tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921353902072135122024-03-13T06:36:06.656-06:00Valerie HemingwayValeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-7908854748139379202009-06-08T09:53:00.004-06:002009-06-08T10:39:37.397-06:00Medellín and Málaga, Spring Talks & Travels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/Si09ktOyP-I/AAAAAAAAADo/-KgCLt6VCX4/s1600-h/CIMG9348.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/Si09ktOyP-I/AAAAAAAAADo/-KgCLt6VCX4/s200/CIMG9348.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344996033584840674" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When I booked my airline ticket the girl asked: "Do you only travel to places beginning with M? On May 3rd I set out from Montana via Miami to Medellín to give the keynote speech in the Centro Colombo Americano's six week lecture series on the Lost Generation. My days were filled with talks, interviews, and workshops at the Centro and three universities in the beautiful mountain valley where sunshine and rain showers are sisters. I was greeted with enthusiasm and appreciation and noted a lively interest in the arts and promotion of culture in Botero's home town. It was agreed by all that Medellín is a place to return to soon.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>From Medellín I flew to Málaga where I was given a rousing welcome. I attended the Encuentro Internacional/Mayo 2009 HEMINGWAY Un Verano Peligroso, MÁLAGA 1959 marking the 50th anniversary of Ernest Hemingway's stay at La Consula when he was gathering material for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Dangerous Summer. </span>The setting for my talk was the stately former home of Bill and Annie Davis where I spent a total of eight months over a two year period (1959-60) with the Hemingways. Now one of Europe's finest culinary schools, La Consula's conference room was filled to capacity. After my talk we were invited outside and feted with a very fine selection of tapas and local wines. The conference was sponsored by the Fundacíon Manuel Alcántara and directed by the genial Andrés Arenas Gómez. </div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Málaga is vying to become the European Capital of Culture 2016. If you have any affinity for this Andalusian coastal city, please send in your vote.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-47743183822967677522009-02-18T11:09:00.001-07:002009-02-18T11:11:18.123-07:00Link to Today show interview, Dec 8, 2004There were some reports of difficulty viewing this video, so I am publishing a more direct link to my interview by Ann Curry of a few years ago:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/6677125#6677125">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/6677125#6677125</a>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-33007054115465137312009-02-05T13:14:00.002-07:002009-02-05T13:16:28.348-07:00Video Chat!I have taken another step into the 21st century by starting to have "video chats" with my far-flung family. One of my children set it up for me. I have not done it very often yet, but I have high hopes!Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-89879884959419832202009-02-03T13:13:00.000-07:002009-02-05T13:14:41.193-07:00Lecture in Toronto, evening of Mar 30th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thestar.com/App_Themes/TheStar/images/logo_torontostar.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 49px;" src="http://www.thestar.com/App_Themes/TheStar/images/logo_torontostar.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is some advance publicity for the Toronto lecture:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The lecture series, which is partly sponsored by the </span><em style="font-style: italic;">Toronto Star</em><span style="font-style: italic;"> and includes Marc Kielburger and Roxanne Joyal, Valerie Hemingway, Diane Keaton, Isabella Rossellini and Whoopi Goldberg, starts at 7:30 p.m. at Roy Thomson Hall.</span><br /><br />As you can see, I am in some very good company!<br /><br />Original context is <a href="http://www.thestar.com/living/article/581098">here</a>.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-225423109287383902009-02-02T12:40:00.003-07:002009-02-05T13:12:54.389-07:00Lecture in Port Huron, MI lunch Feb 9thNo, this isn't a misprint: I am going to try to give a lecture in Port Huron in the day and another lecture in Toronto in the evening <span style="font-style: italic;">of the same day</span>.<br /><br />I pray for good weather and smooth travel connections!Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-63090584978174654042009-01-09T12:35:00.001-07:002009-02-05T13:10:22.604-07:00Lecture in Denver, 7:30pm Feb 9th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/images/favicon.ico"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 16px; height: 16px;" src="http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/images/favicon.ico" alt="" border="0" /></a>Rocky Mountain New<br /><br />More advance publicity for my "Unique Lives" lecture on Feb 9th in Denver:<br /><br />* <strong>Unique Lives & Experiences: Valerie Hemingway</strong> Feb. 9 at the Buell Theatre. Ernest's secretary talks about the author and his estranged son, whom she wound up marrying. <a href="http://uniquelives.com/cities/09denv.htm">uniquelives.com</a> or 1-877-872-812<br /><br />Full context <a href="http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/08/365-denver-2009-events-calendar/">here</a>.