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Authors flocking to Scottsdale book fesival
PROGRESS NEWS STAFF
More than 50 authors will be on hand to share stories and insights into their craft at the inaugural Desert Foothills Book Festival in northern Scottsdale next Saturday.
The free event – 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St. – will offer attendees a a chance to peruse fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, children’s books and other genres and have books signed by the authors. There will be door prizes and even a raffle. Proceeds from this initial event will fund The Holland Center program “Creative Kids: Tell Me a Story.”
The Desert Foothills Book Festival grew from the desire of a group of local authors to connect personally with book lovers and to promote an appreciation of reading and the literary arts. “With the Tucson Book Festival to the south and the Payson and Prescott book festivals to the north, this small group felt the greater Phoenix, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Carefree areas were missing a valuable opportunity to meet and engage with local authors from all genres,” organizers say on their website, desertfoothillsbookfestival.com “The year 2022 marks the first year of the festival with many, many more to come.”
Organizers describe the festival as “a celebration of the importance of reading in our community” that aims to “promote literacy and a love of reading among adults and children by creating an interactive and inclusive venue for readers and authors to connect.”
Among the authors who will be attending are Karen Odden and Dan Baldwin, who will give presentations on the craft and skill of writing.
Odden will speak on the importance
Book lovers of all ages will find something – and someone – of interest at the inaugural Desert Foothills Book Festival in Scottsdale next Saturday. (Special to the Progress)
(left to right) Guitarist Elijah Barnett, vocalist Elijah Witt, bassist Ryan Henriquez and drummer Devin Clark make up the metal band Cane Hill who return to the stage when they roll into Scottsdale on Tuesday May 31. (Special to the Progress) seeBOOK page 29
Cane Hill returns with stop at Pub Rock
BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
It’s been nearly two years since the members of the Louisiana-based metal outfit Cane Hill have been able to plant their feet on a stage in front of a live audience.
During those two years, vocalist Elijah Witt admits that he and his bandmates found it difficult to muster up the energy to rehearse for a show that they feared would never happen.
However, the band did still feel a desire to continue writing new material.
“We didn’t have a reason to hash out a whole set and we became so focused on writing music that we didn’t have time to get together,” Witt said. “It’s felt great getting back and playing music because even though we’ve released a bunch of music, we didn’t get together to rehearse for two years.”
Instead, the band wrote and recorded two EPs, “Krewe De La Mort, Vol. 1” and “Krewe D’Amour, Vol. 2”, and is eager to rip the tracks off the works live.
“The songs have taken over our setlist and it’s sick,” Witt said. “We’ve always been one of those bands that do not like to play old songs, so getting to come into this headliner playing mostly-unheard live songs is exciting.”
New songs aren’t the only things that Witt feels fans need.
“I’m not a scientist and I don’t know what the right time is to come back but touring doesn’t seem as volatile as it
of the setting for any novel, especially when writing historical fiction. Her passion is Victorian England, and she’ll share photographs of some of the places in London that helped her bring her stories to life.
Baldwin will explain his 20 years of experience with psychic detection and spirit communication, followed by how he structured his books to combine these realities with effective storytelling.
Two Valley authors will share a table to discuss their books about the Holocaust.
Katrina Shawver, author of the award-winning “Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America,” will be alongside Ettie Zilber, author of “A Holocaust Memoir of Love and Resilience, Mama’s Survival from Lithuania to America.”
Both their stories take place during World War II and the Holocaust and are set in the neighboring countries of Poland and Lithuania. Together, the books offer a shared history and geography, and two different Holocaust experiences. Shawver’s book is about Henry Zguda, of Ahwatukee, a Polish Christian survivor of German concentration camps, and his subsequent life in America.
Zilber’s memoir follows her mother’s story from the Lithuanian Jewish experience and subsequent adjustment to life in America. Lithuania and Poland have shared borders for centuries.
“Both books are timelier than ever, given the current events unfolding in Ukraine and shared history and geography,” Shawver said.
Shawver is an experienced writer, seasoned speaker, and is the recipient of 2018 the Polish Heritage Award from the Polish American Congress of Arizona.
Zilber was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany, and after retirement from a career in international schools, she now is active in the Phoenix Holocaust Association and devotes time to educating youth and adults about the Holocaust.
