Sierra Writers

Let Them Speak!  Using Dialogue to Power Your Writing

Sierra Writers hosts a free workshop for writers with Director Sandra Rockman on Wednesday, April 10, 6:30 pm in the Madelyn Helling Library Community Room.  In this hands-on class, Sandra will show how to strengthen your writing through dialogue, using examples from novels and plays. Participants are encouraged to bring a short one-page narrative section of their work for an exercise in adding dialogue to narration for a more powerful “show” rather than “tell.”

Sandra moved to Nevada County in 1978 and joined the nascent Foothill Theatre Company, first as an actress, then director, and finally Artistic Director until 1992.  She has acted in or directed more than 30 productions, including the 2012 Sierra Stages’ “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” for which she received an Elly nomination for Best Director of a Musical. She currently teaches workshops in acting, improvisation and playwriting. Sandra’s articles, stories and essays have also been published in newspapers, journals and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul II.

Sierra Writers offers free monthly meetings for writers of all genres, experience and expertise to meet, share and learn. Meetings are the second Wednesday of every month at 980 Helling Way, Nevada City.  For more information, log on to www.sierrawriters.org or call 205-5068.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jesse Locks, jesselocks@gmail.com, (916) 548-7716
MARCH 15, 2013

Nevada City, CA – Nevada County Arts and the Magic Lantern Film Society present “Pages to Reel” a unique experience that combines the appeal of a book club with the opportunity to be a film critic.

Many of the greatest films of all time were adapted from great works of literature, for example, Casablanca, A Room With a View, The Great Gatsby, No Country for Old Men, Brokeback Mountain, and The English Patient, to name just a few.

Every other month a novel will be selected, and the film based upon the novel will be shown followed by a lively discussion.

“Nevada County Arts is pleased to collaborate with the Magic Lantern Film Society to fulfill our mission of promoting literature and film and enhancing the experience of each,” said JoAnn Marie, of the Board of Directors for Nevada County Arts.

On Friday, April 5th, Pages to Reel kicks off with “On the Road” starring Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart (Twilight series), and Amy Adams, directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, at the Magic Theatre, an intimate 60-seat Art House Theatre in the 7-Hills Business District in Nevada City.

The film is an adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s seminal 1957 novel of the same name.  The story is based on the years Kerouac spent traveling the United States in the late 1940s with his friend Neal Cassady and several other figures who would go on to fame in their own right, including William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg.  “On the Road” is considered a defining work of the postwar Beat Generation and portrays the story of a fierce personal quest for meaning and belonging. On the Road was released at an interesting point in American history when conformity was praised and outsiders were suspect.

After the film, attendees are encouraged to stay and take part in discussion on the many themes Kerouac touched on in the novel including religion and spirituality, masculinity and patriarchy, travel and self-discovery, among others, lead by renowned local poet Chris Olander.  He will speak about the social and political backdrop of the novel and the novel’s influence on American culture.

“Pages to Reel is a fantastic opportunity for people to learn something new about film, literature, and screenwriting; meet like-minded people; and of course, have fun,” said Jesse Locks, Festival Director of the Nevada City Film Festival who also oversees the festival’s Magic Lantern Film Society.

Copies of the book On the Road can be purchased at Harmony Books and The Book Seller.

About Nevada County Arts
Nevada County Arts facilitates collaborative efforts that promote and sustain the visual, literary and performing arts of Nevada County in order to advance the cultural, social and economic life of our community.

About Magic Lantern Film Society
For 13 years, the Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) has brought top independent cinema to the beautiful gold rush era town of Nevada City, CA. In 2008, NCFF formed the Magic Lantern Corporation, a non-profit 501(C)3 organization, to better serve Nevada County and nearby regions by providing art, entertainment, education, and culture through the
medium of film and video. In 2011, the Magic Lantern Film Society was established to encourage membership, local partnerships, and a year-long program of film.

