Write to Us About Your California

“Write to Us About Your California”
By Tom Hennessy, Columnist
Long Beach Press-Telegram (Feb. 5, 3006)

After 25 years as a Californian, I cannot imagine living in another place.

With all its foibles and faults (no pun intended), lore and legends, the state is forever intriguing. California fascinates me more each year.

That's why I was delighted last summer when the Long Beach Public Library Foundation chose My California: Journeys by Great Writers as the 2006 choice for Book Week (March 12-18). That's when Long Beach reads one book.

From Thomas Steinbeck, son of John Steinbeck, to Lakewood's own Don Waldie, 27 California writers have written on assorted facets of life in the state: ghostly figures in Big Sur, living 15 feet from your neighbors in Lakewood, Fresno's Forkner Avenue, named for the "King of Figs," and more.

As part of the festivities, you are being invited to write about California yourself. Foundation member Susan Redfield, chair of this year's One Book program, expects My California to be a hit in the Long Beach area. "This little book has already begun generating noise, partly because it is easy to read and partly because the stories tell so much about who we are as Californians." One positive aspect of the choice, she notes, is that "proceeds from the book are being donated to the California Arts Council for the benefit of students and museums around the state."

In addition to having a host of writers this year, many of whom will visit Long Beach, the fifth annual Book Week will be different in two other respects.

First, it has a sponsor. The Port of Long Beach has donated $25,000 to print a special "Long Beach edition" of My California, the cover of which depicts the Pike in its glory days.

Second, the Book Week folks not only want you to read the book, they are encouraging you to do some writing on your own. Do what these authors have done. Write about the things you are intrigued by in your community, your neighborhood, even on your street.

"We all have a story about California and Long Beach," says Redfield, "and the book opens up our minds and our hearts to find our own story."

As a writing incentive, three essay contests are being held in conjunction with Book Week: One is for high school juniors and seniors, the second for college and university students, and the third for all other adults. Adults should send their essays to me: My California, c/o Tom Hennessy, Press-Telegram, 604 Pine Ave., Long Beach, CA 90844.

High school and college students should see their instructors for details on entering. The deadline is Feb. 24. Prizes will include gift certificates from Borders, Teacher Supply in Belmont Shore, and the Once Upon a Story children's bookstore. The essay topic is "My Community and What It Means to Me." Take a bit of license with that. Your essay may be about any place in California, but it should be about an experience, good or bad, that you have had. Essays should be 500 to 750 words, typewritten and double-spaced.

Says Redfield, "Of all the cities in America that do these programs, the Long Beach area is one of the best, with such a diverse cross-section participating. I hope everyone who participates this year, including all those terrific high school and college students, end up thinking about how valuable they are as members of the community. And maybe one day we'll be reading their story."

Questions regarding Book Week may be sent to Redfield at Stredfield.

What's on Tap:

To encourage young people to give expression to their California, the Long Beach Museum of Art is hosting 12 Saturday art workshops at city libraries through Feb. 25. These are open to students ages 13 to 18. more info

Before Book Week begins, one of My California's essay writers, Firoozeh Dumas ("Bienvenidos a Newport Beach") will discuss her work and the book at Long Beach City College, noon, March 2.

Other Book Week events featuring My California writers are as follows:

March 12: Contributor and poet Chryss Yost appears at the Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific Ave., noon to 4 p.m. Activities will include a mobile skate park, the classic surfing film "Five Summer Stories," a fly-fishing demonstration and a teen poetry open mike, plus readings from the book.

March 13: Aimee Liu discusses her My California essay, "Transients in Paradise," at the Cal State Long Beach library, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

March 14:

  • Ash Do ("My Little Saigon") is the featured speaker at a Long Beach City College forum on "The Immigrant Experience," 11 a.m. to noon at Dyer Hall on the Pacific Coast Campus.
  • Edward Humes, Patt Morrison, T. Jefferson Parker, D.J. Waldie, Thomas Steinbeck and Donna Wares will present a My California evening at the Center Theater, 7 p.m. The program includes the Long Beach Poly High School Orchestra performing selected California music, plus an award ceremony for essay contest winners.

March 15: D.J. Waldie talks about his essay, "An Ordinary Place," at the Long Beach City College Auditorium, 11:30 a.m.

March 16:

  • Humes, Waldie and Wares discuss the book at Barnes and Noble, Marina Pacifica, 7 p.m.
  • The Long Beach Museum of Art and Long Beach Symphony Orchestra conduct a California Art and Music event at the museum. This will include a talk by Su Ann Robinson about California artists and a performance by solo pianist Gloria Cheng, 7:30 p.m.

March 17: Long Beach seniors gather at Community Hospital of Long Beach to share their views of My California and their experiences in the state, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

March 18: Veronique de Turenne and Humes discuss "Writing About Home" at the Rancho Los Cerritos historic site, 11 a.m. more info

Additional information on Book Week will be appearing in the Press-Telegram.

[Tom Hennessy's viewpoint appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He can be reached at 562/499-1270 or by e-mail at Scribe17@aol.com. ]