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Stringing the Pearls of Your LIfe

Jan 2nd, 2013 by

Benicia Literary Arts presents “Stringing the Pearls of Your Life,” a memoir writing workshop with author Janell Moon. It will be held at 621 First Street in Benicia on Sunday, January 27, 2013, from 9 to 11 a.m. The fee is $35.00. Participants may register by contacting Carolyn Plath at 707-297-6175 or carolynplath2003@yahoo.com.  Janell Moon will provide guidance for writing strong chapter beginnings and endings, compelling scenes, and authentic dialogue. The workshop is aimed at helping individuals hone skills in writing while using memoir as the vehicle.

New Sunday Author Series–The workshop “Stringing the Pearls of Your Life” is the first in the Benicia Literary Arts new quarterly Sunday Author Series and is co-sponsored are Bookshop Benicia and the 621 Gallery.

About Janell Moon– Moon is the author of eleven books and four prize winning poetry volumes. She was voted the 2011-2012 Poet Laureate of Emeryville, California. In 2011, RAW ArT PRESS published her memoir, Salt and Paper: Sixty Five Candles, as winner of their 2010 Experimental Poetry Prize. In 2002, her book The Wise Earth Speaks to Your Spirit was voted one of the year’s best spiritual books by Spirituality and Health Magazine. Stirring the Waters: Writing to Find Your Spirit, a creative nonfiction, was voted one of the five best spirituality books of the 2004 by Nautilus’s, the independent book store prize. Moon works as a memoir writing coach and counselor.  She is also a hypnotherapist with a practice in San Francisco. Read more about the instructor www.janellmoon.com.

Benicia Literary Arts–Benicia Literary Arts is a non-profit organization that celebrates writers and literature. More information about the organization is available at www.benicialiteraryarts.org.

 

 

 

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Happy New Year from Benicia Literary Arts

Jan 2nd, 2013 by

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Author Cara Black in Conversation with David Corbett

Nov 24th, 2012 by

Bestselling mystery author Cara Black will discuss her work with crime writer David Corbett at Bookshop Benicia’s “Evening in Paris” on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, 7 to 9 p.m. at 636 First Street in Benicia, California.

Cara Black’s mystery series are set in Paris in the 1990′s and feature the crime-solving investigator Aimee LeDuc. She is among the authors included in the book Great Women Mystery Writers, 2nd Edition by Elizabeth Lindsay. Black’s first book, Murder in the Marias, was an Anthony Award nominee for Best First Novel. Murder in the Sentier was nominated for an Anthony Award for Best Novel.

Black lives in San Francisco with her husband, a bookseller, and their teenage son. Before becoming a novelist, she worked as a preschool teacher and as the director of a preschool. She earned a master’s degree in education from San Francisco State University. She was born in Chicago and raised in northern California. More about Cara Black can be found at www.carablack.com.

David Corbett is the author of four novels: The Devil’s Redhead, Done for a Dime (a New York Times Notable Book), Blood of Paradise (nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar), and Do They Know I’m Running (Spinetingler Award, Best Novel 2011). More about David Corbett is available at www.davidcorbett.com.

“Murder at Lanterne Rouge” is Black’s newest work and the 12th in the Aimee LeDuc series. The tale takes readers behind Paris’s glossy fashion scene into an underworld of human trafficking, sweatshops, fake designer goods, and fraud.  As the story begins, Aimee attends a birthday party for Meizi Wu, the girlfriend of Rene, her agency partner, in the smallest and oldest of Paris’s four Chinatowns. Aimee believes Rene is rushing into the relationship. Meizi disappears from the party, Aimee goes to look for her, and discovers the body of an adult trade school teacher with Meizi’s photograph in his wallet. Publisher’s Weekly wrote, “Readers will relish realistic villains and an evocative atmosphere that begs for a trip to the City of Lights.”

