My picture book, Snow Sisters! came out with Knopf/Random House earlier this month. I have several West Seattle events/story times scheduled that I’m hoping you might help share with our community. The first is at Barnes and Noble this Sunday, January 21st at 11:00am. It's part of a book fair/fundraiser for Arbor Heights Cooperative Preschool, where my children both attended school before moving on to elementary school at West Seattle Montessori. I will lead a winter themed story time and craft, and a portion of every game, book, or treat purchase will be donated to the school. Community members are encouraged to shop and support Arbor Heights Cooperative Preschool through the weekend, even if they can’t make the story time. As long as we are promoting the book fair, and bringing in business to Barnes and Noble, it is not necessary for community members to be part of the school to help with this fundraiser. Simply share the book fair ID number 12310967 at checkout. And of course, everyone is welcome at the story time! https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780061910635-0 I will also be doing a story time at West Seattle Library on Wednesday, January 24th at 10:30 am and at Southwest Library on Thursday, February 15th at 10:30 am. Snow Sisters! By Kerri Kokias and Teagan White ISBN 97811019388836 Knopf Books for Young Readers Publication Date: January 2, 2018 Just like snowflakes, no two sisters are alike, but that doesn’t mean they can’t work together to make the perfect snow day! A heartwarming sibling story. When snowflakes fall, two sisters react very differently. One is excited and the other is wary. The first sister spends the morning outdoors, playing until she’s all tuckered out. Meanwhile, the second sister stays indoors, becoming ever more curious about the drifts outside. Soon, they switch places, and spend the second half of the day retracing each other’s footsteps. But each sister puts her own unique spin on activities like sledding, baking and building. The simple mirrored text is spare and lovely, and each spread is split to show what each sister is doing independently–until at last they come together in the sweet, satisfying conclusion. LeUyen Pham’s Big Sister, Little Sister meets Kate Messner’s Over and Under the Snow.

Professor Lorraine Bannai presents her new book, "Enduring Conviction - Fred Korematsu and His Quest for Justice" Friday, March 3rd at Barnes & Noble/Westwood for "Words, Writers & West Seattle" Knowing that the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was a fundamental denial of basic human rights, a young attorney, Lori Bannai, helped vindicate a Japanese American man who resisted F.D.R.'s Executive Order. She has now written a book about him, his wartime case, and how, decades later, he won a measure of justice for himself and the Japanese American community - Enduring Conviction: Fred Korematsu and His Quest for Justice (published by University of Washington Press (2015)). Bannai combines insider knowledge of the case with extensive archival research, personal letters, and interviews with Korematsu, his family, and close friends. She uncovered the inspiring story of a humble, soft-spoken man who fought tirelessly against human rights abuses long after he was exonerated. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society sponsors this free book-talk series on the 'First Friday' of each month. Lori's presentation will take place at 5 pm, on Friday, March 3rd, 2017, at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. After refusing to leave for incarceration when ordered, Korematsu was eventually arrested and convicted of a federal crime before being sent to the internment camp at Topaz, Utah. He appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court, which, in one of the most infamous cases in American legal history, upheld the wartime orders. Forty years later, Bannai was part of a team of young attorneys who reopened Korematsu's case and cleared his conviction based on proof that the government suppressed, altered, and destroyed material evidence while prosecuting Korematsu during WWII. In 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded Korematsu the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Lori Bannai now the Director of the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality and a Professor of Lawyering Skills at Seattle University School of Law. Her parents and their families were incarcerated in a camp in World War II. She has lived in West Seattle for 24 years and has raised her two children there. "Words, Writers & West Seattle's" next book-talk is scheduled for April 7th and will feature Judy Bentley and her book, "Hiking Washington's History", focusing on areas around the Duwamish River. For videos on these and other authors' presentations, visit: www.loghousemuseum.info/events/words-writers-and-west-seattle. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by contacting Dora-Faye Hendricks, Chair, […]

