Anne Pancake – Reading from her works, April 21 @7PM

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author of “Creative Responses to Worlds Unraveling: The Artist in the 21st Century” (Fall 2013), and the novel, “Strange As This Weather Has Been (2007)

7 PM READING at THE BOWERS HOUSE WRITERS RETREAT

Ann Pancake—fiction writer, essayist, and environmental activist—will read from her work on Monday, April 21, at 7 PM, followed by a talk and short reception. Although Pancake currently lives in Seattle, Washington the West Virginia native’s writing, political efforts, and heart remain firmly focused in her home state, where the coal mining industry—in particular the highly controversial process of mountaintop removal—has both supported and devastated the populace in many areas.

Her first book was Given Ground (2000), a collection of short stories published as the winner of the Bakeless Prize. Pancake’s novel Strange As This Weather Has Been (2007) won the Weatherford Award, was a finalist for the Orion Book Award, and was named one of the top ten fiction books of that year by Kirkus Reviews. Wendell Berry termed this work “one of the bravest novels I’ve ever read.”

Pancake’s recent Georgia Review essay, “Creative Responses to Worlds Unraveling: The Artist in the 21st Century” (Fall 2013), worries the hows and whys of what a writer might do in the face of the huge complexities of environmental degradation: “I believe literature’s most pressing political task of all in these times is envisioning alternative future realities . . . a way forward which is not based in idealism or fantasy, which does not offer dystopia or utopia, but still turns current paradigms on their heads.”

Join us for The Bowers House Writers Guild

The Bowers House Writers Guild offers encouragement to local and visiting writers whose writing covers a range of genres: local and personal history, personal memoir, adult and juvenile poetry, book reviews, journalism, newspaper and magazine articles, short stories, essays, how-to books, fiction and non-fiction. The Guild provides members the opportunity to meet writers with similar interests, to meet together, to become good friends or to enjoy the company of friendly acquaintances.

SAMPLE AGENDA
• Meeting Outline

Writer’s Craft – discussion and exercise

More about Show Don’t Tell See Article “Thought Verbs”
Discussion of writing terms (Jargon)

Member’s projects

What are you doing – how is your progress – how can we help?

Readings – members share new work

Group Projects – Discuss potential projects

General discussion – writing topics, somewhere between Once upon a time and They lived happily ever after.

Next Month

Suggestions for next meeting and future meetings

Tuesday, April 23 at 7 pm the Bowers House is hosting a very special guest…..

SRS-pic

Tuesday, April 23 at 7 pm the Bowers House is hosting a very special guest. Nationally known environmental activist and award-winning writer Scott Russell Sanders will speak on “Literature and Legacy.” In an essay entitled “The Way of Imagination,” published in the summer 2012 issue of The Georgia Review, Sanders wrote about a man who sought to provide old-growth forests for future generations to enjoy. Sanders will read an excerpt from the essay and discuss the powers of imagination illustrated by this benefactor’s legacy—powers crucial to the making of literature, to the practice of science, and to works of compassion. A question-and-response period will follow.

Sanders, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Indiana University, has published more than thirty works of nonfiction and fiction over the past forty years, including a number of books for children. Among his titles are Earth Works: Selected Essays (2012), A Conservationist Manifesto (2009), A Private History of Awe (2006), The Country of Language (1999), Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World (1993), The Paradise of Bombs (1987), and Wilderness Plots: Tales about the Settlement of the American Land (1983). His enduring concerns include the place of human beings in nature, the pursuit of social justice, the relationships between culture and geography, and the search for a spiritual path.There is no charge for the evening however donations are greatly appreciated. It is very important we have a great turn-out to support this special event!

On Tuesday, April 23 at 7 pm

On Tuesday, April 23 at 7 pm the Bowers House is hosting a very special guest

scott-sanders_big

Nationally known environmental activist and award-winning writer Scott Russell Sanders will speak on “Literature and Legacy.” In an essay entitled “The Way of Imagination,” published in the summer 2012 issue of The Georgia Review, Sanders wrote about a man who sought to provide old-growth forests for future generations to enjoy. Sanders will read an excerpt from the essay and discuss the powers of imagination illustrated by this benefactor’s legacy—powers crucial to the making of literature, to the practice of science, and to works of compassion. A question-and-response period will follow.

Sanders, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Indiana University, has published more than thirty works of nonfiction and fiction over the past forty years, including a number of books for children. Among his titles are Earth Works: Selected Essays (2012), A Conservationist Manifesto (2009), A Private History of Awe (2006), The Country of Language (1999), Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World (1993), The Paradise of Bombs (1987), and Wilderness Plots: Tales about the Settlement of the American Land (1983). His enduring concerns include the place of human beings in nature, the pursuit of social justice, the relationships between culture and geography, and the search for a spiritual path.

There is no charge for the evening however donations are greatly appreciated. It is very important we have a great turn-out to support this special event!

Join Us

From readings and workshops to residency programs, the Bowers House is dedicated to cultivating an environment where writers thrive. Through a wide variety of events and associations, we are committed to nurturing the talents of writers from across the country.

The harvest benefits us all: Works of art that enrich, enlighten and connect us in ways that transcend geographic and cultural boundaries. Read more

A Brilliant Spring Ahead

The Bowers House has a lot of exciting news to share. First, we’ve updated our web site and made it easier than ever to keep track of all the comings and goings at the house. We have big plans on the books that you won’t want to miss including our Spring series of writing workshops. The Bowers House has a lot of exciting news to share. First, we’ve updated our web site and made it easier than ever to keep track of all the comings and goings at the house. We have big plans on the books that you won’t want to miss including our Spring series of writing workshops.

The Bowers House has a lot of exciting news to share. First, we’ve updated our web site and made it easier than ever to keep track of all the comings and goings at the house. We have big plans on the books that you won’t want to miss including our Spring series of writing workshops.

The Bowers House has a lot of exciting news to share. First, we’ve updated our web site and made it easier than ever to keep track of all the comings and goings at the house. We have big plans on the books that you won’t want to miss including our Spring series of writing workshops.

Bowers House is hosting a very special guest.

SRS-picTuesday, April 23 at 7 pm the Bowers House is hosting a very special guest. Nationally known environmental activist and award-winning writer Scott Russell Sanders will speak on “Literature and Legacy.” In an essay entitled “The Way of Imagination,” published in the summer 2012 issue of The Georgia Review, Sanders wrote about a man who sought to provide old-growth forests for future generations to enjoy. Sanders will read an excerpt from the essay and discuss the powers of imagination illustrated by this benefactor’s legacy—powers crucial to the making of literature, to the practice of science, and to works of compassion. A question-and-response period will follow.

Sanders, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Indiana University, has published more than thirty works of nonfiction and fiction over the past forty years, including a number of books for children. Among his titles are Earth Works: Selected Essays (2012), A Conservationist Manifesto (2009), A Private History of Awe (2006), The Country of Language (1999), Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World (1993), The Paradise of Bombs (1987), and Wilderness Plots: Tales about the Settlement of the American Land (1983). His enduring concerns include the place of human beings in nature, the pursuit of social justice, the relationships between culture and geography, and the search for a spiritual path.There is no charge for the evening however donations are greatly appreciated. It is very important we have a great turn-out to support this special event!