Tuesday, November 27th, was the 3rd Annual Colorado Christmas Book Festival. Proof NiteClub in Denver was full to the brim with people. Both authors and book lovers were having conversations about nothing other than the books in the room.

Eighteen different Colorado authors were highlighted, including Marcia Reece, author of the best seller Secrets of the Marriage Mouse, and Polly Letofsky, author of 3MPH, and organizer extraordinaire of the event. Some of my favorites at the festival were Gentle Hands, Gentle People by Greeley native Loretta Aileen Carlson Warren and Crash Those Cymbals in Hell, Lorraine Grisky by Colleen A. Miller.

Ever since I’ve joined Colorado Independent Publishers Association, I’ve been astounded by the writing and publishing communities that abound in Colorado. I had always thought of New York and Chicago as where one goes to publish a book. And it is true: those are pretty much the publishing capitals of the English speaking world. But, their strong-hold on publishing is not absolute. Art and writing can still thrive in small communities that support and nurture each other. Colorado is becoming more and more a place for artists to find support and inspiration for their work. I am a new-comer to this … Read More »

Joe Carducci will be reading from his new book LIFE AGAINST DEMENTIA at Wolverine Farm Bookstore in Fort Collins on Thursday, Dec. 6, 7pm.

Carducci has just returned from book events in New York and Philadelphia. He’s written/published 4 books on his imprint, Redoubt Press, in Centennial, Wyoming:

Life Against Dementia – Essays, Reviews, Interviews 1975-2011
Enter Naomi – SST, L.A. and All That…
Rock and the Pop Narcotic – Testament for the Electric Church
Wyoming Stories – Yeung Girl, The Winter Hand, Homo Vampyrus

In the late 1970s Carducci was instrumental in the development of independent record distribution at Systematic in Portland and Berkeley, and in 1981 joined Black Flag’s SST label in Los Angeles. He ran the office and produced records by Minutemen, Saint Vitus, and others.

In 1986 Carducci left the music business and wrote his first book, ROCK AND THE POP NARCOTIC, which James Parker called “The Moby Dick of rock crit,” in the UK mag The Idler. R&TPN, now in its third printing, has become the standard history and aesthetic defense of rock and roll. ENTER NAOMI is Carducci’s memoir of his years in Los Angeles working with the bands and the late music photographer Naomi Petersen. WYOMING STORIES is a collection … Read More »

One of the great things about working for WFP is being introduced to new people and organizations who care more about issues than money. Bike Fort Collins is one of these organizations (their mission: Advocates for Safe and Enjoyable Cycling in Fort Collins, Colorado.) There has been a relationship between these two organizations for some time now. For both WFP and Bike FC making money is something we need to do in order to survive. As much as we wish the Matter Journal, Boneshaker and other WFP publications would just fly off the shelves all the time and fundraisers would be for extras rather than operating expenses – we must supplement with fund raising events. For the last few years Bike FC has graciously shared their fundraising effort with WFP at the USGP Cyclocross. We also have swapped bike-in-cinema nights with them for the last several years. The bike-ins are a big fundraiser for both organizations. Thanks New Belgium.  And thanks to the volunteers of both organizations who worked these events. Volunteer organizations are where you find the good people!

Once again WFP volunteers were working the front line, or should I say the apple press, for the good cause. I’m referring to the 13th Annual Sustainable Living Fair. The yurt was up and it was filled with good books, good people and good smells. Almost everyone who walked in commented on the smell of fresh apples! It was fun to be able to feature the newest Boneshaker and Matterhorn to share with people. Volunteers, some long-term and some brand new, pressed many gallons of cider throughout the weekend on a near 100 year old press! While the apples were being prepared there were also lots of folks talking books, sustainability, simplicity, chickens, music, food, waste, apples, and apple waste — which went to the alpaca and there were even a few author signings. People were visiting from as far away as Florida and California and lots of folks came from other places in Northern Colorado, but almost everyone who entered the yurt was willing to listen and even share some thoughts and of course have a sip of fresh cider! Thank you WFP volunteers.

Join Laura Resau and María Virginia Farinango for an informal conversation (in a mix of Spanish and English) about The Queen of Water— the highly acclaimed novel based closely on Maria Virginia’s girlhood in the Ecuadorian Andes.  This unique experience will be most meaningful if you’ve read the book (or at least started it) beforehand. 

Thursday, July 19, 2012, 7 pm,
Wolverine Farm Bookstore/ The Bean Cycle Coffee Shop
144 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, CO

In a starred review, Publisher’s Weekly praises The Queen of Water: “Narrating in a singular, authentic voice, Virginia dreams of escape [from her oppressors], but her broken identity leaves her directionless. Along the way, though, she employs her imagination, persistence, and hard-won wisdom to recover her strength and freedom. The authors’ candid narrative richly depicts Virginia’s passage from a childhood filled with demoralization to a young woman who sees her life through new eyes.”

Loved by teens and adults alike, The Queen of Water is currently a Colorado Book Award finalist, a School Library Journal Best Book of 2011, an Américas Award Honor Book, a Bank Street Best Book of Outstanding Merit, and an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. For more about the book and authors, … Read More »

Join us on July 7, 2012 for a day-long celebration of books and literary culture in Fort Collins. There will be tables of new and used books from local independent bookstores, kids activities, writing workshops, discussion panels and music!

MAIN STAGE

10am Old Town Puppet Co.
11am Kids Storytime & Crafts (animal theme)
12am Kids Storytime & Crafts (nature theme)
2pm Kids Storytime & Crafts (book theme)
3:30 Fort Collins Poet Laureates
4pm Music by Fatback Johnson
5pm Music by The Tanukis

WORKSHOP YURT

10am The Good, The Bad, The Awkward – workshop on coming-of-age nonfiction with Sarah Paige Ryan

11am Surrealistic Writing Games Workshop with Kathleen Willard

12pm Writing and Publishing Short Stories with Bonnie Nadzam

1pm Young Adult Literature — An Author Panel discussion with Laura Resau, Amy Kathleen Ryan, Brenna Yovanoff, Sarah Paige Ryan and Becca Fitzpatrick.

2:30pm Poetry workshop with Matt Sage and Michael Bussman.

BOOK VENDORS

Matter Bookstore/Wolverine Farm Publishing
Old Firehouse
BookEnds
The Eclectic Reader
Book Lovers
The Bizarre Bazaar
Readers Cove

REFRESHMENTS

New Belgium Brewing
Odell Brewing Company
The Bean Cycle Coffee Shop

ALSO!
Best Face Painter
Screen Printing
and more!