GLaaS Planning on Fun January 23rd

Please consider joining us for a New Year's Explosive Planning Brunch!  (Bring a dish to share.)

January 23rd

at Annette's house: 

1202 Adams St. NE

MPLS, MN

11:30 AM

We'll be discussing the next several months' events, and we'd like to have your thoughts to make this organization strong. Come to share your ideas or just to help vote on what to do next. Our organization is nothing without you. We need you, and we need to continue to work toward being a successful organization. Won't you help us do that?  (Also, the food is always awesome.)

If you'd like to contact us for more information, email our FaceBook page or our email address glsalumnibrd@hamline.edu.

Remember, without your help, the GLaaS is only ever half full or empty.  Or something.  :)  See you there!

Want to do a reading with another poet?

Poet Wendy Brown-Baez has a chapbook called transparencies of light forthcoming by Finishing Line Press, but they can't start the print run until she has advance sales. She thought up the idea of a poetry salon, like a jewelry party or Tupperware party but with poetry. She is happy to do this in tandem with another poet.

Her book is mainly persona poems of women telling their stories, and she would love to organize readings in the spring with a male poet, so the two voices would be a contrast or interweave with each other. She is happy to do everything she can to set up readings in cafes, bookstores, etc. (wherever it is free).

If interested, contact Wendy Brown-Baez at poetaluna@yahoo.com or call 612-437-3355.

www.finishinglinepress.com * www.wendybrownbaez.com

Winter Wassail: Possibly the coolest event ever December 12th

Meet at "The Magnolia"

2101 Randolph Ave

St. Paul, MN 

Sunday, December 12 

4:00-7:00 PM

Join us for the first-ever West Egg "Winter Wassail"--- a twist on the usual end-of-semester reading and social.

Originally derived from the Old Norse term ves heill meaning "be well" or "be in good health," wassailing is the tradition of wishing good fortune on one's neighbors by paying them a visit (Oloffson 1). By the 19th century, wassailing evolved into the singing of Christmas carols on the doorsteps of neighbors and friends, with the hope that a singer would receive a gift in return ("figgy pudding," anyone?).

To celebrate the end of the semester, we are going to do some wassailing of our own:

We will begin at The Magnolia (home of a couple of MFA students) then visit a handful of homes in the Mac-Groveland/Highland Park area in St. Paul. Instead of singing carols, will read 2-3 poems or prose excerpts from our own work. We hope that having a mobile reading like this will help us share literature in a new way and engage with a community beyond ourselves. (Walking in a winter wonderland could be pretty fun, too.)

The stops on our wassailing route will be established ahead of time. We will know some of the patrons we visit, but others will be neighbors who simply volunteered to have a bunch of writers stop by and share some meaningful work.  Be sure to dress appropriately for spending time outside.

As usual, all GLS students, alumnae/i, and friends of West Egg are welcome. Snacks and hot beverages will be provided, so please RSVP so we know how much/many goodies to prepare. When you RSVP, let us know if you plan to read.

Work Cited

Oloffson, Kristi. "Christmas Caroling." Time. Time Inc., 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1949049,00.html#ixzz14uS7pHDj


This is such an awesome idea that I hope it's really well-attended.  Bring your literature and your holiday cheer!

Collage with Deborah Keenan November 14th

As if that weekend couldn't get any more packed with great opportunities to connect with GLS folks!

Collage Afternoon with Deborah Keenan
November 14th
GLS House (1500 Englewood Avenue)
12:30 - 4:00PM

Dear Students and Alums, 

We hope you will join us for the fifth annual Collage Afternoon.  Please bring

• the scissors you most love that let you be the most accurate with your cutting.
• a glue stick.
• any preferred backings to anchor your images.
• at least a couple of visions for the afternoon. 
• images that are small enough that they feel private to you (I want all of us to work on collages that are personal, almost enclosed in our own reveries about our own imagined and real life and spirit). 
• images that feel bold, generic, large (in some way, size or meaning), so that you can, the same afternoon, be working toward a collage that could become a public work of art by 4 p.m. that day.
• some thinking about color. 
• three written portraits of three different colors that you are willing to share with our group.

