Salem LitFest this Weekend!

The Salem Literary Festival opens its doors this weekend, March 27-29, with a terrific line-up of events all weekend. This is a great opportunity to interact with authors, play games, be inspired, and take in some great local theater!

SCHEDULE

Friday, March 27

6:30 pm - Festival Kick-Off Event! Thursday's Theater of Words and Music with special guest Hannah Tinti at The Hawthorne Hotel.

6:00 pm - A Soiree in Salem Reception and Special Exhibition Viewing at The Salem Athenaeum.

8:00 pm - A Soiree in Salem Lecture: Rosamond Bowditch Loring - Boston Bookbinder, Decorated Paper Maker & Modern Woman at Hamilton Hall.

8:00 pm - The Salem Theatre Company Presents An Evening of Pinter at The Griffen Theater.

Saturday, March 28

10:00 am - Mark Karlins and Starring Lorenzo, and Einstein Too at Cornerstone Books.

11:00 am - Henry Cushing's Dilemma: Children's Storytime with Peter Van and Beth Blanchard at Cornerstone Books.

11:00 am - SCRABBLE Tournament at The Salem Athenaeum.

12:00 - 5:00 pm - The Marketplace at Old Town Hall. Come and meet authors as well as representatives from small presses and literary magazines.

12:00 pm - Dreamstarters with Jennifer Karin at Cornerstone Books.

12:00 pm - Noon Workshop: Poetry Prompts with Salem Writers Group at Old Town Hall

1:00 - 3:00 pm - Meet Kat Black at Old Town Hall.

1:00 pm - Author Erin Dionne and Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies at Cornerstone Books.

2:00 pm - Writers' Workshop with Brunonia Barry: Creativity and a Sense of Place at Old Town Hall.

2:00 pm - Author Jan Elizabeth Watson and Asta in the Wings at Cornerstone Books.

3:00 pm - Children's Book Illustrator Giles Laroch at The Salem Athenaeum.

4:00 pm - Author Adam Braver (Mr. Lincoln's War) and his new novel November 22, 1963 at Cornerstone Books.

5:00 pm - Quick Fiction's Afternoon Delight at The Front Street Coffeehouse.

7:00 pm - Salem Arts Association Lit Bop at The Art Corner.

7:00 pm - A Tribute to John Updike at The Salem Athenaeum.

8:00 pm - The Salem Theatre Company Presents An Evening of Pinter at The Griffen Theater.

Sunday, March 29

11:00 am - Brooks Sigler and Five Finger Fiction at Old Town Hall.

12:00 pm - Papermaking with Donna Albino at Cornerstone Books.

1:00 pm - The Particulars of Publishing: A Writer's Workshop at Old Town Hall.

1:00 pm - Family Movie: The Princess Bride at Cornerstone Books.

2:00 pm - The Salem Theatre Company Presents An Evening of Pinter at The Griffen Theater.

3:00 pm - Workshop: Writing with the Senses at Cornerstone Books.

3:00 pm - The Best Women's Travel Writing 2009 at Old Town Hall.

Save the Date for Literally Salem!

Literally Salem
Salem Literature Festival
Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29
www.salemlitfest.com

From March 27th through March 29, Salem, Massachusetts will take the weekend to celebrate the literary arts with author readings, writing workshops, open mics, word-game tournaments, parties, and more!

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SALEM will provide the setting for Literally Salem, Salem's annual literary festival, with events taking place at several centralized downtown locations.

Preview of Events

Authors
Brunonia Barry (The Lace Reader, Harper Collins, 2008)
Hannah Tinti (The Good Thief, Dial Press, 2008)
Adam Braver (Mr. Lincoln’s Wars, Divine Sarah,
November 22,1963 and others)
Jan Elizabeth Watson (Asta in the Wings, Tin House Books, 2009)
Laurie Stolarz (Deadly Little Secret, Project 17,
Blue is for Nightmares and others)
Stacy DeKeyser (Jump the Cracks, Flux, 2008)
The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2009

Writing Workshops
Poetry Prompts
Creativity and Sense of Place
Writing with the Senses
Finding an Agent

Other Events
Thursday’s Theater of Words & Music
Scrabble Tournament
Tribute to John Updike
Storytelling
Papermaking
Dream Interpretation
Salem Theatre Company’s An Evening of Pinter
Literary Marketplace

Please visit www.salemlitfest.com often over the upcoming weeks...
new events are being added daily!

