Valerie Hemingway

Medellín and Málaga, Spring Talks & Travels

2009-06-08T09:53:00.004-06:00

When I booked my airline ticket the girl asked: "Do you only travel to places beginning with M? On May 3rd I set out from Montana via Miami to Medellín to give the keynote speech in the Centro Colombo Americano's six week lecture series on the Lost Generation. My days were filled with talks, interviews, and workshops at the Centro and three universities in the beautiful mountain valley where sunshine and rain showers are sisters. I was greeted with enthusiasm and appreciation and noted a lively interest in the arts and promotion of culture in Botero's home town. It was agreed by all that Medellín is a place to return to soon.

From Medellín I flew to Málaga where I was given a rousing welcome. I attended the Encuentro Internacional/Mayo 2009 HEMINGWAY Un Verano Peligroso, MÁLAGA 1959 marking the 50th anniversary of Ernest Hemingway's stay at La Consula when he was gathering material for The Dangerous Summer. The setting for my talk was the stately former home of Bill and Annie Davis where I spent a total of eight months over a two year period (1959-60) with the Hemingways. Now one of Europe's finest culinary schools, La Consula's conference room was filled to capacity. After my talk we were invited outside and feted with a very fine selection of tapas and local wines. The conference was sponsored by the Fundacíon Manuel Alcántara and directed by the genial Andrés Arenas Gómez.

Málaga is vying to become the European Capital of Culture 2016. If you have any affinity for this Andalusian coastal city, please send in your vote.

Link to Today show interview, Dec 8, 2004

2009-02-18T11:09:00.001-07:00

There were some reports of difficulty viewing this video, so I am publishing a more direct link to my interview by Ann Curry of a few years ago:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/6677125#6677125

Video Chat!

2009-02-05T13:14:00.002-07:00

I have taken another step into the 21st century by starting to have "video chats" with my far-flung family. One of my children set it up for me. I have not done it very often yet, but I have high hopes!

Lecture in Toronto, evening of Mar 30th

2009-02-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here is some advance publicity for the Toronto lecture:

The lecture series, which is partly sponsored by the Toronto Star and includes Marc Kielburger and Roxanne Joyal, Valerie Hemingway, Diane Keaton, Isabella Rossellini and Whoopi Goldberg, starts at 7:30 p.m. at Roy Thomson Hall.

As you can see, I am in some very good company!

Original context is here.

Lecture in Port Huron, MI lunch Feb 9th

2009-02-02T12:40:00.003-07:00

No, this isn't a misprint: I am going to try to give a lecture in Port Huron in the day and another lecture in Toronto in the evening of the same day.

I pray for good weather and smooth travel connections!

Lecture in Denver, 7:30pm Feb 9th

2009-01-09T12:35:00.001-07:00

Rocky Mountain New

More advance publicity for my "Unique Lives" lecture on Feb 9th in Denver:

* Unique Lives & Experiences: Valerie Hemingway Feb. 9 at the Buell Theatre. Ernest's secretary talks about the author and his estranged son, whom she wound up marrying. uniquelives.com or 1-877-872-812

Full context here.

Lecture in Denver, 7:30pm, Feb 9th

2009-01-06T12:24:00.004-07:00

Here is some advance publicity from an upcoming gig which was in the on-line Denver Post:

The 2009 Unique Lives & Experiences lecture series is being hawked in newspapers: "Don't Miss The Ultimate Girls' Night Out!" The series, which starts Feb. 9, includes Valerie Hemingway, Diane Keaton, Marlee Matlin, Christiane Amanpour, Kerry Kennedy and Azadeh Moaveni.

Full context here.

Michigan Tour Feedback

2009-01-04T05:33:00.001-07:00

I was very pleased to see that an event in which I participated was rated the number one event of the year in that area by a local newspaper. Details can be found here.

Book Group

2008-12-19T04:17:00.006-07:00

There is something satisfying about discussing books with congenial fellow book lovers, so even though I am perennially pressed for time, I will leading a discussion for a local public book group on Jan 17, 2009. Details can be found here.

Photos from 4/24/08, Grand Rapids

2008-11-05T13:29:00.004-07:00

I've been having some computer troubles and so have only now gotten around to posting these photos from my appearance in Grand Rapids as part of the Great Michigan Read.

This photo is of myself and Mike Ross. Click on the image to see it full-sized.

This one is of me in action at the lectern. Click on the image to see it full-sized.

A Night to Remember Promo

2008-11-01T15:10:00.002-06:00

From the Canton Repository, Canton Ohio: (full text is here)

"An Evening to Remember: A Hemingway Comes to Canton," Stark County District Library Foundation's fundraising event, will be Nov. 8 at Brookside Country Club.

Valerie Hemingway, author of "Running with the Bulls," will share stories of her life with the Hemingways. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, music by Michael Curtis, and a silent auction.

After Hemingway presents her memoir, there will be a book signing and desserts. Cost is $50 per person. Contact Mark Guyer at (330) 458-2758 or mguyer@starklibrary.org. Deadline is Tuesday.

For two years after a chance meeting with Ernest Hemingway in Spain in 1959, young Irish reporter Valerie Danby-Smith traveled with Hemingway and his wife, Mary, through Spain and France.

