By Peggy Sturdivant
Tonight is The 4th Annual Writer Next Door. The free event includes readings, a panel discussion on paths to writing/publishing success, book-themed raffle baskets and a first ever Three Books for $15 Pass (participating authors). Doors open at Sunset Hill Community Association at 6 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m.
And what a program. Just since the flyers were printed last week three of the participants have had major breakthroughs. Award-winning children’s book author/illustrator Nina Laden’s forthcoming Once Upon A Memory (December 3rd) has been selected for the Winter 2013-2014 Kids’ Indie Next List: Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers. She was also at Nordstrom last week with the plush toy Owl from her best-selling Peek-a-Who book.
Meanwhile Theo Pauline Nestor, who will be part of the “Ask the Writer” panel was able to announce a January workshop with Bird by Bird author Anne Lamott. When all 30 participating writers replied to what book they would most likely recommend to a potential writer over half cited Bird by Bird. This is in addition to the release next week of the memoir writer and teacher’s new book, Writing is My Drink. Secret Garden has managed to secure copies to be available for sale on Friday.
Then there’s local writer Ingrid Ricks whose successful path from self-published to mainstream was chronicled in Publisher’s Weekly. On October 30th she learned that her memoir Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Memoir (January 7 launch) got a very favourable review in Kirkus Reviews. In book speak that’s huge. She has donated an original edition copy of Hippie Boy to the raffle baskets in addition to participating in the three-book with copies of her book Focus.
All of the participants have provided information about their paths to writing. Attendees can submit questions during the panel discussion to any and all writers.
Also participating is local artist Courtney Putnam with Rising Bird Art Store’s Sale for Breast Cancer (40% of sales of over $20 go to Breast Cancer Research Foundation and to support Ballard Writer Corbin Lewars during her breast cancer treatment).
Books in addition to those donated by the writers for the sampler will be available through Secret Garden Books, along with this year’s Ballard Historical Society calendar “Ballard Beauties,” the Voices of Ballard book and literary/seasonal note cards by Ballard writer and artist Laura Cooper.
Ballard Writers Collective has over 100 members with the goal of connecting writers with writers, and writers with the community. It should be a great event and a possible love match between Laden’s Peek-a-Who owl and Jay Craig’s Huggy Jesus.
