AWP, Seattle March 8-11th 2023
Disrupting the Veteran Writer Stereotype
Event Title: Disrupting the Veteran Writer Stereotype: More than Males, More than Wars on Thursday, March 9, 2023 from 3:20 pm–4:35 pm. The panel will be in room 327, Summit Building, Seattle Convention Center, Level 3
The Moderator
Rebecca Evans: Rebecca Evans is a decorated Gulf War veteran. She’s earned two MFAs, one in Creative Nonfiction, the other in Poetry. Her work has appeared in Narratively, The Rumpus, Entropy Literary Magazine, War, Literature & the Arts, The Limberlost Review, and a handful of anthologies. She co-edited, when there are nine, a tribute to the life and achievements of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Moon Tide Press). Her memoir in verse, Tangled by Blood, will be available 2023 (Moon Tide Press).
The Panelists
Abby E. Murray: Abby E. Murray (MFA & PhD) is the editor of Collateral, a literary journal concerned with the impact of violent conflict and military service beyond the combat zone. Her first book of poetry, Hail and Farewell, examines the conflict between civilian and military life from a feminist perspective.
Mariette Kalinowski: Mariette Katharine Kalinowski is a former Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. She deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2008. She earned her MFA in fiction from Hunter College in 2014. Her story “The Train” appears in Fire and Forget: Short Stories from the Long War. She is still working on her first novel.
Jan LaPerle: Jan LaPerle’s new book of poetry, Maybe The Land Sings Back, was published in Spring 2022 from Galileo Books. She completed her MFA from Southern Illinois University. She now lives in Kentucky with her husband and daughter where she serves on active duty at Fort Knox as an Army master sergeant.
Jacqlyn Cope: Jacqlyn Cope is a writer of poetry and non-fiction. She is an 8-year Air Force veteran that worked as an aeromedical evacuation mission controller who decided to leave the military in 2016 to pursue her writing career. She has a BA in English and an MFA from Mount Saint Mary’s University in creative writing. She currently is the creative non-fiction editor for Collateral Journal. Her ultimate aim is to share her experiences as a woman veteran through writing while hoping to inspire other women veterans to tell their stories too.
2023 Spring Salon: Moon Tide Press & Craft
AWP Book Signings
Visit Moon Tide Press’ Booth 226 for Rebecca’s book signing, Tangled by Blood, on Friday, March 10th at 10 am. Contributing poets from the anthology, when there are nine, at 11 am follow.
AND
Visit University of Nevada,Table T-104 for Rebecca’s book signing, Tangled by Blood, on Saturday, March 11th between 2-4pm, along with other UNR alumni authors: Laura Secord, Michael Gallowglas, Brooke King, and Michelle Donice.
Book Launch & Poetic Performance
Mark your calendars! Sunday, March 19th at 7 pm MST, at Ming Studios. Rebecca will offer a special poetry and performance event to launch her memoir-in-verse, Tangled by Blood. The launch features dancers from Off Center Dance. The event will be recorded by Radio Boise and book sales will be supported by Rediscovered Books.
The Performers
Kelli Brown is the founder of Off Center Dance and Artistic Director for Flamenco Idaho. While with OCD, Ms. Brown choreographed over 30 modern dance works and 5 short dance videos. Her flamenco journey has taken her to Spain five times including two grants for study in Granada. She is an adjunct professor at Boise State University and a dance educator at Idaho Arts Charter School. Ms. Brown has performed with groups including, Flamenco Idaho, Off Center Dance, MahaVia, Flux, Boise Dance Co-op, Drop Dance Collective, and Idaho Dance Theatre. In addition to her performance work, she has choreographed for Alexa Rose Gallery, Drop, College of Southern Idaho and University of Texas, PanAmerica. Brown has taught flamenco workshops for the College of Southern Idaho, Idaho State University and set work on Idaho Dance Theater. She obtained her Master of Arts in Dance from California State University, Long Beach and her MFA in dance performance and choreography from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She is currently a second year member of the Artist Development Series with Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo of NY (2020-22). Ms. Brown has been the recipient of Jacob’s Pillow Grant (2019), NWPE Grant for Flamenco Dance (2018), Alexa Rose Foundation Artist Grant (2017), Fund for Teachers Grant (2015), Boise Arts and History AiR Award (2009) and project grant (2010, 2015), Idaho Commission on the Arts Awards (2010/2022), a Surdna Foundation Fellowship (2010), Bates Dance Fellowship (2011, 2013), and was awarded IDEO Dance Educator of the year 2016.
Lisa Whitwell was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, where she began dancing at the age of 4. She danced at TimeStep Studios, Dance Dimensions, and Dance Pros before continuing her dance training with Marla Hansen at Boise State University. While attending BSU she earned a bachelor’s degree in science, and a masters degree in business. Lisa has been dancing with Off Center Dance since 2009 and became Managing Director in 2016. She currently lives in Boise, ID where she owns a small business with her family.
Madi Miller started dancing at fourteen years old at a studio in Twin Falls, Idaho. She then went on to dance with Inspirata Dance Project under the direction of Cindy Jones. She has an AA in dance and went on to teach at Grace Dance Academy, Xavier Charter School, and Sun Valley Ballet. She is now living in Boise and is a member of Off Center Dance. Madi is thrilled to be a part of this performance and is looking forward to sharing the stories of Rebecca Evans.
Idaho Listens Documentary Premiere
March 20th at the State Capitol Lincoln Auditorium 6-7:15 om MST
Sponsored by a generous donor and working in partnership with Idaho Public Television, Idaho Listens presents a rare opportunity for audiences to listen — truly listen — to speakers from a cross-section of backgrounds, occupations and experiences, who live different values and perspectives about the central issues of our state and our time.
The goal: to listen and learn, nothing more and nothing less.
That goal requires speakers of courage and integrity, who will tell their very human stories to an audience of courage and integrity who will honor them with attentive listening. Speakers and listeners are not expected to agree with one another — far from it. That is why courage and integrity are essential. It takes both to listen, especially when values and perspectives may clash.
Rebecca Evans was one of eleven speakers who presented for the 2022 event.
CLICK HERE to watch a recording this event.
Now, there is a documentary, the making of the first Idaho Listens.
Please join us on March 20th at the State Capitol Lincoln Auditorium 6-7:15 om MST for this premiere.
Rebecca Evans 