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-51549179193219918552009-01-06T12:24:00.004-07:002009-02-05T13:08:43.313-07:00Lecture in Denver, 7:30pm, Feb 9th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2006/0927/20060815_054356_logo_articles.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 50px;" src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2006/0927/20060815_054356_logo_articles.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Here is some advance publicity from an upcoming gig which was in the on-line Denver Post:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">The 2009 Unique Lives & Experiences lecture series is being hawked in newspapers: "Don't Miss The Ultimate Girls' Night Out!" The series, which starts Feb. 9, includes </span><b style="font-style: italic;">Valerie Hemingway, Diane Keaton, Marlee Matlin, Christiane Amanpour, Kerry Kennedy</b><span style="font-style: italic;"> and </span><b style="font-style: italic;">Azadeh Moaveni</b><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></p><p>Full context <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_11381924">here</a>.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-2123948834452371522009-01-04T05:33:00.001-07:002009-01-04T05:36:04.364-07:00Michigan Tour FeedbackI was very pleased to see that an event in which I participated was rated the number one event of the year in that area by a local newspaper. Details can be found <a href="http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginaw/index.ssf/2009/01/saginaw_arts_2008top_10.html">here</a>.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-26561790647633845752008-12-19T04:17:00.006-07:002009-01-04T05:33:29.443-07:00Book Group<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bozone.com/images/banner1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 556px; height: 104px;" src="http://www.bozone.com/images/banner1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p> </p><br /><p><br />There is something satisfying about discussing books with congenial fellow book lovers, so even though I am perennially pressed for time, I will leading a discussion for a local public book group on Jan 17, 2009. Details can be found <a href="http://www.bozone.com/display.php?type=1&subtype=46&event=25393">here</a>.<br /></p>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-4407665348763385812008-11-05T13:29:00.004-07:002008-11-05T13:44:35.549-07:00Photos from 4/24/08, Grand RapidsI've been having some computer troubles and so have only now gotten around to posting these photos from my appearance in Grand Rapids as part of the Great Michigan Read.<br /><table><tr><td><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/SRIDFp3c7BI/AAAAAAAAADY/9_F1VVMwd7A/s1600-h/grwmike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/SRIDFp3c7BI/AAAAAAAAADY/9_F1VVMwd7A/s200/grwmike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265274310022196242" border="0" /></a></td><td>This photo is of myself and Mike Ross. Click on the image to see it full-sized.</td></tr></table><br /><br /><table><tr><td>This one is of me in action at the lectern. Click on the image to see it full-sized.</td><td><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/SRIDgKFNktI/AAAAAAAAADg/JxyB4zTY4YY/s1600-h/grspeaking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/SRIDgKFNktI/AAAAAAAAADg/JxyB4zTY4YY/s200/grspeaking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265274765346443986" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-4725835398215464852008-11-01T15:10:00.002-06:002008-11-01T16:02:36.395-06:00A Night to Remember PromoFrom the Canton Repository, Canton Ohio: (full text is <a href="http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=438972&Category=8&subCategoryID=">here</a>)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="leadText">"An Evening to Remember: A Hemingway Comes to Canton," Stark County District Library Foundation's fundraising event, will be Nov. 8 at Brookside Country Club.<br /><br />Valerie Hemingway, author of "Running with the Bulls," will share stories of her life with the Hemingways. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, music by Michael Curtis, and a silent auction.<br /><br />After Hemingway presents her memoir, there will be a book signing and desserts. Cost is $50 per person. Contact Mark Guyer at (330) 458-2758 or <a href="mailto:mguyer@starklibrary.org">mguyer@starklibrary.org</a>. Deadline is Tuesday.<br /><br />For two years after a chance meeting with Ernest Hemingway in Spain in 1959, young Irish reporter Valerie Danby-Smith traveled with Hemingway and his wife, Mary, through Spain and France.<br /><br />She came by the Hemingway name by marrying Earnest's son, Greg.