REDBIRD NEWS -- MARCH 2004

 

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. EVENTS, In date order

2. KIDS CAMPS

3. NEWS ABOUT REDBIRD WRITERS

4. AWAY DATES

5. HOW TO: help/contact/report

 

 

 

1. EVENTS - In date order. Call or see web site for updates and more info.

 

March-April

WRITING FINE FICTION, Shauna Singh Baldwin and Elaine Bergstrom, Sat. March 12 (filled)

SHUT UP AND WRITE! #2, Judy Bridges, starts Mon. March 14 (filled)

FIELD TRIP TO VPW One Act Play Festival to see Jenny Najoom's play, Sat., Mar 19 (info below)

WEB WORDS, Anne Landre, Sat., April 9. (space available)

 

May-June

BIKE WRITE, South Lake trail to Grant Park, Date TBA.

SHUT UP AND WRITE! #3,  starts May 9 (space available)

 

July-August

SHUT UP AND WRITE! #4,  starts July 12 (space available)

 

NEWS: ROUNDTABLE GROUPS, New policy. If you would like to join a roundtable group, put your name on the waiting list as soon as you are sure you'd like to attend. Spaces are offered in the following order: 1) current participants, 2) long term Redbird Writers, 3) graduates of Shut Up and Write!, 4) other writers.

 

 

 

2. KIDS CAMPS -- YOUNG AUTHORS, Grades 2-12

 

FOR KIDS WHO LIKE TO WRITE

        

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

 

Registration forms on web site

 

ENCOURAGE YOUNG WRITERS! -- TELL TEACHERS AND PARENTS

Ask for flyers to distribute, or tell us where to mail them.

Add to the scholarship fund.  Our scholarship fund is small and informal. When we receive contributions, we use them to help deserving young writers who have been recommended by teachers. We try to help at least one or two kids per class, and do so quietly.

 

A GOOD STORY

         Last year, a young writer needed help to come to camp. Her mom was newly divorced and didn't have a job; things were tight with a capital T. Because a friend had contributed $100 "to help a deserving young writer," we were able to offer a partial scholarship. The girl had a fine time at camp and learned a lot. She kept in touch throughout the year, so I knew she was writing and her mom had gotten a job. I wasn't surprised to see her registration for this summer; but I was surprised to see two checks in the envelope. One was for registration, paid in full; the other was "to help another young writer."

         That was good enough. It got better when the woman who sponsored the girl told me her story. Her mother died when she was quite young and the family was not able to send her to a school she wanted to attend. Two neighborhood "spinsters" stepped in and sponsored her. That was a book and many stories ago.          One of her stories found its way into my life after my mother died. When I sorted through her collections the way most daughters do, I found an article written by this friend. My mother didn't know I knew her -- in fact I didn't at the time it was published -- but the writing had been powerful enough to touch my mother in a way that made her save the pages.

         There's no end to this story. I hope. (jb)

 

 

 

3. 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.

 

Shauna Singh Baldwin traveled to New Delhi, India where Canadian High Commissioner to India Mrs Lucy Edwards and Penguin India released a subcontinent edition of her latest novel The Tiger Claw.  She also participated in a public discussion event "Words of Women," in conversation with French scholar Maud Girard-Geslan.  She will be teaching a fiction seminar at Redbird on March 12, and speaking at Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union on March 14.  She will be the opening speaker for UW-Milwaukee's Spring Writer's festival on April 15th.

 

Barbara Bergen's book, "Inspirations At Daybreak," is out. She has also had 33 articles and poems published in Unity Magazine. A CD of over 16,000 quotes of the founders of Unity is almost ready. She'll add that to the six books of quotes she created. (She is likely getting a special kick out of these successes since yours truly once suggested she quit with the quotes and write more of her own.)

 

Christi Clancy's story "The Comfort of Foam" was accepted for publication in Glimmer Train!  Bravo!

 

Kirk Farber's band, Spill, just released its first full-length CD called "Breakup Songs for Beginners." They got a nice review in Vital Source magazine, as well as press in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, MKE online and the Shepherd Express. Kirk sings one of the songs, to which he also wrote the lyrics and melodies. 

 

Margo Frey might be able to answer your career questions in her column in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel business section.

 

Bill Gagliani is featured in the Author Spotlight of Wicked Karnival #3. This issue includes Bill's short story "Lead Me Into Temptation" (published in SHADOWPLAYS and an Honorable Mention in The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror, 14th edition), as well as his article "Horror As Literary Element." 

 

Eric Hansen writes regularly for publications such as Backpacker Magazine and Wisconsin Trails. His guide to Hiking Wisconsin (Falcon Press) is likely to be missing from the studio Show Off shelf this summer.

 

Kira Henschel is teaching a "Build-A-Book" seminar at The Write Place, 3809 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, Sat., March 26. (608-442-0212)

 

Chris Krajniak and Phil Belair, artists who rent a studio at Redbird, will be showing at The Art Gallery (formerly Studio San Damiano, a the south end of the Marian Center) from March 19 thru April 10. Opening reception with the artists: 4-8 pm, Sat., March 19th. 262-770-1921.

 

Felicity Librie received responses from two agents who want to see more pages of her novel.

 

Barbara Malcolm is celebrating the publication of her essay, "The Martian Death Cold" on the Penwomanship website. (www.penwomanship.com)

 

Jenny Najoom's comedy, "The Turn of the Shoe" was selected for production in the Village Playwrights Original One Act Play Festival, March 11, 12, 18, 19. 8pm at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center, 198th and Capital Drive in Brookfield. Purchase tickets through the Wilson Center: 262-781-9520. Redbird writers meet there for the March 19th performance.

 

Elizabeth Ridley's story, "Maternity Mecca" appeared in Defenestration's February online issue. Her story, "Tasmanian Tango" will appear in Penwomanship's May print issue.

 

Colleen Rogan's byline appears monthly in Milwaukee Magazine's "Savvy City."

 

John Rondy writes regularly for the Shephard Express. Recent titles include: "Getting Down with Dean," and ""Divided We Fall: Have Milwaukee's race relations improved since the 1960s?"

 

Jean Scherwenka is writing regularly for Riverwest Currents. Her article about the Urban Ecology Center appeared in the February issue.

 

David Thome writes articles for the Auto Dealers Assn. of Mega-Milwaukee which appear in the Journal Sentinel Transportation section on weekends. His Gadgets & Gizmos column runs nearly every week.

 

Judy Weiss had a second poem -- Source of Joy -- published in Milwaukee Yoga Magazine.

 

Judith Zukerman is doing readings at literary venues around the state. Her new book of poetry is titled "Amsterdam Days."

 

 

 

4. AWAY DATES (JB at other locations)

 

FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE, NEENAH

THE POWER OF THE PEN: A DAY FOR WRITERS

Judy Bridges, Ellen Kort, Joanne Flemming, Wayne Mutza

Saturday, April 16, 9am-4pm

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

www.fvtc.edu

 

GREAT LAKES WRITERS WORKSHOP, ALVERNO COLLEGE

SPECIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM

Friday-Saturday, June 24, 25

Alverno College Telesis Institute

414-382-6218

 

THE CLEARING, DOOR COUNTY

WRITERS' WELLSPRING, (A writers retreat led by Judy)

Sun to Sat., Sept 11-16

920-854-4088

www.theclearing.org

 

 

 

5. 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

 

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.