REDBIRD STUDIO -- A WRITERS' PLACE

An insider's update on Redbird people and plans.

For more information, check our website: www.redbirdstudio.com

or contact Judy Bridges, 414-481-3195, jb@redbirdstudio.com

REDBIRD STUDIO -- A WRITER'S PLACE

July, 2009

1. THE BIRD'S NEST

2. WHAT'S UP AT REDBIRD

3. NEWS OF REDBIRD WRITERS AND FRIENDS

4. OTHER PLACES/FACES

5. HOW TO HELP, ETC.

1. THE BIRD'S NEST Judy Bridges

The Last Load Down

Late in the evening of June 30th, David and I carried the last two boxes down the stairs from #429 to my new digs in #212. I suppose we should have had some sort of ceremony -- a salute, at least -- but we were too tired to think of it. We left the room furnished with tables, chairs and books, and peeled the "Redbird Studio" and "Fragrance Free" signs off the door. Kim Suhr will hang new signs for RedBird-RedOak and the wonderful writing workshops will go on. I'm happy for that.

This week, I'll hang a new Redbird Studio sign on #212. The room is a slice of 60s-retro that's perfect for writing and private consults. When I'm not off teaching a workshop or writing at Aunt Claire's, I'll be there, staring out the window at one of the prettiest craft houses in Milwaukee and, from a certain angle, a tiny sliver of Lake Michigan. It's a change to have the nest in the low branches. Reminds me of what Gypsy Rose Lee said when she was interviewed on a late night television show. "Honey, I've got the same thing now I had twenty years ago. It's just a little lower is all."

Where the Bird Flies

My summer and fall migrations include:

-- "Writing From The Inside" at The Clearing in Door County, Friday, July 17th. http://theclearing.org/ws_description09.php?id=4

-- "Writing Women's Stories" at Fox Valley Technical College in Neenah, Saturday, August 1st. (920) 720-6820

www.fvtc.edu/neenah

-- "Shut Up & Write!" at RedBird-RedOak in Milwaukee, August 13-14-15. www.redbirdstudio.com 414-481-3195 (filling fast)

-- "Women's Writing Retreat" at The Clearing in Door County, Sept. 13-19 http://theclearing.org/description09.php?id=58 (waiting list)

-- "Shut Up & Write!" at RedBird-RedOak in Milwaukee, October 8-9-10 www.redbirdstudio.com 414-481-3195

And then, a whole lot of flying around as we get ready for the release of Shut Up & Write! targeted for early 2010.

Newsletters

I will continue sending news about Redbird Studio writers and friends. Kim will send a RedBird-RedOak newsletter as well. We will be sharing the email list, so you will be able to see what's up with fellow writers and have your news announced as you send it to us. If we overlap a bit, all the better.

Studio Space Available

Imagine, a quiet space all your own... Call me.

New Numbers:

Judy Bridges, Redbird Studio, for SU&W registration, private consults and studio rental:

3195 S. Superior St. #212, Milwaukee WI 53207, 414-481-3195, jb@redbirdstudio.com, www.redbirdstudio.com

Kim Suhr, RedBird-RedOak, for young writer programs and adult workshops other than Shut Up & Write!

3195 S. Superior St. #429, Milwaukee WI 53207, 262-901-5171, kim@redbirdredoak.com, www.redbirdredoak.com

2. WHAT'S UP AT REDBIRD

SUMMER 2009

SHUT UP & WRITE! with Judy Bridges

New 3-day session of the nationally known seminar.

Develop your talent for writing fiction and nonfiction. All levels welcome.

Thursday and Friday evenings, August 13 & 14, 6:30-9pm, plus Saturday, August 15th, 9:30-3pm $345

Note: This is a Redbird Studio class that will meet in the RedBird-RedOak classroom.

