REDBIRD NEWS - FEBRUARY, 2005

 

An insider's update on Redbird people and plans.

For more info contact Judy Bridges, 414-481-3195,  jb@redbirdstudio.com

or see our web site: www.redbirdstudio.com

 

 

1. IT'S YOUR LIFE!

2. GOT AN AXE TO GRIND?

3. AT REDBIRD (The Schedule)

4. OTHER PLACES

5. NEWS ABOUT REDBIRD WRITERS

6. DETERMINED WRITERS

7. GIFT IDEAS

8. HOW TO: help/contact/report

 

 

 

1.  IT'S "YOUR LIFE"

Well, what are you waiting for? Isn't it time you did some writing about your life? You can write a book if you want to, or start small with a story, an essay, a tribute or gift for someone special. Judy Bridges will show samples of "life" writing projects others have completed and help you get started (or make progress ) on your own. Beginners and pros welcome. Call now to register for a fun day at Redbird, Saturday, Feb 5, 9:30-2:30. $95. (Bring your lunch. Coffee, tea and water available.)

 

 

 

2.  GOT AN AXE TO GRIND?

(Who doesn't?) No matter which side of the fence you're on, you likely have a thing or two you'd like to say.  Get help putting your words together from our favorite essay coach, Kurt Chandler, a senior editor of Milwaukee Magazine, is back by popular demand to help you shape your idea into an impassioned and authoritative piece of writing. Call now to register for Essays: Writing With a Point of View, Saturday, Feb. 26, 9:30-2:30, $95. (Bring your lunch. Coffee, tea and water available.)

 

 

 

3.  AT REDBIRD (call 414-481-3195 or see www.redbirdstudio.com for details and registration forms)

 

Shut Up and Write!

         Our primo writing course, Judy Bridges, 5 or 6 meetings in session, $295         Sess. #2, 6 Mondays, 6:30-9 pm, Mar 14, 21, 28, Apr 4, 11, 18

         Sess. #3, 6 Mondays, 6:30-9pm, May 9, 16, 23, June 6, 13, 20

         Summer Special, 5 Tuesdays, 6-9pm, July 12, 19, 26, Aug 2, 9

 

Your Life: People, Places and Memories     

         with Judy Bridges

         Sat., Feb 5, 9:30-2:30, $95

 

Essays: Writing with a Point of View

         with Kurt Chandler

         Sat., Feb 26, 9:30-2:30, $95

 

Writing Fine Fiction

         Shauna Singh Baldwin and Elaine Bergstrom

         Sat., Mar 12, 9:30-2:30, $145 (incl.lunch)

 

Web Words

         Anne Landre

         Sat., Apr 9, 9:30-2:30, $95

        

Young Author Summer Camps

         For kids who like to write

         Small groups, expert writing teachers

         Full weeks, M-F, 9:00-2:30, $295

         Grades 2-3        July 11-15

         Grades 4-6        July 18-22 and July 25-29

         Grades 7-8        Aug 1-5

         Grades 9-12      Aug 8-12

 

Roundtable Critique Groups

         4 meetings in Session (2 meetings per month) - $65 ("visitors"  fee $20)

         Tuesday afternoons 12-2:30

         Sess. #2:  Mar 1, 15, Apr 5, 19

         Sess. #3:  May 3, 17, Jun 7, 21

         Wednesday evenings 6:30-9:00

         Sess. #2:  Mar 9, 23, Apr 13, 27

         Sess. #3:  May 11, 25, Jun 15, 29

 

Private Consultations

         To help writers

 

Studio Space

         Sublet to writers and artists

 

 

 

4. OTHER PLACES (Workshops by Judy and other Redbird Writers)

 

         THE POWER OF THE PEN: A DAY FOR WRITERS

         Saturday, April 16, 9am-4pm

         Fox Valley Technical College, Neenah

         920-720-6800, or toll free 1-877-515-5151

         www.fvtc.edu

 

         GREAT LAKES WRITERS WORKSHOP -- 20th Anniversary!

         Friday-Saturday, June 24, 25

         Alverno College Telesis Institute

         414-382-6218

 

         THE CLEARING

         Many excellent writing workshops, including Judy Bridges writing retreat, Sept 11-16

         Ellison Bay, Door County

         920-854-4088

         www.theclearing.org

          

 

 

5. NEWS ABOUT REDBIRD WRITERS AND FRIENDS

Note: "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 does not appear, please forgive and send it again.

 

A SAD LOSS

Jim Auer, the Journal Sentinel's art critic -- a fine writer and friend of many writers -- passed away in his sleep the Saturday before Christmas. A memorial was made to the Young Authors Scholarship Fund in his name.

 

GOOD NEWS

Kris Babe will facilitate a "Writers Conference Confidential" at Martha Merrell's Books and Cafe, Waukesha, Feb. 5th, 3pm. Info: 262-547-1060.

