The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah

Tall and thin she sat down next to me in the auditorium of a book trade show called BookExpo. Her energy radiated up off the chair as we talked about how independent bookstores survive in this difficult market. Especially in Salt Lake City.

Betsy Burton began the bookstore in 1977 and eventually started “The Westminster Poetry Series” The poet Mark Strand joined the University of Utah and he brought hundreds of poets to read at the university and TKE. On a given week you might hear Louise Gluck, Jorie Graham, Robert Pinsky and many more. In Utah? In Utah.

This gem of a bookstore has poets and writers on its staff. Betsy has hosted Isabel Allende and, I think, every other known author – but only Isabel Allende helped her cook dinner in Betsy’s kitchen. She also writes Book Sense items, appears on Utah public radio and is the co-author and editor of Inkslinger a nationally known bookseller newsletter.

There is no book they cannot find and no author they do not know. If you want to read more about this extraordinary place there is a book “The King’s English” by Betsy Burton complete with book lists dated by decade, mysteries, collections lists for kids according to their ages and interests and on and on. Read it and be amazed at how this woman built this store book by book, author by author and excels by expanding our idea of a bookstore from a bricks and mortar building into a center for ideas and words spoken and on the page. She is an inspiration to us all.

Directorial debut of my poem "Secrets"at Piven Theater Workshop, Evanston, IL on 3/19/07

I just completed my fourth class at Piven - this class is called "Advanced Story Adaptation" and is a combination of theater games and adapting a story to be performed in the last class. This class is open to anyone who wants to watch us work.

I directed a long, funny poem of mine called "Secrets". I had written and first performed this poem in 2005 at UW-Madison. This time I adapted it for three actors and it was performed by them interspersed with some improv and it was hilarious. I also acted with another actor in another story adaption. The evening was a combination of improv and storytelling and it was very well attended.

Acting and directing are ways to get your message to the other side of the page. You can feel what it is like to be another character - and you can also see how other people act or struggle with performing other scenes. When you return to your writing you have a different perspective on your own work. The work is fresher, more energized and interesting.

Off Campus Writers Workshop (OCWW)

Every Thursday from 9:30 AM until noon in the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, IL 847.446.0537 there is a lecture on some facet of writing. "Writing Reviews", "The Prolific Book Author" "Art of the Interview" are just some of the current lectures listed on the website. You can network with accomplished, published and beginning authors. Everyone is welcome and nurtured in this 60 year old on-going writing group.

Writers Institute 2007

This year Writers Institute will be held over a weekend. Pitch your work to one of seven agents, attend lectures on "Writing the Breakout Novel" with Donald Maas, Donald Maas Agency NY or "Interviewing Your Way to Fabulous Features" or "10 Sure Fire Tools for Building Brick-Solid Publishing Platforms" or many more. See you there!