Reviewing the years of her childhood, education, teaching and counseling, work as "Rosie the Riveter" for Boeing, political activity with the National Organization of Women, community organizing, performing musical and comedic entertainment, Georgie Kunkel will talk about her book 'Color Me Feminist' at Words, Writers & West Seattle's monthly book-talk series. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society sponsors this free book-talk series on the 'First Friday' of each month. This presentation of Color Me Feminist, the 35th installment of the series, will take place at 5 pm, Friday, August 5th, 2016, at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. After Kunkel earned her Bachelor's degree from Western Washington University and her Masters from the University of Washington, Kunkel discovered she could not get a teaching contract if she was married. Later, she was fired four times while teaching for being pregnant so it took her longer to be able to retire after teaching school for 15 years and working as an elementary school counselor another 15 years. She was the first person to lobby the legislature for elementary school counselors to be funded, helped her district prepare the norming process for certifying elementary school counselors, and was one of the first elementary counselors covered by certification in Washington State. She also created and presented the first program about sexism for Region X government office workers in Seattle, and was President of the Washington State's National Organization for Women. At 96, Georgie dances weekly, swims at the local YMCA and remains active in local political organizations..Her philosophy is: "Keep moving, thinking and laughing. The alternative is that you die young. Older people should not be shoved aside in life but always serve as a beacon for younger people to learn from." "Words, Writers & West Seattle's" next book-talk is scheduled for September 2nd and will feature Molly Ringle and her new adult fantasy book, Immortal's Spring, the last in a trilogy that revives ancient Greek myths in modern romance. For videos on these and other authors' presentations, visit: www.loghousemuseum.info/events/words-writers-and-west-seattle. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by contacting Dora-Faye Hendricks, Chair, "Words, Writers & West Seattle" by phone at 206-280-9983 or by e-mail at Dora-Faye@comcast.net.

Author Jack Lewis Reads at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble Saturday, April 30 at 4 pm. Local author Jack Lewis will be reading from his book 'Head Check, What it Feels Like to Ride Motorcycles' at the Westwood Village Barnes & Noble on Saturday, April 30 at 4 pm. Head Check invites readers to take in the color and detail of a rider’s life vividly realized, richly observed, and transcendently described. During his tenure at Motorcyclist magazine, Jack Lewis has touched readers around the world not only through his incandescent prose riffs and self-effacing humor, but also through a consistent and deeply felt humanity. This collection of magazine features and columns alongside personally published web pieces and new material may be populated by motorcycles, but it centers around the varied experiences of riders (and their tolerant keepers) in a world where risk is a bet you make with yourself for purposes that must always transcend mere recreation. More Information available at http://litsam.com/jack-lewis-returns-to-seattle/.

14 young local authors present their own books on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 5-7 pm. The public is invited to this FREE series at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village - "Words, Writers & West Seattle's" First Friday Book Talk sponsored by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Students from Madison Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School will be talking about the books they've written as a part of a Community Learning Center program out of the West Seattle YMCA, first started at Madison Middle School and Sealth High School. The 14 Young Authors consist of nine from Madison Middle School and five from Chief Sealth International High School. Their stories, essays and poetry are bound into books published by the West Seattle YMCA Community Learning Center. All purchases made by those attending the talk that afternoon and for the following five days will result in a contribution of ten percent of sales to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society under the Barnes & Noble's Book Fair program. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by calling Dora-Faye Hendricks, Chair, "Words, Writers & West Seattle" by phone at 206-280-9983 or by e-mail at Dora-Faye@comcast.net.

"Words, Writers & West Seattle" Presents World-Recognized Author Theresa McCormick. February 6th "Book Talk" Event sponsored by Southwest Seattle Historical Society West Seattle author Theresa McCormick, Ed.D. has published "A Far Cry From Here: Growing Up and Out of Fundamentalism" (University Book Store Press, 2014) and will share her book and experiences with the public at a FREE presentation on Friday, February 6th, from 5 to 7pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. In this transformative memoir, overlapping threads about whiteness, race and gender, and the power of fundamentalist faith to yield security, yet limit growth, weave throughout the stories making this a timely, inspiring, and compelling memoir. McCormick's life story focuses on stories of her whitewashed girlhood, growing up in rural Texas in a fundamentalist Christian family with all their complex relationships, limitations and strengths. These stories take the reader on her journey from a restrictive, limiting upbringing, through the separation from her family and their oppressive religion, and onto the path of discovery of her own spiritual life. This transformation includes her journey into a feminist activist womanhood as a professor, writer and artist. Currently writing creative nonfiction, McCormick has been honored for lifelong dedication and leadership and recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for Excellence in Education and Art. Her website is: www.theresamccormick.com, and she may be reached at: theresamcco@comcast.net. Words, Writers & West Seattle's next FIRST FRIDAY book talk is scheduled for March 6th and will feature Barbara Howett and "Ladies of the Borabudur" Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by calling Dora-Faye Hendricks, chair, Words, Writers & West Seattle, by phone at 206-280-9983, or by e-mail at: Dora-Faye@comcast.net.

