Celebrate the life and work of one of the great American writers and activists of the 20th century. Grace Paley’s decades of streetlevel action are inextricable from her writing – and equally valuable as a model. The event will be held at Looking Glass Bookstore Friday, December 5th, 7pm. The store is located at 7983 SE 13th Ave in Portland OR. For more event info, contact Looking Glass Books: 503/227.4760 +lookingglassbook@qwestoffice.net
Grace's good friend Ursula LeGuin will read a bit. Judith Arcana, author of Grace Paley's Life Stories, A Literary Biography, will talk a bit. Nancy LaPaglia will be our MC, introducing Portland writers Rodger Larson* and Sharon Wood Wortman*, who will read from Grace's work and their own.
The audience will read from Grace's work too - and everybody will probably laugh and think a lot. Then they'll eat and drink and buy books for their own pleasure, for gifts, and to sustain one of Portland's much-loved independent bookstores (all of which are things Grace would do if she were here).
*Rodger Larson’s What I Know Now received the Andres Berger Award from Pacific Northwest Writers and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. His second novel, Raindog, is currently with an agent, looking for placement with a publisher. Rodger has been Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at Linfield College, currently teaches Creative Writing at PCC’s Southeast Center, and offers an ongoing writing workshop in his home.
*Sharon Wood Wortman has been a writer and often-enrolled student since 1984, giving up full-time seniority at Union Pacific Railroad to support her kids with words. The gamble, despite her Depression-born grandmother’s protests, worked: she’s got ten grandchildren who do not miss many meals. She’s best known for The Portland Bridge Book; visit www.bridgestories.com for a virtual tour of the Morrison Bridge.
For more Grace info: Judith Arcana's website