Portland Book Events: June 29-July 5

From what I could find (please contact me if you have an event you would like me to add to this or future schedules), the local book events for the week of June 29, 2009 through July 5, 2009 are:

Monday June 29-

Moe Bowstern Reading (In Other Words Books, @6:30pm): Moe Bowstern challenges any and all to stump her at her own benefit for Xtra Tuf zine. “I can turn any topic into a fishing story.” claims this nautical tale teller and 20-year veteran of the Alaska commercial fishing industry. Bowstern is raising money to fund the publication of the latest issue of her zine Xtra Tuf, The Greenhorn Issue. She is turning to you, her friends and family, for support after a nerve injury this December deprived her of employment as a (non insured) commercial fisherwoman and laborer. Moe Bowstern will read from her forthcoming zine, as will a few suprise guests, with plenty of time for audience members to stump the storyteller with topics for her to weave into a fishing yarn. Please come! Bring a friend! Donate! Out of towners can send challenges, cash and/or checks! There will be snacks! Bring $5-$500! Coins ok! EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS

Bibi Gaston Reading (Powells Books on Hawthorne, @7:30pm): In The Loveliest Woman in America (William Morrow), the discovery of her grandmother Rosamond’s lost diaries, scrapbooks, and letters inspires Bibi Gaston to embark on a journey to find the truth about the tragic actress’s rise and fall.

Kaya Oakes Reading (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): As the signature style bleeds into mainstream fashion, the individuality of the indie movement seems to be losing ground. In Slanted and Enchanted (Holt), Kaya Oakes demonstrates how this phase is part of the natural cycle of a culture that reinvents itself continuously.

Tuesday June 30-

Barbara Bentley Reading (St. John’s Booksellers, @11:00am): Barbara Bentley was swept off her feet when she met the handsome, well-spoken retired naval officer.  He proved to be a psychopathic con man who tried to murder Barbara and left her with finances as broken as her heart.  Then, from behind bars, he laid claim to alimony and half of Barbara’s retirement fund!  Barbara’s memoir, A Dance With the Devil, is a story not only of victimhood, but of victory–of fighting back both in her own life and in California’s legal system, winning changes in the law that protect abused women from their convicted mates.

Lessons learned are lessons to be shared.  Through personal experience Bentley shows that inspiration is culled from mayhem, hope shines through darkness, and strength emerges with belief in one’s journey.  The book offers readers profound insight into
•    how a psychopath reeks havoc without conscience or remorse
•    how a psychopath targets women who are intelligent and financially stable
•    how the covert use of verbal and financial abuse sets up a “crazy-making” pattern
•    why trust must be earned in a new relationship and not given unconditionally
•    how understanding one’s self is the key to happiness
•    how one person can make a difference to themselves, family, friends, and society

Barbara Bentley will sign and answer questions about A Dance With the Devil during this casual lunchtime signing.

A Conversation About Public Libraries with Vailey Oehlke (Gerding Theatre at the Armory, @6:00pm): Since its founding in 1864, Multnomah County Library has played a dynamic role in the evolution of the Portland metropolitan area. Today, amidst a turbulent economy, evolving technology and increased pressures on our educational system, the public library has become more essential than ever.

Join us for a discussion with Multnomah County’s new library director, Vailey Oehlke, about the public library’s role in supporting community engagement, facilitating learning and nurturing creativity at an individual and collective level. Moderated by Tim DuRoche of Portland Center Stage.

Biblio Vinio Book Talk (Vinideus, @6:30pm): Hello Book Lovers! You’re invited! Join A Children’s Place Bookstore for the next Biblio Vinio Book Talk, as Gina, our adult book buyer presents five new and exciting titles for your reading pleasure. Be sure to stop by Vinideus early to have a glass of fine French wine, savor tasty mosels, and then sit back and enjoy the book talk. Please contact the store to reserve your spot. This event is ticketed, $5.00.

