The Orcas Island non-profit Artsmith announced its salon series has booked writers to give readings of their work every week through May.
“It’s amazing how many writers are coming from off-island to have their work heard by the Orcas community,” volunteer organizer Jennifer Brennock said. “We never dreamed to have all the salons booked with talent so early in the year.”
Hosted by Doe Bay Resort café, the Artsmith Salon Series began weekly readings by writers in September. More than 26 writers have read their work to Orcas audiences with more than 30 to come on 2010. The events are free.
The salon begins at 7 p.m. every Monday and brings featured writers from all over the United States to Orcas who will read work in all creative genres from poetry to screenwriting.
On Monday, Jan. 18, the salon will feature Seattle poet Drew Dillhunt. He co-authored the chapbook “Double Six” with his father, CX. His writing has appeared in Hummingbird: Magazine of the Short Poem, Pitkin Review, and Tarpaulin Sky. Also a songwriter, Dillhunt has released two albums of his songs, including one with the band Fighting Shy.
Orcas novelist and Bullwings: Orcas Issues editor Margie Doyle will give a reading of her creative writing preceding Dillhunt on Jan. 18.
Local dramatist Deborah Sparks will give a reading of her work on Monday, Jan. 25.
“We’re all so pleased to have Norm Stamper read for us on Feb. 1,” Brennock said. “Ann Rule called his book ‘shocking, heartbreaking, hilarious and illuminating’ and I think Orcas can really appreciate his take on policing and willingness to talk about things, like racism and homophobia, that we don’t confront enough.”
Author of “Breaking Rank,” which was recently released in paperback, Stamper retired to the San Juans in 2000 after serving in law enforcement since 1966 and as chief of the Seattle Police Department for six years. Stamper has a doctorate in Leadership and Human Behavior and recently completed a novel.
On Feb. 8, Artsmith welcomes poet Amalio Madueño from Taos, New Mexico. Madueño has been published widely in journals across the United States and Europe. Anthologies featuring his work include Border Senses, Mezcla, New Mexico Poetry Tangents, Venus in the Badlands, The 315 Experiment, Wandering Hermit Review, Muse6, Askew, and Saludos: Poets of New Mexico. Madueño received an M.F.A. in poetry from the University of California, Irvine, and has prepared and delivered numerous poetry seminars and workshops over the last 15 years.
Coming from Massachusetts, memoirist Julie Greene will take the mic on Feb. 15 following a reading of poetry by local writer Suzanne Olson.
“Julie is just hilarious, and her nonfiction is so poignant,” Brennock said. “It kind of motivates people to heal from what they’ve been through in the past themselves, to just kind-of laugh through it, and see the humor in life and the complicated family stuff we all have.”
Brennock explains the goal of the Monday night salon is to promote writers and to hear a wide variety of creative writing.
“We’ve already fulfilled our goal just by providing a forum that any writer can access,” Brennock said. “Each Monday we do an open mic, and I think that’s where it gets really interesting. We never know what people will read to us. It’s just anything goes.”
Volunteers are coordinating rideshare to Doe Bay Resort. Information about the Artsmith Salon Series is available at www.doebay.com, www.orcasartsmith.org, on Facebook, and by calling 376-2025.
