The Short List

Writing the Stories of Your Life

On Wednesday evenings beginning March 8, the Essex Library will offer an eight-week course on the art of writing a memoir. The course will be presented by local author Lary Bloom and will be based on his experience as a magazine editor for 30 years, as a teacher of writing at Trinity College and Wesleyan University, and as a writer of columns, books, and plays. He will be assisted by Suzanne M. Levine, a poet whose work has appeared in many literary journals.

The course will consist of writing exercises and group discussions, working toward a completed memoir that details an important juncture in the student’s life. It is free but participants are required to purchase Bloom’s book The Writer Within from the library ($15). Registration is not complete until the book has been purchased.

Due to the very limited number of places available in the workshops, participants should be committed to the entire eight week course before signing up. Please call the Essex Library at 860 767-1560 to register or for more information.

Come Celebrate National Puzzle Day on Monday, January 29^th from 3-5pm. All children are invited to drop by the Library after school to enjoy a variety of fun puzzles.

Science Sense-ations! Friday February 2^nd 7pm at the Library

Cheryl Blum of Westbrook will give us a fascinating look at science with this fun-filled science program for families. She has been delighting the kids of Connecticut with a unique look at the world of science through music and hands-on experiences. All of our senses are used as we look at things like sour foods, rainbows and the sounds of musical instruments from around the world. Everyone gets to be an honorary scientist for the evening.

For more information on these programs please call Judie McCann at the

Library at 767-1560 or email her at: jmccann@essexlibrary.lioninc.org

The Mystery Writers Of America has announced its nominees for the 2007 Edgar Allan Poe Awards honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television and film published or produced in 2006. Nominated for best novel are: “The Pale Blue Eye” by Louis Bayard; “The Janissary Tree” by Jason Goodwin; “Gentlemen And Players“ by Joanne Harris; “The Dead Hour” by Denise Mina; “The Virgin Of Small Plains” by Nancy Pickard; and “The Liberation Movements” by Olen Steinhauer.

Nominated for best Young Adult are: “The Road of the Dead“ by Kevin Brooks; “The Christopher Killer“ by Alane Ferguson; “Crunch Time” by Mariah Fredericks; “Buried” by Robin Merrow MacCready; and “The Night My Sister Went Missing“ by Carol Plum-Ucci.

The American Library Association had their annual mid-winter meeting last week and announced the winners of their prestigious book awards honoring the best children’s and young adult literature published in 2006.

Winner of the Caldecott Medal: “Flotsam” by David Wiesner

Caldecott Honor Books: “Gone Wild: an endangered animal alphabet” by David McLimans and “Moses: when Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom” Illustrated by Kadir Nelson, -Author Carole B. Weatherford

Winner of the Newberry Medal: “The Higher Power of Lucky” by Susan Patron

Newberry Honor Books: “Penny From Heaven” by JenniferL. Holm; “Hattie Big Sky” by Kirby Larson and “Rules” by Cynthia Lord

Winner of the Printz Award: “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang

Printz Honor Books: “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing” by M.T. Anderson; “An Abundance of Katherines” by John Green; “Surrender” by Sonya Hartnett and “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak

Today, January 17th, is the birthday of Young Adult author Robert Cormier. Born in 1925, Cormier didn’t become a full-time writer until he was almost 50–after the success of his first novel for teenagers-“The Chocolate War”. He followed that up with two more acclaimed novels for teens: “I Am The Cheese” and “After The First Death”. These three books led to his winning the Margaret A. Edwards Award given out by the American Library Association’s YALSA Division. Before his death in 2000, Cormier attributed his popularity with adult readers to those teens who grew up and continued reading–and re-reading his books. Cormier’s novels perennially appear on the best books lists of the ALA, The New York Times, and School Library Journal.

We now have copies of the most “popular” federal tax return forms, including preparation instruction booklets for the 1040A and 1040EZ returns, available in the Library. When those run out, we have master copies that patrons may photocopy. All tax return forms are available from the IRS website to download and print from your own computer or here at the Library.

According to the Connecticut Dept. of Revenue Services, their tax booklets are in the mail as of today (Jan. 16th). You can also download and print State tax return forms from their website.

N.B.: You DO NOT want tax advice from the Librarians! The IRS, State of Connecticut and AARP all offer free, reliable tax counseling in-person, online and over the phone.

Third Saturday Movies @ The Library

Join Us January 20^th, 11am-12:30pm as we inaugurate our new children’s movie program.

Children of all ages are invited to watch “Curious George” (Rated G) in our new Program Room.

(Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

The next Third Saturday Movies @ The Library will be on February 17th when we will be showing “Madagascar” (Rated PG).

Beginning Monday, January 29th and for the following 3 Mondays, the Lifetime TV channel will be showing 4 Nora Roberts stories that have been made into movies. The first, “Angels Fall” stars Heather Locklear and Johnathan Schaech; John Corbett and Charlotte Ross star in “Montana Sky” on February 5th; “Carolina Moon” stars Claire Forlani and Oliver Hudson on February 12th and Alicia Witt and Matthew Settle are featured in “Blue Smoke” on Monday, February 19th. For more information on Nora Roberts and these movies see the Lifetime channel’s website.

Friday, January 12^th from 7-8pm at the Essex Town Hall. The Essex Library will host “Playtivity”, a fun-filled family drum circle and storytelling event. Borrowing from the ancient tradition of gathering in circle, people of all ages and abilities can participate in this lively

storytelling and musical adventure. They will take us on a journey, playing rhythms from around the globe and improvisations from their hearts to create uplifting and meditative soundscapes. They provide instruments for up to 100 participants. To Register for Family Nights please call the library at 767-1560 or email Judie McCann at: jmccann@essexlibrary.lioninc.org.

Board Games! Wednesday January 10^th, 3-5pm

Elementary-aged children are invited to drop by the Library and

enjoy some board games with friends.