</span></span>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-91092708009816144212008-10-23T03:59:00.002-06:002008-11-02T04:15:21.533-07:00Appearance in Petoskey, MI Oct 24 at 7:30pmFrom the <a href="http://www.petoskeynews.com/articles/2008/10/24/other_news/doc47c722125f31e553631734.txt">Petoskey News-Review</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hemingway weekend — The Michigan Hemingway Society will hold the 19th annual Ernest Hemingway weekend Friday through Sunday, Oct. 24-26. Valerie Hemingway, the author’s former secretary, will describe her experiences with the Hemingway family. The historic Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey’s Gaslight District is the conference headquarters. Other activities include tours with historical reenactments, story discussions, talks on Ernest’s boating and on collecting rare books.Those interested in registration or additional information about the conference may call (231) 347-0117 or visit the Society’s Web site at </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.michiganhemingwaysociety.org/">www.michiganhemingwaysociety.org</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-82436587510789986772008-10-08T15:03:00.001-06:002008-11-01T15:08:34.100-06:00Mention in IHT Article<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.iht.com/images/v3/logo_all.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 68px;" src="http://img.iht.com/images/v3/logo_all.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>There is a nice article in the IHT today, in which I have a brief quotation. The full text can be found <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/08/sports/PAPA.php">here</a>; my quotation is reproduced below.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Originally, I think they came over to steal the mangoes," said Valerie Hemingway, who worked as Hemingway's assistant from 1959 until his death in 1961 and later married Gregory. "Instead of shooing them away, Ernest found things for them to do. Feed the cats, pick up the mail and give them a few pennies. And when he knew Greg and Pat were coming, he started a baseball team."</span>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-80444971432434037242008-08-27T04:16:00.004-06:002008-11-02T04:45:32.671-07:00Fringe Festival, Edinburgh ScotlandI was part of the Fringe Festival this year in Edinburgh.<br /><br />I was unable to find time to blog about this myself, so I will cheat and refer you to press coverage of this event.<br /><br /><a href="http://living.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Hemmingway39s-Havana--The-importance.4374923.jp">Here</a> is a link to coverage from the LivingScotsman.com (though they mispelled "Hemingway"). You will find the Guardian's on-line coverage <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/theatreblog/2008/aug/12/edinburghfestivalhowtoavoi">here</a>.<br /><br />This is a quotation the Reuters article on my appearance at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland:<br /><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Decades later, Valerie Hemingway brought her memories of daiquiris in tropical Cuba and bullfights in Spain to rainy Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.</span></p><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span id="midArticle_3"></span></span> <p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">She teamed up with Scottish director Toby Gough and a Cuban music and dance group to recreate the Havana of the 1950s in a stage production called "Hemingway's Havana" as part of last week's Fringe Festival.</span></p><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span id="midArticle_4"></span></span> <p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">"Hemingway loved Cuba because it was a place where he could be anonymous," she said in an interview with Reuters.</span></p><br />The full text can be found <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSLR18743220080827">here</a>.<br /><br />This is a quotation from the Times On-line about the same event:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > Surrounded by gorgeous dancers and musicians from Cuba, and dressed in a glamorous beaded frock, La Hemingway is a handy raconteur who offers a tantalising taste of Cuba at that perfect moment.</span><br /><br />The full text can found <a href="http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/specials/edinburgh/article4517640.ece">here</a>.<br /><br />There was also some coverage in an on-line publication called The List:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Hemingway spent 20 years in Havana and this well-intentioned recreation of his favourite hangout, the Floridita bar, provides a reason for his one-time secretary and daughter-in-law, Valerie Hemingway, to be the star of the show. Live on stage, she diligently delivers reminisces of Cuba and Hemingway but you can't help longing for a native Cuban to give some insight into their country and heritage.<br /></span><br />The full text can found <a href="http://www.list.co.uk/article/11716-hemingways-havana/">here</a>.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-16026383052965018382008-08-18T04:23:00.002-06:002008-11-02T04:27:56.096-07:00MSU President's Lecture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.montana.edu/msucommon/images/msulogo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 54px;" src="http://www.montana.edu/msucommon/images/msulogo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I am honored to be asked to give the President's Lecture this year at my alma mater, Montana State University.<br /><br />For details, visit their web site <a href="http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=6133">here</a>.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-56593680734926904302008-06-23T15:03:00.006-06:002008-06-25T04:27:26.115-06:00War + Ink<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kclibrary.org/images/logo.