I look forward to seeing many of you on November 14th at 12:30.  If you would like to bring something calm and non-messy to eat and drink and to share, that would be great. We will have a table set up for food and drinks to keep us going through the afternoon.

- from an invitation by Deborah Keenan (find the full text on Facebook)

You need more Dhoom in your Minnesota November

It's your lucky day!  

Saturday, November 13
5:00 pm
GLC 100E

After what is sure to be a stimulating event that is Colloquium, come to GLC 100E for a casual movie night where we will be watching and often laughing at the fabulously entertaining Bollywood Movie Dhoom 2.  The film stars Bollywood's superstar dancer Hrithik Roshan and one-time Miss World Champion Aishwarya Rai. 

If you have never seen a Bollywood movie before, this is where you want to start, as this will be the most fun culture shock you ever experience. The word 'Dhoom' itself can mean anything from 'get your freak on' to 'rejoice and make merry.' Whatever the true definition, Dhoom 2 is appropriately named.

Dhoom 2 comes with high endorsement from Hamline writers of all genres (and my film buff friend who has been telling me I must see it), so it offers something for everybody because everybody, no matter the genre, likes to--that's right--DHOOM.  Hamline students, professors, and alumni are all invited to bring friends and loved ones to the show. 

There will also be popcorn!  What more could you ask for?!

More info can be found on Facebook.

See you there!

Fall Colloquium Saturday, November 13th

Fall Colloquium
1:00 – 4:00 pm

Saturday, November 13th

The annual GLS Colloquium is in the Kay Fredericks Room of the Klas Center.  The afternoon program will showcase award-winning MALS and MFA capstones projects, illustrating the breadth of interest and disciplines, and artistic excellence of our graduates.

This year’s presenters are:

• Jerilyn Jackson, Proseminar Essay: Undermining American Political Compassion
• Deborah Meissner, Synthesis: Elasticity of Faith: Making Peace with Religion as Culture
• Joshua Wodarz, Fiction Thesis: The Tug of Water
• Didi Koka, Poetry Thesis: Lost Breath Sung
• Vanessa Ramos, Creative Nonfiction Thesis: The Rooster and the Crow: Cuentos y Casos

This event is free and open to the public, but we ask that you RSVP.   Please send RSVPs to Anika at aeide02@hamline.edu.  Be sure to include your name and your school/program affiliation if you have one (ie. MFA Student, MALS Student, GLS Faculty, MALS/MFA Alum, etc.).

Great readers and fun times here again!  Don't miss it!

Fall GLS Exchange

Look what's up!
It's the Fall 2010 GLS Exchange.
There's all kinds of good stuff in here, including some lovely muse news from fellow alumni.
Check it out!

Bonfire Potluck this Saturday

West Egg Literati Autumn Potluck and Bonfire
Saturday, October 23rd at 6:00-10pm
Location: Sarah Hayes' House

Please join your fellow GLS students and alumnae/i for an autumn potluck and bonfire! Some drinks -- there was mention of mead and wine -- and finger food will be provided by our illustrious hosts, but please feel free to bring something to share.  I suggest something warm.

There will be an opportunity to read what we've been working on these past weeks, so feel free to bring something you would like to share with your fellow potluckers.  If you'd like directions, contact West Egg Literati or check out their Facebook page.

Two great events on Friday, October 22

5:30-7:30 

Friday, October 22

Faculty Appreciation Pot Luck Dinner: Made With Love 

GLC Art Gallery

GLS alumni are throwing a potluck to thank faculty for the wonderful teaching and inspiration they have provided over the years.  The event takes place on Friday, October 22 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm in the GLC Art Gallery.  It's that big, old, columned former-library building the GLC was built around.  Come for the architecture, come for the faculty, come for the Water~Stone reading, come for the company, just come! 

