is that David designs websites, so we can just pick up our His and Hers computers and take off. Okay, the truth is that packing isn't that simple once you add the books, handouts, snow shoes, yarn, and at least one semi-decent looking outfit. The point is that David carries the stuff so I don't have to worry.

If I'm lucky, I'll see you somewhere, sometime, this year. All you have to do is tell me you love the book and I'm yours.

2. EVENTS (as of 1-1-11)
See details at www.redbirdstudio.com

http://www.redbirdstudio.com/RB_Images/sucover-3.png

Shut Up & Write! - The Class at Redbird
January 8-9, Sat-Sun, 9:30-3:30 (waiting list)
February 12-13, Sat-Sun, 9:30-3:30

Muskego Public Library, Muskego, WI
January 13, Thurs, 7pm.

Shut Up & Write! - The Class at Redbird
February 12-13, Sat-Sun, 9:30-3:30.

Waupaca Community Art Center, Waupaca, WI
February 20, Sun, 2pm.

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
UWM Spring Writers' Festival (Register with UWM)
March 5, Sat, 9:45am and 2pm

Raconteurs Writers Group, Wauwatosa, WI

March 20, Sun, 2pm.

Avol's Bookstore - Madison, WI
April 3, Sun, 2pm.

The Hairshirt Writers' Retreat at St. Clara Convent
Apr 28 - May 1, Thurs-Sun.

Writers' Wellspring at The Clearing, Door County
June 5-11, Sun-Sat (Register with The Clearing)

Writers' Retreat at Green Fountain B&B, Waupaca
July 11-15, Mon-Fri

Women's Writing Retreat at The Clearing, Door County
Sept 11-17, Sun-Sat (Register with The Clearing)

3. REDBIRD-REDOAK CLASSES
See details at www.redbirdredoak.com
Register with Kim Suhr, kim@redbirdredoak.com

ROUNDTABLE GROUPS
Monday Mornings with Kim Suhr
Monday Afternoons with Kim Suhr (Oconomowoc)
Tuesday Afternoons with Jeannee Sacken
Tuesday Evenings with Kim Suhr
Thursday Evenings with Robert Vaughan
Fridays with Robert Vaughan

"Write 'til You're Blue in the Face" with Kim Suhr
RedBird-RedOak "On The Road" Showcase Readings
Creative Writing Camps and Writing Circles for Young Writers

4. NEWS ABOUT REDBIRD WRITERS AND FRIENDS
Note #1: "R.W. and Friends" either attended Redbird workshops, or taught them, or support the studio in some special way. If you sent information and it did not appear, please forgive and send it again.
Note #2: I am being very judicious about the number of links I include so we get caught in fewer spam filters. I hope readers will find the missing links online.

Thanks to the stars who read with me at book-launch events
At RedBird-RedOak, hosted by Kim Suhr
"Let's Celebrate" Annie Chase, Carol Wobig,
Bert Kelly, Felicity Librie and Pam Parker.
At Boswell Book Shop, Milwaukee
"NaNoWriMo" Shauna Singh Baldwin, Doug Jacobson,
Karen McQuestion and Jeannee Sacken.
At Next Chapter Book Store, Mequon
"Rising Stars" Robert Vaughan, Laurel Landis,
Sara Rattan and Sheila Hanrahan.

*****

Shannon Jackson Arnold released her new book, Flowering Wisdom: Inspiring Thoughts on Life, Love & Blooming Big just in time to put it at the top of the gift list and require an almost instant second printing.

Shauna Singh Baldwin's first novel, What the Body Remembers, (Knopf Canada/Doubleday USA,1999) will be reprinted in India by Rupa Publications in Jan 2011.