She came by the Hemingway name by marrying Earnest's son, Greg.

Appearance in Petoskey, MI Oct 24 at 7:30pm

2008-10-23T03:59:00.002-06:00

From the Petoskey News-Review:

Hemingway weekend — The Michigan Hemingway Society will hold the 19th annual Ernest Hemingway weekend Friday through Sunday, Oct. 24-26. Valerie Hemingway, the author’s former secretary, will describe her experiences with the Hemingway family. The historic Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey’s Gaslight District is the conference headquarters. Other activities include tours with historical reenactments, story discussions, talks on Ernest’s boating and on collecting rare books.Those interested in registration or additional information about the conference may call (231) 347-0117 or visit the Society’s Web site at www.michiganhemingwaysociety.org.

Mention in IHT Article

2008-10-08T15:03:00.001-06:00

There is a nice article in the IHT today, in which I have a brief quotation. The full text can be found here; my quotation is reproduced below.

"Originally, I think they came over to steal the mangoes," said Valerie Hemingway, who worked as Hemingway's assistant from 1959 until his death in 1961 and later married Gregory. "Instead of shooing them away, Ernest found things for them to do. Feed the cats, pick up the mail and give them a few pennies. And when he knew Greg and Pat were coming, he started a baseball team."

Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Scotland

2008-08-27T04:16:00.004-06:00

I was part of the Fringe Festival this year in Edinburgh.

I was unable to find time to blog about this myself, so I will cheat and refer you to press coverage of this event.

Here is a link to coverage from the LivingScotsman.com (though they mispelled "Hemingway"). You will find the Guardian's on-line coverage here.

This is a quotation the Reuters article on my appearance at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland:

Decades later, Valerie Hemingway brought her memories of daiquiris in tropical Cuba and bullfights in Spain to rainy Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.

She teamed up with Scottish director Toby Gough and a Cuban music and dance group to recreate the Havana of the 1950s in a stage production called "Hemingway's Havana" as part of last week's Fringe Festival.

"Hemingway loved Cuba because it was a place where he could be anonymous," she said in an interview with Reuters.

The full text can be found here.

This is a quotation from the Times On-line about the same event:

Surrounded by gorgeous dancers and musicians from Cuba, and dressed in a glamorous beaded frock, La Hemingway is a handy raconteur who offers a tantalising taste of Cuba at that perfect moment.

The full text can found here.

There was also some coverage in an on-line publication called The List:

Hemingway spent 20 years in Havana and this well-intentioned recreation of his favourite hangout, the Floridita bar, provides a reason for his one-time secretary and daughter-in-law, Valerie Hemingway, to be the star of the show. Live on stage, she diligently delivers reminisces of Cuba and Hemingway but you can't help longing for a native Cuban to give some insight into their country and heritage.

The full text can found here.

MSU President's Lecture

2008-08-18T04:23:00.002-06:00

I am honored to be asked to give the President's Lecture this year at my alma mater, Montana State University.

For details, visit their web site here.

War + Ink

2008-06-23T15:03:00.006-06:00

I have been on the road for a few weeks. On May 14th I gave a talk to a packed house at the Plaza Library in Kansas City, Missouri. It was my first visit to that part of the world. I was taken around the offices of the Kansas City Star; the same building, the same newspaper where the 18 year old Ernest Hemingway was a cub reporter -- his first newspaper job, which lasted seven months until he left for Italy to join an ambulance corps in World War I. Hemingway later acknowledged that his writing owed much to what he had learned when he worked for the Star. He cited their style sheet as an excellent writer's guideline.

I spent three weeks in rainy England: London, Oxford, Yorkshire, visiting friends and family. Then, in mid-June I returned to Kansas City to attend the 13th Hemingway Society International Conference. The themes were journalism and World War I. It was titled "War + Ink." Some of the sessions were held at the Liberty Memorial War Museum, a splendid venue.

It is beautiful here in Bozeman. The summer visitors have begun to trickle through. This week friends from Italy and Portsmouth, R.I. appeared. The weather cooperated with beautiful sunshine and nothing but blue skies. As soon as they left, however, the heavens opened and there was an almighty downpour with thunder and lightening for good measure.

Till next time.

Opinion Piece by Patrica Anne Shaheen

2008-06-09T06:17:00.001-06:00

Still on vacation, but could not resist a quick update.

Here is an interesting opinion piece by a writer in Michigan which uses one of my talks there as a jumping-off point.

Taking a Break

2008-05-21T08:29:00.003-06:00

I will be taking a break from speaking, touring, writing and blogging for a few weeks. I hope to resume, refreshed, in June.

Have a happy Spring!

KC Was Great

2008-05-15T15:48:00.003-06:00

I had a great time in KC: a large enthusiastic audience and a superb dinner afterwards.

They tell me that my talk was the best-attended event in the venue's very short history (it opened a few short weeks ago in April).

Kansas City itself was very nice; for information about goings on in KC, visit this site.

On To Kansas City!

2008-05-09T06:04:00.005-06:00

No rest for the wicked! My Michigan tour was great, but now I am getting ready for my trip to Kansas City.

