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About Oregon Coast today. (Lincoln City, OR) 2005-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2020)
learn a little History of the Hub Newport Public Library’s “history of ” series will continue this Wednesday, Feb. 19, with a presentation from Lisa Blank, PhD., executive director of the Oregon Coast STEM Hub. One of several regional STEM Hubs funded by the Oregon Department of Education, the hub is based at Newport’s Hatfield Marine Science Center and promotes integrated science, technology, engineering and math education along the Oregon Coast. Oregon Sea Grant has been a foundational partner of the STEM Hub and recently assumed a role as the administrative home for the director. Blank, who earned her doctorate in science education at Indiana University, will provide an overview of the Oregon Coast STEM Hub’s history, its current operations and an exciting vision for its future. Wednesday’s program, which is free and open to all, will run from 6 to 7 pm at 35 NW Nye Street. For more information, go to www.newportlibrary.org or call 541-265-2153. An aide memoir in Newport Florence newspaper editor and author Ned Hickson will teach a free workshop on memoir and novel writing when the coast chapter of Willamette Writers meets this Sunday, Feb. 16, in Newport. Hickson will discuss “Eight Steps to Building an Outline,” a condensed version of a four-week class he taught at Lane Community College. “I’m look forward to providing the Willamette Writers with a solid foundation to start with in creating an outline for their novel or memoir,” Hickson said. “This two-hour workshop will provide all the tools they need to get started and map out a clear direction as their novel or memoir develops.” Hickson compares creating an outline for a book to building a house. “It begins by laying a solid foundation,” he said, “a single sentence that encapsulates what your story is about, and goes on to add setting, events, characters and other elements.” Hickson is editor of the Siuslaw News in Florence and managing editor of The Cottage Grove Sentinel. He has received journalism awards from both the Society of Professional Journalists and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association for feature writing, editorials, photography, sports writing and for his nationally syndicated humor column. He is also the author of two books, “Pearls of Writing Wisdom: From 16 Shucking Years as a Columnist” and “Humor at the Speed of Life,” which was a 2019 International Book Award finalist. Prior to launching his career in journalism 21 years ago, Hickson was a corporate chef for 10 years in Dallas, Atlanta and Portland. He also served as a volunteer firefighter with Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue from 2011 to 2016 before being elected to the SVFR board of directors in November 2016. The meeting takes place at 2 pm at Newport Public Library, 35 NW Nye Street. For more information, go to http://willamettewriters.com/coast. A killer debut A tale of fierce women and dangerous lives will be up for discussion this Saturday, Feb. 15, when the Manzanita Writers’ Series welcomes author Kim Taylor Blakemore to read from her latest novel, “The Companion.” In 1855, New Hampshire, Lucy Blunt is set to hang for a double murder. Murderess or victim? Only Lucy knows the truth. In the shadow of the gallows, Lucy reflects on the events that led to her bitter downfall — from the moment she arrived at the rambling Burton mansion looking for work and a better life to the grisly murders themselves. Blakemore writes about the thieves and servants, murderesses and soiled doves, grifters and flimflam girls — dangerous women with tangled lies and hidden motives. “The Companion” is her adult debut in historical mystery. She is also the author of the young adult historical novels “Bowery Girl” and “Cissy Funk.” A recipient of a Tucson Festival of Books Literary Award, WILLA Literary Award and three Regional Arts and Culture Council grants, Blakemore also teaches novel intensives in Portland, and is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society. Saturday’s reading will start at 4 pm at the Hoffman Center for the Arts, 594 Laneda Avenue. From 10 am to 1 pm the same day, Blakemore will also be teaching a writing workshop on setting as character. For information on this and other Manzanita Writers’ Series programs, go to https://hoffmanarts.org/writing/ manzanitas-writers-series. oregoncoastTODAY.com • facebook.com/oregoncoasttoday • February 14, 2020 • 7