Elaine Bergstrom After attending the "How to Get Published in 2010" workshop at Redbird, vampire novelist Elaine pulled her copyrights from her publisher and is in the process of reissuing her Austra Vampire Series. Three of her novels, Shattered Glass, Blood Rites and Blood Alone are now available on Kindle and Nook and will be releasing in print on demand paperbacks early in 2011. The process also allowed her to issue Shattered Glass uncut, the first time the book will be released as she intended it to be. She maintains a blog on the self-publishing process at austravampireblog.wordpress.com

Tom Biel's story, "Instantaneous" was published by Full of Crow.

Stephen Boehrer won the 2010 Indie Excellence Award in the Fiction Category for his novel, The Purple Culture.

Debra Brenegan's debut novel, Shame the Devil, is scheduled to come out in July, 2011, with SUNY Press's Excelsior Editions. The book is a historical novel that chronicles the scandalous life of nineteenth-century American writer, Fanny Fern, who was the highest-paid, most-popular writer of her era.

Judy Bridges was interviewed by Mitch Tiech for WUWM's Lake Effect, and by Ann Dekorsi for WMSE's Milwaukee Midweek. She was mentioned in Inside Milwaukee and The Mil in Milwaukee Magazine, and in a Chicago Sun Times interview with Soren Paul Petrek. Also mentioned in blogs and online publications by Marjorie Pagel, Pam Parker, Josephe Marie Flynn SSND, Linda Moore, Carrie O'Connor, Karen McQuestion and others. Most recent publication (other than the book) is an article about writing life stories in the new Wisconsin Regional Writers Assn literary magazine, Creative Wisconsin.

Peggy Brown The stores were full of Peggy Brown's creative toys and games again this year. They are stocked in the kids' toy departments, but I don't why the kids should have all the fun.

Richard Carter is publishing a sequel to Cabin Fever, his well-loved collection of personal essays. Illustrated by Carolyn Kinney Carter, Through the Cabin Door will be ready for readers in early 2011. Richard is also putting the finishing touches on a book of poetry, Inside and Out, and a memoir about his early interest in aviation, Growing Wings.

Christi Clancy's story "Echo-La-La" appeared in the fall issue of The Minnesota Review.

Leah Dobkin's new book, Soul of a Port: The History and Evolution of the Port of Milwaukee, was Number One nonfiction softcover at Boswell Book Shop. The book takes an unconventional look at a port through the eyes of the people who work there.

Marge Fenelon announced the release of her new book, When's God Gonna Call Me Back?

Josephe Marie Flynn, SSND says to hold off with the cheers until her book, Rescuing Regina: The Battle to Save a Friend from Deportation and Death, is released in July, but I saw the cover art and just have to register my awe. It's perfect!

Bill Gagliani, author of the Detective Nick Lupo Wolf series, announced that the audio version of his novel, Wolf's Gambit, will be available soon from Audio Realms. Also on tap, a mini e-book collection of short stories co-written with David Benton, Mysteries & Mayhem, available in January, and soon after that a Detective Nick Lupo novella, Wolf's Deal, in all popular e-formats.

Sheila Hanrahan read her story, "Anything that Sticks" at the Wisconsin Book Festival event at Avol Bookstore in Madison. "Anything that Sticks" won first place in the Wisconsin People & Ideas/Wisconsin Book Festival short story contest.

Eric Hansen The Wisconsin Broadcasters Assoc. recognized his WUWM op-ed essay "Copenhagen, Climate Change and Common Sense Conservation in Wisconsin" with a first place award for Editorial/Commentary, large radio markets. He also presented "Our Ferocious Love of Life vs. Catastrophic Climate Change," for the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee.

Mark Hummel was in the Wednesday night Inkslingers group until he moved to Alaska a few years ago. We connected now and then, but never as endearingly as the night of the book celebration at Redbird, when he walked in the door, on cue, just as I said, "Redbird writers may go away for awhile, but they always miss us and they always come back." When you see him, ask how he managed that timing.

Amy Lou Jenkins is doing presentations and earning accolades for Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting. She also taught two workshops at the Alverno Telesis Great Lakes Writers' Workshop, "Richer Nonfiction," and "Anthologies and the Publishing Writer."