Here is some advance publicity: (original context is here)

In another book note, Valerie Hemingway, author of Running With the Bulls: My Years With the Hemingways, will speak about her book and her travels with Ernest Hemingway at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Plaza Branch Library, 4801 Main St.

As Valerie Danby Smith, Hemingway worked as the author’s secretary and was with Hemingway and his wife, Mary, when they traveled through Spain, France and Cuba. She worked for the estate after his death and married Gregory, Ernest Hemingway’s son.

Hemingway will sign copies of the book purchased at the event. Otherwise, there is no charge. Call 816-701-3407 or see kclibrary.org.

A Big Thank You to Michigan

2008-05-04T16:34:00.007-06:00

A big "thank you" to all my new friends in Michigan. Six lectures, six cities, seven days. All were a great success. The halls were mostly packed to capacity, with lots of extra happenings.

The state library at Lansing was a spectacular venue for the kickoff. That first glimpse of the stately building blew my breath away. Dinner afterwards at the Italian restaurant where the waiter spotted me immediately from the advance publicity. He turned out to be a budding poet. There was a Polish dinner, door prizes, a packed house and a post-talk party in Hamtramck.

Grand Rapids has a splendid library too, filled with a lively lunchtime audience.

I stayed at the historic Landmark hotel in Marquette, where I tasted the local whitefish, a delicacy, at the Spanish restaurant. My hosts were the organizers who had arranged my afternoon talk at the lovely Peter White Library opposite the hotel.

Next day we meandered down the coast road to Traverse City, true Hemingway country, where I luxuriated at the Resort and Spa. One of the board members donated the accommodation. The evening at the newly renovated Traverse City Opera House was elegant and well attended. Ernest's nephew James Sanford came with his Marian and several friends from Walloon Lake. They enjoyed themselves immensely.

The crowning glory was the final night of my tour in Saginaw. Dr. Sam Shaheen and his lovely wife Patricia, were my hosts at the Ramada Inn. Patty was the grand organizer of the Hemingway evening held at the Shaheen's newly restored Temple Theatre. After my talk, I presented the essay and short story finalists their prizes on stage. In a bar scene with live music playing 1950s hits, 26 Hemingway "look-alikes" competed for the coveted title. The winner, # 18, is off to Key West in July to further his career. A reception followed while I signed my book till my hand ached. I signed an average of seventy-five books at each venue, along with cards, posters, coasters, tee shirts and whatever else was presented.

What a fine time! What great people! Michigan is certainly a reading place. And Ernest Hemingway is one of their favorite authors.

Home safely from 2008 Great Michigan Read

2008-05-03T04:44:00.003-06:00

I made it back, safe and sound, from a busy but very satisfying tour. I had a great time: the people running the show were great, my driver / companion was a delight to be with in addition to being organized and able to get me to my destinations on time and relaxed. The audiences were attentive, the venues were excellent.

All in all, I have to say that Michigan was lovely, the people were nice and I can see why Ernest always had such affection for the place.

Article in MLive.com, 4/30/08

2008-05-01T04:10:00.005-06:00

Here is another article from MLive.com; this one is about the end of my tour and featured a Hemingway Look-a-like competition (!)

Article in Traverse City Record-Eagle

2008-04-28T09:23:00.003-06:00

Another nice write-up for a Great Michigan Read tour is to found here. This is the photo of me that I gave them. © Valerie Hemingway

Article in MLive.com, 4/25/08

2008-04-25T21:52:00.002-06:00

Here is another article written during my Michigan tour.

Write-up of Lansing Talk on 4/24/08

2008-04-24T21:47:00.001-06:00

You can find a write-up of my appearance in Lansing here.

On the Road!

2008-04-22T04:24:00.002-06:00

I am off today on my Michigan tour. I hope to keep my blog updated as I go through my itinerary. I will have a driver / companion with me, thank God. I will try to take a few pictures as I go and post them, if I can make all the technology work!

Some day, I hope to be as adept as the Yarn Harlot. Some day.

Pre-Great Michigan Read Write-Up

2008-04-18T11:21:00.003-06:00

On April 16th, I received a very nice write up in City pulse, which you can find here.

Six talks scheduled for The Great Michigan Read

2008-04-13T11:59:00.011-06:00

The Great Michigan Read, sponsored by the Michigan Humanities Council, selected Ernest Hemingway's The Nick Adams Stories as their featured book for the year June 2007 to 2008. As part of this year's festivities, I have been asked to give talks in six Michigan cities this month. Here is my schedule:

Lansing 5 p.m. Wednesday April 23rd

Hamtramck 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24th

Grand Rapids, 1 p.m. Saturday April 26th

Marquette, 2 p.m. Sunday April 27th

Traverse City, 7 p.m. Monday April 28th

Saginaw, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday April 29th

Details can be found on the Internet here.

In preparation for these appearances I have given ten interviews, with three more scheduled. The advance publicity has been very gratifying, with wide exposure and much coverage devoted to the events in the local media.