Registration info on the website, www.redbirdstudio.com or 414-481-3195

"I learned more in this class in one night than I have in all of my other classes put together." MM

ROUNDTABLE CRITIQUE GROUPS FOR ADULTS

with Laurel Landis

2 Wed evenings, July 15 & Aug 19, 6:30-9 $45

with Robert Vaughan

2 Thur evenings, July 16 & Aug 20, 6:30-9 $45

Registration info on the website, www.redbirdredoak.com or 262-901-5171

SUMMER DAY CAMPS FOR YOUNG WRITERS

Mon - Fri, 9am-2:30pm $325

Grades 4-6, July 13-17, Sharon Lynne Wilson Ctr, Brookfield

Grades 4-6, July 27-31, Redbird Studio, Bay View

Grades 7-8, July 27-31, Redbird Studio, Bay View

Grades 7-12, July 20-24, Ten Chimneys, Genesee Depot

Grades 9-12, Aug 3-7, Redbird Studio, Bay View

Registration info on the website: www.redbirdredoak.com or 262-901-5171

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 did not appear, please forgive and send it again. Web sites are listed but not necessarily linked.

A Sad Loss.

Our dear friend Kelly Vetter passed away Friday, May 22, 2009. Kelly was dealing with Hepatitis C for all the years we knew him. He was a long-time member of the Wednesday evening Inkslingers group, a short story writer and a strong supporter of his writing friends. We join the many friends and family members who will miss him.

Coming Home.

Mark Hummel is moving back to the Lower 48 -- to Duluth, not Milwaukee, but at least it's nearer. And Felicity Librie is returning from two years in London. Now, if we could just entice Jane Wood, Larry Small and a few dozen other roving friends that a couple feet of snow ain't all that bad...

"It's My Party!" -- The 16th Anniversary Showcase Celebration

More than 100 people joined the celebration on April 30th. They applauded readings by Judy Bridges, Kim Suhr, Robert Vaughan, Jeannee Sacken, Laurel Landis, Tom Biel, Marjorie Pagel, Carol Wobig, Dave Howard, Jeri Smith and Mike O'Keefe. Authors Roi Solberg, Stephen Boehrer, Cari Taylor Carlson and Judith Zukerman were available to chat and sign books. You can look for familiar faces on the video at: http://www.redbirdstudio.com/showcase_2009.html

A. Manette Ansay is reading and signing her new book, Good Things I Wish You, at First Chapter Books in Mequon, Friday, July 17, 7pm.

Shauna Singh Baldwin: Rupa Publications will publish an Indian edition of We Are Not in Pakistan this month, followed by English Lessons and Other Stories in September. "Nothing Must Spoil This Visit," a short story from English Lessons, was included in Passages: 24 Modern Indian Stories (Signet Classics) (Paperback).

Steve Boehrer has been out signing copies of his new novel, The Purple Culture, at Barnes and Noble in Brookfield Square and other locations. The book was published by Oceanview Publishing, Ipswich, MA.

Marge Fenelon received the first shipment of her book, When's God Gonna Show Up? Daily Discoveries of the Divine.

Sister Josephe Flynn is receiving encouraging responses as she and her agent work their way through the submission process for Save Regina:Struggling for Asylum in America.

Amy L. Jenkins book, Every Natural Fact: Five Season's of Open-Air Parenting, will be out next June. The publisher is a nonprofit independent from Minnesota: Holy Cow! Press. Amy says, "They were the first to publish Natalie Goldberg. So, I'm in good company."

Olena Jennings announced the official launch of C & O Editing and Translation Services. She and her business partner offer private, in-depth editing and proofreading services as well as English translation from Russian and Ukrainian. They specialize in literary fiction and academic writing, but also include genre and business writing. (http://www.candoediting.com/)

Stacey Kannenberg and TMJ4's Susan Kim delivered the keynote for Waukesha's Healthy Families. Stacey's Let's Get Ready For Kindergarten and Let's Get Ready For First Grade books have been featured on over 700 mom blogs and have sold over 60,000 copies.