Deb Karpek's article, "The Distant Symbol Heals the Past" appeared in the Winter Issue of Reiki News Magazine. Another article was accepted for the Spring Issue.

Mark Krieger's short story "Martyr" was published in Narrative Magazine.

Carol LaChapelle is making final selections for an anthology titled, Growing Up With Drunks: A Collective Memoir.

Laurel Landis's short story, "Olagam" was accepted for publication by Wisconsin People & Ideas and will appear in the Spring 2011 issue.

John Lehman's collection of literary short stories, Lost on Clearview Road, is now available from Amazon for Kindle.

Susan Maciolek Vestal Review accepted two entries from Susan for the Dirty Dozen feature, stories of exactly 12 words that are "somewhat risque but not X-rated." They are posted online as December 2010 selections and will also appear in Vestal Review's next print issue. Susan also had three pieces of her work published in Thunderclap!, a print magazine. A flash fiction story and poem appeared in the September "Femme Fatale" issue," and another poem appears in November's "Love" issue. Two other flash fiction pieces were published online in August by Postcard Shorts. Susan writes under the pen name, Lily Mack.

Barbara Malcolm's article about the renovation of the root cellar at The Clearing was published in Door County Living magazine.

Barbara Manger joined other Council for Wisconsin Writers award winners for a reading at Boswell Book Shop. Barbara won CWW's Kingery/Derleth Book-Length Nonfiction Award for Mary Nohl: Inside & Outside-A Biography of the Artist.

Karen McQuestion's novel, A Scattered Life, has been in the top 100 bestselling Kindle books on Amazon for 142 days and counting. Her novel, Easily Amused (workshopped at Redbird), was released in September 2010, and her children's book, Celia and the Fairies, was published in November 2010. All three books were published in paperback and e-book by AmazonEncore, Amazon's new publishing company. In November she led a workshop on self-publishing at Redbird-Redoak. On January 14th she will be sharing her publishing journey with students at Carlow University in Pittsburgh. And in February she will be giving a self-publishing workshop at the San Miguel Writers' Conference in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Locally she's given talks at area libraries: Sheboygan Falls, Hartford and upcoming -- the Waukesha Public Library on January 19th.

Mel Miskimen's article "I Hate Wrap" and her story about her son, "The Replacement," are being published by More Magazine.

Jill Morin, Kahler Slater Co-Executive Officer and the author of Better Make it Real: Creating Authenticity in an Increasingly Fake World (Praeger 2010), received a Woman of Influence Award presented by the Business Journal.

Joanne Nelson read her essay, "Almost Gifts" on WUWM's Lake Effect show. She is also working on a series of essays and writing for WISN's Community Voices blog.

Jim Norton published his novel, The Supernumerary, to Kindle. It is available via Amazon.

Jon Olson posted his Flaherty book, The Petoskey Stone, on Amazon Kindle. He thanks the members of the Tuesday roundtable for their feedback and encouragement. (actually, we cheered every time he read a section) You can read e-book star Karen McQuestion's interview with Jon at www.mcquestionablemusings.blogspot.com

Pam Parker's story, "Marking Mildred," was published in The Potomac Review. The story also received an honorable mention in the Wisconsin Academy of Science and Letters short story contest. Pam's poem, "The Imploring Candles of Yad Vashem," is in the Marquette Literary Review. "The Whistle" is now live at Grey Sparrow Press and will also appear in their print journal.

Soren Paul Petrek's debut novel, Cold Lonely Courage, was published by BlackRose.

John Ptacek's article, "Why you cannot love," appeared in the online literary publication Elephant Journal.

Roi Solberg is presenting a "Start the New Year Off Right" workshop in Madison on January 20th. This is similar to the workshop that inspired so many people when she offered it at Redbird the past few years. Also in the works: a four-week session on the Power of Intuition beginning in April, and the January launch of a new website designed by Dave Blank.

