October 2008

Greetings Friends,

This week I had to expand the bookends on my desk to accommodate a few more volumes and straighten the stacks of books on my bedside table to avert their toppling. It occurred to me that we humans, like all animals, sense the coming of winter. Some primal part of our brain still registers the shortening of days, the low angle of sunlight, and the cooler temperatures and still triggers a need to prepare for the short, slow, cold days of winter.

In addition to stocking up on winter squash, apples, and potatoes, I have unconsciously stocked up on winter reading. I am reading Archer Mayor’s mystery Bellows Falls aloud to my husband each night before bed, which will be followed by James Lee Burke’s Swan Peak. I have also started Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities, a reminder that financial hubris has long been with us. Among the other books that are so precariously balanced beside my bed are Isabel Allende’s The Infinite Plan, Ivan Doig’s Montana-based memoir This House of Sky, Landscapes of a Western Mind, and Dan Simmons’ Terror, which takes place on the HMS Terror, part of the 1845 Franklin Expedition in search of the legendary Northwest Passage. Reviewing my growing collection, I have begun to think winter may not be long enough. I hope your literary larder is similarly well supplied.

—Leanne Ryan Jewett, for the Inkberry Board

Inkberry News

Inkberry is crackling with energy these days. It must be this fall weather!

Programming

The October 11th Wordplay at Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, North Adams, will feature Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull who are recognized as leading authorities on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. They will be reading from their most recent book The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide. Open mic to follow.

The reading series will present Science Fiction/Fantasy Author Paul Park on October 16th, who will read from his newly released novel The Hidden World at Inkberry, at 7 pm, Western Gateway Heritage Park, 115 State Street, North Adams, Building 1. This event is FREE and open to the public.

The Write Stuff

Inkberry is again partnering with the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Center for Service and Citizenship and Conte Middle School to offer a writing enrichment program during Conte’s school day. This year student and community volunteers will act as writing mentors to Conte students under the guidance of Conte teacher Linda Neville and Inkberry Coordinator Sharon Wyrrick. Sarah Maust and Jennifer Millien are the MCLA Student Coordinators under the guidance of Spencer Moser, Coordinator of the MCLA Center for Service and Citizenship.

There is still time to volunteer. If you would like to participate in this program, which is focusing on Conte’s 7th grade students, contact Linda White at Inkberry (413) 664-0775.

Etc.

Welcome to our new intern, Ashley McLeod, who is already getting to know her way around the office, writing press releases, distributing flyers, and preparing to take on a mentor role in The Write Stuff.

You will see as you read this month’s Inkmail that we have decided to expand the Event Calendar to include regional literary events hosted by other organizations. We hope our calendar will help our members and readers to discover more of the many literary events offered by the libraries, schools, museums, and bookstores in the Berkshires.

Inkberry was invited to submit poems and haiku to the first ever Massachusetts Poetry Festival, a three-day festival of the poets, poetry and literary heritage of Massachusetts, in Lowell, Oct. 10, 11 and 12. You will find a website link for more information about this festival in the Event Calendar.

This year Inkberry is participating with a number of other non-profit organizations to create a Halloween event at Eastlawn Cemetery, on Route 2 in Williamstown. “Haunted Cemetery Tours” will be offered, taking visitors along the old road, through the historic grounds of Eastlawn Cemetery, where legends and mysteries will rise from the mist. No graves will be tread upon! The tour was created in collaboration between scenic designer Juliana von Haubrich, from the Milne Public Library; historian Annette Jenks, from the Williamstown House of Local History; local Halloween artist Amy Brassard, and writers, Leanne Jewett, Paula Orlando, and Deborah Benoit, from Inkberry. There are more details in the Event Calendar, which follows. Call for Submissions

Main Street Stage, of North Adams, is requesting scripts for its First Annual Short Play Festival, featuring original one-act plays. Submit your 15-30 minute plays by November 15th for a chance to see them performed in January. Email scripts to aulde272@strose.edu or mail them, along with a SASE, to: Short Play Festival, P.O. Box 137, North Adams MA 01247. Include your name, address, phone number, and email on all submissions. Multiple submissions are not only accepted, but encouraged. For questions or concerns, contact Eric K. Auld at (518) 610-2574.

Inkmail Calendar

Berkshire Literary Events in October and November

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 10, 11 and 12 in Lowell, MA The Massachusetts Poetry Festival is a three-day celebration of the poets, poetry, and literary heritage of a state whose contribution to American poetry is unsurpassed in the nation. For more information visit the festival website at: http://masspoetry.org.

Saturday, October 11, from 7—9 pm at Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, North Adams, FREE Inkberry and Papyri Books present WordPlay featuring Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull, recognized leading authorities on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. They will be reading from their most recent book The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide. Open mic to follow. For questions or additional information call (413) 664-0775, or visit the website at: www.inkberry.org.

Tuesday, October 14 at 6 pm at the North Adams Public Library, 74 Church Street, North Adams Book discussion featuring The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Copies of this book 3E8are available at the library. For questions or additional information call (413) 662-3133, or visit the website at: www.naplibrary.com.

Wednesday, October 15 at 7 pm at the Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street, Williamstown, MA What is Written is Written, from Stone to Stage Series, Lecture: “Preserving Thoughts From Clay to Click” with host Robert Campanile. For questions or additional information call (413) 458-5369, or visit the website at: www.milnelibrary.org.

Thursday, October 16 at 7 pm, at Inkberry, Western Gateway Heritage Park, 115 State Street, North Adams, Building 1. Free Science Fiction/Fantasy Author Paul Park will read from his newly released novel The Hidden World. For questions or additional information call (413) 664-0775, or visit the website at: www.inkberry.org.

Friday, October 17 at 7 pm at the Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street, Williamstown, MA What is Written is Written, from Stone to Stage Series, Theatre “Indelible Words Worth Preserving” dramatic readings of classical works with host Robert Campanile. For questions or additional information call (413) 458-5369, or visit the website at: www.milnelibrary.org.

On Friday, October 31, 7-9 pm, and Saturday, November 1, 6-9 pm, Eastlawn Cemetery, and its mortuary chapel on Route 2 in Williamstown, will be haunted with family fun and spooky frights. For more information about the event, call the Milne Public Library at 413-458-5369 or visit the library website at: www.milnelibrary.org.

Wednesday, November 5 at 7 pm at MCLA, Murdock Hall on Church Street, Room 218 Stephen Collins will perform as the great American bard, Walt Whitman. You can check out reviews of Collins performance at: www.unlaunchedvoices.com. The event is free and open to the public.

Saturday, November 8, from 7pm-9pm at Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, North Adams MA, Free Inkberry and Papyri Books present WordPlay featuring poet and humorist Seth Brown. For questions or additional information call (413) 664-0775, or visit the website at: www.inkberry.org.

Tuesday, November 11 (date, time and space TBA), at Williams College, Williamstown Uwem Akpan, Nigerian author of Say You’re One of Them, will speak. Information about the public event will soon be on the Williams College events page at: www.williams.edu/go/atwilliams.

Thursday, November 13, at 4:00 pm, Williams College, Griffin 3, Williamstown The Novel in the World Series lecture by Simon Gikandi from Princeton University. For additional information visit the Williams College website or contact the English Dept. at 413-597-2114 or pmalanga@williams.edu.