Saturday, August 13, 2011—Janet Ruth Heller and many other authors performed and autographed their books at the Reading Rocks in Rockford Festival. Janet sold her award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale), and her new poetry book, Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press). There will also be writing workshops. This festival is free fun for the whole family from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Rockford, Michigan, in Garden Club Park on the banks of the Rogue River.
Saturday, September 17, 2011, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.—Fiction Writing Workshop with Dr. Janet Heller—This free fiction writing workshop is designed for budding writers. Participants are encouraged to bring a story that they have written. Janet Heller has taught English and Women Studies at Western Michigan University. She is the founding mother of Primavera, a literary magazine. Dr. Heller has published the poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and an award-winning children’s book about bullying called How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006). Limited to 20 participants. To register, phone (269) 329-4544 or use the website http://www.pdl.lib.mi.us/events-and-classes and click “Adult Interest Events.” Location: Portage District Library/ 300 Library Lane/ Portage, Michigan 49002.
Friday, October 14, 2011—Janet Heller spoke and sold/autographed her books Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011), a poetry book, and an award-winning children’s book about bullying called How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006) at the Michigan College English Association conference at the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Fairlane Center Campus at 19000 Hubbard Drive in Dearborn 48126. The conference ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, October 28, 2011 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.—Janet Heller spoke about “Using Stories and Nonfiction for Kids to Combat Bullying” at the Michigan Library Association annual conference in Kalamazoo at the Radisson Plaza Hotel at 100 West Michigan Avenue, 49007. Her talk included information about her award-winning children’s book about bullying called How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), which Janet autographed.
Wed. November 9, 2011 at 7 p.m.—Janet Heller, author of Traffic Stop and How the Moon Regained Her Shape, and Judith Rypma, author of Rapunzel’s Hair and Forget-Me-Not and Holy Rocks, read from and autographed their new poetry books at Kazoo Books, 2413 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. For more information, please phone 269-553-6506, e-mail read@kazoobooks.com ; or go to the website http://www.kazoobooks.com
Saturday, December 17, 2011 from 1-2:30 p.m.—Janet Heller, author of the poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011), and the award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), will be autographing her books during the Annual Author Event at Kazoo Books, 2413 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. For more information, please phone 269-553-6506, e-mail read@kazoobooks.com ; or go to the website http://www.kazoobooks.com
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 1 p.m.—Janet Heller will read from and autograph her new poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press) at Barnes and Noble Booksellers in Southland Shopping Center, 6134 S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage, MI 49002. Janet also autographed her award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006). For more information, please phone 269-324-1433.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7 p.m.—Three Poets with New Books: Nancy Eimers, Judith Rypma, and Janet Heller will read from and autograph their new poetry books at the Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S Rose St., Kalamazoo MI 49007. Eimers’ new book is Oz (Carnegie Mellon University Press), Rypma’s new book is Forget-Me-Not (Finishing Line Press), and Heller’s new book is Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press). This event is sponsored by Friends of Poetry. For more information, please phone 269-342-9837 or see the website at www.kpl.gov/calendar
Thursday, February 2, 2012—Janet Heller spoke at the Wisconsin State Reading Association conference at the Frontier Airlines Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At 10:45 a.m., she spoke about “Using Stories and Nonfiction for Kids to Combat Bullying,” and at 2 p.m., she spoke about “Using Poems to Get Kids to Write.” Both talks weere 90 minutes long. At 3:30 p.m., Janet autographed her poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and her award-winning children’s book about bullying called How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006). The Frontier Airlines Center is located at the corner of 4th Street & Wisconsin Avenue, 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203. For more information, please contact the Wisconsin State Reading Association via its website www.wsra.org
Saturday, February 25, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.—Fiction Writing Workshop with Dr. Janet Heller—This free fiction writing workshop is designed for budding writers. Participants are encouraged to e-mail Janet a story in advance or bring a story that they have written on the day of the workshop. Janet Heller has taught English and Women Studies courses at Western Michigan University. She is the founding mother of Primavera, a literary magazine. Dr. Heller has published the poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011), fiction, essays, literary criticism, and an award-winning children’s book about bullying called How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006). This workshop is limited to 20 participants. For questions regarding the workshop, please e-mail janetheller@charter.net To register, phone (269) 329-4544 or use the website http://www.pdl.lib.mi.us/events-and-classes and click “Adult Interest Events.” Location: Portage District Library/ 300 Library Lane/ Portage, Michigan 49002.