KNOW & GO
What:  Nevada County Arts and The Magic Lantern Film Society present
Pages to Reel: On the Road
When: Friday, April 5, 2013
Where: Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City, 95959
Doors 630pm, Film 7pm, Discussion 9pm
Tickets: $9/GA, $7/Student and Senior, Discount to NCArts and Magic
Lantern Film Society Members
Seating limited to 60
More info: www.nevadacountyarts.org or www.magiclanternfilmsociety.org

Stephanie Chandler, Author

Own Your Niche on the Internet and Beyond: Simple Strategies to Build Your Audience and Sell More Books

Wednesday — April 11 –  6:30 PM

Madelyn Helling Library

Succeeding as a Writer – A Panel Discussion

What does it take to succeed as a writer in today’s market? Whether you’re a poet, fiction or magazine writer, or someone who would like to write for a living, you’ll want to hear what published authors from our area—Kim Culbertson, Larry Gold, Marc Davis, and Julie Valin—have to say about writing in a lively panel discussion at the Sierra Writers April 11 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Madalyn Helling Library Community Room. This is an opportunity to ask questions, join the conversation, and gain tips and insight into publishing in your field and thrive as an author.

In the young adult category, Kim Culbertson has written Songs for a Teenage Nomad (2010, originally Hip Pocket Press, 2007), and her second YA novel Instructions for a Broken Heart (2011) which was named a Booklist Top Ten Romance Title for Youth: 2011. Kim’s short fiction has appeared in Cicada, Canary, and The Smoking Poet.
Larry Gold’s medical-based adult fiction First, Do No Harm was published in April 2007. No Cure for Murder was released in August 2011, and For the Love of God in January 2012.  He submitted his screenplay, Rage to the 80th Annual Writer’s Digest contest and won honorable mention (57 out of 11,000).

Marc Davis specializes in non-fiction magazine articles.  He has been a regular contributor to Rock & Gem Magazine, a nationally distributed publication, since 1986.  Marc has also sold to other national magazines such as Western & Eastern Treasures and Gold and Treasure Hunter. In addition to his writing, Marc has sold hundreds of photos that accompany his articles, and has a book cover photo to his credit.

Julie Valin’s poetry has been published in Chiron Review, Primal Urge Magazine, Red Fez Journal, and others.  Her new book of poetry, The Distance Between, was recently published by Six Ft. Swells Press.  Julie devotes her time to freelance editing and writing; assisting authors through the self-publishing process for their novels or poetry books; and being a poet-teacher for CA Poets in the Schools.

Sierra Writers provides a venue for writers of all types to meet, share and learn, and offers writers a wide range of experience and support. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month except July, August, and December at the Madelyn Helling Library. Meetings feature six speakers per year, two “Open Reads” per year where anyone can submit a few pages anonymously to be read aloud and critiqued constructively, and the May meeting honors the winners of the young writers contest. Meetings are open to the public. More information can be found at www.sierrawriters.org.

Speechcraft for Writers

February 8, 2012

6:30 – 8:30

Madelyn Helling Library

A writer’s life is often considered a solitary one – at least until the book is ready for public consumption.  With book readings, signings, sales pitches and author interviews – public speaking skills become a necessary facet of an author’s life. In this workshop, writers will learn speaking tips and tricks to help them bring their passion from the written page onto the public stage.

Presenter Bio: Emma Santa has worked in marketing for over a decade – including in the book publishing industry. Through her career she has noticed how people who can speak about their writing see dramatically increased sales and awareness of their work. As a member of Toastmasters, a public speaking and leadership organization, she believes that anyone can learn the speaking skills needed to be an effective spokesperson for their work.

More About Emma.

Program is free to the public.

Molly Fisk

Prize-winning poet Molly Fisk is a recognizable voice in our community with frequent public readings and radio essays.  She offers writing workshops and groups that use the creative writing process as a tool for healing. On Wednesday, January 11, 6:30 p.m., Molly will speak at the monthly Sierra Writers meeting held in the Madelyn Helling Library Community Room in Nevada City.  Her topic will be Writing To Heal. The evening is for anyone who would like to use the written word to find their own authentic voice.

With a background and education in business and banking, Fisk did not turn to writing until she was in her 30’s, developing a practice of daily writing that has resulted in an enormous body of work. With hundreds of published essays and poems published in five different collections, she refers to herself as a working poet.   Her works include The More Difficult Beauty, Listening To Winter, Salt Water Poems and a shared collection, Terrain.  Transcripts of her radio essays have also been published.

We hope you will join us for this free and special event.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012     6:30 – 8:00

Madelyn Helling Library

Click here to read the Winter 2012 Sierra Writers Newsletter