Literature

December 17, 2007 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today announced that she has named Samuel Green as the Washington State Poet Laureate, a position established by the Legislature this year to build awareness and appreciation of poetry across the state.    » read more »

10 November 2007, Washington (By David Hubler and Faith Lapidus) -- For nearly 60 years, Norman Mailer was one of America's most prolific and controversial authors. A colleague says Mailer died early Saturday at a hospital in New York City He was 84.    » read more »

01 November 2007, Washington (By Ray McDonald) -- J.K. Rowling has completed her first book not to feature the teenaged wizard Harry Potter - but don't look for it on the best-seller chart.

The British author says only seven copies of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' are being printed. One will be auctioned in December to raise money for a children's charity, while the others have been given away as gifts.    » read more »

16 October 2007 -- Irish writer Anne Enright has won the 2007 Man Booker fiction prize, one of literature's most prestigious awards, for her novel about a family's reaction to a suicide.

The head of the prize committee, Howard Davies, called Enright's novel The Gathering, as powerful, uncomfortable, and at times, angry.

The story focuses on an a family trying to come to terms with its troubled history following a suicide.

Enright was considered a long shot to win the $100,000 prize, which is open to writers from Britain, Ireland, and former British colonies.    » read more »

12 October 2007 -- An Indian court is allowing organizers of a Hindu festival to build a replica of the imaginary school depicted in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books.

A judge ruled Friday that the community group in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata will not have to pay compensation to Rowling.

Festival organizers argued the celebrations are for the public interest and not for profit.    » read more »

Author to Be Offered a Publishing Contract from Touchstone Imprint of Simon and Schuster

New York, NY, Tuesday, October 9, 2007 -- Media Predict and Touchstone Books, an imprint of publishing company Simon & Schuster, Inc, today announced the grand prize winner of the Media Predict Project Publish competition a novel, Hollywood Car Wash, by Lori Culwell. The winner will be offered a publishing contract with Touchstone. Senior Editor Amanda Patten will edit the book. The author is represented by Matthew Guma at The Guma Agency.    » read more »

More than $100,000 awarded nationally to students and schools in 2007; November 1, 2007 deadline for 2008 Poetry Out Loud participation

September 19, 2007 -- The Illinois Arts Council invites Illinois high schools to participate in the 2008 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, a free national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.    » read more »