Hope Anita Smith Announced as Thurber House's 2009 Childrens Writer in Residence

Thurber House is pleased to announce Hope Anita Smith as the 2009 Thurber House Childrens Writer in Residence. This annual residency, generously sponsored by JP Morgan Chase, is awarded to a talented author of books for middle grade children. Smith was nominated for her latest book of poetry, Instructions on How to Lose a Mother and Other Poems.

Orignially from Akron, Hope Anita Smith is a storyteller, teacher, artist as well as an award-winning poet. Her first book of poetry, The Way A Door Closes won several awards including, The Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award and was chosen as one of the Best Books of the Year by School Library Journal 2004. The sequel, Keep the Night Watch, was realeased last spring and her latest work, Mother Poems just hit the book shelves this month.

On top of all of her poetry and artwork, Smith is a wonderful teacher and presenter. With her company, INKED WELL WORDS, she has taught writing "wordshops" to writers of every age. She encourages her students to find their 'voice' using paint chips, random words, found objects, magazine pictures.

As a Writer in Residence, Smith will stay in Thurber House's third floor apartment for a month during the summer, teach a few classes at the Thurber Summer Writing Camps, and participate in a writing activity and/or teach a class with a local community organization. We look forward to her arrival! For more information on Hope, visit her Web site, www.hopeanitasmith.com.

Background of the Thurber Writer in Residency Program

Since 2001, the Thurber House has offered children's book writers a month-long retreat in the furnished third-floor apartment of Thurber House. Each resident spends up to ten hours per week teaching children the joys of writing in both a community-based agency and as part of the Thurber House Summer Writing Camp for children. He or she also receives a stipend and has plenty of time to write in the apartment where the bed fell on James Thurber's father. Past recipients are Deborah Wiles (01), Kathryn Hewitt (02), Natasha Tarpley (03), Laurie Miller Hornik (04), Shelley Pearsall (05), Sam Swope (06), Lisa Yee (07), Alan Silberberg (08).

2008 Recipient Alan Silberberg amuses Thurber Board President Louise Jones and former Board President Kitty Morton Epler at his welcoming reception. Lisa Yee, the 2007 recipient, gladly signs autographs for campers after her presentation at the Thurber Summer Writing Camp.

Thurber House would like to thank JP Morgan Chase for their continuous sponsorship of this program.