Book Signing for Minnesota Author and Traveler Polly Keith Scotland, author of the new book “The Adventurer & Her Husband”, from noon to 2 p.m.. Saturday, February 26, Fitger’s Bookstore, 600 E Superior St.
Story Hours, Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. at the Duluth Main Library and West Duluth Branch and Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. at the Mount Royal Branch. Go to duluthlibrary.evanced.info/signup/calendar.
the Duluth Public Library offers in-person book clubs at the Duluth Main Public Library, 520 W. Superior St. To see the four book clubs, the book they read, and a list of questions for each book, go to the schedule on duluthlibrary. org.
the Arrowhead Library System will provide Paper Design Collage Take and Create Art Kits to member public libraries for distribution by Monday, February 28. These kits were designed by COMPAS teacher artist Teresa Cox. This art activity explores the relationship between color and design using geometric shapes and is for anyone who wants to experiment with using papers to create an original collage. This is a program for all ages; kindergarteners and first graders may need extra help. Note that each slot has a limited number of kits. This program, sponsored by Arrowhead Library System, was supported in part or in whole with funds from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Go to alslib.info.
Join the authors Rob Greenfieldof Ashland, Wisconsin, and April Hepokoski, from Esko, 5:30-8 p.m. Mar. 4, Cloquet Public Library, 320 14th St., Cloquet, for the release of their new book, “Zero Waste Kids,” a solution-focused book that teaches through activities how to reduce, reuse and recycle at home, at school and in the community. The focus will be on zero waste and sustainable living.
Lake Superior Writers hosts a virtual Writers cafe, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on March 5. Join us for a virtual meet and greet with other writers hosted by Gail Trowbridge. Our March topic is Writing Tips and Comments: The Good, the Bad, and the Confusing. This event is free for LSW members and the public, but registration is required. Email writers@lakesuperiorwriters.org by Wednesday, March 2; you will receive an email with a Zoom link close to the event.
Lake Superior Writers present Superior Actions, a free virtual open mic for writers to read their work and anyone else who wants to listen, from 6-7 p.m. on March 9. The event is free; membership is not compulsory. Graphic content is prohibited. There will be ten 5-minute slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Entrants will be notified in advance if they have been selected to read. To register, email writers@lakesuperiorwriters.org. Please indicate if you wish to read. A Zoom link will be sent on the day of the event.
Lake Superior Writers present Virtual book club for writers6:30-8 p.m. on March 29. Brian Malloy will talk about his book, “The Year of Ice”, and host a Q&A session about the book and his journey writing it. Free. For more information: lakesuperiorwriters.org/events/book-club-for-writers.
2022 Lake Superior Writers Writing Contest is open. This year’s theme is “Full Circle”. The categories are Poetry, Short Fiction, Short-Short Fiction, and Creative Non-Fiction.
For more information: lakesuperiorwriters.org/2022-writing-contest. Deadline: April 11.
Join a NEMBA Reading Team and help choose a winning book that captures the spirit of northeast Minnesota.
Who can be part of a reading team? We are looking for book enthusiasts to be part of one of the reading teams that will select the winning book in each of the six categories: Non-Fiction, Fiction, Art/Photography, Children’s Literature, Poetry and Memoirs. We are not looking for professional literary critics, but rather an open-minded group of readers who represent the different backgrounds and ways of life in Northland.
How does a reading team work? Each of the six reading teams will be composed of a maximum of 4 members with a designated leader. When you apply, you share your preferences for which team you want to work in, and we do our best to place you on the best team for you. After receiving their book bundles, teams will meet multiple times (a Zoom meeting may be an option) between June and September 2022 to discuss the nominated books, with winners being notified on October 1.
What is NEMBA? The Northeast Minnesota Book Awards recognize books that substantially represent the history, culture, heritage, or way of life of Northeast Minnesota, which includes the following counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook , Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis. This is the first year that Lake Superior Writers will present the awards, previously coordinated by UMD’s Kathryn A. Martin Library with the latest awards announced in 2020. This year, reading teams will review books published in 2020-2021 , with winners announced in fall 2022.
If you are interested in joining a reading team, please complete this online application form. Applications will be accepted until May 1, and you will be notified of your Reading Team assignment between mid and late May. If you have been part of a reading team in the past, please consider becoming a team leader. We would greatly appreciate your willingness to lead a team. Questions? Please contact nemba@lakesuperiorwriters.org.
Did you or someone you know publish a book in 2020 or 2021? Lake Superior Writers invites applications for the 2022 Northeast Minnesota Book Award. Books can be nominated in one of six categories: Non-Fiction, Fiction, Art/Photography, Children’s Literature, Poetry and Memoir. A non-refundable entry fee of $40 is required for each nominated title. The awards recognize books that substantially represent the history, culture, heritage, or way of life of northeast Minnesota, which includes the following counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake , Pine and St. Louis. Authors are not required to live in Minnesota for their work to be considered.
This is the first year that Lake Superior Writers will present the awards, previously coordinated by the Kathryn A. Martin Library at the University of Minnesota Duluth, with the final awards given in 2020. As in the past, independent reading teams for each category will review and determine awards, with awards being announced in fall 2022.
Nominated books must have been originally published between 2020 and 2021. The winning book in each category will receive a cash prize of $200. The winning book and honorable mention in each category will receive a glass plate and 100 book seals.
For complete guidelines on nominating a book, including a link to the required nomination form, visit lakesuperiorwriters.org/nemba. Send the completed form, four (non-returnable) copies of the book and the $40 entry fee to NEMBA, 1626 London Road #895, Duluth, MN 55812. Applications must be mailed by May 31.
For questions, email nemba@lakesuperiorwriters.org.
Title: “The Adventuress and Her Husband: An Array of Hiking and Kayaking Escapes from Around the World in Black and White”
Author: Polly Keith Scotland
Illustrator: Lisa Scotland
Synopsis: Trek around the Mont Blanc massif in France, Italy and Switzerland. Ascend to 17,000 feet in Nepal. Walk between canyon walls where the river is the trail. Do the toughest hike in Europe. Kayak the furthest shore of Lake Superior. Whether physically or vicariously, the book takes the reader on these exploits and many more in Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States. The beauty of these adventures is that anyone with a passion for the outdoors can experience these trips. But they do require strong map-reading and navigation skills. Cell phones do not work here.
Cost: $14.95
Editor: published independently.