I am continually amazed at the insatiable interest in Ernest Hemingway, both the man and his writings. Michigan is one state that can claim Hemingway as its own. He spent his childhood summers at Walloon Lake (then Bear Lake) and wrote some of his earliest and best short stories about his experiences. To the end of his life he maintained a great affection for Michigan.

I am looking forward to the first trip that will take me outside the Detroit area. I have just reread with great pleasure The Nick Adams Stories, and my friend and former colleague Constance Cappel's Hemingway in Michigan as an aperitif for the Great Michigan Read feast.

Spring Fling - Calendar of Events

2008-03-20T17:06:00.007-06:00

Today is the first day of spring, a very good day to update my blog which has been languishing since the deep winter snowy days of February.

March 12th. On my first trip to Dallas I spoke to the Mary Kay Craig Class at the Dallas Women's Club. My talk was on my life's adventures including the years I spent working for Ernest Hemingway and later for the Hemingway literary estate. The audience was most appreciative. A Mexican lunch followed in the charming club building. There have been several communications since asking when I shall return to Dallas.

March 20th. Today's Bozeman Chronicle featured a front page story discussing my recent trip to Israel to attend the Third Princeton Symposium on Ancient Jewish Burial Practices, subtitled, An evaluation of the Talpiot, (or so-called Jesus Family) Tomb in Context. Here is the link

March 29th. My much anticipated 2nd Annual Memoir Writing Workshop sponsored by the AAUW will take place from 9-12 a.m. at Montana State University, Billings. Cost of workshop is $30.00 for members and $50.00 for non members. Last year this workshop was over-subscribed with a long waiting list. We hope to accommodate all budding memoirists this year.

March 30th. University of West Virginia, E Moore Hall, my talk "The Ernest Hemingway I Knew," followed by a reception.

March 31st. University of West Virginia, Visiting speaker at writing class 9:30 a.m. Lunch with English department faculty and grad students 12:00 noon, Visiting speaker at nonfiction class 4:00 p.m. Gathering at Dr. and Mrs. David Fogarty's house 7:00 p.m.

Tomb Tantrums and Other Musings

2008-02-06T05:43:00.000-07:00

I've been traveling since the beginning of the year and am back in Bozeman where the snow is deep and the skiing season in full swing.

I attended a lively and most intriguing Princeton University sponsored symposium in Jerusalem mid January. A select group of scholars, archaeologists and scientists came together to discuss ancient burial practices in the Second Temple Judaism with a view to evaluating the Talpiot tomb in context. Serious scholarly presentation and discussion ensued. Since the Talpiot tomb is also identified by some as "the Jesus Family Tomb" there were predictable angry outbursts, with ruffled feathers and flying fur. The most surprising announcement of the conference came at the final session from Ruth Gat, widow of the archaeologist who first excavated the Talpiot tomb. Ms. Gat's statement left the audience momentarily speechless, then the fires of dissent rekindled until the heat became nearly unbearable. Although no conclusions were drawn, the assembly agreed that more exploration needs to be done and a motion was made to request permission from the Israeli authorities to re-open the tomb. Tune in later.

Interview for Random House e-Book

2007-12-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here is an interview I did for the Random House e-Book edition.

Town and Gown Appearance

2007-12-05T04:42:00.000-07:00

After a whirlwind visit to the Big Apple, I'm back in Bozeman and heading off to Billings to speak at Town and Gown tonight. The subject is Cuba, a place that seems to be in Limbo right now. It is very hard to predict what the future there will be. I note that Castro is on the ballot for another term in office, that is, El Jefe, not his brother Raul.

As the photographer Roberto Salas told me when I visited Havana last March, Cuba has two problems, "the embargo and blaming the embargo." Something will have to be done to improve the Cuban economy whether there are Castros or no Castros in power. Cubans are very resilient and very creative. Maybe one day they will be able to direct their own destiny.

My destiny in the next couple of days will be determined by the state of the roads, which I'm happy to report are in a relatively dry and drivable condition this morning. However, in Montana they say about the weather: "Ask me again in five minutes."

Dog Authors: A New Trend?

2007-11-20T11:25:00.001-07:00

The last two book signings I attended were, in fact, paw signings.

Last Saturday Jag Schweitzer was signing his FIRST DOG (Farcountry Press 2007) at Bozeman's Country Bookshelf, A black-and-white border collie, prominent these days in the State Capitol of Helena, Jag was accompanied by his buddy Governor Schweitzer, who used the occasion to greet constituents and promote his bid for reelection. Jag assumed an independent air and schmoozed with his fans throughout the session, not allowing his dogship to be upstaged by the Gov. Author Jessica Solberg and illustrator Robert Rath were on hand to add a sketch along with their signatures, and Schweitzer, not to be outdone appended his own pawprint to the historic dogument.

A month ago I was a panelist at the Billings book fair. For me, a highpoint of the festivities was Tess Kahn's presentation of her new book, TRAINING PEOPLE: HOW TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR HUMAN (Chronicle Books 2007) A black labrador rectreiver, Tess of Helena as her nom de plume describes her, gave an admirable performance before a select audience. Her insight into human behaviour, its foibles and pitfalls, was quite hilarious. I rather wickedly asked her to sign a book for my cat Mimi, a first for her, which presented a small quandary, since Tess's intentions towards the species makes the U.S. military's routing of Al Queda seem like cats play.