Kimberly Dark – Writing For Performance/Performance Writing (In Other Words Books, @6:30pm): During this course, individuals will learn about various forms of writing for performance, including the hugely popular genre of slam poetry. Participants will write AND perform during the workshop; the focus is on writing for listener, rather than the reader. Throughout the day, participants will do “writing practice” on various themes that will yield material for a final brief performance in the afternoon. Participants will learn about the elements of performance story-telling (primarily rhythm, movement, repetition and story-progression). Through fun activities and a supportive setting, even those who have never read their writing aloud will have a positive experience. Find out more about Kimberly Dark – kimberlydark.com

Ariel Gore, Sarah Dougher and Dexter Flowers Read (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): At once a love letter to the Rose City and a dream of escape, Portland Queer (Microcosm) reveals the contradictions and commonalities of life in one of the world’s queer meccas. Editor Ariel Gore and contributors Sarah Dougher and Dexter Flowers will read.

Carol Cassella Reading (Annie Bloom’s Books, @7:30pm): Anesthesiologist Carol Cassella writes about the collision of family and medical drama in Oxygen, her debut novel.

Following an operating room disaster, Dr. Marie Heaton faces a malpractice lawsuit. As she struggles to salvage her career and reputation, Marie must face hard truths about the path she’s chosen, the bridges she’s burned and the colleagues and superiors she’s mistaken for friends.

Smorg presents Susan Tichy and Stacy Szymaszek (The Waypost, @7:30pm): Susan Tichy’s most recent book, Bone Pagoda (Ahsahta Press, 2007), is an extended meditation on Vietnam-the country, the war, and the moral catastrophe signified by this word in American memory. It is underwritten by her experience as a war protester and as the wife of a combat veteran. Her poems have appeared widely in the US and Britain, and have been recognized by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous awards. She teaches in the Graduate Writing Program at George Mason University in Virginia, and otherwise makes her home in a ghost town in the Colorado Rockies. Her fourth book, Gallowglass, will be out from Ahsahta in 2010.

Stacy Szymaszek is the author of Emptied of All Ships (Litmus Press, 2005), Hyperglossia (Litmus Press, 2009) as well as many chapbooks, most recently Orizaba: A Voyage With Hart Crane (Faux, 2008). A limited edition letterpress chapbook, from Hart Island, is forthcoming from Albion Books. She is the editor of Gam and the Artistic Director of the Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church.

INFKP presents Lisa Ciccarello & Emily Kendal Frey, w/art by Randell Sims (3968 SE Mall St., Apt A, @7:30pm): Lisa Ciccarello is the author of two chapbooks: At Night (Scantily Clad Press 2009) & At night, the dead: (Blood Pudding Press 2009). Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming from Glitterpony, elimae, Otoliths, Anti-, Saltgrass & Sawbuck, among others. She’s currently assistant editor at Scantily Clad Press.

Wednesday July 1-

Oregon Literary Review’s First Wednesday Reading Series (Blackbird Wineshop, @7:00pm): The readers/performers for July 1 are Barbara Blossom, Nancy Woods, Karen Flagstad.

Barbara Blossom is the author of six books, so far, including Married to My Garden and Garden Retreats: Creating an Outdoor Sanctuary. She writes “Garden Muse,” a weekly garden column for the Portland Tribune and has written for many garden magazines, including Fine Gardening and Better Homes & Gardens. She is working on a sequel to Married to My Garden, with a working title of All My Children, as well as a memoir. Barbara gardens on 2/3 of an acre in Southwest Portland and enjoys opening her garden to the interested gardeners.

Nancy Woods is a Portland writer whose essays have been read on Oregon Public Radio and published in the Oregonian, Oregon Quarterly, Oregon Humanities, Northwest Palate, Nervy Girl!, and An Ear to the Ground: Presenting Writers From 2 Coasts (Cune, Seattle).

Karen Flagstad lives and writes in Southeast Portland, Oregon, where she shares a 96-year old house with her husband and two cats. She holds degrees in English literature from San Diego State University and UCLA. For her dissertation, she wrote about Shakespeare (The Tempest), Renaissance travel literature, and magic traditions, completing her UCLA doctorate in 1979. She has worked as a flight attendant, a teacher, a technical editor, and a writer. Her publications include literary criticism, travel pieces, poetry, book reviews, and articles on the environment. Currently she is at work on a memoir.

CFI Freethinker’s Book Group (Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, @7:00pm): This month’s nonfiction book group meets to discuss the first half of Only A Theory, by Kenneth Miller. Join us!

Jerome Gold Reading (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): Paranoia and Heartbreak (Seven Stories Press) is Jerome Gold’s unflinching account of the 15 years he spent as a rehabilitation counselor in a prison for juveniles in Washington state.

