Laura Stanfill introduces the readers at the beginning of the Powell’s Brave on the Page event on Monday, Jan. 7.
A new writer friend, Marcia Riefer Johnston, asked if I was floating after last night’s reading at Powell’s.
Absolutely.
We had an overflow crowd of 150, according to Powell’s staff estimates. We ran out of chairs, so some people sat in between bookshelves or stood around the edges of the gathering. There were people I know, writers and friends and even a row of my neighbors! Tom Spanbauer, a literary god here in Portland for his own work and how he cultivates talent in the writers he teaches, attended our event. There were friends of friends and writers who have studied with writers I have studied with.
But most amazingly, there were writers who came to be inspired, to ask questions about writing what we know (or not) and how we feel about writing groups. There were so many faces in the audience that I didn’t know, and it was so special to share Brave on the Page with them through readings by Kate Gray, Gina Ochsner, Gigi Little, Robert Hill and me. And to share the sense of writerly community and camaraderie through the panel discussion moderated by Joanna Rose and featuring Yuvi Zalkow, Scott Sparling, Jon Bell and Kristy Athens.
This is why I created Forest Avenue Press. To make a concrete representation of community by publishing and promoting Oregon writers and their works. And Brave on the Page is just the beginning. We are at the beginning of our submissions process and expect a lot of good news and excitement in 2013 and beyond.
Here’s part of what I said last night:
“As a novelist, I have always dreamed of reading in the Pearl Room. I’m so grateful to be standing here tonight—as the editor and publisher of Brave on the Page, which recently hit #2 on the Powell’s small press bestseller list. Matt Love called Brave on the Page “easily the most quintessential Oregon book I’ve encountered in a very long time,” when he chose it as the the fourth annual Powell’s On Oregon Blog’s Book of the Year. Brave on the Page is included in the prestigious Powell’s staff Top Fives lists for 2012, was named a staff pick at Powell’s Hawthorne, earned a four-star review from the Portland Book Review, and received coverage in many local papers, including the Oregonian. All these honors reflect the hard work all forty-two contributors put into this project, and I can’t thank them enough.”
Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in last night’s event. And a special thanks to Powell’s, especially Jeremy Garber and Kevin Sampsell.
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- Laura Stanfill introduces the readers at the beginning of the Powell’s Brave on the Page event on Monday, Jan. 7.
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- From left, Yuvi Zalkow, Joanna Rose, Jon Bell, Gigi Little, Robert Hill, Laura Stanfill, Scott Sparling and Kristy Athens. (We missed getting Gina Ochsner and Kate Gray in this one.)
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- Laura gives a big post-event grin when she steps away from the podium.
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- Kristy Athens and Jon Bell, the nonfiction authors on the panel, discuss using their own personal stories in their books.
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- Scott Sparling and Yuvi Zalkow had way too much fun discussing researching–ahem–unusual topics for their novels.
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- Moderator Joanna Rose introduces the panelists.
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- Gina Ochsner, one of my Oregon literary heroes, read her essay “Cynicism” at the Brave on the Page Powell’s event.
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- Kate Gray reads her essay, “Shiny Object, Shiny Object,” from Brave on the Page.
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- Laura Stanfill
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- Kevin Sampsell, of Powell’s (and micro press Future Tense Books), introduces our event.
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- Gigi Little reads her essay, “Mentor,” from Brave on the Page.
Reblogged this on Laura Stanfill and commented:
Thanks to everyone for your support and suggestions about handling my nerves yesterday! Once I got to Powell’s and saw friends and family, neighbors and fellow writers, I relaxed into the experience and had a marvelous time. I’ll post more about the aftermath later this week once I come down from my happy cloud!
An awesome event, Laura. It went so well. Congrats on such a fantastic project!
Thanks for being part of such a special event, Jon. Your additions to the panel discussion were excellent.
Reblogged this on On MOUNT HOOD and commented:
Last night’s “Brave on the Page” event at Powell’s unfolded famously. Here’s editor Laura Stanfill’s recap and pics.
It does feel like floating, doesn’t it? Congratulations.
What a great event. Sorry I couldn’t be there.
I imagine musicians are more used to that post-gig exhilaration! I’m still floating along and rehashing favorite moments with other folks who were there.
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I’m so very proud of you, Laura. What a great event that was. And you looked SMASHING in your beautiful red dress.
Oh thank you, Jackie! I was so glad to see you there, and since I always love your fashion choices, I’m especially glad you liked my vintage dress!
Wow! What a crowd! I can see why you were floating. Congratulations on such a great turnout and a successful event.
Thanks, Christi! It’s so wild to have a dream come true in a bigger, better fashion than I dreamed it. I couldn’t have imagined such a big crowd, or so many amazing writers gathered to celebrate a book that I put together.
You are all kinds of awesome, my friend! xoxo
So are you, Liz! Looking forward to doing our next event with you.
Congratulations! Wish I could have been there.
Oh thank you, Bonnie! I wish my folks had been able to be there, too. It was an unforgettable evening. I am still smiling and thinking about all the special moments that happened.
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Laura, you inspire. Thanks for being such a conduit of community to our Oregon writers tribe.
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