Authors Offer Free Workshops in Astoria in February


The Oregon Book Awards Author Tour brings three writers to Astoria and Lincoln City on February 16-17, for free writing workshops and readings.

Ismet Prcic, Carter Sickels and C.S. Whitcomb will appear at the Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria (10 Basin Street)  on Saturday, February 16.  Three free writing workshops will be offered at the hotel on Saturday, with the following schedule:

10:30 a.m. 
Writing Life As Fiction, taught by Ismet Prcic. Participants will take part in exercises to help them discover ways to express their own stories.

1:00 p.m.   
Starting the Big Project, taught by Carter Sickels. For writers at all levels, a hands-on class that will explore different approaches to writing a book, including novels and non-fiction.

2:30 p.m.  
Writing Love Stories: The Anatomy of the Heart, taught by C.S. Whitcomb. For writers at all levels: an exploration of love and the stories we tell. 

Workshops are free but space is limited and participants are asked to register by emailing Susan Denning at susan@literary-arts.org.

Following the day of workshops, there will be a brief panel discussion with all three authors, followed by a reception and book signing.

The writers will also appear on Sunday, February 17th at 3:00 p.m. at the Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City. The writers will read, answer questions, and discuss the role that place plays in their work.

About the Authors Appearing in Astoria and Lincoln City:

Ismet Prcic immigrated to the US from Bosnia in 1996. His novel, Shards, is a 2013 Oregon Book Awards finalist. It won the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction and the L.A. Times Art Seidenbaum Award.

Carter Sickels has taught creative writing classes at IPRC, Gotham Writers' Workshop and Hugo House. His book, The Evening Hour, is a 2013 Oregon Book Awards finalist.

C.S. Whitcomb's plays have been produced at Portland Center Stage and Artists' Repertory Theatre. For television, she created roles for Ellen Burstyn, Jason Robards, Anjelica Huston and many others. Her play, Lear's Follies, is a 2013 Oregon Book Awards finalist.

Local support for this tour comes from the Cannery Pier Hotel, the Astoria Public library and the Driftwood Public Library.

This program was made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities (OH), a statewide nonprofit organization and an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which funds OH's grant program.