Kim Suhr's essay, "To Cap It Off," will appear in the journal Creative Wisconsin published by the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association. The essay was named first in the 2010 Florence Lindemann Humor Contest sponsored by the WRWA. Her flash fiction, "Cigar Reader," has been e-published at the Foundling Review. Kim is doing a presentation at the Writers' Ink meeting, January 17th. (See location information in Other Places/Faces below.)

Marilyn Taylor sent this primarily to poets, but I think everyone will appreciate it. "Apologies for a small toot: Monday night at the Milwaukee Public Library, I got to hear Pattiann Rogers give a terrific presentation on the extraordinary national poetry-in-the-zoos project called "The Language of Conservation," sponsored by the Poets House and five American zoos. I'm thrilled to add that Pattiann included a poem of mine (about lions-- very scary!) to be part of the installation at the Milw County Zoo - along with poems by 53 others, including Wendell Berry, Eamon Grennan, Lucille Clifton, David Wagoner, Gray Jacobik, and my brilliant friend Robin Chapman. Am I in good company, or WHAT?"

Dave Thome's screenplay, The Sky Below, which he read during Roundtables at Redbird, has been a semifinalist in the Slamdance Screenwriting Competition and the Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum's "Screenwriting Experience" contest, and received an honorable mention in the Los Angeles Film Festival's screenplay competition. Meanwhile, Dave's blog, Man Writing a Romance, which chronicles the writing of Fast Lane, the romance novel he's currently reading during Roundtables, has had visitors from all over the U.S. and two dozen other countries.

Robert Vaughan met his goal of having over 100 publications (poems, prose; print and online) for the year. He was interviewed twice on WUWM's Lake Effect: Flash Fiction Fridays. Other recent credits include being named Fiction Editor at JMWW magazine and Flash Editor at Thunderclap! Press.

Rick Whaley. Every time I compile a newsletter, there's one message I feel compelled to post at length. This time, it's Rick Whaley's.

First, the part I admire:
I write monthly environmental and Native solidarity articles for theoggblog.com, including reports on the Northern Michigan U "Indigenous Earth Issues Summit" last April and Will Allen's "Good Food Revolution" conference at State Fair Park (West Allis) in September. I've managed to keep Walleye Warriors: The Chippewa Treaty Rights Story in print (Beech River Books, New Hampshire) these 18 years after first publication. In the last year or so, I had two speaking engagements (not quite book parties) on this, in the wake of the PBS series, "We Shall Remain."

Second, the part I adore:
I continue to teach, but you could say I found my editing job. I work with students, grades 1st-8th, helping them on most days with their writing. At the 7th-8th grade level, I get to revise lines such as, "Maria Montessori first taught mentally restarted people," and "seep in mined" for "keep in mind." I left until the very last edit: "Health insurance companies exile people with pre-existing conditions."

At the lower elementary level, I asked a second grade girl what she wanted to write about for her December writing prompt - the season of winter, the holidays coming up, or Xmas presents she wanted.

She said, "I want to write about giraffes."

"OK," I replied. "What would be a good topic sentence for your writing about giraffes?"

"Giraffes dig in they nose with they tongue."

"That's a very interesting opening line," says I. "We call that a hook."

Judith Zukerman's poem "Mary Cassatt" was accepted for pub lication in the 2011 issue of Alehouse. Alehouse received more than one thousand poems through their 2010 Happy Hour Poetry Awards Contest.

