Mira Bartok Reading and Book Signings

Hey everyone, my paperback book tour starts this weekend but don't worry, I will do my best to post as many opportunities as I can during yet another busy season. I hope to see some of you at my events across the country. This Saturday, August 20th, I will be reading at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT at 7 pm. You can find more info about the event here: http://www.northshire.com/events.php



I'll also be reading in New York City next week for the Bryant Park Festival that happens behind the New York Public Library. The event is an outdoor reading series called "Word for Word" and I will be reading with amazing novelist and memoirist Darin Strauss. The reading and book signing starts at 12:30 pm on Wednesday August 24th. You can find out more about this free event here: http://www.nyc-arts.org/events/14391/word-for-word-mira-bartok-and-darin-strauss

LOCATION: Bryant Park Reading Room West 42nd Street (between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas) New York, NY 10110 Tel: (212) 768-4242 Hope to see you there! In September I will be in the Midwest and the Northeast. I'll be touring until mid to late November. To find out where else I will be reading at, please check my calendar: http://thememorypalace.com/calendar

I will be adding more dates soon, including a couple in California. Cheers, Mirabee



p.s. by the way, if you are a member of a book club and would like to arrange a phone Q & A with me, just email me at mira@mirabartok.com and make sure you mention that you are a Mira's List fan!

Calling all Writers, Artists, Printmakers, Composers and Everyone Else!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your patience lately. I'm going to be pretty busy and/or wiped out until my book tour is over, at the end of April. I'll do the best I can posting things here and there on weeks when I have fewer events. Speaking of events, if any of you are in the Boston area, I will be reading from my new book, The Memory Palace, tomorrow night, January 18th, at 7 pm at Harvard Book Store at 1256 Mass. Ave. in Cambridge. On Thursday, January 20th, I'll be reading and signing books at River Run Book Store in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (7 pm also). It would be nice to see some Mira's List peeps at one of my events! You can get my full tour schedule on my website right here: http://thememorypalace.com/calendar

Here are a couple things that just came in....and keep in mind that I post late-breaking news on the Mira's List community fan page on Face Book. You will not get this info by friending me on facebook but by going to that community page. I don't respond to facebook requests unless I know people or you are a friend of a friend. And since the Terry Gross interview on the radio, I am getting about fifty friend requests a day and frankly, it's a bit overwhelming to say the least! So check out the Mira's List page if you are on Facebook and follow Mira's List on twitter if you tweet. While I'm on the road I'll be posting grants, etc. on those sites more than on this one because it's easier.
Thanks!
Mirabee

(ARTISTS) Keyholder Residency Program—Lower East Side Printshop, New York, offers free year-long studio residencies for emerging artists. The application deadline is March 1, 2011 for residencies starting on April 1, 2010. The Keyholder Residency includes free 24/7 access to a large shared studio with printmaking facilities, $500 stipend, storage space and basic supplies, exhibition opportunities, educational programming, and support services. Artists from all disciplines are eligible: printmaking skills are recommended but not required, and basic instruction in printmaking is available at no cost. For more information about the residency, studio facilities, and application requirements, please visit http://printshop.org/web/Create/KeyholderResidences/index.html Contact:Christine@printshop.org

(ALL) ART342 Residencies: now accepting artist-in-residence applications for Summer 2011. Residency dates: May 16 - August 19, 2011. On-line application: https://art342.slideroom.com/ Deadline: February 14, 2011. ART342 offers 14-week residencies to emerging and established artists, writers and composers. Studios, a kiln and basic equipment are available for most visual artists, including ceramicists. Quiet spaces exist for creative or scholarly writers. The composer’s studio is outfitted with a Steinway B, computers and software for writing and recording.

Awards for accepted applicants include 24-hour access to free studios, living space and a modest stipend. Residents are responsible for personal expenses and travel to and from the site. Situated in a semi-rural area, ART342 is just 6 miles north of Historic Old Town in Fort Collins. Up to 7 studios and 5 living spaces are maintained as private places for creative work. Pets, children, visitors and partners are strongly discouraged. For more information regarding future application deadlines and residency details, visit: www.art342.org

this next one is from re-title.com:

OPEN CALL - NEW ART PROGRAM
Deadline February 29, 2011

smARTpower, will send fifteen U.S. artists abroad to work with local artists and young people around the world to create community-based art projects. Travel opportunities of up to 45 days will be awarded to selected artists to design and develop programs in cooperation with local arts organizations in host countries including China, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kosovo, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Venezuela. smARTpower will support the development and implementation of community-based art projects that engage youth and other local residents, including artists. The projects are strongly encouraged to create a tangible legacy of the work accomplished through smARTpower in a variety of visual arts media, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, drawing, video, installation, photo-based work, public art, and interdisciplinary projects. Participatory work is strongly recommended and encouraged. Artists will address a full range of relevant subjects including, but not limited to, women's empowerment, the environment, health, education, and civic engagement.