Ellen Kozak was invited to read another of her essays on WUWM Lake Effect. http://www.wuwm.com/programs/lake_effect/view_le.php?articleid=733

Thea Kovac is presenting a series of art classes at the Garden Room, 2107 E. Capitol Drive, Shorewood. theakovac@sbcglobal.net

Nancy Krase and the Telesis team at Alverno College sponsored the 24th Annual Great Lakes Writers Workshop on Saturday, June 27th. Presenters included E. Rashun Williams, Jo McReynolds Blochowiak, Shannon Jackson Arnold, Eva Augustin Rumpf, Carol LaChappelle, Nancy Goodman Driver, John Leaf, Gail Konop Baker and Kira Henschel

Carol LaChappelle's new book, Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Stories (Marion Street Press, 2008) is available at booksellers everywhere and on Amazon.com. To receive her monthly e-Letter, which includes information about book events, writing workshops, and other news -- especially in the Chicago area -- see: http://www.carollachapelle.com/

Patricia Lorenz just finished writing her 13th book, Learning to Love Your Struggles. While she's marketing that one, she's working on Number 14.

Jill Morin was acknowledged along with the other principals of Kahler-Slater when the company was named one of the 25 Best Small Companies to Work for in America. This is the sixth year in a row that Kahler-Slater received this honor from the Society or Human Resource Management.

Laurel P., who attended Redbird/RedOak Summer Camp throughout her high school years, will be serving as a teaching assistant in the RedOak summer writing camps. In fall, Laurel will be leaving to study Creative Writing and psychology at Purdue University.

Anna Passante will be at Italian Fest this year (July 16-19, 2009) selling her new book, Anarchy in Bay View's Little Italy, September 9, 1917, and the Shocking Aftermath. She will be in the Regional Exhibit tent.

Kay Plizka has a couple of new contracts with Chicken Soup. One of them is for a book about dysfunctional families. "The Challenge," was written in one of our workshops and will be published in All In The Family. She writes that she, "Just couldn't help but remember with fondness the fun times we had in that group and how much everyone (but especially you) helped me with my writing. Thank you again and again!"

Mara Ptacek's poetry is included in Treaded Metaphors, a third collaboration of local poets and fiber artists at the Charles Allis Museum. The poets are: Carolyn Muchhala, Helen Padway, Mara Ptacek, Margaret Rozga, Carolyn Vargo and Phyllis Wax. The fiber artists are: Mary Ellen Heus, Elizabeth Lewis, Peggy Magill, Connie Tresch, Judy Zoelzer Levine and Pat Zalewski. The show will run until July 26, 2009.

Chris Roerden, of Greensboro, NC, won the 2009 Benjamin Franklin Award for Literary Criticism for Don't Sabatoge Your Submission: Insider Information from a Career Editor to Save Your Manuscript From Turning Up D.O.A. The book also took a bronze medal from ForeWord Magazine, a trade magazine for the publishing industry, for Writing Book of the Year.

Walter Rattan's book, Notes from an Impertinent Observer, includes poems by Walter and illustrations by his wife, Joanne Rattan.

Eva Rumpf's memoir, Reclamation: Memories from a New Orleans Girlhood, is available from Booklocker.com

Roi Solberg is doing readings based on Spirit of Archetypes: Cards for Spiritual Guidance, on the second Wednesday of each month through October. The readings take place at Solcare, 305 W. Silver Spring Dr, Glendale, WI. roisolberg@sbcglobal.net

Marilyn Taylor, Poet Laureate for the State of Wisconsin, has appearances throughout the state this summer and fall. See her calendar of events at www.mlt-poet.com

Maryclaire Torinius' story, "Earth-Laden Idol," is being published in We' Moon 2010: Reinvent the Wheel, through Mother Tongue Ink, Oregon. The publication is thirty years old and is a calendar/datebook that is sold locally at Barnes and Noble and Beans and Barley.

Carol Wobig did it again. Her flash fiction story "The Visit" was accepted for publication in the Grey Sparrow Journal.

Jason Waltz has a new novel. Rage of the Behemoth is the second in the Rogue Blades Presents line of premium anthologies of heroic adventure fantasy. http://www.roguebladesentertainment.com/products/rb-presents/rb-presents-anthologies/rage-of-the-behemoth/

4. OTHER PLACES, OTHER FACES

Alverno Telesis

A variety of writing classes including The Great Lakes Writers Workshop

http://telesis.alverno.edu

A Broader Vocabulary Cooperative

New Feminist Bookstore organizing in Bay View

abroadervocabulary.blogspot.com

Avol's Bookstore

Independent used bookstore carries academic, scholarly, and general used books, and promotes the local poetry scene.

