No Ink Stains / Write Club today

Due to the coming winter weather, both Ink Stains and Write Club will NOT be meeting today, January 8, 2024. 

Stay safe, warm, and cozy, Osky wordsmiths! See you in February!

This Week: Emily Lang Author Workshop at the Book Vault

You're invited!

Oskaloosa's own Emily Lang will be at the Book Vault on Wednesday at 5:30 to lead a writing workshop and sign copies of her new workbook for writers: The Sun & The Moon & The Stars! You can pre-buy your copy of her book and Book Vault will reserve a seat for you. There is no cost to attend. Copies may also be available to purchase. 

This a wonderful opportunity to help welcome an author back to Oskaloosa, support our local indie bookstore, and connect with a published writer. We hope to see you there!

Book Vault is located at 105 S Market St in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Click here for more info about the event.

This Week: Mindy Mejia Author Event at the Book Vault

You're invited!

National bestselling author Mindy Mejia will be in Oskaloosa this week to introduce the first of a brand-new thriller series. In To Catch a Storm, a physicist who studies storms and a psychic detective who dreams of the lost reluctantly team up to solve two missing persons cases during a raging, four-day ice storm in Iowa.

Join us at Book Vault this Wednesday, August 16 at 5:30 pm as she reads from this book with a twisty plot, provides insight into characters and the setting (Iowa - yay!), answers questions, and signs books. (Copies of To Catch a Storm are available for purchase now at Book Vault.)

This a wonderful opportunity to help welcome an author to Oskaloosa, support our local indie bookstore, and connect with a published writer. We hope to see you there!

Book Vault is located at 105 S Market St in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Click here for more info about the event.

Flashback to Friday: Grant Faulkner Event at Book Vault

 

On Friday, July 7, author, Oskaloosa native, and Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month, Grant Faulkner visited the Book Vault to discuss his new book The Art of Brevity, writing, flash fiction, creativity, and so much more. We enjoyed a great turnout, engaging conversation, and a thought-provoking Q&A session. Afterward, Grant graciously signed books and led a group Ink Stains, Write Club, and Oskaloosa community members through a six-word story exercise.

We want to take a moment to send out BIG thanks to...

🖋️ Grant Faulkner for sharing his insights about writing and flash fiction, answering our questions, signing books, and graciously leading us through a six-word story session. 

🖋️ Ink Stains and Write Club member Pam Blomgren for making this special event happen.

🖋️ Ink Stains and Write Club member Kathy Christy for moderating the discussion and Q&A with Grant.

🖋️ Book Vault for hosting in their beautiful shop. 

🖋️ Everyone who attended!

Back for a Visit: Grant Faulkner at the Book Vault on July 7th

You're invited!

Author and Oskaloosa native Grant Faulkner is back for a visit! Join us at Book Vault on July 7 at 4 pm for conversation, book signing, and writing. You can pick up a copy of Grant’s newest book, ‘The Art of Brevity,’ plus ask questions, enjoy discussions and audience interaction with Grant, and get your books signed. We’ll close out the event with a writing exercise and discussion for writers and those interested in writing.

Book Vault is located at 105 S Market St in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Meet the Author

“As a boy, I spent my allowance on all sorts of pens and paper, so there was never much question I would become a writer. I received my B.A. from Grinnell College in English and my M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.

“It seems like I should have other degrees, such as an MFA in Novels about People Doing Nothing But Walking Around, a PhD in Collages and Doodles and Stick Drawings of Fruitless Pursuits, or a Knighthood in Insomniac Studies, but I don’t.”

Grant Faulkner grew up in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story. He has published three books on writing, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, Brave the Page, a teen writing guide, and his newest, ‘The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story.’

He’s also published ‘All the Comfort Sin Can Provide,’ a collection of short stories, a collection of 100-word stories, and his essays on creativity have been published in the New York Times, Poets & Writers, Lit Hub, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. He’s also the co-host of the podcast Write-minded. 

You're invited to the Ink Stains Day Poetry Reading!

 In celebration of the newly proclaimed Ink Stains Day (thanks Mayor Krutzfeldt!), the Ink Stains poetry group is hosting an interactive poetry reading in the center court of Penn Central Mall.

Oct. 3 is Proclaimed "Ink Stains Day"

The September 12, 2022, Write Club meeting was extra special! Not only did Write Club celebrate its first anniversary, but also Mayor David Krutzfeldt attended the meeting and proclaimed October 3, 2022 (the first Monday of October) as “Ink Stains Day” in Oskaloosa. 

Above: Pam Blomgren and Kathy Christy with Mayor David Krutzfeldt.