Emerging to established artists are encouraged to apply. Finalists will be identified through open competition and selected by a national advisory panel of artists and art professionals. Each recipient will be provided with an honorarium, travel funding, a budget for materials, resources for documentation (including photography, video, and web posting), and on-site logistical support. Proposals must be submitted ONLINE ONLY by midnight, February 28, 2011. Please read all of the information below carefully before applying, to ensure eligibility and proper formatting of your proposal. Mailed applications will NOT be accepted.

smART Power is made possible by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, and administered by the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

DEADLINE
• All applications and application materials must be received via the smARTpower website by midnight, February 28, 2011.
• Selected artists will be announced in Spring/Summer 2011, and the first round of projects will begin in Summer/Fall 2011.
• Apply online at http://smartpower.bronxmuseum.org/

And you writers out there, do not forget the NEA coming up soon!:

(WRITERS) National Endowment for the Arts: Literature Fellowships—The NEA Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable the recipients to set
aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. The NEA Literature Fellowships program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years. For FY 2012, which is covered by these guidelines, fellowships in prose are available. Fellowships in poetry will be offered in FY 2013 and guidelines
will be available in January 2012. Individuals may apply only once each year. Direct questions to the Literature staff at 202/682-5034 or e-mail LitFellowships@arts.gov. For more info, go to: http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/Lit/index.html

Fresh Air Interview TOMORROW & more

Hi everyone,

So they rescheduled my interview with Terry Gross for tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 11th, on Fresh Air. But if you are able, please listen anyway to Terry talk with Washington Post investigator James Grimaldi discuss gun laws.

I will post about this when I get back from NY but just in case I forget: if any of you are in the Amherst, MA area this coming Friday, January 14th, come join me at Amherst Books at 8 Main St. in Amherst for a book launch party from 5 to 7 pm. It would be great to see some Mira’s List readers there. For more information about the event and other book events, just go to my website: www.thememorypalace.com and click on "events."

And don’t worry. I will get off this promotional horse when I return from NY because I have some cool things to tell you about that thankfully have nothing at all to do with me!

yours,
Mirabee

Fresh Air Interview with Mira Postponed

Hi everyone...just a quick note to say that due to the tragic shootings in Arizona, they are postponing my Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross until tomorrow, Tuesday the 11th or Wednesday, the 12th. I’m not sure about when it will be aired but I will try to keep you informed. You can also check the updated schedule on NPR. My sympathies go out to the families whose lives were shattered yesterday at that terrible event. I wonder how many tragedies have to occur before we change our gun laws here in the United States???

On another note, here is a review of my book from the Cleveland Plain Dealer that gets the art and heart of the book much more than the NYTimes (with all due respect!): http://www.cleveland.com/books/index.ssf/2011/01/in_the_memory_palace_mira_bart.html
Best to you all....and many arts opportunities coming down the road when I come back from NY.
Mirabee

The Memory Palace Book Launch!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday and that this new year brings you much success in all your creative endeavors. I apologize for being a bit out of touch. Things have gone a little wonky on the home front because of my book coming out all over the U.S., Canada and the U.K. this coming Tuesday, Jan. 11th. I am about to go on book tour starting Monday until late April. However, I will do my best to post opportunities during my down times. I promise!

So without further ado, please forgive my shameless self-promotion at the moment because I really need to rally all my readers and friends and tell them about my book—The Memory Palace. Please, if you feel so inclined, spread the word about it, share my website (which has up-to-date info on my readings, reader’s guide and info for book clubs, resources, a blog and more ) and if you can afford it, buy a book!

Below are a couple things coming up. I am also sharing with you the book trailer I did with my husband, Doug Plavin, for the book. And please check my calendar on my website to see if I will be reading anywhere near you. It would be so great to meet some of you! I will definitely be reading in: LA, Pasadena, San Francisco and Berkeley, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, and a bunch of Northeastern towns in the U.S.

Thanks for supporting me so much the last couple years and I hope to see you at one of my events. And don’t worry—I will keep on posting about grants, fellowships and residencies. Read on below....xox Mirabee

Tomorrow, Sunday, January 9th, New York Times Book Review: get the real thing or read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/books/review/Thernstrom-t.html

Monday, January 10th, listen to me on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross! Check their website for local times and also when you can stream it online: http://www.npr.org

Tuesday, January 11th, my book comes out in stores! And I’ll also be on the radio, live on WNYC, talking with Leonard Lopate on his show: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/

Check out the review of The Memory Palace in O Magazine: http://www.oprah.com/book/The-Memory-Palace-by-Mira-Bartok, listed as one of fifteen books to read in 2011. There are lots more reviews out there available and on the way: Elle, Bust, Bitch, Whole Living, Psychology Today, Washington Post, Cleveland Plain Dealer, More, and a bunch of others that frankly, I can’t recall where and when. Some have already been out there and some are coming soon. I’ll try to post links on my memory palace site when I can. It’s all been a bit overwhelming, to say the least!

Here’s the book trailer as promised, made thanks to my new venture called North of Radio, a multi-media collaborative I just started with my husband (the website is going up in a day or so so if it’s not up yet, please check back). Thanks and I will post again as soon as I can! Wish me luck!
Mira

Would You Do A Favor for Mirabee? Pretty Please?

Greetings all!

Okay, indulge me for a moment while I shamelessly promote my new book coming out this January, called The Memory Palace. I will bug you guys to buy it soon and also alert you when my new memory palace website and blog are up (very soon! maybe this week!) but for now, would you please watch the book trailer I just made (my first project for North of Radio, a multi-media collaborative I am starting with my husband)? If you go to youtube and watch it, please do the following:
1. share it with EVERYONE!
2. click on the LIKE button
3. post it on your facebook page or some other social-networking site
4. tweet about it if you use twitter AND...
if you have a youtube account, sign in a write a comment. If you don't have
an account (they're free), you can do that first.

But at the very least, please watch the trailer and pass it on. Now, don't you want to do something nice for Mirabee during this holiday season? Come on...I know you do!

Thanks for the little indulgence. I try not to ask for much...:-) Click here and go VIRAL!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE5j8NIrXRg

Thanks! Love, Mirabee