Books Posts

Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards

May 19–Winners of the 23rd annual Northeastern Minnesota Books Awards (NEMBA) will be announced in an evening celebration on Thursday, May 19, in UMD’s Kirby Ballroom. The free community event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a book fair and dessert reception. Barton Sutter, Duluth’s first poet laureate, will emcee the formal program beginning at 6:30, featuring best-selling children’s author Mary Casanova as guest speaker. Book fair continues until 9 p.m. Free.

More info: http://www.d.umn.edu/lib/nemba/index.htm.

Mary Casanova, a best-selling children's author, will keynote the NEMBA program

Duluth references in Lucy

“Amanda drove and let Jenny doze in the front seat while Lucy slept in back.  They woke just south of Duluth.  They spent the night in a little town called Superior.  In the morning they stopped at the grocery store in Duluth to stock up for the week.”                   — (Chapter 17)

“The road they traveled from Duluth had stretched out ruler-straight for miles, cutting farm fields in half, as pastures fell away toward island lakes.  Dark clouds gathered in the western sky as they entered the great expanses of forest in Wisconsin.”                  –(Chapter 21)

from LUCY (A Novel) by Laurence Gonzales  (2010)

Breaking News from American Library Association

Heart of a Samurai (Amulet) by Margi Preus, a Duluth resident, has been named a Newbery Honor Book at the ALA’s midwinter meeting in San Diego. Dark Emperor (Houghton Mifflin) by Joyce Sidman of Minneapolis, illustrated by Rick Allen of Duluth’s Kenspeckle LetterPress, has also been named a Newbery Honor Book. They are two of four Newbery Honor Books — basically they were the four runners-up to the book, Moon Over Manifest, that won the Newbery Medal this year.

The Newbery Medal is given each year to the author of that year’s most distinguished contribution to American children’s literature.

This is a very big deal, congratulations to Margi and to Rick!

Season’s Greetings with The PlayList

On Thursday, Dec. 9, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with ballads, opera, and choral music along with Hibbing’s watercolor master on WDSE-TV’s The Playlist.

The ballads of Arna Rennan and Brian Dack explore a rich musical landscape; the cast of  Amahl and the Night Visitors previews this holiday classic; award-wining watercolorist Terry Maciej shares his techniques; and members of the Arrowhead Chorale prep for a spectacular holiday concert.

Phyllis Root and Besty Bowen at Northern Lights Books and Gifts on Dec. 4

Children’s author Phyllis Root and illustrator and Grand Marais native Betsy Bowen will be signing copies of their new children’s book Big Belching Bog at Northern Lights Books & Gifts on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 1-2 pm.

Big Belching Bog cover

Three Local Art & Gift Fairs

Each of these fairs has different local artists — only a few overlap.

On Saturday, Dec. 4, the Get it Local Gift Fair will be held at Peace Church, 1111 N. 11th Ave. E., and will have over 30 Duluth-Superior artists, nonprofits, and local-made or grown items for sale. The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will also serve as a drive (please bring items) for new or gently used children’s (picture) books which will be donated to the Red Book Shelf/United Way and there also will be a collection for Hygiene products to go to the local Salvation Army. From wreaths to jewelry to home decor to dog treats you will find plenty of great things to pick up — all in one setting in one day.

Author Laurie Hertzel to sign books at Northern Lights Books & Gifts on Friday

Author and former Duluth News-Tribune reporter Laurie Hertzel will be signing copies of her new book News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist at Northern Lights Books & Gifts on Friday, Nov. 26, from 1-2 pm.

Author Jay Weiner to speak tonight at The Bookstore at Fitgers

Author Jay Weiner will be in Duluth tonight for a talk and book signing for his new book This Is Not Florida: How Al Franken Won the Minnesota Senate Recount.

Thursday, October 28, 2010
5:00-8:00 pm
The Bookstore at Fitger’s
600 E. Superior St.
Duluth, MN 55802

Three University of Minnesota Press book-signing events in Duluth

Thursday, Oct. 14, 7pm, Clyde Iron Works
Michael Nordskog and Aaron W. Hautala
The Opposite of Cold: The Northwoods Finnish Sauna Tradition

Thursday, Oct. 21, 7pm, Clyde Iron Works
Peter Smith
A Porch Sofa Almanac

Thursday, Oct. 28, 5-8pm
Jay Weiner
This Is Not Florida: How Al Franken Won the Minnesota Senate Recount

Get to the Point Awesome Art & Gift Fair – Saturday, Oct. 9

This Saturday is the 3rd annual Get to the Point Awesome Art & Gift Fair – all with local artists within about 30 miles of Duluth. Very cool items. Books, jewelry, candles, soap, and much more.
Lafayette Bldg, 3026 Minnesota Ave., 2 miles past the Lift Bridge.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday. 17 artists. Start your holiday shopping early. Pick out some things for yourself. Meet the people making the creative items.

Annual Duluth Public Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Duluth Public Library invite you to the Annual Used Book Sale. The dates this year are August 18 and 19 from 10 until 5:30 p.m. and the Bag Sale on Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. There is early admission for Friends members on August 17 from 10 until 5:30 p.m. People can join Friends at the sale. Shop for bargain books, CDs, DVDs, books on tape. A silent auction will be held with older and rarer books. All proceeds from this fundraiser go toward Duluth Public Library book and media purchases and toward programs held at the library.

Are you a Member of the Friends of the Duluth Public Library? It’s only $10 per year and let’s you get into the sale on Tuesday, Aug 17 – 10 to 5:30. You may join the Friends of the DPL on-site.
Also, early notice for a new library fundraiser through the Friends. Laps Around the Library will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 a.m. Go the duluth.lib.mn.us/CS/Friends.html to download registration form. Sponsors and walkers wanted!

Memoir by former DNT editor/reporter Laurie Hertzel due out in September

Laurie Hertzel’s memoir, News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist, is scheduled for release in September by University of Minnesota Press. Hertzel is books editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a former Duluth News Tribune editor and reporter.

Check out Ann Klefstad’s informal review and talk with Hertzel on mnartists.org.

Poetry Book Release – Deborah Gordon Cooper’s “Under the Influence of Lilacs”

Thursday, May 27, 7 pm. Please join us in celebrating the book release of Deborah Gordon Cooper’s newest collection of poetry, Under the Influence of Lilacs. Deborah will read selections, accompanied by folksinger-songwriter Sara Thomsen. Duluth Congregational Church, 3833 E. Superior St., Duluth. Refreshments will be served. For information, call 218-525-4552.

clovervalleypress.com

“Picture Duluth” Book Launch

Please join us this coming Friday to celebrate Duluth Photographer Dennis O’Hara and the release of his first book, Picture Duluth: Photographs of the Zenith City.

Day: Friday, May 14
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Place: Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center (Canal Park)
Cause: Ten percent of the sales of “Picture Duluth” will go to support the LSMVC.*
ETC: Author presentation starts at 7:30; refreshments served.

To check out the book, including a online condensed eBook version, click here.

*Special prices on books, and everyone who buys a book or donates just $5 to the LSMVC will receive as our thanks either one of four vintage postcard reproduction art prints or a copy of Greetings from the Arrowhead: the North Shore & Canoe Country.

Good Ol’ Random History

I stopped by Amazing Alonzo the other day and picked this beauty up for a cheap 6 bucks. Packed full of weird facts and stories of history dating back to Moses. Topics range from how we used to treat the mentally ill, crime and punishment (including mass executions of heretics and misconceptions of the guillotine), cocaine cough drops, and did you know that the French had a fascination with enemas well through the 19th century?! Seriously good read. Pretty certain they don’t have another copy, but search for it.