Published: May 11, 2008 09:37 am         

Books in Brief: 05/11/2008

Stage Turner has stories to tell

LELAND -- Stage Turner will present its 2008 Summer Subscription Series at the historic Old Art Building in Leland.

A nonprofit arts organization based in northwest Michigan, Stage Turner will give live performances of short stories on stage June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17 at 8 p.m.

The June performance, "Pencils Down," will feature school stories. Newbery and Edgar award-winning author Richard Peck will be the special guest artist.

In addition, the winning story in the first Louise Klein Carpenter Short Fiction Contest will be spotlighted.

The July show, "Christmas in July," will focus on holiday stories. In August, "A Many-Splendored Thing" will feature love stories.

Summer Subscription Series tickets are $40, and single tickets are $16 each. If available, tickets will be sold at the door for $20 each.

For details, go towww.stageturner.org or call 256-9299.

Hemingway talk is 'Live!' event

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Traverse Area District Library's Live! @ the Library series presents Ken Marek speaking about "Hemingway in Michigan."

Marek is a retired language arts instructor from Northwestern Michigan College. He is a founding member of the Michigan Hemingway Society and a Hemingway scholar.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the library, 610 Woodmere Ave. Admission is free.

It is part of the Great Michigan READ event that features Ernest Hemingway's "Nick Adams Stories."

Nick Adams was the protagonist of more than a dozen of Hemingway's short stories written in the 1920s and '30s. The character is partly inspired by Hemingway's experiences from his summers in northern Michigan.

For more information call 932-8500.

Library celebrates 'Pennies for Peace'

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Peninsula Community Library has been collecting coins for the "Pennies for Peace" program and will hold a party Saturday to celebrate the program.

"Pennies for Peace" was initiated by Greg Mortenson, author of "Three Cups of Tea." It helps fund education in countries in Central Asia, where children might not otherwise have a chance to attend school.

The party will start at 10:30 a.m. at the library, 2735 Island View Road. Attendees are encouraged to help "top off" the five-gallon jug of money and are invited to view the short documentary, "The Story of Pennies for Peace."

The party will include a penny craft. Tea and sugar cookies will be served.

Reservations are not needed. For information, call the library, 223-7700.