Remembering Norman Mailer

2007-11-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday November 10th, Norman Mailer died in New York City. This country has lost a great literary figure whose inquiring mind challenged the conventions, and whose sharp pen rattled a couple of generations, while providing food for thought, for gossip, for debate, for delight. I have lost a friend.

I met Norman Mailer in 1963 and could count him as a friend in the subsequent decades. I can recall countless memorable occasions at the Mailers' apartment in Brooklyn Heights and in their sea front house in Provincetown in the 1960's and 1970's. It was there Norman taught my oldest son to swim.

I was sitting in the Brooklyn Heights watching television with the Mailer family one Sunday afternoon in late 1963 when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald, President John F. Kennedy's assassin. Norman saw the unscripted murder as it was happening and immediately understood its implications. For the next several years I would hear Norman discussing Kennedy's assassination from every possible angle, especially the conspiracy theories.

When I resigned my job as publicity director of Hawthorn Books because the company was sold, Norman recommended me to his publisher. At the time he was in Miami covering one of the boxing championships. He did not let distance deter him from helping out a friend.

Norman recommended my husband Gregory Hemingway to his agent when Greg decided to write a memoir in 1974. He then offered to write an introduction for the book, PAPA: A PERSONAL MEMOIR, which received the New York Times Book Review front page slot.

Thirty years later Mailer wrote a blurb for my own memoir, RUNNING WITH THE BULLS: My Years with the Hemingways.

Last year Mailer said of my illustrator son Edward's little cocktail book: HEMINGWAY AND BAILEY'S BARTENDING GUIDE TO GREAT AMERICAN WRITERS, "I like everything about this book except that I am not in it."

Farewell, Norman, you may be gone but you will not be forgotten.

Trick or Treat?

2007-11-01T15:16:00.000-06:00

Halloween is a big deal in Bozeman for children and adults alike. Especially on a mild autumn night like yesternight.

Costumes are planned ages in advance. Routes are discussed. The best streets for getting booty are not always in the immediate neighborhood. Parents or older siblings may be roped in as chauffeurs. Receptacles can vary from pillow cases and garbage bags to plastic pumpkins.

The street where I live is one of the most popular venues in town. Last night between six and seven fifteen p.m. about one hundred supermen, monsters, witches,

fairies and recognizable popular cultural figures from two feet to six feet high, knocked on my door begging treats or threatening tricks if denied.

What a great custom to indulge in one night late in the year before the winter robs all joy of nocturnal outings.

Visit to a Paleontologist Extraordinaire

2007-10-29T22:11:00.000-06:00

This morning I visited Jack Horner at the office in the Museum of the Rockies to discuss his life as a Curator of Paleontology for the past twenty-five years. My exclusive interview will be published in DISTINCTLY MONTANA's spring issue.

(I have written six other pieces for the magazine; here is a link to the most recent profiles of writer Deirdre McNamer and actor Peter Fonda.)

Jack Horner has made the most astonishing discoveries in the field of paleontology during the past quarter of a century. All of his major work has taken place in Montana and concerns dinosaurs. His work is showcased at the Museum of the Rockies which has the world's most extensive dinosaur collection and research facilities.

Jack Horner was the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Award in 1986.

Horner is a Montana native. He has had an amazing life. He was a technical advisor to Stephen Spielberg on his Jurassic Park movies. He even has a sizeable Wikipedia entry.

I cannot think of a better way to spend a Monday morning than listening to Jack Horner recounting his adventures in the field.

Up Above the World so High

2007-10-22T20:41:00.000-06:00

A week ago I had a bird's eye view of Yellowstone Park and the Paradise Valley. I was aboard a four seater single engine plane that looked like a toy when it was on the ground. Our pilot and guide was a Livingston lawyer. My companions and hosts were a Bozeman couple who purchased the trip at a benefit auction for a local theatre.

We took off from Gallatin Airport on a two hour trip, looping over the mountains, through the park and up the valley. It was a beauiful calm clear day. I could see my house as we glided over Bozeman. What a great way to sightsee! We circled Old Faithful but the geyser was not gushing at that moment. Instead, we spotted a number of other geyers in action. We paused over the waterfall for a photo op, observed the Lamar Valley and Mammoth hot springs. Gardiner stood sentinel serenely outside the park with its great archway dating back to Teddy Roosevelt's time. What a spectacular trip!

One week before we were forced to postpone our trip because of a huge snowstorm. As they say around here: If you want to see a change in the weather, stick around for an hour or two.

Nobel Prize in literature to Doris Lessing

2007-10-13T18:21:00.000-06:00

On Thursday morning Oct. 11th when I turned on the morning radio I heard a discussion of Doris Lessing's work and life. I thought, "Lessing is 87, she must be dead." I had to wait an hour to learn that Lessing had won the Nobel prize for literature.