"Words, Writers & West Seattle" Presents Presents Children's Books Author Karen Robbins & Illustrator, Sally Marts. "Shoe Print Art: Step Into Drawing" – Sponsored by Southwest Seattle Historical Society at Dec. 5th "First Friday" event Karen S. Robbins and illustrator Sally Marts will demonstrate the combination of their talents in their presentation of "Shoe Print Art: Step Into Drawing" (Hide and Seek Press, 2013). Robbins is an award-winning author, teacher, and TV celebrity and Marts is a freelance designer/illustrator, both now living in Seattle. Children from across the country were found to do drawings for the book, following steps provided in the book and adding their own creative touches. The children's photos were used inside the book alongside the diagrams which are said to be "simple enough for almost any age, even adults". Robbins and Marts will discuss how the resulting creations can be turned into greeting cards, note cards, or even foam refrigerator magnets. The public is invited to this FREE presentation on Friday, December 5th from 5 pm to 7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. Robbins is a winner of the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association and has been writing for 28 years, is a book and toy designer, poet, writer of picture books and novelty books with a U.S. patent. She has been an elementary school teacher, has written books for elementary teachers and over 50 magazine articles and appeared as "Miss Karen" on television's Romper Room Show, is a lecturer/speaker, and a university instructor. She attended the University of Washington and holds a master of education degree from the University of Puget Sound. Sally Marts began her career as an artist for a major department store, where she illustrated newspaper ads for many years. She discovered her joy creating for children while designing for a large toy company and has focused her career on the kid’s market since then. She has illustrated books, educational materials, posters, fabrics, and designed toys and packaging. Marts now works from her studio in Seattle. Words, Writers & West Seattle's next FIRST FRIDAY book talk is scheduled for January 2nd and will feature West Seattle author, Christine Brant and her book Red and Grey. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by calling Dora-Faye Hendricks, chair, "Words, Writers & West Seattle", by phone at 206-280-9983, or by e-mail at: Dora-Faye@comcast.net.

The public is invited to this FREE series from 5–7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. Poet and writer Susan Rich is featured on October 3rd, 2014: Words, Writers & West Seattle Presents Poet/Writer Susan Rich recently published "Cloud Pharmacy" and was featured at Sept. 5th First Friday event sponsored by Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Susan Rich's "Cloud Pharmacy" is an "intelligent and observant collection" of poems, some inspired by the nineteenth-century photographer Hannah Maynard. She explores the passions of romantic love and fire, memory, needs, self-regard and grief in this work. As Rich herself says,"the interior world opens/lightly....but it doesn't stay there." The result is wonderfully strange and unsettling. The public is invited to this FREE series from 5–7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. Described as a "deep, mindful thinker and a lover of language," Rich is the author of several essays and of four collections of poetry: Cloud Pharmacy, The Alchemist's Kitchen, named a finalist for the Foreword Prize and the Washington State Book Award, Cures Include Travel, and The Cartographer's Tongue, winner of the PEN USA Award for Poetry. She will discuss her process of writing based on historical figures. Rich's poems have appeared in many national and international journals including the Harvard Review, Poetry Ireland Review, and TriQuarterly. Along with Jared Hawkley and Brian Turner, Susan is the co-editor of The Strangest of Theatres: Poets Crossing borders, a selection of themed travel essays for poets who want to travel, it was published by McSweeney's and the Poetry Foundation in 2013.