Ashland Literary Arts Festival

Coming of age during the great depression, the only thing Veda has going for her are her common sense, resilience, and a sense of humor. Veda's story is like that of many women of her generation whose choices were dictated by poverty, patriarchy, and the necessities of just getting by. 

Winetsky’s fourth novel, Belagana-Belazana (Book IV in the Series) was published in January of 2017. It takes place in the Navajo Nation, where the author taught almost fifty years ago. The novel is a vivid treatment of cultural conflict, bureaucratic dysfunction, and the beauty of the Navajo Nation. The story is structured around a desperate search for a runaway boy in a blizzard.

A synopsis of Debby Dodd's debut novel Amish Guys Don't Call (June 13,2017).

What's more awkward than finding out you're dating a vampire or a werewolf or a zombie? Finding out you're dating an Amish guy.

Samantha is already facing scrutiny and anxiety at the start of her junior year, as she's finally been accepted into the popular girls' clique called "The Sherpas." But when she realizes that her new boyfriend Zach was raised Amish, Sam must tackle a whole new set of challenges. Zach has chosen not to end his Rumspringa, instigating a potential shunning from his family. 

Sam has never really come to terms with her parents' divorce, so when her world crashes down on her in the form of cyberbullying and Zach's apparent return to the Amish community. She reverts to her furtive compulsive habits. Does Sam even want friends like these? And, will her cross-cultural love with Zach find a way? In the end, Sam discovers everyone has secrets.

A short intro to the phenomenon of the "globalization of crime" followed by a reading from Niemann's novel, Illicit Trade.

Hollywood actor/PI Eddie Collins is hired by Carla Rizzoli to find her brother. His search leads him to intrigue involving Iraq war veterans and kidnapping.