Black and Corbett taught together last summer at the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference in Corte Madera. The two have been great friends for over a decade, have done numerous events together, and form a long-standing mutual admiration society. Bookshop Benicia and Benicia Literary Arts are sponsoring this free event. Benicia Literary Arts is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing together authors and the community.

 

 

 

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Readings at the Rellik

Nov 14th, 2012 by

Benicia Literary Arts, Benicia Poet Laureate, and Bookshop Benicia present

SPEAKEASY

Readings at The Rellik Tavern

726 First Street Benicia, California

Saturday, November 17, 2012

3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

No cover charge

Speakeasy features open-mic readings, as well as performances from Benicia-area poets and writers–David Corbett, Lois Requist, Steven Boyett, Joel Fallon, Ronna Leon, Peter Bray, Carolyn Plath, Kristine Mietzner, and others.

DAVID CORBETT (davidcorbett.com) is the New York Times Notable author of four novels, dozens of stories, numerous scripts, and too many poems. Recovering Catholic, ex-PI, and one-time bar-band gypsy, his book on the craft of characterization, The Art of Character, will be published by Penguin in January 2013.

LOIS REQUIST is Benicia’s Poet Laureate. She received her BA and MA in English from San Francisco State University with the emphasis on Creative Writing. In addition to many poetry, fiction, and nonfiction publications and prizes, she has published Where Lilacs Bloom and RVing Solo Across America …Without a Cat, Dog, Man, or Gun and writes a weekly column at benicia.patch.com.

STEVEN R. BOYETT’s (steveboy.com) novels include Mortality Bridge, Ariel, and Elegy Beach. He wrote a draft of Toy Story 2 for Pixar/Disney, and has been a professional martial-arts instructor, paper marbler, advertising copywriter, and electronic music composer. As a DJ he produces two of the world’s most-popular music podcasts, Groovelectric and Podrunner.

Benicia Literary Arts showcases local authors and promotes area-related writing through publications and events, including readings, signings, and workshops. Learn more at benicialiteraryarts.org.

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Benicia Literary Arts Presents

Sep 14th, 2012 by

StraitQuake 

October 11, 2012 ~ 7 to 9 p.m. ~ Bookshop Benicia, 636 First Street

Three critically acclaimed authors

will read their work, answer questions, and sign books!

David Corbett–Steven Boyett–Janell Moon

You’re invited to a reading on Thursday evening, October 11, 2012 at Bookshop Benicia. The evening is part of StraitQuake, a series of local literary events. It’s free and open to the public.

Benicia Literary Arts is pleased to present readings by David Corbett, Steven Boyett, and Janell Moon.

DAVID CORBETT’s work has been described as “the best in contemporary crime fiction” (The Washington Post).  He is the author of four novels: The Devil’s Redhead, Done for a Dime (a New York Times Notable Book), Blood of Paradise (nominated for the Edgar), and Do They Know I’m Running (Spinetingler Award, Best Novel 2011).  His forthcoming book, The Art of Character: Mastering the Craft of Characterization for Fiction, Film, and TV is scheduled for publication in January 2013.  For more information www.davidcorbett.com.

STEVEN R. BOYETT’S novels include Mortality Bridge, Ariel, and Elegy Beach.  He has earned acclaim for his lectures and readings.  As a DJ he produces two of the world’s most-popular podcasts, Groovelectric and Podrunner.  Read more about Steven at www.steveboy.com.

In 2011, RAW ArT PRESS published JANELL MOON’S memoir, Salt and Paper: Sixty Five Candles, as winner of their 2010 Experimental Poetry Prize.  She was appointed Poet Laureate of her San Francisco Bay Area city, Emeryville, California, for 2011-12.  She is the author of eleven books including spiritual nonfiction (HarperCollinsUK) and four prize winning poetry volumes.  She works as a memoir writing coach and counselor.  Visit Janell’s website for more information:  www.janellmoon.com

StraitQuake is so named–don’t you know–because our community is situated on the beautiful Carquinez Strait, the passageway that channels water from the California Delta to San Francisco Bay.

