Saturday, August 18, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.—Five Southwest Michigan women writers will read from and autograph their published books of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry at All Stirred Up! at 404 E. Michigan Avenue in Paw Paw, Michigan 49079. The authors include Judith A. Rypma, Andrea England, Wilma Kahn, Janet Ruth Heller, and Miriam Bat-Ami. This reading is free and open to the public. Families are welcome. Both children’s and adult books will be on sale.
The five writers will explore the world of nature in its many guises.
All Stirred Up! is a dessert shop that sells candy, cupcakes, chocolates, cookies, cakes, dipped pretzels, and wine. It is a sunny and welcoming new store. Its Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/allstirredup
Miriam Bat-Ami is a retired WMU English professor who taught English education for over 20 years. Since retirement, she has subbed in the Van Buren schools and acted in Kalamazoo, Paw Paw, and Decatur. She has published four books for children and teens. Dear Elijah (middle grade) was a Spring Pick of the List from the American Booksellers, and Two Suns in the Sky (young adult novel) won the prestigious Scott O’Dell award. In the spring of 2018, Miriam published a volume of poetry entitled Measuring the Marigolds, which explores empty nesting and constructing new nests as the seasons progress, the snow falls, leaves emerge, and life asserts itself again.
Janet Ruth Heller is president of the Michigan College English Association. She has published three poetry books: Exodus (WordTech Editions, 2014), Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012), and Traffic Stop (Finishing Line Press, 2011). Fictive Press published Heller’s middle-grade chapter book about sibling rivalry, The Passover Surprise (2015). Her children’s book about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006; 4th edition, 2014), has won four national awards. Her website is https://www.janetruthheller.com
Judith A. Rypma, who teaches children’s and young adult literature at Western Michigan University, is also a well-known poet and Russian studies expert. Her poetry collections include Looking for the Amber Room, Sewing Lessons ( ), Amber Notes (FutureCycle Press, 2015), and Worshipping at Lenin’s Mausoleum ( FutureCycle Press). The Amber Beads (Black Opal Books, 2017) is her young adult historical novel. Her chapbook Rapunzel’s Hair features contemporary responses to fairytales and won the All Nations Press Chapbook Award. Her poetry book for children is Rocks in My Head: Poems for Young People About Rocks, Minerals, and Crystals (Rock Hound Press, 2015). Judith’s poetry and prose have appeared in over 150 journals. Her website is http://rypmabooks.com/
Wilma Kahn has taught various writing and literature courses in Southwest Michigan for over thirty years. She published the detective novel Big Black Hole (Worldwide Mysteries, 2005, 2008). She has worked as an independent editor since 2000 and She has midwived many a memoir for older adults. Wilma edited Sue Parish Memoirs (2012) and Haiti: Footprints in the Heart (2011). Her prose and poems have appeared in Encore, 13th Moon, and Word Press.
Andrea England has published the poetry books Inventory of a Field (Finishing Line Press, 2014) and Other Geographies (Creative Justice Press, 2017). Her poems have appeared in Fourteen Hills Review, Harper Palate, Hayden’s Ferry Review, and many other journals. She teaches at Western Michigan University and online for Southern New Hampshire University COCE.
