| SPARKS: News & Notes from
Tiny Lights: A Journal of Personal Narrative
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Greetings!,
I'm back from Turkey, but am I really home yet? My dreams are still filled with its sounds and shadows. I crave the coffee and the decadent pastries. But most of all, I miss the company of the writers who were able to join me on this mind-boggling journey. There's already talk of next year, and if it happens, you really won't want to miss it!
But closer to home, we have a terrific new Searchlights & Signal Flares, as well as news about contests and the always fabulous Point Reyes Writers Retreat. Just because Patti Trimble and I have been facilitating it for 8 years running, don't keep denying yourself that treat!
SONOMA COUNTY FOLKS: COME TO THE AQUS SUMMER SPEAKEASY TOMORROW NIGHT!
I confess it's been hard catching my breath after this trip. While I hope your progress is steady and sure, perhaps this video, reminiscent of the dervishes I saw in Istanbul, will help you understand my continuing amazement.
 | | The Whirling Dervishes of Rumi |
Let your lives be wonderful.
Keep writing! |
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8th Annual Point Reyes Writing Retreat
June 8-10, 2012 There's Still Time to Sign Up!
This could be your view from the Lifeboat Station on the remote tip of Point Reyes National seashore, home to sea lions, cormorants, and wildflowers, (and writers for one weekend a year!).
Join Susan Bono and Patti Trimble for a program designed to give you time to write, wander, and share your work in progress.
For information and registration: www.ptreyes.org
June 8-10 7 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday $190 ($180 Members)
Rustic Accommodations at the historic Lifeboat Station included.
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 The Speakeasy Literary Saloon Summer Confab
DON'T MISS IT!!
Foundry Wharf May 30, 7-9 p.m. Lineups don't get much better than this! A word lover's perfect night out!
Gerald Haslam, Stefanie Freele, Norma Watkins, and Ransom Stephens will all be reading from their newest books!
Don't miss the chance to win 5 minutes at the open mic!
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Searchlights & Signal Flares
Tiny Lights' Online Writers' Exchange 
Nobody knows the trouble you've seen, unless you tell us. So what's stopping you? You have your reasons. See how they stack up to the answers given this month to the question,
Read what Arlene Mandell this month's featured writer, has to say on the subject, along with our other contributors: This Month's Featured Writer: Arlene L. Mandell  Arlene L. Mandell is a retired English professor and former writer/editor at Good Housekeeping Magazine. She grew up in the East New York section of Brooklyn, a territory she explores in her e-chapbook, Scenes from my Life on Hemlock Street.
Her first poem was published in the "Metropolitan Diary" section of The New York Times in 1989 when she was 48. Since then her essays, poems and short stories have appeared in more than 375 publications, including Tiny Lights, True Romance, and Women's Voices and in 16 anthologies. She was the winner of the 2008 AAUW/CARE National "Education is Powerful" short story contest and was awarded First Place in the 2009 Redwood Writers Poetry Contest. She's currently on the Sonoma County Book Festival Committee.
As a writer, what are your priorities?
(Deadline 6/15/12)
Send Searchlights submissions with bio (and title!) to editor@tiny-lights.com
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 Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter's Memories of Mother
25 diverse and compelling memoirs about Mother Edited by Kate Farrell A Perfect Gift! Amazon.com or special order at your bookstore Paperback $14.99, e-Book $7.99 www.wisdomhasavoice.com |
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Flash in the Pan
Online Quarterly @ Tiny Lights
Time to send more Flashes.
Guidelines
What is a Flash in the Pan? It's life caught in the blaze of a match, a beam of moonlight, the glare of a home-made explosion. These pieces of first-person non-fiction prose (500 words or less) are like potato chips--you won't be able to stop with just one. Our gems are posted quarterly in January, April, July and October on the Tiny Lights website. A select few appear in the hard copy editions of the magazine. Send your jewels to editor@tiny-lights.com.
Go to:Flash in the Pan
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Sheila Bender's Writing it Real
 Summer Reading Contest
Does the World Inspire You? Contest Reading Period May 30 to July 30, 2012 Do you have an essay or poems inspired by your observations of the world around you? Perhaps we can challenge you to write one especially for this contest. Like some of our past contests, this one includes the opportunity for revision because Sheila believes in second chances. She will read and respond to your essays of up to 1500 words or three poems. A reading fee of $15 for members (it's easy to join). Revised work my be resubmitted for final judging by a guest judge (to be announced) at no extra cost. The guest judge will choose three winners who will receive free consults with Sheila as well as publication of their winning essay. Sheila wants everyone to be a winner and by receiving her detailed response to your submitted writing, you get a head start in making your writing sing.
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Read issues at www.echapbook.com See www.echapbook.com/submissions.htm for submissions guidelines. Contact Publisher Jo-Anne Rosen: echaps@wordrunner.com |
SAVE THE DATES!
June 28, 29, 30
July 5, 6, 7
Petaluma Readers Theatre Presents
Another Evening with Tiny Lights
At the Murray Rockowitz Photography Studio, Downtown Petaluma
Featuring award-winning essays by:
Cynthia Cady, Ken Rodgers, Robin Beeman, Amy Miller, Kathleen McCormick, Andy Gloege, Patricia Bingham, Cynthia Patton, Nancy Colvin, Patti Murphy
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Tiny Lights Recommends: Sonoma County Free Bookmobile Help bring free books to Sonoma County residents. ***************
Walking With Your Muse: weekly writing practice classes in Santa Rosa with Margaret Caminsky Shapiro: 707-575-8820
www.handwritingonline.net
****************** Marlene Cullen hosts this series of writing workshops on the third Thursday of the month from 7-9 p.m. at the Petaluma Community Center. Call 778-4380 (Petaluma Community Center) or visit www.thewritespot.us for info. $15 at the door ******************** Online Classes with Ken Rodgers
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For reservations, or more information call: OCA 707 874 9392. OCA is located in Harmony Village in downtown Occidental at 4008 Bohemian Hwy.
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Iota Press is a letterpress shop and literary studio in Sebastopol.
Along with the usual enchantment and shenanigans, Iota's Slow Print Cooperative has morphed into a quarterly offering of little books. "Almost a journal. Nearly a magazine. Kind of a trip." $30 per year for 4 chapbooks. $10 single copies.
Location: 925-c Gravenstein Hwy in South Sebastopol (next to "Beekind").
Contact: Eric Johnson....823-6152 Our latest works online at: www.iotapress.com
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Since 1995, Tiny Lights has been celebrating the power of personal voice with a biannual journal devoted to short essay. The annual essay contest, which offers $1500 in prizes, provides the material for the summer issue, while the winter issue is by invitation only.
The online component of Tiny Lights is designed to catch what can't be contained in the pages of the newsstand editions. Lights Online provides a venue for additional voices, information about Tiny Lights and resources for writers of personal essay. Sparks: Email News & Notes is our free monthly electronic newsletter.
Subscriptions to the print edition of Tiny Lights, which includes original art:
$10 per year (2 issues)
Current issue: $5 each
Back issues: $3 each Checks payable to Tiny Lights Publications, P.O. Box 928, Petaluma, CA 94953
Or take advatage of our new PayPal feature!
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 Susan Bono, Editor
Tiny Lights Publications
P.O. Box 928, Petaluma, CA 94953
(707) 762-3208
www.tiny-lights.com |
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