Cross-posted from valleylitlist@yahoogroups.com
PEN USA 2008 Literary Awards Deadline

From: Literary Awards

Dear Publishers, Editors, Writers, and Producers of Literary Works,

The deadline for PEN USA’s annual Literary Awards has been extended!

As many of you know, "Highway 99" is the seminal anthology of Valley poets, essayists, fiction and nonfiction writers. Published by Heyday Books's Great Valley Books imprint (with help from the James Irvine Foundation), it's the first book to anthologize the Valley's many accomplished writers. It was a work that was long overdue, as Central California authors are so often overlooked.

Ten years have passed since Highway 99's first publication, and now Heyday has released a 2nd edition containing some 80 new pages of Valley authors.

Cross-posted from MindHub...

Friends of the Fresno County Public Library Informational Meeting
October 17 at 6 pm, Cedar-Clinton Branch Library
October 23 at 7 pm, Sunnyside Regional Library
The Friends will host informational meetings to encourage participation
in forming new groups for the Cedar-Clinton and Sunnyside libraries.
The Friends coordinate a variety of fundraising events throughout the
year to raise money for more library programs and services. Call Linda
Calandra at 488-3492 or go online to
www.fresnolibrary.org/help/develop/friends.html.

For those who may want to drive to see their favorite author...

CALIFORNIA LECTURE SERIES
Subscriptions are on sale now for their next six-lecture series
($150). Subscribe and get more info at: (916) 737-1300 or visit

www.californialectures.org

SIX-LECTURE SERIES: Crest Theatre, Sacramento | 7:30pm

YANN MARTEL | Wednesday, October 24, 2007
HA JIN | Thursday, November 15, 2007
SUE MILLER| Thursday, January 10, 2008
GERALDINE BROOKS | Wednesday, February 6, 2008
RICHARD POWERS | Monday, March 3, 2008
TOBIAS WOLFF | Thursday, May 8, 2008

Big thanks to CSUF Assistant English Professor Steve Church for bringing New York Times bestselling author, Steve Almond, to Fresno State tonight!

Here's the announcement cross-posted from valleylitlist@yahoogroups.com:

Hi Friends,

Please mark your calendars for this upcoming reading featuring acclaimed
writer, Steve Almond, author of the new collection of essays, Not That You
Asked . Almond will read and sign books at Fresno State on Friday, Sept. 21
at 7:30 p.m. in the Alice Peters auditorium. Relaxed parking will be
provided.

I was lucky to hear local author, David Mas Masumoto (author of "Epitaph for a Peach" amongst others) read last Saturday night at the Fresno Art Museum, and it was an amazing event. The drumming, the music, his family--it's a delightful literary experience like I've never seen before. Mas is such a beloved Valley literary treasure, that I wouldn't miss his reading tonight at the Respite by the River.

Here's the official event announcement:

Valley author David Mas Masumoto will be speaking tonight at Fresno's monthly Respite by the River reading hosted at The River Center.