Yes, it's before the Water~Stone Reading, so you might happen to be on campus already anyway to snag a good parking spot.  If you’re interested in bringing a dish to share, post your ideas on the Facebook invite OR email glsalumnibrd@hamline.edu.  This was a really fun, low-key event last year.  We had a blast, and the faculty who came seemed to have a great time, too. With you there, it will be even better.  See you there!

7:30

Friday, October 22 

Water~Stone Reading

Sundin Hall

The annual Water~Stone reading will be held on Friday evening, October 22 at 7:30 pm in Sundin Hall.  The new edition should be here in about two weeks and it is going to be fabulous!  (Take a sneak peek here and be the first to see the new issue at Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival, Saturday, October 16 at MCTC in downtown Minneapolis.)  Also, don't forget that now that we're alumni, we can submit to Water~Stone!  (Deadline December 1!)

We hope you will be able to join us for the reading and reception celebrating the 13th volume of Water~Stone Review on October 22.

Twin Cities Book Festival October 16th!

It's October and that means it's time for Rain Taxi's annual Twin Cities Book Festival.

Yes, it's that time already.  This free extravaganza showcasing all things literary is 

Saturday, October 16, 2010
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

at Minneapolis Community & Technical College

Have you seen the author list?!  There is seriously someone for everyone.  Good grief!  We're talking

• M.T. Anderson (co-sponsored by the Hamline University Creative Writing Program, no less!) at 3:30
• Mary Catherine Bateson
• Richard Paul Evans
• James Howard Kunstler
• Frederic Tuten
• Jean Valentine
• Jeffrey Zaslow 
• Bruce Lansky
• Alexander McCall Smith (10-11)
• and more, if you can believe it.

On top of that, there are panels on 

• Minnesota Debut Fiction
• The Changing World of Publishing: Getting Books to Readers
• The Great Midwest: Regional Writing
• Views From The Loft (featuring our own Barrie Jean Borich!)

I would be remiss as a comics fan not to mention the panel on Minnesota Comics at 1:30.  Bill Willingham of Fables (if you haven't read it, go read it now) will be there along with several other excellent panelists.


But wait!  There's more!  Seriously!

• A children's pavilion
• Book sales and signings
• Lit mag fair (be on the lookout for Water~Stone staff members and a huge variety of literary magazines)
• Publishers
• Literary organizations

How can there be so much literary goodness in one place?!  How can such an amazing thing occur?!  Find out for yourself!  (Volunteers are appreciated. :)  See you there . . .

If you have an event you'd like us to mention here on the GLaaS blog, just let us know.

Call for Writers/Readers and Submissions

Libby Casey Irwin (MFA 1995-2000) and ArtWorks of Art St Croix want your creative writing!

What they're looking for

• any creative writing genre (including songs and novel excerpts)
• family-friendly, yet vibrant, keen, original works
• authors able to attend a rehearsal on 3 December 2010
• authors willing to read their pieces on 4 December 2010 (probably under 5 minutes, depending on participation)

If this sounds like you 

Submit up to five literary pieces

• by November 15, 2010
• by email to libbycaseyirwin@live.com or 
• via snail mail at Libby Casey Irwin; 2710 Mallard Drive; Woodbury, Minnesota  55125.

Please include

• e‑mail address
• snail mail address
• phone number 
• a brief description of yourself and your work as a writing artist.

If you have any questions, call Libby at (651) 738‑7223.   (Libby teaches creative writing and coordinates this literary event at the end of the year. She thanks you for your support of a worthy recitation.)



If you have an event or a call for submissions, we'd love to post it on the GLaaS Blog.  Get in touch with us, let us know you'd like us to post on the blog (and what you'd like to post), and we'll do our best to shine the spotlight on you!

