Artist Access Grant

1) Rally the reading community in northern Minnesota and Minneapolis around a celebration of northern Minnesota life. This will take the form of a public reading of my book in Duluth at Zenith Bookstore, plus I will explore holding readings in Minneapolis. I already have relationships with the "Moon Palace" and "Eat My Words" bookstores there. Another way this will take form is through essays from the book being published for free in local newspapers in Cotton and Virginia, Minnesota. I already have an open invitation to send articles to the Hometown Focus paper (Virginia), and would develop a relationship with the Cotton Chronicle. 2) Increased visibility for my "Marie's Meanderings" blog, which is the basis for the book. My blog web address will be included in the book and hopefully, curious readers who enjoyed the book will want to access new blog content or content not included in the book. 3) And, of course, publish the book under professional design and editing standards. 1) Good attendance at the public readings. (I will track this and attendee comments.) Several stories in the Cotton Chronicle and the Hometown Focus newspapers. 2) Increased blog readership. (I will track this.) 3) The book will be published and will sell like hotcakes.