If you’re in the Madison area, you’re invited to these upcoming events.

Panel Discussion on Self-Publishing

A Room of One’s Own, 6:30-7:30 Wednesday, April 17

A Room of One’s Own is proud to host local authors and editors for a panel discussion on the risks, rewards, craft and business of self-publishing. Interested authors are encouraged to attend and bring questions about the process!

• Marty Drapkin, author of Ten Nobodies and Now and at the Hour. He has a master’s degree in English education from the University of Wisconsin.
• Christine Keleny, author of The Rose Series: The Red Velvet Box, Rosebloom, A Burnished Rose, and Rose from the Ashes.
• Spike Pedersen, author of the self-published novel At First Light. Follow Spike’s blog!
• Sarah White, author of 3 books published the traditional way as well as the self-published Write Your Travel Memoirs. She coaches self-publishing and writing.

Links to the presenters’ blogs and websites appear on the Room of One’s Own event listing here.

Come join us for a night of inspiration, and become the author you were meant to be.

Cookbook Memoirs — two options!

“Write Your Cookbook-Memoir” 5-week class: Thursday mornings, April 25-May 23,  10:00-12:00, Willy Street Coop West, 6825 University Ave. $50 to Coop members, $70 others.

“Write a Cookbook Memoir” 2-hour talk: Tuesday, May 14, 6:30-8:30 pm, Fitchburg Public Library, 5530 Lacy Road, Fitchburg. Free.

See my upcoming workshops page here for more information.

Family and Community History in Westmorland — open to all in Madison Area!

“Research and Write Your Family History” 3-hour talk: Saturday, May 4, 9:00-12:00, Sequoya Library Branch, 4340 Tokay Blvd, Madison. Free.

“The single most important thing you can do for your family may be the simplest of all: develop a strong family narrative,” wrote Bruce Feiler, author of The Secrets of Happy Families: How to Improve Your Morning, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smart, Go Out and Play, and Much More in a recent New York Times article.”   Attend this workshop for tips, techniques, and inspiration to get you started writing your family’s history. Speakers will include

• Sarah White, First Person Productions,
• Dee Grimsrud, retired archivist and researcher, and
• Barb Perkins, photo taking, organizing, and storing consultant.

“Learn Oral History Interviewing Technique” 3-hour workshop: Saturday, May 18, 9:00-12:00, Sequoya Library Branch, 4340 Tokay Blvd, Madison. Free.

We’re coming together to enhance Westmorland volunteers’ capacity to collect useful oral history interviews, and we’re opening our training process to others as a stimulus for similar activities across greater Madison. Our trainer is Troy Reeves, head of the Oral History Program for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives. Troy will lead us through the essential steps for conducting a successful oral history interview. You are invited to attend to learn how to perform an oral history interview with family members or long time neighbors or friends.

These events are sponsored by the Westmorland Neighborhood Association in conjunction with their oral history project. Contact me (347-7329 or sarah.white@firstpersonprod.com) or Tom Martinelli (233-2850 or tmartinelli@tds.net), Westmorland History Committee, for additional information.