315 W. Gorham, Madison 608-255-4730

www.avolsbookstore.com

Boswell Books (formerly Schwartz on Downer)

http://boswellbooks.com/

Cool Plums

Interactive webzine for writers (John Lehman)

www.CoolPlums.com

Council for Wisconsin Writers

Recognizing Literary Excellence Since 1964

Sponsors annual contests for Wisconsin Writers

http://www.wisconsinwriters.org/contests.htm

The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI (Door County)

"Writing from the Inside" July 17 and "Women's' Writing Retreat" September 13-19.

www.theclearing.org

Fox Cities Book Festival

3rd Annual Fox Cities Book Festival, April 14 to 18, 2010

http://www.focol.org/bookfest/index.asp

Fox Valley Technical College

Variety of writing programs including:

"Women Writing About Their Lives" with Judy Bridges, Sat, Aug 1st, 9:30-2:30

www.fvtc.edu/neenah

Green Lake Christian Writers' Conference, Green Lake WI

2009 Conference dates: August 23-28

Marshall Cook John Lehman, Patti Lacy, Elsie Mae Cofer, Mary Pierce, Cassandra Williams, Rebecca Irwin-Diehl, Carol Pierskalla, Cindi Umstadt, Sheila Hansen, Beth Ziarnik.

Contact janwhite@glcc.org; 920-294-7327; visit www.glcc.org.

Interlochen College of Creative Arts, Interlochen, MI

Screenwriting, Poetry, Prose & Paint, Retreats

Kristin Celeste Hills, www.interlochenorg/college

Milwaukee Book Festival

Celebrates literary arts of all genres with readings, workshops, talks and panels

Watch for news of Fall 2009 events.

aomeara@uwm.edu

Milwaukee Public Library

Email newsletter alerts you to great selection of current readings and events.

www.mpl.org.

Next Chapter Book Shop (formerly Schwartz, in Mequon)

http://www.nextchapterbookshop.com/

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, Wisconsin SCBWI-WI

Excellent professional organization for writers and illustrators

Workshops, networking, resources.

http://www.scbwi-wi.com/

Soulstice Theatre

Intimate theater in The Marian Center, Bay View

http://www.soulsticetheatre.org/

Still Waters Collective

High energy creative writing and spoken word programs

www.stillwaterscollective.com

The Inspired Writer

Creativity coaching and workshops

www.theinspiredwriter.org

The Marian Center, Bay View

Home of Redbird Studio and dozens of dedicated nonprofits

See Activities List: http://www.mariancenter.net

TYMEOUT Youth Center

Summer Creative Writing Camp for Middle School Students, June 21-26

Ben Brzeski, www.tymeout.org 262-966-1800

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, School of Continuing Ed

Spring Writers Festival

http://www4.uwm.edu/SCE/course.cfm?id=13682

University of Wisconsin, Madison, Div. of Continuing Studies

Writing classes include Write by the Lake Writers' Institute and Rhinelander School of the Arts summer program

Phone 608-262-7942, www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/writing

Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters

Publishes Wisconsin People & Ideas

Sponsors Short Story and Poetry Contests

www.wisconsinacademy.org

Wisconsin Book Festival

Book Festival in Madison and other locations each October

2009 dates: October 7th through 11th. The theme for the 2009 Festival is "COURAGE"

http://www.wisconsinbookfestival.com/

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP)

Statewide network for poets. Contests and information.

Publishes Muse Letter and annual Poet's Calendar

www.wfop.org

Wisconsin Regional Writers Association (WRWA)

Contests, conferences, writers' groups, excellent newsletter

www.wrwa.net

Note: Dave Rank of WRWA says the group would welcome names of writers interested in serving on the board and/or committees for the organization. Contact davejrank@ameritech.net or 262-334-8790

Woodland Pattern Book Center, Milwaukee

Outstanding poetry resource, plus readings and workshops

www.woodlandpattern.org

Working Writers

Association of full time professional independent writers based in S.E. WI.

Members serve business clients, non-profit organizations, publishers and authors.

www.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. Dues $3 per year.

Contact Gail Torpe: gtoe@aol.com or 414-744-9664

http://www.writersinc.writernetwork.com/index.html