Thursday July 2-

Summer Thursday at ACP featuring Beth Zapitello (A Childrens Place Bookstore, @1:00pm): During the bright, fun days of summertime, come join your friends at ACP for “Summer Thursdays.” Each Thursday at 1:00, the store will host various events from sidewalk-chalk art drawing to author workshop visits. Sure to be fun for all. This Thursday ACP plays host to Beth Zapitello, author of The First Dog, with special guest Cooper, the Portuguese Water Dog.

Artist’s Reception for Kate Bingaman-Burt (Reading Frenzy, @6:00pm): We’re very, very pleased to present Obsessive Consumption by Kate Bingaman-Burt this month! Ms. Bingaman-Burt will practically be creating a store within a store with not just an exhibit, but window displays, bins filled with dozens of original drawings, 40 issues of her beautifully produced What Did You Buy Today zines, and other objects and oddities relating to personal consumption! We can’t wait!

Kate Bingaman-Burt is an illustrator, designer, writer and founder of Obsessive Consumption. She also is an assistant professor of graphic design at Portland State University.

For the last four years, she has produced drawings inspired from her daily purchases, no matter how mundane. Bingaman-Burt’s work explores the relationship between people and their possessions as was as the consumer culture.

Her work about personal consumerism has appeared in installations and exhibitions across the country as well as in multiple media outlets such as New York Times Magazine, How, Print, Art News and National Public Radio. Princeton Architectural Press is publishing her first book:  Obsessive Consumption: What Did You Buy Today? which contains containing 650 of her Daily Purchase Drawings, patterns and credit card statements in March of 2010.

She is active in the indie craft and craftivism movements and provided all of the illustrations for the book Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design as well as the promotions for the companion documentary of the same name. Some of the other people she happily draws for are IDEO, Madewell, Ready-Made Magazine, The New York Times and Wieden + Kennedy.

Kate also travels to schools and conducts zine workshops and spreads the craftivism word. She will be conducting her first international zine workshop for the American University in Cairo, Egypt in 2010.

This event is free. The exhibit will run through the month of July.

Readings at Rilassi (Rilassi Coffee House and Tea, @6:30pm): Rilassi Coffee House and Tea, Ken Arnold Books and Buzzaroonie present Margaret Chula and Ken Arnold for the July Readings at Rilassi event.  Chula and Arnold will read their award-winning haiku and other poems at Rilassi Coffee House and Tea in South Waterfront.  As always this event is Free and Open to the Public and free drip coffee will be offered.

First Thursday: The Source Family Photography (Powells City of Books, @6:30pm): The Source Family was a spiritual commune led by a charismatic leader named Father Yod. In her new book, The Source, Isis Aquarian — Keeper of the Records at the commune — tells their fascinating story. The photo exhibit includes a selection from Aquarian’s archive. The author herself will join us in person next week, Wednesday the 8th, to discuss the book and share a slide show and rare film footage.

Jaimal Yogis Reading (Powells Books on Hawthorne, @7:30pm): Fed up with suburban teenage life, Jaimal Yogis ran off to Hawaii with little more than a copy of Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha and enough cash for a surfboard. Equal parts spiritual memoir and surfer’s tale, Saltwater Buddha (Wisdom Publications) is a chronicle of finding meditative focus in the barrel of a wave and eternal truth in the great salty blue.

Bibi Gaston Reading (Annie Bloom’s Books, @7:30pm): Bibi Gaston’s memoir The Loveliest Woman in America is both a heartfelt exploration into the life of her grandmother and an elegant portrait of an epoch in America full of glamor and excitement.

After receiving a treasure trove of diary entries that belonged to her grandmother, Rosamond Pinchot, Bibi began to explore the life of the young woman who was born into a wealthy and powerful family, and who quickly became a Hollywood and Broadway star of the 1920s ad 1930s. Though she was a beloved actress and socialite, Rosamond committed suicide at the young age of 33. Bibi’s investigation into the emotional turmoil that brought her grandmother to such a decision grows into an exploration of her own life, her family’s history, and a bygone era that remains iconic in the American psyche.

Here are links to the community calendars for the Tri-County area Libraries: Washington County, Multnomah County, Clackamas County.