Mark your calendars now: Donna Isaac invites you to two readings

You are invited two poetry readings by Donna Isaac.

Saturday, October 9th

Fresh Grounds

1362 W. Seventh

St. Paul

1:00 p.m.

and

Saturday, November 20th

Jerabek's New Bohemian

63 Winifred St.

St. Paul's West Side

1:00 p.m.

For more information, check out Donna's website at www.donnaisaacpoet.com.

(Do you have a reading you'd like to share about? Send it along, and GLaaS will be happy to spread the word!)

This just in for the poetry book club on September 30th!

We'll have a guest with us this month! Oliver St. John, an intern for MinnPost.com, is writing about book clubs around town.  Mark your calendars and head to Micawber’s to pick up American Smooth by Rita Dove if you haven’t already!

See you Thursday, September 30th

7:30-9PM

on Jean's porch (if it's warm enough).

Have questions?  Need directions? Email us.

Have a great September!

Check out alumni blog: KunstKitchen

Name of your blog: KunstKitchen

Link to your blog: http://kunstkitchen.wordpress.com/

What your blog is about: Sharing cooking, dining and eating Slow food, as opposed to fast food. Recipes and humorous antidotes for a post modern really fast world.

Your name (if you're not blogging anonymously): Catherine Katt

Years you were in the program (and year you graduated from Hamline): 2000-2006 ('06)

When you started blogging: June 2010

Why you blog: Blogging to make the connection between food as the source and art as the spiritual source.  Inspired by my niece who is a culinary writer. She likes what I write.

Who your intended audience is: Anyone interested in the Slow Food movement and real food.

What blogs you like to read: My friends' blogs.

Advice to or question for bloggers: "Just do it."

September and October Poetry Book Club

In September and October, we will be meeting the last Thursday of the month, so mark your calendars for

Thursday, September 30: Rita Dove's American Smooth

Thursday, October 28: Stanley Plumly's Old Heart

7:30 to 9:00 pm
at Jean's

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to let us know, and we'll get you in touch with Jean.  See you there.

Alumni Spotlight on Aaron Wilson ('08)

In the last couple of months, Aaron M. Wilson (class of 2008) has started to succeed in finding a home for a few of his stories. He's placed stories both online and in traditional print media: most notably in Twin Cities: Cifiscape Vol. I (late August 2010) and The Last Man Anthology (which includes stories from Barry N. Malzberg, C.J Cherryh, and Ray Bradbury, and is available to pre-order). He was also awarded the June author spotlight in the third issue of eFiction Magazine that included an interview and publication of three of his stories.

He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he attempts to understand life, others (including his two cats – one good and one bad), himself, and especially his wife – in that order. He writes about books, stories, movies, and his experiences as an adjunct instructor of English, Literature, and Environmental Science on his blog: Soulless Machine.

Here is what Aaron has been up since April 2010:

• The Last Man Anthology, published by Sword & Saga Press, (forthcoming October 2010, pre-order NOW) - “The Paperless Doctrine of 2152”
• Eclectic Flash. (forthcoming September 2010) - “Recession Love”
• eFiction Magazine: The Premier Internet Fiction Zine (forthcoming September 2010) - "Apophis"
• Twin Cities: Cifiscape Vol. I., published by Onxy Neon Press. (forthcoming August/September 2010) - "What's For Dinner"
• Evolve, 2 August 2010 - "Spilling Sunlight" Read Online
• The Hive Mind, 18 June 2010 - “Beyond Peaking” Read Online - “The Methuselah Project” Read Online
• eFiction Magazine: The Premier Internet Fiction Zine. Vol. 3, 2 June 2010
- “Keeping Watch" Download PDF - “Running of the Cows” Download PDF - “A Tea Party” Download PDF
• Pow Fast Flash Fiction 25 April 2010 - "Dog Fight” Read Online

So what have you been up to lately?  We'd love to hear about it!  Just email us, and you could be the next person basking in the glow of the GLaaS alumni spotlight . . .

