Thanks to Margaret Heller and her assistants, and also thanks to the community poets who participated in this sweet event at the Brandon Township Hall. The poems, and the performances, were outstanding.

Manager Cherie Gray and the staff of the UMF Bookstore helped make this event memorable and successful. Bribed by extra credit points, about ten students from my Intro to Creative Writing and Personal Essay classes showed up, along with many neighbors and friends. I was especially happy to see Mary Helen, my next door neighbor, and to meet Jane Bingham, another writer and friend of poet Grayce Scholt. Thanks to Hopwood Winner Christopher Ruhlen for being my “warm-up band” and for Grayce for allowing me to conclude with two of her gripping poems.

What a wonderful experience! Barb Crawford, Carol Primus, Joanne Reynolds and many other hard-working folks made this conference a writer’s dream – and, I hope, a reader’s dream as well.

I really enjoyed meeting Abby Ranger from Scholastic Press, along with Katherine Norgard, author of the wrenching and compelling memoir Hard to Place: A Crime of Alcohol. Also the wonderful Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, fresh from her recently acquired fruit orchard – she’s amazing as both a poet, moderator and teacher. I also thoroughly enjoyed meeting “Dr. Colorado” Tom Noel and his sidekick Mark Twain.

There is a lot more to say about this conference, but for now, I simply want to say thank you to everyone who made it happen.

And the scenery of Crested Butte is unparalleled. I hope to go back sometime soon!

For information about this cool conference in a lovely part of the country, check out www.readersintherockies.com.

Jan read from Night Blind, discussed the story's history and her
publishing process, and then participated in a panel discussion and Q&A
on the book.

Contact Name: Dr. Maureen Thum
Contact E-mail: mthum@umflint.edu
Street Address: Ferris State University
City: Big Rapids
State: Michigan
Zip: 49307
Telephone: 810-762-3285
Directions: Available on website
Web Location: http://www.alma.edu/

Thanks to Charlotte and Rachel at Under the Bridge Bookstore for another wonderful night in San Pedro.

 View photos from this event...

Thanks to John Alita of the San Bruno Public Library and Tonga RPCV Emile Hons for a wonderful night and Night Blind reading.



Note the beautiful tapa cloth from Emile's collection, given
to him more than 30 years ago by his Tongan family.

1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10
Little Professor Book Center
Silver Pointe Shopping Center
17075 Silver Parkway
Fenton, MI 48430
810-629-3193

Open Monday thru Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday – 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

2-5 p.m. Saturday, January 27
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
Genesee Valley Mall
4370 Miller Road Unit E-10
Flint, MI 48507
810-732-0704
Open 9-11 daily