For a rundown on the other authors who will be on hand Saturday at the event, see desertfoothillsbookfestival. com
CANE ���� page 28
has been,” he said. “So as long as we’re allowed to put on shows, I think economically we need to but additionally I think people need some good news since music has gone for so long.”
In preparation for the tour, the band spent months doing something it hadn’t done in two years: rehearsing.
“After two years of not rehearsing we started jamming again about three months ago,” Witt said.
However, since Scottsdale marks stop number two on the band’s tour, Witt foresees his performance not being fully dialed in.
“I still see Scottsdale having plenty of rust,” Witt said with a laugh. “I’m happy that we’re going west first since Arizona has always been fun and it’s chalked full of rockers so it’s a fun demographic to hit first.”
In addition to treating fans to new tunes live and fine-tuning his performance, Witt plans to make the live performances more expansive than ever by draping the stage with two custom-made crosses and a light show that will transform each venue into what Witt describes as a “creepy church.”
“It’s going to be bigger, better and badder,” he said. “It’ll be bigger than anything we’ve ever done in terms of the production of the performance.”
He also meticulously curated a cast of supporting acts: Florida- based metal act Afterlife, Illinois- based metal band VCTMS and rockers Moodring, which will prime fans in attendance for the eclectic sounds Cane Hill brings to the table.
“Methodically it was to start them slowly, hit them fast, get them pumped then crush them. That’s the order of the bands,” Witt said.
He also wants fans to hear a myriad sounds and avoid redundancy.
“When we all go to a show, we don’t want to see the same band five times just get progressively louder and their songs more memorable,” Witt said. “I wanted to see four or five bands that were completely individual in their sound so that everyone is having a good time.”
As for his act, Witt is excited to dazzle the audience and put spins on the band’s signature tunes while exposing fans to the works that Cane Hill created while cooped up during the early days of the pandemic.
“We did some fun things with the song ‘Why’ and I’m excited to play that song again with a little twist to it,” Witt said.
But his main source of excitement remains in giving his new tracks an on-stage presence.
“I’m excited to play the new songs since it’s something fresh for me,” Witt said.
If you go
What: Cane Hill the Krewe Du Sang tour with Afterlife, VCTMS, Moodring and Sin Shrift When: 7 p.m. Tuesday May 31 Where: Pub Rock 8005 E. Roosevelt St. Cost: $17 to $20 Info: This is a 21+ event. wearecanehill. com
PROGRESS NEWS STAFF
Experience Scottsdale is kicking off its ‘June Days” celebration in Old Town in high fashion.
In addition to t signature events, there is a plethora of activities such as Scottsdale’s popular Puzzle Rides with various themes; �loral arrangement workshops by the Flower Bar; paint and wine nights by Brush Bar; wine-centric events at Carlson Creek, Kazimierz Wine & Whiskey Bar, LDV Winery; crafting sessions at The Merchantile of Scottsdale, and more.
For complete list of events and registration details, visit oldtownscottsdaleaz.com/junedays/.
Here are some fo the events:
Breakfast at the Market
7-10 a.m. all Saturdays throughout June 3806 N. Brown Ave.
Guests are invited to enjoy Breakfast at the Market all month long. The city’s popular Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market offers extended dates through June, and will feature over 30 vendors selling baked goods, produce and delicious treats. Guests can enjoy the easy listening tunes of a guitar duo performing live as they nibble and shop their way through the market.
During this free, four-part storytelling series presented by the city of Scottsdale, guests can nibble on sweet treats as they are regaled with true stories about Scottsdale’s rich, interesting –and sometimes mysterious– history. Each sessions will focus on a different part of Scottsdale’s past.
June Days ArtWalk 6:30-9 p.m. June 9
Scottsdale Arts District
The Scottsdale Gallery Association and its participating member galleries host a summer-themed June Days ArtWalk featuring the live music of a steel drum band and refreshing sips and bites to evoke a vacation-style vibe right in the heart of Old Town. As the sun sets on Scottsdale, art lovers can enjoy a variety of themed artwork inspired by an Arizona summer while strolling the streets of Old Town.
Community Juneteenth Celebration
2-7 p.m. June 19
Scottsdale Stadium
This fun event serves as an educational and entertaining experience featuring cultural exhibits, health and wellness presentations and screenings, educational information, live performances, activities for kids, vendor booths, food, and family photo ops. Admission and parking are free.