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px;" src="http://kclibrary.org/images/logo.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>I have been on the road for a few weeks. On May 14th I gave a talk to a packed house at the <a href="http://kclibrary.org/about/locations.cfm?locID=5">Plaza Library in Kansas City, Missouri</a>. It was my first visit to that part of the world. I was taken around the offices of the Kansas City Star; the same building, the same newspaper where the 18 year old Ernest Hemingway was a cub reporter -- his first newspaper job, which lasted seven months until he left for Italy to join an ambulance corps in World War I. Hemingway later acknowledged that his writing owed much to what he had learned when he worked for the Star. He cited their style sheet as an excellent writer's guideline. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:o-fXGv3ATxYJ::web.onetel.com/%7Earhoward/union-jack-old.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:o-fXGv3ATxYJ::web.onetel.com/%7Earhoward/union-jack-old.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I spent three weeks in rainy England: London, Oxford, Yorkshire, visiting friends and family. Then, in mid-June I returned to Kansas City to attend the 13th Hemingway Society International Conference. The themes were journalism and World War I. It was titled "War + Ink." Some of the sessions were held at the Liberty Memorial War Museum, a splendid venue.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is beautiful here in Bozeman. The summer visitors have begun to trickle through. This week friends from Italy and Portsmouth, R.I. appeared. The weather cooperated with beautiful sunshine and nothing but blue skies. As soon as they left, however, the heavens opened and there was an almighty downpour with thunder and lightening for good measure.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Till next time. <br /></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-63585466981729424742008-06-09T06:17:00.001-06:002008-06-09T06:20:27.764-06:00Opinion Piece by Patrica Anne ShaheenStill on vacation, but could not resist a quick update.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/opinion/index.ssf/2008/06/my_view_share_a_book_and_build.html">Here</a> is an interesting opinion piece by a writer in Michigan which uses one of my talks there as a jumping-off point.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-16356691383326225972008-05-21T08:29:00.003-06:002008-05-21T08:56:52.320-06:00Taking a BreakI will be taking a break from speaking, touring, writing and blogging for a few weeks. I hope to resume, refreshed, in June.<br /><br />Have a happy Spring!Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-70221441327774709522008-05-15T15:48:00.003-06:002008-05-16T04:29:23.282-06:00KC Was Great<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.visitkc.com/images/home/logo_bottom.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 155px;" src="http://www.visitkc.com/images/home/logo_bottom.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>I had a great time in KC: a large enthusiastic audience and a superb dinner afterwards.<br /><br />They tell me that my talk was the best-attended event in the venue's very short history (it opened a few short weeks ago in April).<br /><br />Kansas City itself was very nice; for information about goings on in KC, visit this <a href="http://www.visitkc.com/">site</a>.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-31897811733950704472008-05-09T06:04:00.005-06:002008-05-16T04:31:10.612-06:00On To Kansas City!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.kansascity.com/images/marketing/KCStar_new_01b.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" src="http://media.kansascity.com/images/marketing/KCStar_new_01b.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>No rest for the wicked! My Michigan tour was great, but now I am getting ready for my trip to Kansas City.<br /><br /><br />Here is some advance publicity: (original context is <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/story/609589.html">here</a>)<br /><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In another book note, Valerie Hemingway, author of <em>Running With the Bulls: My Years With the Hemingways, </em>will speak about her book and her travels with Ernest Hemingway at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Plaza Branch Library, 4801 Main St.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">As Valerie Danby Smith, Hemingway worked as the author’s secretary and was with Hemingway and his wife, Mary, when they traveled through Spain, France and Cuba. She worked for the estate after his death and married Gregory, Ernest Hemingway’s son.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Hemingway will sign copies of the book purchased at the event. Otherwise, there is no charge. Call 816-701-3407 or see <a href="http://kclibrary.org/">kclibrary.org</a>.</p>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-70679409033477416772008-05-04T16:34:00.007-06:002008-05-05T16:33:58.491-06:00A Big Thank You to Michigan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/SB5Np1yFI7I/AAAAAAAAACM/ylRhizRnVG4/s1600-h/VHem-Saginaw-marquee005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ubiTs7oOOR8/SB5Np1yFI7I/AAAAAAAAACM/ylRhizRnVG4/s320/VHem-Saginaw-marquee005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196676401239237554" border="0" /></a>A big "thank you" to all my new friends in Michigan. Six lectures, six cities, seven days. All were a great success. The halls were mostly packed to capacity, with lots of extra happenings.