Romance in Salem: Nathaniel & Sophia

Salem is a romantic place. You can walk hand-in-hand to a lighthouse, dine fireside in a cozy corner, choose from a number of romantic accommodations, shop for gifts that demonstrate the depth and glow of your affection.

As we prepare for Valentine's Day next month, I am featuring the editorial about the great romance of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Sophia (So-fye-yah) Peabody that is in the 2008 Salem Visitor & Travel Guide. Feel the love!

Nathaniel & Sophia

"I had a parting glimpse of you, Monday forenoon, at your window–and that image abides by me,” Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote to Sophia Peabody on March 6, 1839, in one of many love letters he would pen to her during their three-year courtship.

The young writer was “handsomer than Lord Byron,”according to Sophia’s sister Elizabeth. He was “brilliant” and “rayonnant,” Sophia, a talented artist,observed. Hawthorne had become part of Elizabeth Peabody’s literary circle of friends, and he and Sophia had collaborated on his recent story,The Gentle Boy. Eventually, the two acknowledged their feelings for each other, and initiated one of the most poignant love stories in American history.

During Nathaniel’s absences they exchanged letters constantly when he “yearned” for her during their initially secret engagement. “And now, goodnight, my beautiful Dove,” he would write to her from Boston. “How did I live before I knew you–before I possessed your affection! I reckon upon your love as something that is to endure when everything that can perish has perished.”

Nathaniel and Sophia were married in 1842, had three children, and loved each other passionately as they lived their lives in New England and Europe. “Thou art literally my All-the-World,” Sophia told him, “because where thou art not there is no world, but a vacuum.”

Nathaniel, who had become one of America’s foremost authors, died at the age of 60 and was buried in Concord, Massachusetts. Sophia died seven years later in London where she was buried, distant from her beloved “king, playmate, lover, subject, knight, or all in one word husband”—words she had written to Nathaniel years earlier. In a poetic tribute to their marriage, descendants had Sophia’s remains returned to Concord in 2006 where the two lovers are now reunited. And it all started in Salem, on Charter Street.

Written for the 2008 Salem Visitor & Travel Guide by

Bonnie Hurd-Smith,

Hurd Smith Communications

To learn more about Hawthorne in Salem, visit www.hawthorneinsalem.org

September in Salem

It's Labor Day today, which means the summer for travel is "officially" over. Not for Salem, though! In Salem we are gearing up for another incredible October filled with Haunted Happenings.



There are a few notable events in Salem during September, however. So mark your calendars for the following great events:

• Salem Restaurant Week, September 14-18


• The Salem Literature Festival, September 12-14


• Taste of the Wharf, September 30

Nearly twenty restaurants will participate in Salem Restaurant Week, which will be another great week to eat out in Salem! Participating restaurants will offer prix-fixe dinners for $20.08, and some will offer an exclusive $30.08 dinner option (beverage, tax, and gratuity not included). Take advantage of this opportunity to return to an old favorite, or try one of Salem's new culinary hot spots. Restaurant Week is presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call 978.744.0004.



The Salem Literature Festival will kick off what I hope will be an annual literary festival. Named "Literally Salem", the event will celebrate Salem's passion for all things literary through featured authors, readers, writers of prose and poetry, and word devotees of all stripes. Events will include author readings, writers workshops, an open mic, word games, and more! For more information, contact Beth Simpson at Cornerstone Books.



Pickering Wharf merchants will host “Taste of the Wharf” on Sunday, September 30 from 3-6 p.m. “Taste of the Wharf” will feature samples from Finz, Victoria Station, Capt’s Waterfront Grill, The Grapevine, The Regatta Pub and Harpoon Brewery. Mix 98.5 FM Radio’s Street Team will be live at with contests and prizes. Entertainment will include the acrobatic group the Sardine Family Circus, clowns and face painters. This is a great opportunity to explore this great shopping and dining destination in Salem's Derby Street waterfront district!



Tickets may be purchased for $5 at the following Pickering Wharf merchants and restaurants: Artemsia, Peter Barter, Capt’s Waterfront Grill, Special Creations, Finz, Antiques Gallery, Crafter’s Market, NuAeon, The Grapevine, Josh’s Place, Salemdipity, Victoria Station, Quint Essentials and Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites. Net proceeds from the event will be donated to St. Joseph’s Food Pantry.



Photos: Giovanni cooks at Caffe Graziani, The view of Finz and Pickering Wharf from Congress Street.