It brought me back to London twelve years ago when I had the good luck to visit Doris Lessing at her home. It was for an interview. She had been difficult to reach because she avoids being interrupted by inconsequential events. As soon as she opened the door and invited me in, neither of us could help noticing that we were wearing exactly the same attire, navy skirts, shirts, tights and shoes. Only our scarves were different. The coincidence made us laugh. We got off to a good start which gathered momentum as the time passed. Before we left she asked the photographer with me to take a photograph of "the navy sisters." We found that we had many interests in common. It was a memorable morning for me.

Three years ago I saw Lessing again at Hay on Wye, one of the great English book festivals. She kept a standing room only audience enthralled as she recounted various tales from her very full life. Every now and then she would pause and say, "Now where was I? Oh yes, ..." and she was off again on another verbal adventure. I spoke to her briefly afterwards and presented her with a small cat I had bought for her at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. She was delighted, even though she was quite tired and the crowds were pushing forward with their books to be signed. What fortitude! What a great spirit! How lucky I was to be there!

The Last Rose of Summer

2007-10-05T10:37:00.000-06:00

The leaves are changing color from summer green to glorious shades of yellows, orange and rust. Time to turn off the sprinkler and put the garden to bed for the winter.

The Hatch Film Festival is in full swing. The festival was founded half a dozen years ago by Montana resident, Peter Fonda. (See my interview with him in Distinctly Montana, Fall 2006). The Bozeman Symphony gave the first performance of their fortieth season with a rousing rendition of Rachmaninoff's 3rd piano concerto (opus 30, D minor) with Jon Nakamatsu at the piano and Matthew Savery at the podium.

My next foray will be to speak at the Billings bookfest October 18 to 20. More about that later.

Ketchum Hemingway House Benefit

2007-09-26T22:25:00.001-06:00

I spent last weekend in Ketchum, Idaho attending the third annual Hemingway Festival there and being the featured speaker at the Nature Conservancy's one thousand dollar a plate benefit dinner. The proceeds will be used for the upkeep of the Hemingway house which was bequeathed to the non-profit conservation group by Ernest's widow, Mary Hemingway in 1986.

Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served on the newly paved patio after which the twenty-four guests partook of a very elegant dinner in the large diningroom overlooking the Big Wood River, with a view of high mountains and sagebrush hills. I think both Ernest and Mary would have been proud of the feast, an elk tenderloin, preceeded by slivers of smoked wild duck and partridge filled pastries. Soup, salad and pear tart completed the meal which was accompanied by a variety of wines. The house was open to the guests for inspection and for photographs.

As I drove back to Bozeman, I noticed the changing of the colors in the trees, yellow, red, orange and rust. The fleeting autumn season, gone before it hardly begins, was apparent as the first snows descended on the distant mountains. All I encountered on the highway was a heavy rain but I have lived in these parts long enough to know it could turn to snow at any moment

9/11 in Denver

2007-09-16T10:57:00.000-06:00

On September 11th I spoke to a very appreciative audience of about five hundred people as part of the Town Hall Denver lecture series. The unflagging interest in Ernest Hemingway's life and work never ceases to amaze me. The questions are always stimulating, After the talk and booksigning I was taken to the beautiful Denver Country Club for lunch with the dialogue continuing throughout the meal.

A couple of days ago I saw the film: 3:10 to Yuma, the latest western with its fine photography, spectacular scenery, and complex characters. Apart from the excessive shoot'em'ups, the story is one that gives much food for thought. What do you think?

Next week I shall drive for seven hours to Idaho to speak at the Hemingway House in Ketchum. The $1000 a plate dinner sponsored by the Nature Conservancy is a benefit for the preservation of the house where the writer spent his last year and where he took his life. Often our first big snowstorm of the fall occurs at the equinox. Fingers crossed that this year it will hold off till my return.

On the Circuit

2007-09-08T09:14:00.001-06:00

September has come and I'm back on the road giving talks. On Tuesday September 11, I'll be the featured speaker at the Town Hall luncheon meeting in Denver. The subject will be my memoir, Running with the Bulls: My Years with the Hemingways. There seems to be an inexhaustible interest in Ernest Hemingway, his life and work.

On September 22nd I'll give a talk to a private group at the Hemingway House in Ketchum, Idaho. The occasion will be a special fundraiser dinner to benefit the Nature Conservancy and the Hemingway House which will take place during the Sun Valley Hemingway Festival.

In August I gave my memoir writing workshop to a group of forty in White Sulphur Springs, Montana as part of the Meagher County Bookfest. The workshop was so successful I was invited to give similar sessions in Great Falls and Fort Benton.

The second weekend in August I spoke at the Irish festival, An Ri Ra, in Butte. It is one of the more colorful Montana summer festivals, covering all aspects of Irish culture. Particularly endearing are the Irish step dancing performances by children from three years up. The music, much of it imported from Ireland, was fabulous.

Oxford in August

2007-08-30T09:55:00.000-06:00

You may have been wondering what happened to me. On the spur of the moment I accepted an invitation to attend a wedding at Birmingham University (England) mid-August and was rewarded additionally with the offer to housesit a beautiful cottage and garden in Oxford. I returned to Bozeman last night, very much exhilarated by my experience.