Gatsby Lawn Party August 25th at 6

Yes, it's that time: the Gatsby Lawn Party is here again!  West Egg Literati, the GLS student org, is hosting this new student welcome bash once more!  Alumni are quite welcome.

Join us on the GLS House back lawn on Wednesday, August 25 

at about 6:00 (5:30 if you want to help us set up).  

Connect with new students.  Reconnect with alumni of yore.  Play some croquet, write some haiku, and maybe bring some money for West Egg merchandise and their always delightful and artistic lit mag rock, paper, scissors.

If you think you’ll be coming, we’d love an RSVP to help with our planning.  Just email Kelly at kkrebs@hamline.edu.  (In the case of inclement weather, the festivities will be moved to East Hall 5.)

See you there!

These brd members will be there.  Will you?

Help keep yourself accountable for writing (and have fun doing it)

A friend in the writers' group I'm in recommended the site 750words.com.  If you want to get cracking on being disciplined and really make the writing habit part of your everyday life, there's nothing like signing yourself up to be on a Wall of Shame.  Just kidding. 

There are some great tools here to help you keep track of your goals.  You also get points and badges and some really interesting features, one of which is like a mood ring based on your writing. 

3 pages a day might be how you start getting back into the practice of writing if you've fallen out of it.  You can do 3 pages a day.  And everyone likes penguin badges, right?

Do you use this site?  Any tips or tricks for those who might be interested?

This Tuesday big meeting (and no WHH)

Tuesday night 

August 10

6:30 

GLS house

We'll be meeting to toss around ideas for the coming year of GLaaS.  We'd love to get your ideas.  We'd love if you would bring your ideas and come yourself because we'd love to see you and have you join the board.  (WHH will not be meeting that night since your faithful blog editor can't be two places at once.  Yet.)

If you can't make it, but you have a suggestion for a great event or want to help us plan future events, please let us know (preferably before the meeting, but we love hearing from you any time).

We hope to see you there!

Love,

GLS Alumni Board/glsbrd/GLaaS board

Check out David Oppegaard's blog: Deep Thoughts With Blogagaard

Name of your blog: Deep Thoughts With Blogagaard

Link to your blog: www.blogagaard.blogspot.com

What your blog is about: The voice I blog in is a slightly insane version of myself that often refers to itself as “Blogagaard” or “We here at Blogagaard.”  Sometimes I review books or movies, sometimes I talk about writing, but mostly I just post on the world around Blogagaard and the skewed way Blogagaard perceives it, with the occasional posting or plug of my own writing along the way.

Your name (if you're not blogging anonymously): David Oppegaard

Years you were in the program (and year you graduated from Hamline): 2004-2006 ('06 grad)

When you started blogging: August 2005

Why you blog: I started a different blog when I was traveling in Europe to keep my friends updated. By the time I came back, I was already addicted to instant gratification of seeing your words on the web instantly.

Who your intended audience is: My intended audience, at the beginning, was pretty much just my friends. Now that I’m a published author, I try to aim my posts at a more general audience and discuss the craft of writing more than I used to. Hopefully my blog amuses as many people as possible.

What blogs you like to read: I used to read a lot of blogs, but then many of my friends stopped blogging, and I drifted away from blog reading in general. In some ways I see blogging as a big fad that reached its height in the ought’s, but there are obviously many hardcore bloggers still going strong and new blogs popping up every day.

Advice to or question for bloggers: I suppose my only advice is that blogging is a marathon, not a race, so if you’re just starting a blog, don’t pour your whole soul/life story into it in the first couple of months, because you’ll burn yourself out pretty fast and suddenly you won’t feel like blogging anymore.

P.S. from GLaaS: Be sure to check out David's blog because he's also experimenting with publishing some of his best blogging moments over the years.  All hail drunken blogging, indeed.  If you're new to blogging, there's a lot of material to laugh about here.  In a good way.