Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Upcoming at the Loft: Gene Yang, William Wu, Robert McKee

The Loft Literary Center has some exciting events coming up. This week it's the arrival of Gene Yang for the Graphic Novel Conference. Gene will also be giving a free reading on June 18th at the Loft (1011 Washington Ave. S in Minneapolis at 7:00PM.) The conference is also free and gathering some really great and amazing voices together.


Gene Yang began publishing comic books under the name Humble Comics in 1996. His novel, American Born Chinese, was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and was the first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award. The Eternal Smile, with Derek Kirk Kim, was published in May 2009. He lives in California’s Bay Area with his wife and children and teaches computer science at a Catholic high school in Oakland.

On Thursday, July 29th, we've got the arrival of William F. Wu, who will do his reading at the Loft.


William F. Wu has appeared in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies, which include Omni Magazine and the best-selling 1996 STAR WARS: Tales from Jabba's Palace. He published his first story in 1977. His more than fifty published short stories have been nominated for the Hugo Awards and his work has been nominated for the Nebula Award twice and once for the World Fantasy Award. With a Ph.D. in American Culture, Wu has taught college writing courses and led creative writing workshops for writers of all ages. His most acclaimed book, Hong on the Range, was chosen for the Wilson Library Bulletin's list of science fiction "Books Too Good To Miss" and was a selection for the American Library Association list of Best Books for Young People, the New York Public Library's Recommended Books for the Teen Age, and was also a Young Adult Editor's Choice by Booklist Magazine.

Rob Chilson, the author of 7 novels including As the Curtain Falls, The Star Shrouded Kings, The Shores of Kansas, Men Like Rats, Rounded with Sleep and Black as Blood and over 60 stories in such publications like Analog, Asimov's, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Galaxy, Universe 7, and Years Best SF. You can visit him at www.robchilson.com

In September, the big event is Robert McKee coming in for four days. Robert McKee is a legend for his seminars on story-telling. This is the first time he is ever presenting in the Upper Midwest.

For over 25 years, Robert McKee's Story Seminar has propelled and inspired over 50,000 screenwriters, filmmakers, TV writers, novelists, industry executives, actors, producers, directors, playwrights, advertising executives, journalists, attorneys and politicians...anyone who works with a narrative story. Participants in Robert McKee's Story Seminar have won: 32 Academy Awards (106+ Nominations); 158 Emmy Awards (500+ Nominations); 21 WGA Awards (77+ Nominations); and 17 DGA Awards (48+ Nominations). It's pricey, but Loft members get a $100 discount, and I'd consider it a serious investment in your craft. If you get a chance, don't miss it.

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