Art^ffulture
aced&clackam as. edu
The Clackamas Print 5
W ednesday, N ov. 16, 2011
Peter Honigstock a n d Timothy Z a h n discuss im portant details about Powells Sci-Fi Authorfest. Honigstock is in charge o f the science fiction section a t the store. Z a h n has
authored several Star Wars novels a n d holds a Hugo A w a rd fo r his novella “Cascade Point.”
Sci-fi authors and Fans unite at Powells
501st Imperial Legion. Imperial Storm Troopers even!
Sci-Fi Authorfest is the ultimate book signing, for
literary lovers and nerds alike.
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, who served as a U.S.
Sometimes words just go together. Like science, fic
tion and fantasy. The mind quickly conjures images o f Army nurse in Vietnam, besides audioring over 30
aliens, dragons or worlds of wonder and fantastic design books, arrived early and chatted with her friend Lea
that boggle the imagination. Put those words together M. Day, a volunteer for the event. Day, also a retired
w i t h a p l a c e l i k e P o w e lls B o o k s a t C e d a r H ills C ro s s in g . v e te ra n , w as th e re to v o lu n te e r d u rin g th e set up of the
and an event like Sci-Fi Authorfest V and you almost Authorfest.
“[Day] suggested something like that, a similar event
have excitement beyond explanation; at least for any self
respecting sci-fi or fantasy reader.
in Seattle at die university bookstore. It was very success
The perfect literary cocktail is mixed with the literary ful,” said Peter Honigstock, who heads the sci-fi section
on die revered the likes of Ursula K. Le Guin, Timothy at Powell’s Cedar Hills crossing. W hy can’t we do some
Zahn, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, Phyllis Irene Radford, thing like that here?’ So that kind o f was the genesis for
Brent Weeks, Camille Alexa ana many more favorites of organizing and working out the details,” he continued
the genre. The power-of this book signing fraught with as he described the conversation he and Day had more
well respected and loved authors was clearly evident last than five years ago when they contemplated the first
Sunday as the 4:30 p.m. start o f this epic event neared.
Sci-fi Authorfest at Powell’s Books. Five years later that
The cherry to top this amazing gathering o f literary conversation has proved the insight and wisdom o f two
might, is the appearance of the Cloud City Garrison of book lovers can attract readers by the dozens.
By Joshua Dillen
The Clackamas Print
Open mies brings writers graditude
By Chris Taylor
The Clackamas Print
As we come closer and clos
er to Thanksgiving, we reflect
on o u r lives. We look back at
the year th at has passed and
w e»think to ourselves ‘W hat
am I thankful for?’ T hough we
may look back and see th at we
have fallen upon dark times,
there are m om ents that shine
through the darkness and give
us a hope. We all express our
thankfulness in our own ways
b u t for some,- the answer is in
w riting.
O n Tuesday, Nov. 22,
the C lackam as C o m m u n ity
College English D epartm en t
will be hosting “G ratitu d e
O pen M ic,” from 2:30 p.m.
- 4 p.m . in the Literary Arts
C enter (Roger Rook 220). In
the sp irit o f the upcom ing
holiday, this event is an o p por
tu n ity for students to share
their own w riting or writings
they have found th at express
their gratitude.
G ratitude O pen M ic is open
to C C C students, faculty, and
the surrounding com m unity.
T he English epartm ent hopes
th a t this event will inspire
those who attend, w hether lis
tening or sharing, to read 'an d
w rite more. Each participant
is asked to . bring m aterial no
longer than three m inutes in
length. Participants may read
a 1 poem , letter, sh o rt story,
m onologue or anything they
bring th at expresses their grati
tude.
“It’s always good to share
your w ritin g ,” said T rista
C o rn eliu s,
CGC
E nglish
Instructor. “It’s great to have a
real audience to react to w hat
you w rote, too.”
“To those w ho m ay be first
tim e sharers, I’m m ore th a n
willing to w ork w ith you and
help you,” said Sue M ach, event
organizer. G ratitude O pen M ic
is a com fortable place for you
to share your work w ithout
being criticized or just listen
to others. “D on’t be afraid, just
do it. T his event is a good, safe
place to do it, it’s supportive
and a great atm osphere.
These types o f events have
been held in the past and
greeted fairly well over th e past
few years. It’s been an enjoy
able experience for some. “I’m
always very moved and very
surprised by w hat people bring
to share. It’s great to know th at
despite w hat people have going
on in th eir lives,- they can
take a few m om ents tp com
pose som ething so beautiful to
share. It’s very astounding to
me,” said M ach. '
T h e E nglish d ep artm en t
hopes , to keep these events
going and have th em m ore
often. T hey plan on having a
sim ilar event on V alentine’s
Day, also know n as O regon’s
birthday and ‘M ay Day’ or the
first day o f spring. Students are
m ore than willing to share. “I
w ould be interested in atten d
ing the open m ic, because I
w ould like to share m y opin
ions and thoughts to everyone
else and open up their m inds,”
said C C C student, Sarah Fuge.
So w hether you’re an old
or new hand at w riting and
sharing, you should check o u t
G ratitude Open, Mic. You may
find th at you’re b etter than
you th in k you are. It may even
open up your eyes a little.
“I’ve always been a sci-fi reader from the beginning,
from a very early age,” said. Honigstock,“It’s such a really
reat experience in terms of having this rflany authors,
oth newer authors, local authors, bigger names lesser
known names. [It] is just really great for the fans, great
for Powell’s, great for the authors, ‘cause they enjoy it.”
According to, Honigstock the event was scheduled
t o . coincide with Orycon, Portland’s premier Science
Fiction Convention, to hopefully attract more authors.
'Timothy Zahn, author o f “The Star Wars Trilogy,”
and “Star Wars: The Hand O f Thrawn” besides nine
novels and six series, is the 1984 winner of a Hugo Award
for his novella “Cascade Point”.
Lines were long, books were signed, Storm Troopers
stood guard and tne world o f science fiction and fantasy
was the point o f it all.
“Keep reading,” said Zahn.
Readers o f fantastical prose can be assured that their
imaginations will be satisfied and look forward to next
years event.
bear
t vou ioinea
The Clackamas Print
TW EAK S OF
TH E W EEK
Things to do if college life is tweaking yon out:
Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair
Clackamas will host tne Hiring O ur Heroes
Career and Benefits Fair on Nov. 19 at the Oregon
City Campus. The event is open to all veterans,
service members and families. The fair will feature
veteran-friendly employers and service providers.
If your band has ,a gig or there isevent that you want
featured in tweaks of the week email
aced@clackamas.edu