<div><br />The state library at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Lansin</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">g</span> was a spectacular venue for the kickoff. That first glimpse of the stately building blew my breath away. Dinner afterwards at the Italian restaurant where the waiter spotted me immediately from the advance publicity. He turned out to be a budding poet. There was a Polish dinner, door prizes, a packed house and a post-talk party in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hamtramck.</span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Grand Rapids</span> has a splendid library too, filled with a lively lunchtime audience.<br /><br />I stayed at the historic Landmark hotel in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Marquette</span>, where I tasted the local whitefish, a delicacy, at the Spanish restaurant. My hosts were the organizers who had arranged my afternoon talk at the lovely Peter White Library opposite the hotel. </div><div><br />Next day we meandered down the coast road to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Traverse City</span>, true Hemingway country, where I luxuriated at the Resort and Spa. One of the board members donated the accommodation. The evening at the newly renovated Traverse City Opera House was elegant and well attended. Ernest's nephew James Sanford came with his Marian and several friends from Walloon Lake. They enjoyed themselves immensely. </div><div><br />The crowning glory was the final night of my tour in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Saginaw</span>. Dr. Sam Shaheen and his lovely wife Patricia, were my hosts at the Ramada Inn. Patty was the grand organizer of the Hemingway evening held at the Shaheen's newly restored Temple Theatre. After my talk, I presented the essay and short story finalists their prizes on stage. In a bar scene with live music playing 1950s hits, 26 Hemingway "look-alikes" competed for the coveted title. The winner, # 18, is off to Key West in July to further his career. A reception followed while I signed my book till my hand ached. I signed an average of seventy-five books at each venue, along with cards, posters, coasters, tee shirts and whatever else was presented. <div><br /></div><div>What a fine time! What great people! Michigan is certainly a reading place. And Ernest Hemingway is one of their favorite authors. </div></div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-27759905074059113392008-05-03T04:44:00.003-06:002008-05-03T04:53:19.950-06:00Home safely from 2008 Great Michigan Read<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.50states.com/flag/image/nunst036.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.50states.com/flag/image/nunst036.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>I made it back, safe and sound, from a busy but very satisfying tour. I had a great time: the people running the show were great, my driver / companion was a delight to be with in addition to being organized and able to get me to my destinations on time and relaxed. The audiences were attentive, the venues were excellent.<br /><br />All in all, I have to say that Michigan was lovely, the people were nice and I can see why Ernest always had such affection for the place.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-35272775949306470982008-05-01T04:10:00.005-06:002008-05-01T04:15:13.126-06:00Article in MLive.com, 4/30/08<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.mlive.com/sagentertainment_impact/2008/04/medium_JNSHemingwayNight1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://blog.mlive.com/sagentertainment_impact/2008/04/medium_JNSHemingwayNight1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/04/hemingway_fans_lookalikes_turn.html">Here</a> is another article from MLive.com; this one is about the end of my tour and featured a Hemingway Look-a-like competition (!)</div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-42504501474606377082008-04-28T09:23:00.003-06:002008-05-01T04:19:27.244-06:00Article in Traverse City Record-Eagle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.record-eagle.com/entertainment/images_sizedimage_116102642/xl"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.record-eagle.com/entertainment/images_sizedimage_116102642/xl" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Another nice write-up for a Great Michigan Read tour is to found <a href="http://www.record-eagle.com/entertainment/local_story_116104552.html">here</a>. This is the photo of me that I gave them. © Valerie HemingwayValeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692135390207213512.post-63853082914849837142008-04-25T21:52:00.002-06:002008-04-26T06:39:22.528-06:00Article in MLive.com, 4/25/08<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mlive.com/images/toprail/mlivelogo_242x90.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.mlive.com/images/toprail/mlivelogo_242x90.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/04/valerie_hemingway_contends_ern.html">Here</a> is another article written during my Michigan tour.Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372721685966665016noreply@blogger.com0