October 2006

Greetings from Inkberry!

As many of you know by now, Rachel Barenblat, Inkberry’s founding executive director, has transitioned into her new role as a full-time student in the ALEPH Rabbinical Program. I’d like to begin my first inkmail as Inkberry’s new director by thanking Rachel for founding and leading this organization and by wishing her the best of luck in her new direction! Happily, she will be staying on as a member of our board of directors and we’ll see her in the office now and then.

Some of you may know me as Inkberry’s program administrator. If we haven’t met, my name is Jill Gilbreth—I’m very happy to be here and I’m looking forward to getting to know more of you. In these next few months, I’ll be introducing some new faces at Inkberry and contacting you about upcoming events. As always, if you would like us to keep in touch via snail mail instead of e-mail, contact us at info@inkberry.org.

First, some exciting news! Last year at around this time, Inkberry received notification of our first Organizational Support Grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Grants like these are hard to come by and we were thrilled that the MCC chose to give this very critical support to Inkberry. Thank you again MCC! Last week, we received a letter informing us that our grant has been increased as a result of an initiative to infuse state funding for arts and culture led by MAASH (Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities) and supported by its advocates in the legislature, including Senators Therese Murray (D-Plymouth), Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell), Jack Hart (D-South Boston) and Representatives Bob DeLeo (D-Winthrop), Marie St. Fleur (D-Dorchester), Dan Bosley (D-North Adams) and Eric Turkington (D-Falmouth). We thank MAASH and its advocates their commitment to the arts!

September was a terrific month for many reasons. One of the highlights was listening to North Adams Native Beth Saulnier read to a packed audience at the North Adams Public Library. Earlier that day, she taught a mystery writing workshop at Inkberry and shared some of her publishing knowledge as well. Her latest mystery, The Mortician’s Daughter, is set right here in the Berkshires and is an excellent read. You can get a copy in North Adams at Papyri Books on Main Street. Thanks to Beth, the North Adams Public Library, Papyri Books and Molly’s Bakery for a fun event! Read about Beth Saulnier and her work here.

We have more great stuff happening this month. I’ll be sending announcements as dates for workshops, readings and other events draw near. In the meantime, check out the opportunities and upcoming workshops and events below!

Jill

This Month’s Happenings

Thursday Night Critique October 5th and October 19th at 7:30 at Inkberry led by Inkberry’s workshop facilitator, Bill Belcher. You got yourself in the chair and wrote the draft. Print the draft and bring it to Inkberry. Writers need feedback. Get it here.

College Night (MCLA workshop group) October 10th and October 24th at 6:30 at Inkberry led by Inkberry’s college workshop facilitator Sarah Russell. College students who write poetry and fiction—get your feedback here.

Jewish Writers’ Wordplay October 14th at 7:30 at Papyri Books featuring poet Rachel Barenblat and hosted by Gail Burns. On the second Saturday of every month, Inkberry and Papyri Books bring local writers together to read from their fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Read more about Rachel and about WordPlay here.

Writing Short Fiction: an On-line Workshop for Beginners taught by fiction writer Joanna Luloff. This 6-week course will give the beginning writer an overview of the basic elements of fiction writing. Meets Mondays on-line beginning October 30th. Read more about Joanna Luloff and this workshop here.

Opportunities

Call for Writers: food historian, editor (and Inkberry member) Linda Berzok is seeking submissions for a new book on Women, Recipes and Stories. Read more about this opportunity here.

Call for Readers: The David & Joyce Milne Public Library is looking for readers to perform classic and contemporary plays at the library. Read more about this opportunity here.