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As Christians who write, we meet together to promote unity and fellowship, to encourage one another and to develop our skills as writers. We are a chapter of American Christian Writers, a national organization.

We meet at Grove Avenue Baptist Church, 1 block south of Patterson Avenue at 8701 Ridge Road, Richmond, VA 23229 in Room 211.

We typically meet on the third Sunday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Join us!


Click HERE for directions.


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Saturday, December 06, 2008

VABOOK-NEWS

Hello from VABook-News!

It's time to get a glimpse of who'll be coming to the Virginia Festival of the Book in March. Early signers news below, and a new ticketed event announced with Adriana Trigiani and David Baldacci.

Also, don't miss our "Mixed Bag Challenge"--15 weeks of questions and your answer/comments. The weekly prize is one of our Festival shopping bags, and every entry is eligible for the grand prize. See more below.


Enjoy!

Kevin McFadden
Assoc. Program Director, VABook!

Contents:

I.

VABook! 2009 Announces Early Signers

II.

Just Announced: Trigiani and Baldacci Event

III.

The Mixed Bag: 15 Weeks of Bookish Challenges

IV.

Festival Bags--Take Home the Savings


VABook! 2009 Announces Early Signers

The Virginia Festival of the Book is pleased to announce a selection of “early signers”—those who have committed to appear in its 15th anniversary celebration of books and literacy, March 18-22, 2009.

Fiction luminaries include John Grisham (The Associate), Stephen L. Carter (Emperor of Ocean Park, Palace Council), Mary Doria Russell (Dreamers of the Day), Jean Hanff Korelitz (Admission), Alan Cheuse (To Catch the Lightning), Katherine Neville (The Fire), and emerging writers like Virginia Literary Award winner Helon Habila (Measuring Time) and New South novelist Inman Majors (The Millionaires).

For vampire fans, the Festival is featuring two well-known genre writers Kim Harrison (White Witch, Black Curse), Mario Acevedo (Jailbait Zombie) and recovering pop culture critic Eric Nuzum (The Dead Travel Fast: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula).

Launching poetry books at the Festival will be Rita Dove (Sonata Mulattica) and Gregory Orr (How Beautiful the Beloved). Irish poet Paul Muldoon (Horse Latitudes) and Australian poet laureate Kevin Hart (Night Music) will read, as will a host of poets with Virginia ties: John Casteen (Free Union), Michael Chitwood (Spill), Ted Genoways (Anna, Washing), Sarah Kennedy (Home Remedies), Debra Nystrom (Bad River Road), R.T. Smith (Outlaw Style), and Lisa Russ Spaar (Satin Cash).

Virginia Civil Rights icon John A. Stokes will return to the Festival with his young adult book Students on Strike. Featured photographers will include Sam Abell (The Life of a Photograph) and Robert Llewellyn (Remarkable Trees of Virginia).

Writers with Charlottesville connections include constitutional lawyer John Whitehead (The Change Manifesto), memoirist Peach Friedman (Diary of an Exercise Addict), science historian Eric Vettel (Biotech: The Countercultural Origins of an Industry), New York Times crossword puzzle creator Arthur Schulman (Websterisms: A Collection of Words and Definitions Set Forth by the Founding Father of American English), and public health professor Jeff Goldsmith (The Long Baby Boom).

Participant information and programs will be on the site soon, as details are confirmed.



Just Announced: Trigiani and Baldacci Event

Wine & Words with Adriana and David

Thursday, March 19, 4 - 6 p.m.

Enoteca ($50)

It's la dolce vita with Adriana Trigiani (Very Valentine) and David Baldacci (Divine Justice). Enjoy an assortment of Italian meats, cheeses, grapes, olives, and a glass of wine at this intimate engagement followed by remarks and a booksigning by two of Virginia's best-loved and bestselling authors.

This event will make a great gift for the book lover you know, hosted at Enoteca wine & panini bar on the Downtown Mall. Order tickets online here.


The Mixed Bag: 15 Weeks of Bookish Challenges

We've got just 15 weeks til the Virginia Festival of the Book. What better way to get in the mood for our milestone anniversary than a related challenge question each week. The weekly winner with the most clever, creative, or funny answer gets a free Festival shopping bag (stuffed with great coupons, see below) and every entrant will have a chance to win two tickets to the Trigiani-Baldacci reception on Thursday, March 19 (see above). Take the Mixed Bag Challenge!

Enter by adding a comment to our Mixed Bag Challenge blog. We'll collect these comments week by week and enlist special judges for each challenge. We're giving our newsletter readers a head-start, the first two challenges are below:

The first challenge is live now on the site:

1. What do you love about the Virginia Festival of the Book in 15 words? (Answer online here.)


Sneak Peak for next week:

2. What's your "Martha Stewart" idea for getting the most use out of a Festival shopping bag? (Will post 12/10/08)


Festival Bags--Take Home the Savings

The Virginia Festival of the Book, in partnership with Federal Realty/Barracks Road Shopping Center, have produced 15th anniversary bags, perfect for carrying your favorite books, groceries or anything else!

The bags, made from recycled materials, are on sale for $10 and include more than $200 in free coupons for stores at Barracks Road Shopping Center. You can get your money back in savings on the same shopping trip! Proceeds support VABook!

The 15th Anniversary bags are now available at:

Chimney Corner (434-295-1044)

Blue Ridge Mountain Sports (434-977-4400)

Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters (434-977-1415)

Plow & Hearth (after January 2009 only, 434-977-3707)

Coupons inside are good at the following Barracks Road stores: Origins, Chimney Corner, Rebecca's Natural Food, Smoothie King, Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters, Tara Thai, HotCakes, The Virginia Shop, Oil & Vinegar, and Plow & Hearth.

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