Thursday, March 8, 2012, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.—Janet Heller and Miriam Pederson read their poetry and autographed their books at Schuler Books & Music in downtown Grand Rapids at 40 Fountain St., N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Heller’s books include Traffic Stop (poetry) and How the Moon Regained Her Shape, an award-winning picture book story for children about bullying. Pederson’s books include This Brief Light and a book with her poems and her husband Ron’s artwork. This reading is free and open to the public. For more information, please phone 616-459-7750 or 616-942-7330, extension 305, e-mail Emily at emily@schulerbooks.com or consult the website www.schulerbooks.com
Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 8:45 a.m.—Janet Heller spoke about “Using Poems to Get kids to Write” at the Michigan Reading Association Conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Janet Heller also autographed her poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and her award-winning children’s book about bullying How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006). Location: The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Northwest, Grand Rapids MI 49503. For more information, please e-mail the Michigan Reading Association at mra@michiganreading.org , phone the MRA at 800-672-7323, or see the MRA website at www.michiganreading.org
Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17, 2012—Janet Heller spoke about “Using Stories and Nonfiction for Kids to Combat Bullying” on Fri. March 16 from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. & Sat. March 17 from 8 to 9 a.m. and “Using Poems to Get Kids to Write” on Fri. March 16 from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. at the Illinois Reading Council Conference at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Hilton Springfield Hotel, and Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois. Her talks include information about her award-winning children’s book about bullying called How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006) and her poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011), which Janet autographed on Fri. March 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. & 3 to 4 p.m. and on Sat. March 17 from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. The conference website is www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org/conference.html
April 19-21, 2012—Janet Heller was be a Circle Leader and autographed her books at the Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546. Her books include the award-winning children’s book about bullying How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006) and her poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011). The phone is 616-526-6770. The Festival’s e-mail is ffw@calvin.edu and the website is http://festival.calvin.edu The Festival of Faith and Writing is “a gathering that encourages the many kinds of exchange that religious writing seems to occasion. Our intent is to bring together the different constituencies of this writing—authors, publishers, readers, and academics—for conversation and celebration.”
May 10-12, 2012—Janet Heller spoke and autographed her books at Writing the Midwest, the annual conference of the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature in the Union at Michigan State University, Abbott Road and Grand River Avenue in East Lansing MI 48823. Her books include the award-winning children’s book about bullying How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006) and her poetry book for adults Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011). The conference website is www.ssml.org/symposium
Tues. July 10, 2012–Janet Heller spoke about “Using Stories and Nonfiction for Kids to Combat Bullying” from 1:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. at the Michigan Reading Association’s Summer Literature Conference at the Bavarian Inn Lodge and Conference Center in Frankenmuth, Michigan. She also hosted a table at the Authors’ Luncheon from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., and her books wereon display and for sale. Janet Heller autographed her poetry book Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and her award-winning children’s book about bullying How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006). The theme of the conference is “Literacy for All: Instilling the Love of Literature and the Power of Language.” Location: The Bavarian Inn Lodge, 1 Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth MI 48734. For more information, please e-mail the Michigan Reading Association at mra@michiganreading.org , phone the MRA at 800-672-7323, or see the MRA website at www.michiganreading.org
Sat. July 14, 2012 from 3 to 5 p.m.—Janet Heller, author of the poetry books Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012) and Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and the award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), read her poetry during the Tribute to Barbara Gensler at Shorewood High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gensler retired after teaching English and serving as Drama Director for 47 years. Thirty alumni participated in the Tribute performances, which raised $13,000 to support theater at the high school.
Wed. August 1, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m.—Janet Heller, author of the poetry books Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012) and Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and the award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), read her poetry and autographed her books during the Second Annual Air Poetry Reading at Kazoo Books, 2413 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. Six other poets also read from their work. For more information, please phone 269-553-6506, e-mail read@kazoobooks.com ; or go to the website http://www.kazoobooks.com
Friday, October 26, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.—Janet Ruth Heller, author of the award-winning book for children about bullying How the Moon Regained her Shape, and Kathryn Lynn Seifert, author of Hank the Hanger, will read their books and discuss ways to deal with bullying. Place: Kazoo Books, 2413 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. For more information, please phone 269-553-6506, e-mail read@kazoobooks.com ; or go to the website http://www.kazoobooks.com
Friday, October 26, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Janet Heller read from and autographed her new poetry book Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012) and her other books Traffic Stop (poetry, Finishing Line Press, 2011) and How the Moon Regained Her Shape (award-winning children’s book about bullying, Arbordale, 2006) at the Michigan College English Association Conference. She also presented the paper “Obsessions and Bipolar Disorder in Jaimy Gordon’s Lord of Misrule.” Heller is the President of the Michigan College English Association. Place: Eberhard Center of Grand Valley State University, 301 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids MI 49504. For more information, please see http://www.michcea.com/mcea/Annual_Conference.html