Birmingham was drizzling with rain, but a few forays to the countryside of Shropshire and Wales brought me to various rustic establishments including a two hundred year old cider mill, stilll pressing away as it distills a fine rich hard cider, once meted out to the field workers at a quantity of five gallons a day to get them through the harvesting. The tap water was unsafe so the cider quenched the thirst and spurred the peons on. Every inch of England is fraught with history.

August is tourist time in Oxford, but I was fortunate that my old school chum, Delphine Kelly, came over from Dublin to spend a few days with me. You will have read about Delphine in my memoir. We had not seen each other in sixteen years. She and her husband had spent five years at Oxford as a young married couple when John Kelly was a Don at Trinity College. Delphine showed me around all the authentic spots, and noted where her two oldest boys romped around on the college lawns and scampered over stone walls. We went to Blenheim Palace where Winston Churchill was born and were intrigued by a new kind of museum entertainment, a historical drama featuring former inhabitants of Blenheim, enacted by means of life sized wax figures and video beamed through mirrors and picture frames. All was automated, as doors opened electronically to let us through to the next scene of the drama. Quite a production! I've seen nothing like it in the U.S.

I was very fortunate to catch up with two people I had hoped to see, both Elspeth Huxley connections. C.S. Nicholls wrote a wonderful biography of Elspeth, and Tanzanian artist, zoologist, anthropologist, Jonathan Kingdom, who has done some remarkable work and who was introduced to me by Elspeth twelve years ago. More about these people will be revealed on another occasion.

I'm off to the magnificent van Cleve ranch in the Big Timber Canyon for the Labor Day weekend. Hope you're having as much fun as I am.

Ernest Hemingway's Havana Home Restored

2007-08-01T14:53:00.000-06:00

My article on revisiting Cuba and the restoration of the Hemingway home in Havana appears in the current issue of Smithsonian Magazine, August 2007. So far the responses have been positive.

I have just returned from a conference in Vienna, a beautiful city, lighthearted, filled with the music of Mozart and Strauss, palaces and museums, trolley cars and river boats cruising the Danube.

Memoir Writing Workshop
August 4th, 2007 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Meagher County Bookfest in White Sulphur Springs, Montana

Come join my five hour memoir writing workshop if you're in the area.

Butte Irish Festival
August 10th, 11th, 12th

I'll be giving a talk at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday August 11th, following artist, writer, publisher, Russell Chatham, at the lively Irish festival in Butte. If you have a touch of the Blarney, it is an occasion not to be missed.

Article in Smithsonian

2007-07-30T08:28:00.001-06:00

My article came out in the Smithsonian magazine which you can find at www.smithsonianmagazine.com.

There is also an author profile which is a bit more freeform than I would have liked; you can find it here.

Interview w/CubanHeadlines.Com

2007-07-21T14:38:00.000-06:00

Here is an interview I did for CubaHeadlines.com.

Independence Day in Montana

2007-07-18T16:15:00.000-06:00

Distinctly Montana's summer issue appeared on the stands on July 2nd just as I was about to join the McNamer clan in Red Lodge to celebrate July 4th. I brought several copies of that glorious glossy magazine of Montana life with me to the reunion because my profile of their cousin, Missoula novelist Deirdre McNamer, appears alongside some funky photos of her taken by photographer Steven Begleiter (Page 46). The piece coincided with the publication of Deirdre's fourth novel RED ROVER (Viking Penguin) which already has received high acclaim from fellow writers, Richard Ford, Alice Munro, Jim Harrison and Tom McGuane. Set in Montana and loosely based on family history with a twist of mystery, I recommend that you put RED ROVER on your summer reading list.

Today I received an advance copy of the August issue of Smithsonian Magazine with my article: "Hemingway's Cuba, Cuba's Hemingway" inside (page 66). It will hit the news stands on July 26th, and your mailbox if you have a subscription before that. More on this in my next dispatch.

I'm heading out to Vienna (Austria, where else?) to attend a conference tomorrow. I include the country because when I first came to Montana in 1980 the local newspaper seemed to be filled with inconsequential items with international datelines. I learned about happenings in Glasgow, Amsterdam, Manhattan and Moscow. It took me some time to realize these places were within a pony ride of where I lived, hence the interest in broken fences and lost dogs. Will return on the 27th.

August will be a merry month. I'm giving an all day memoir writing workshop at the White Sulphur Springs Bookfest on Saturday August 4th. The following Saturday, August 11th I'll be talking in Butte at An Ri Ra, the famed Irish Festival. My gig follows that of the renowned artist, writer, publisher, gourmet, and former restauranteur, Russell Chatham. See you in Butte at 3:30 pm on August 11th.

What's New in Big Sky Country?

2007-06-26T06:58:00.000-06:00

The summer social scene is in full swing in this corner of Montana. This weekend I attended two art shows, a pre-wedding barbeque and and a thirtieth wedding anniversary party, the last at the McGuane ranch in Sweet Grass County.
Tom McGuane's lead review of OUT STEALING HORSES by Per Petterson appeared in The New York Times Book Review the same day. Everyone here is reading his latest book, a collection of short stories called GALLATIN CANYON.

