Vermont author and journalist Elayne Clift will read from her latest book, Children of the Chalet: New and Selected Stories, Grand Prize Winner for Fiction in the Greyden Press 2014 Book Competition, on Saturday, October 10th at Brooks Memorial Library at 2.30 p.m. in the library’s meeting room on the 2nd floor. Clift will also read excerpts from her novel Hester’s Daughters (based on The Scarlet Letter) and will invite the audience to join in a discussion about the challenges of fiction writing and getting published in a 21st century literary world.
Clift’s latest short story collection has two parts. The first, Children of the Chalet, from which the title is drawn, is a set of connected stories based on a year she spent in the 1960s as a residential counselor in a halfway house for troubled teens. The second part shares a number of short stories not published until now.“I had ruminated for years about the girls I worked with and what brought them to residential living and care,” Clift says. “Their stories, which I’ve fictionalized, were compelling and I often wondered what had become of them as adults.
Those two questions: why were they in the “chalet” and what became of them, inspired the work. ”As one reviewer noted, “Each story in this collection is unique and well-written; learning about the characters keeps the reader up at night wondering where on Earth they will go next. Readers will find themselves relating, sympathizing, and learning more about the human condition. The stories stretch the reader’s mind and heartstrings. ”Among Clift’s other books are two prior short story collections, two poetry collections, a memoir, and several edited anthologies. Her blog appears at www.elayne-clift.com. Contact Elayne Clift, eclift@vermontel.net
Location Meeting Room, 2nd Floor. Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
The event is free and open to the public.
Vermont author and journalist Elayne Clift will read from her latest book, Children of the Chalet: New and Selected Stories, Grand Prize Winner for Fiction in the Greyden Press 2014 Book Competition, on Saturday, October 10th at Brooks Memorial Library at 2.30 p.m. in the library’s meeting room on the 2nd floor. Clift will also read excerpts from her novel Hester’s Daughters (based on The Scarlet Letter) and will invite the audience to join in a discussion about the challenges of fiction writing and getting published in a 21st century literary world. Clift’s latest short story collection has two parts. The first, Children of the Chalet, from which the title is drawn, is a set of connected stories based on a year she spent in the 1960s as a residential counselor in a halfway house for troubled teens. The second part shares a number of short stories not published until now.“I had ruminated for years about the girls I worked with and what brought them to residential living and care,” Clift says. “Their stories, which I’ve fictionalized, were compelling and I often wondered what had become of them as adults.
Those two questions: why were they in the “chalet” and what became of them, inspired the work. ”As one reviewer noted, “Each story in this collection is unique and well-written; learning about the characters keeps the reader up at night wondering where on Earth they will go next. Readers will find themselves relating, sympathizing, and learning more about the human condition. The stories stretch the reader’s mind and heartstrings. ”Among Clift’s other books are two prior short story collections, two poetry collections, a memoir, and several edited anthologies. Her blog appears at www.elayne-clift.com. Contact Elayne Clift, eclift@vermontel.net
Location Meeting Room, 2nd Floor. Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
The event is free and open to the public.
