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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2005
Contact:
, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
Write on, Austin! Presents Writing Workshops Featuring Noted Austin Authors
Mayor Will Wynn’s urges Austin to keep writing at www.writeonaustin.org
AUSTIN, November 21, 2005— Write On, Austin! a webspace to extend Mayor’s Wynn’s vision to keep Austin writing, is an interactive web site where veteran and aspiring authors can share stories about their lives and the Austin experience. To inspire local writers to submit their stories, the Austin Public Library and the Friends of the Austin Public Library are offering a series of writing workshops featuring noted local authors, Spike Gillespie (Surrender (But Don't Give Yourself Away): Old Cars, Found Hope, and Other Cheap Tricks), Dagoberto Gilb (Gritos, Woodcuts of Women), and Winston G. Williams (Now That I’ve Told You All That, Would You?).
An extension of Writing Austin’s Lives: A Community Portrait, the stories published on the Write On, Austin! web site will be permanently stored at the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library and may be considered for publication in a second volume of Austin stories.
Writing Austin’s Lives captured the essence of Austin through the stories of hundreds of citizens who submitted their work to be published in what has become a hot selling, award winning book. Written by people of diverse ages, backgrounds, and life circumstances, including many new and inexperienced writers, the stories formed a compelling description of Austin, Texas.
When Mayor Wynn announced his choice of Writing Austin’s Lives: A Community Portrait as the 2005 Mayor’s Book Club selection he also issued a challenge. He wants people in the community to continue writing about their life experiences in Austin, weird or otherwise. The following workshops are offered free to the community.
Write On Austin! Workshop Series:
Who: Spike Gillespie
When: Wednesday, November 30
from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Where: Austin History Center
810 Guadalupe Street
About the Author: Spike Gillespie is an essayist, novelist, poet and reporter with twenty years of writing and editing experience. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and many others. She is the author of two books. In these workshops, Spike describes her life as a writer, answers questions about writing, and leads participants in several fun and very helpful writing exercises, with an emphasis on memoir writing.
Who: Dagoberto Gilb
When: Tuesday, December 6
from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Where: Ruiz Branch Library
1600 Grove Blvd
About the Author: Dagoberto Gilb's most recent book, Gritos was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism. He is also the author of Woodcuts of Women, The Last Known Residence of Mickey Acuña, and The Magic of Blood. His work has been published in The New Yorker, Harper's, GQ, and Latina among others. Gilb spent sixteen years working as a construction worker, twelve of those as a journeyman, high-rise carpenter in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. He is now on the creative writing faculty at Texas State University. Gilb is known for his fearless energy and his goal is to have each participant leave the workshop with one or more developing story ideas for publication.
Who: Winston G. Williams
When: Thursday, December 8
from 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Where: Carver Branch Library
1161 Angelina
About the Author: Winston G. Williams’ recently published memoir, Now That I’ve Told You All That Would You? takes an unflinching look at family, relationships, the church and unconditional love. Following an unprecedented and popular book release party at One World Theatre that drew over three hundred fans, Williams is in the process of promoting the book nationally. To date, he has been featured in several publications and is a special guest on National Public Radio’s In Black America with host John L. Hanson, Jr. He is featured in the December issue of Our Texas Magazine and was recently honored at the Writers' League of Texas' An Evening With Authors at Villa del Sol. Williams plans to spark a lively debate about relationships in the context of Austin, Texas.
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