Note: the hard cover edition of my memoir RUNNING WITH THE BULLS, no longer available through the publisher, can now be purchased through my website: valeriehemingway@valeriehemingway.com. I would be happy to autograph and personalize each book for you. The paperback can still be purchased in the usual way through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Back from the Dig in One Piece

2007-06-15T15:45:00.000-06:00

Just returned from my fourth archaeological dig in the Galilee, all in one piece, a bit dusty and achy but very happy and refreshed. Why anyone would want to move rocks and sift dirt in extreme heat from 5:30 in the morning till one in the afternoon is a bit of a mystery, but the satisfaction of gleaning a little insight into the secrets of our past is tremendous, not to mention uncovering the odd two thousand year old coin, or more likely, waching someone else make the find.

When I asked Israeli friends if anything was going on, they said they didn't bother to read the newspapers, and indeed, there was little sign of unrest in the northern part of the country.

Jerusalem is an ancient and marvellous city well worth visiting. I made my first trip to Jordan to see Petra which aspires to be chosen one of the seven wonders of the world in the next wonders election. Computers were available and we were encouraged to vote to make this aspiration a reality. I rode loftily on a rather ill tempered camel, another first for me and ended the day (about 104F degrees) on horseback. Donkeys and carriages were also offered the weary visitor, but I felt I should leave some thrills for a future visit.

While away the final editing of my Smithsonian article took place. Oh, the wonders of the internet, which make communication from the farthest corners of the universe a possibility! Watch out for "Hemingway's Cuba: Cuba's Hemingway" in the August issue.

Article about Deirdre McNamer

2007-06-01T16:53:00.001-06:00

My profile of Deirdre McNamer is out in Distinctly Montana: see it here.

Met my deadline!

2007-05-29T04:56:00.001-06:00

My article on Cuba for the Smithsonian magazine is in the editor's hands and I am off to Israel for some archeological relaxation. More when I return...

2007-04-09T16:55:00.000-06:00

Last week I headed for Miami to talk to the Honors students at Miami Dade College about A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway's 1929 World War I novel. This talk was given under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Humanities' One Community One Book program. The college was abuzz with activities. So much going on ... a three day writing workshop, a month of panels, discussions, lectures, dramatisations of A Farewell to Arms, a book that was published seventy eight years ago, and is as fresh today as then in it observations on the futiltiy and incoherence of war. It is also a story of love and loss exquisitely written. My audience ranged from greatly enthusiastic to politely bored as might be expected from a required attendance on a beautiful spring afternoon. There was a lively discussion afterwards, many of the questions preprepared but nonetheless thoughtfully inquisitive, often reflecting the preoccupations of the moment. I regaled the audience with some of my own experiences working as Hemingway's secretary in Spain, France and Cuba when I was their age, and this seemed to make a deep impression. I returned from sunny Florida to snowy Montana, one foot deeper than at my departure, just in time to bring our skiing season to a powdery close after one of the most disappointing ski seasons in memory.

Off to Palm Beach next week to talk about my memoir RUNNING WITH THE BULLS: My Years with the Hemingways. Will let you know how it goes.

St. Patrick's Day Memoir Workshop

2007-03-23T20:07:00.000-06:00

I spent Saturday last, St. Patrick's day in Billings, Montana giving a memoir workshop to members of the AAUW. Fifty five people attended, five over the maximum, and another fifteen came to the luncheon and stayed for the half hour wrap-up session. I am amazed at the number of people who are interested in writing their memoirs for various reason: self-fulfilment, to share with the family, for publication, etc. We had a four hour session with lots of participation and input from the attendees. There were quite a few laughs and when it came to doing the exercises, there was true dedication. One woman said that she suddenly remembered something she hadn't recalled in forty years, since she was a teenager. She read her discovery to those at her table. There was general rejoicing. Each person went away with renewed determination to continue recovering the secrets and lost moments of a past life. I had brought along three dozen copies of my memoir, RUNNING WITH THE BULLS: My Years with the Hemingways. Every copy was sold. Yesterday I received a letter asking for a repeat performance next spring.

Off to Miami next week to talk to Dade County Community College about Hemingway's favorite novel: A FAREWELL TO ARMS. Will let you know all about it.

Article about Peter Fonda

2006-09-01T16:57:00.002-06:00

My profile of Peter Fonda in Distinctly Montana is out: you can find it here.

Foreward for "Michener: A Writer's Journey"

2005-10-01T16:46:00.001-06:00

I wrote the forward for Stephen May's book, Michener: A Writer's Journey.

Statue Unveiling in Key West

2005-04-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

I went to the unveiling of a statue in Key West.

Interview w/Seattle Times

2005-01-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

Here is an interview I did for the Seattle Times.

Today Show Excerpt / Video

2004-12-08T07:25:00.001-07:00

I was on the Today show and in support of that appearance they published an excerpt of Running with the Bulls and gave a link to some video. You can find that excerpt here though you will have to scroll down to find the "launch" button for the video.

To just view the video, follow this URL:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/6677125#6677125

Interview w/Craig McDonald

2004-11-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here is an interview I did with Craig McDonald in 2004.

Interview w/James Plath

1996-02-19T08:54:00.001-07:00

Here is an interview I did with James Plath in 1996.