Individual Artist Project

I will present a minimum of one, and hopefully two, public readings of selected stories from my book in Ely before the end of the grant timeline. After each reading, an open mic program will ensue for other artists. Writers and musicians in the audience will be encouraged to share their written pieces or perform their music. I have contacted Ely Public Library Director Rachel Heinrich and Ely Folk School Program Director Lucy Soderstrom to inquire about the use of their facilities as a possible event venue for a time to be determined. Both are open to hosting the reading. If feasible, the library reading would take place as a matinee during their regular daytime hours. The Folk School reading would occur in the evening, though not necessarily on the same day. The school will also carry my books for sale in their mercantile area. Furthermore, I endeavor to take this type of event on the road and present it to additional writing groups and literary enthusiasts in the Arrowhead and northern Minnesota. These would include Duluth, Grand Marais and Grand Rapids. As for radio broadcast, I will contact program directors at WDSE (formerly KUMD) in Duluth, KAXE in Grand Rapids and WTIP in Grand Marais for possible literary broadcast and promotion of these stories. I've attached e-mail correspondences from Rachel Heinrich and Lucy Soderstrom as verification of their venue openings. I've also included an e-mail from proofreader Mickey White to document her collaboration in the project.; I aim to put my stories in the hands of at least 500 readers, the number of books in my print run. But hopefully pass-along reading will also result. I will sell books at two public readings. Judging a book by its cover is unavoidable. So my book's success will begin with a high-caliber appearance. It will feature a clean, sharp, cover image; a humble, easy-to-read title font; and crisp text and design on the inside pages. The back cover will showcase testimonial snippets about my stories. I will be contacting credible individuals who know my work and can attest to its integrity. My endorsement ?request list? includes but is not limited to: Will Steger, polar explorer and educator; Bob Timmons, editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune Outdoor Weekend; Layne Kennedy, National Geographic photographer; and Michael Goldberg, producer of KAXE's ?Stay Human? literary program. Their backing would both speak to my story quality and hopefully inspire potential readers to purchase a copy. My accumulated writing and editing experience has also fostered my publishing skills in graphic design, layout and photography. Therefore, I will be taking on those responsibilities for this project that would otherwise require several people. Besides myself, only a proofreader and the printing company will be involved in the final product. It's an element of independence that streamlines the process. Juggling multiple sources won't complicate project completion. Deadlines have been a key component at every level of my publishing life for a few decades. As an editor and writer, I've never missed a deadline for a publication or a broadcast. I won't miss the ARAC Individual Artist Project deadline either. Deadlines are an ethic I've come to appreciate and even enjoy?they put me in a position of having to complete a project rather than dawdle with a work-in-progress.; Book sales and an increase in my social media traffic will be part of measuring success. My website, Facebook page and public readings will be part of sales and tracking interest. If I run out of books and subsequent printings are necessary, all the better. I will take on the process again. Thus far, I have contacted five bookstores, an art gallery, a supermarket and an outfitter to sell my book. Of these eight sales outlets, seven have agreed to carry my book. One requires a submission procedure which I will complete once my book is in-hand. Five outlets reside in Ely, two in Duluth and one in Grand Marais. For verification and names of these outlets, please refer to my Letters of Confirmation. One of the agreements was verbal as of the grant submission deadline and I haven't received their reply e-mail. But my e-mail to them is included. I will pursue other outlets in the Arrowhead and northern Wisconsin. Whenever an outlet sells out, I will replenish their inventory.