 

Sally Blommer is back on wheels again, (bike wheels, that is,) emailing writings as she continues her exploration of New Zealand.

 

Judy Bridges' essay "Bay View Cool" appeared in the December issue of Bay View Compass.

 

Richard Carter's new book, "Through The Cabin Door," was accepted by Guest Cottage Press. It will be published in early 2006.

 

Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg were on WTMJ-4 with Jessie Garcia, January 5th, featuring their popular workbook, "Let's Get Read For Kindergarten!" Several corporations have purchased quantities of the book as gifts for schools that wanted them.

 

Cynthia Gallaher is writing drama and musical theater. Scott Foresman is publishing two of her "readers' theater" plays for children in 2007 textbooks, and her children's musical "Xavier and the White Cat" is nearly finished. She wrote book and lyrics, and music teacher Barbara Blum is the composer.

 

Amy Jenkins' essay "LUST" will appear in the print literary magazine "Ink Pot." 

 

Eric Hansen's nominations for Wisconsin's Ten Natural Wonders appeared in Wisconsin Trails' May/June issue. He also received copy edits on his guidebook, "Hiking Michigan's Upper Peninsula," which is scheduled for release in June. It features Eric's picks for the U.P.'s 50 best hikes. (Eric says a memorable 900 miles of hiking went into the research.) His earlier book, "Hiking Wisconsin," is still doing well and generating speaking gigs.

 

Shannon Jackson Arnold facilitates a monthly discussion group for Writers at Martha Merrell's Books and Cafe in Waukesha. The next meeting is Saturday, feb. 5, 3-4pm.

 

Deb Karpek's story "A 4C Woman" is in the bookstores now, in the hit "Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul." (also see Kay Pliszka)

 

Katie Lance (Young Author/Teacher's Asst.) is writing papers in Graz, Austria, where she is continuing her studies in German and French. She will return this summer to help with the Young Author programs. 

 

John Lehman's "Cup of Poems" is going into its 3rd year; "Rosebud," its 12th.  He's also posting contests and other writer opportunities on websites: www. WisconsinPoet.com and www.WisconsinAuthor.com, and teaching "The Story Only You Can Tell" at Woodland Patterns on March 6.

 

Jenny Najoom's comedy, "The Turn of the Shoe" was selected for production in the Village Playwrights Original One Act Play Festival. Production dates are March 11, 12, 18, 19. 8pm at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center, 198th and Capital Drive in Brookfield. Ticket purchase through Wilson Center: 262-781-9520. And Yes, there will be a Redbird Writers field trip on one of those dates.

 

Kay Pliszka's poem "Silent Rage" is in "Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul," which Publishers Weekly

says is "one of the most important, arguably the most important, of all the Chicken Soup books."  (Also see Deb Karpek)

 

Walter Rattan's "Eddie:A Novel" was accepted for publication by The People's Press, Baltimore, Md.

 

Ariel Schlesinger (one of our Young Authors) has an editorial column each month in her school newspaper. Apparently readership is up as students and faculty alike look for her columns and poetry.

 

Sue Silvermarie was profiled in an article at onmilwaukee.com.

 

Rae Spencer reports from San Francisco that she has joined a group called WILD WRITING WOMEN. (Why didn't we think of that?)

 

Judy Steininger's article about Redbird, "Wind beneath their wings," was reprinted in the Milwaukee Post, January 1st.

 

 

 

6.  DETERMINED WRITERS

 

January 22, 2005. Shannon Jackson Arnold was scheduled to teach a workshop on "Marketing Your Book." It was snowing like mad. At 6 am the phones started ringing. Should we cancel? People were coming from Green Bay, Sheboygan, Waterford, Chicago. I'm juggling three phones, but I can't reach some of the writers.  "We're doing it," I finally decide. "Come if you can." By 10 am, eleven snowy writers were in the studio, ready to learn.

 

When the phones finally stopped ringing, one person said, "This is a credit to Redbird."

 

I said, "This is a credit to Shannon."

 

Shannon said, "This is a credit to the writers."

 

We were all right.

 

 

 

7.  GIFT IDEAS

 

May we suggest:

-- A gift to the Scholarship Fund in your name, or to honor your favorite writer.

-- A Redbird gift certificate for your favorite writer (for full or partial registration.)

-- Books by Redbird Writers and Friends. See the list on our website.

-- Books, period. First choice is to purchase from your local Independent bookstore.

-- If you are purchasing books from Amazon, you can help Redbird by ordering through our site.

-- "Redbird Writers" tee shirts for your writer-friends. Available in black. M, L and XL. $15.

 

 

 

8. HOW TO HELP/CONTACT/REPORT NEWS

 

TO HELP: Distribute flyers. Tell people about Redbird. Contribute to the Scholarship Fund.

TO CONTACT REDBIRD : See address, email, phone and web address below.

TO REPORT NEWS: Email or snail mail to Judy Bridges at Redbird.