Benicia Literary Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together authors and the community. Donations are welcome. We have a review process in place for literary submissions. For more information on wonderful literary events in Benicia and submissions, please continue checking this website.
Deconstructing Chinatown, a master class with Author David Corbett

Benicia Literary Arts presents Deconstructing Chinatown, a master class in character and plot with critically-acclaimed author David Corbett on October 6, 2012 at Bookshop Benicia, 636 Main Street, in Benicia, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

David notes, “Almost everything you need to know about writing a great story can be learned from wisely analyzing the classic, entertaining film Chinatown — which students will come to recognize as a modern update of Oedipus the King by Sophocles.” David will lead the class in a group analysis of the story to explore such techniques as:

-Understanding how character determines plot.

-Orchestrating the opposition from an offstage opponent.

-Employing “four-corner conflict” to create moral complexity.

-Developing a symbol system to underscore your thematic concerns.

-Using subtext in dialog.

The author’s forthcoming book, The Art of Character: Mastering the Craft of Characterization for Fiction, Film, and TV, is scheduled for publication by Penguin Books in January 2013.  Read more about the author at www.davidcorbett.com.

To register by mail, send a check and your name, phone, and email to Benicia Literary Arts Registration, c/o The Benicia Herald, 820 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510. For more information, contact board member Kristine Mietzner at 707-319-4228 or kristine2770@yahoo.com.

Benicia Literary Arts gladly accepts donations. For more information on events and submissions, please visit the Benicia Literary Arts website at www.benicialit.org.

 

 

 

 

 

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Peter Bray at the Rellik

Aug 9th, 2012 by

Peter Bray

Peter Bray followed Steven Boyett at the Rellik on July 15. While his performance couldn’t have been more different from Steven’s, strumming an air guitar accompaniment to his lyrical poetry, the result was the same: artistic engagement that made us laugh and cry and, most importantly, think.

Check out, for example, his opening poem in which he masterfully captures Hemingway’s admonition that if you want to send a message, go to the post office.

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Steven Boyett at the Rellik

Aug 8th, 2012 by

In an event sponsored by Benicia Literary Arts at the Rellik on Sunday, July 15, author Steven Boyett read “I’m sorry to have to tell you this,” his story of Captain Red Cloud’s shape-shifting flight on a passenger plane missing a hawk feather.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to view his wonderful performance that transported his audience from the mundane and funny annoyance of airline travel in the present to an uncertain-certain moment when some will choose to control their shape-shifting futures.

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Lois Requist Named Benicia Poet Laureate

Jul 12th, 2012 by

See the excellent Benicia Herald article on Lois Requist’s appointment as Benicia’s Poet Laureate.

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Benicia Herald article on Rellik Reading

Jul 12th, 2012 by

For more on the Rellik reading on July 15 see the article in Wednesday’s Benicia Herald.

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Reading at the Rellik Sunday, July 15

Jul 12th, 2012 by

Come join us for a reading at the Rellik this Sunday, July 15, from 3 to 5:

Reading at The Rellik to Feature Steven Boyett

Local Poets Peter Bray and Jeff Burkhart Also To Read

On Sunday, July 15th between 3 and 5 p.m., the Benicia Literary Arts will present a reading, featuring Steven R. Boyett, a writer of several novels including Ariel, Elegy Beach, and Mortality Bridge. He has earned acclaim for his lectures and readings. As a DJ he produces two of the world’s most-popular podcasts, Groovelectric and Podrunner. See: http://www.steveboy.com/bio.html

Local poets Peter Bray and Jeff Burkhart, as well as other writers will also read. The first hour will include readings by these featured writers; the second hour will be open mike.

Benicia Lit first had a poetry reading at The Rellik in March, which was very well attended. This reading will be a blend of prose and poetry. All readings will be short enough to be appropriate to a setting where people are eating, drinking, and socializing.

Questions about the event should be directed to Lois Requist, 707-746-5070, or email: lois@requist.com.

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