5. OTHER PLACES, OTHER FACES
Link to organizations of interest to writers.

Alverno Telesis
A variety of writing classes including The Great Lakes Writers Workshop
telesis.alverno.edu

Arts Wisconsin
Arts Advocacy group
artswisconsin.org

Avol's Bookstore
Independent used bookstore. Active supporter of WI poets.
315 W. Gorham, Madison 608-255-4730
avolsbookstore.com

Bay View Arts Guild
Integrates art into lives of those in Bay View and beyond
bayviewarts.org

Books & Company
Independent book store in Oconomowoc, WI
booksco.com

Boswell Book Shop
Independent book store (formerly Schwartz Books)
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
boswellbooks.com

Council for Wisconsin Writers
Annual contests for published work of Wisconsin Writers
Contest for work published in 2010 closes Jan 31, 2011
wisconsinwriters.org

The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI (Door County)
Folk school in a natural setting in Door County
theclearing.org

Fox Cities Book Festival
foxcitiesbookfestival.org

Green Lake Christian Writers Conference, Green Lake WI
Jan White, Co-Director and Registrar, 920-294-7327 or 920-229-2418

Interlochen College of Creative Arts, Interlochen, MI
Screenwriting, Poetry, Prose & Paint, Retreats
interlochen.org

Little Read Book Inc
Independent book store, Wauwatosa
littlereadbook.com

Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN)
Network for artists. Sponsors MARNstages, a contest and reading opportunity for playwrights
marnonline.com

Milwaukee Public Library
Email newsletter alerts you to great selection of current readings and events.
mpl.org.

Next Chapter Book Shop
Independent bookstore in Mequon. (formerly Schwartz Books)
nextchapterbookshop.com/

Raconteurs Writers Group
Meets quarterly in RM G150 (lower level) Mayfair Mall, Wauwatosa.
President Marilyn Auer, 414-257-0376, marilynauer@juno.com.

Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts
Mineral Point, WI
shakeragalley.com

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, Wisconsin SCBWI-WI
Professional organization for writers and illustrators
scbwi-wi.com/

Soulstice Theatre
The Marian Center, Bay View
soulsticetheatre.org

Still Waters Collective
Resource network for language artists and enthusiasts
stillwaterscollective.com

The Marian Center, Bay View
Home of The Redbirds and dozens of dedicated nonprofits
mariancenter.net

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, School of Continuing Ed
Spring Writers Festival, March 4-6, 2011
http://www4.uwm.edu/SCE/conference.cfm?id=561
Anne O'Meara, Program Director, aomeara@uwm.edu or 414-227-3311.

University of Wisconsin, Madison, Div. of Continuing Studies
Write by the Lake Writers' Institute
Rhinelander School of the Arts summer program
Phone 608-262-7942,
dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/writing

Waupaca Community Arts Center
200 North Main Street, Waupaca
waupacaarts.org

Waukesha Writer's Workshop
Sponsors Bo Carter Memorial Contest
donaldschambow@aol.com

Web Design by David
Custom sites for writers, artists and small businesses
redbirdstudio.com/yourwebsite

Windhover Center for the Arts
Fond du Lac, WI
windhovercenter.org

Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters
Publishes Wisconsin People & Ideas
Sponsors Short Story and Poetry Contests
wisconsinacademy.org

Wisconsin Book Festival
Book Festival in Madison and other locations
wisconsinbookfestival.org

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP)
Statewide network for poets. Contests and information.
Publishes Museletter and annual Poet's Calendar
wfop.org

Wisconsin Regional Writers Association (WRWA)
Contests, conferences, writers' groups, excellent newsletter
Spring Conference, May 6-7, Fond du Lac, WI
Fall Conference, Sept 23-25, Stevens Point, WI
wrwa.net/

Wisconsin Romance Writers
www.WisRWA.org

Woodland Pattern Book Center, Milwaukee
Outstanding poetry resource, plus readings and workshops
17th Annual Poetry Marathon and Benefit Saturday, January 29, 2011
woodlandpattern.org

Working Writers
Association of full time professional independent writers based in S.E. WI.
workingwriters.org

Writer's Ink, Cudahy
Writers' group welcomes all levels, all styles, all genres.
Meets first and third Mondays, 7pm, in the lower-level meeting room of Chase Bank in Cudahy.
Contact Gail Torpe: gtoe@aol.com or 414-744-9664