Thursday, November 1, 2012—Janet Heller read from, spoke about, and autographed her new poetry book Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012) and her other books Traffic Stop (poetry, Finishing Line Press, 2011), Coleridge, Lamb, Hazlitt, and the Reader of Drama (literary criticism, University of Missouri Press, 1990), and How the Moon Regained Her Shape (award-winning children’s book about bullying, Arbordale, 2006, new edition 2012) at Kankakee Community College, 100 College Drive, Kankakee, IL 60901. Janet Heller spoke for the Introduction to Poetry class from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. She also signed books and spoke for the whole community from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 15, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.— Janet Ruth Heller, author of the award-winning book for children about bullying How the Moon Regained her Shape (Arbordale, hardback 2006; new paperback edition & iPad app 2012), Kathryn Lynn Seifert, author of Hank the Hanger, and Leslie Helakoski, author of Woolbur (HarperCollins, 2008), autographed their books during the Third Annual Local Authors Day at Kazoo Books, 2413 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. Other authors rotated signing at Kazoo Books until 5 p.m. For more information, please phone 269-553-6506, e-mail read@kazoobooks.com , or go to the website http://www.kazoobooks.com
Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.—Janet Ruth Heller, author of the award-winning book for children about bullying How the Moon Regained her Shape (Arbordale, hardback 2006; third paperback edition & iPad app 2012), and Kathryn Lynn Seifert, author of Hank the Hanger, will be reading their books about bullying, discussing bullying, and autographing their books at the Comstock North Elementary School, 3100 North 26th Street, Kalamazoo Township, MI 49048. The Co-Sponsor is Kazoo Books. The school’s phone is (269) 250-8550. For more information, please phone Kazoo Books at 269-553-6506, e-mail read@kazoobooks.com , or go to the website http://www.kazoobooks.com
Janet Heller read her award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape, on Sat. May 4, 2013, at 10 a.m. EST for the It’s Story Time radio show over Blog Talk Radio. Here is the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork/2013/05/04/its-story-time-with-jd-holiday-5-4-13 The show’s site is http://itsstorytimeforkids.blogspot.com
May 9-10, 2013—Janet Heller read her poetry, had her play performed, and autographed her books at Writing the Midwest, the annual conference of the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, in the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at Michigan State University, 219 S. Harrison Rd. in East Lansing, MI 48823. Janet read “Selections from Exodus,” a forthcoming poetry book, on Thursday May 9 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., and her play The Cell Phone was performed and discussed on Friday May 10 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Her books include the award-winning children’s book about bullying How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), her poetry books Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012), and her book of literary criticism Coleridge, Lamb, Hazlitt, and the Reader of Drama (University of Missouri Press, 1990). The website is www.ssml.org/symposium The phone number of the Kellogg Center is (517) 432-4000.
Sat. May 11, 2013 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.—Janet Heller sold and autographed her books at the Flint Public Library’s Book Expo for authors of books for children. Her books include the award-winning children’s book about bullying How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), and the poetry books Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012). The Flint Public Library is at 1026 E. Kearsley St., Flint, MI 48503. The phone is 810-249-2170. The website is www.fpl.info
Saturday, August 10, 2013—Janet Ruth Heller and many other authors performed and autographed their books at the Reading Rocks in Rockford Festival. Janet sold her award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale), and her poetry books Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press) and Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press). There were also writing workshops. This festival is free fun for the whole family from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 25 Squire Street in downtown Rockford, Michigan 49341, in Garden Club Park on the banks of the Rogue River.
December 14, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. —Janet Heller, author of the award-winning book about bullying for children How the Moon Regained Her Shape; Ruth McNally Barshaw, author of The Show Must Go On, and Leslie Helakoski, author of Woolbur, Big Chicken, and Dog Gone Feet will be autographing their books at Kazoo Books, 2413 Parkview Ave., Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. For more information, please phone 269-553-6506, e-mail read@kazoobooks.com ; or go to the website http://www.kazoobooks.com
May 8-10, 2014—Janet Heller read her poetry, presented a scholarly paper about Jaimy Gordon’s novel Lord of Misrule, and autographed her books at Writing the Midwest, the annual conference of the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, in the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at Michigan State University, 219 S. Harrison Rd. in East Lansing, MI 48823. Janet’s paper about Lord of Misrule was during the session scheduled for Thursday, May 8 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Also, Janet read “Poems from Exodus” (WordTech Editions, 2014) on Friday May 9 from 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Her books include the award-winning children’s book about bullying How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), her poetry books Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011) and Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012), and her book of literary criticism Coleridge, Lamb, Hazlitt, and the Reader of Drama (University of Missouri Press, 1990). The website is www.ssml.org/symposium The phone number of the Kellogg Center is (517) 432-4000.
Sunday, May 18, 2014, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Brighton District Library, 100 Library Drive in Brighton MI 48116—Janet Ruth Heller talkied about and read from her new poetry books Exodus (WordTech Editions, 2014) and Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012). Janet also answered questions and autographed her books. For more information, please e-mail Sarah Perry at sperry@brightonlibrary.info or phone her at (810) 229-6571, ext. 230.
Saturday, June 7, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.—Janet Ruth Heller sold and autographed her books at the Reading Rocks in Rockford Festival. Janet sold her award-winning book for children about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale), and her poetry books Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press), Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press), and Exodus (WordTech Editions). This festival is free fun for the whole family across the street from Krause Memorial Library in downtown Rockford, 140 E. Bridge St., Rockford, Michigan 49341.
Monday June 16, 2014, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.—Janet Ruth Heller discussed and read poems from her new book Exodus (WordTech Editions, 2014) for the Hadassah Book Club in Kalamazoo.