Arts Ideas

09/08/2024

The schedule for this summer's Islanders Write. Thank you to all the writers and publishing professional who are taking part. It's going to be FABULOUS! www.islanderswrite.com

01/08/2024

The new issue of MV Arts & Ideas is now out. Features on the art of Jerimiah Brown, John Forté, Arthur Brooks, Tiffany Vanderhoop, Dawn Porter and sooooo much more! Free and found at the Vineyard's galleries, Cronigs and other spots around the Island!

12/07/2024

The MV Times is bringing back Islanders Write! There will be panel discussions and writing workshops and it's all free to attend. Here's a Q&A with novelist and marketing exec Elisa Speranza, who will be giving a workshop called: You finished writing your book—now what?
Planning and Executing Your Book Publicity Strategy

There was a shocking bit of publishing misinformation making the rounds a while back. It had to do with the number of books an author could expect to sell. We all know that not every book is going to be a N.Y. Times bestseller, but newly published writers are certainly angling to sell more than, …

03/07/2024

A panel discussion on publishing and the pitch panel back at this year's Islanders Write.

Last week during a book talk at the Chilmark library, someone asked me how I found a publisher for my novel. It’s a question I often get asked, as finding an agent and publisher can make scoring ferry reservations on the Fourth of July weekend look easy. Most people who have managed to get a …

25/06/2024

Congratulations to Patricia J. Williams on publication day for her extraordinary new book - The Miracle of the Black Leg. We are thrilled that Patricia will be speaking at Islanders Write this summer on Monday, August 19.

06/03/2024

The MV Times is delighted to announce the return of Islanders Write this coming August!

During the winter of 2014, Peter Oberfest, then publisher of The MV Times, called me into his office. He was interested in creating an MV Times–sponsored event for the community, and wanted to brainstorm ideas. We decided to put together a writers festival. It would be different from the M.V. Book...

23/01/2024

Thank you M.V. Cultural Council for your support of the arts on Martha's Vineyard!

What do the Sankofa African American Literature and Culture Festival, Pride Festival in Oak Bluffs, the Aquinnah Artisans Festival, Women in Film Festival, Built on Stilts, Cinema Circus, M.V. Chamber Music Society, Ungrateful Taking, Islanders Write, and the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse have in co...

27/12/2023

There were some great books written by Island authors this year.

Most of the 2023 year-end book lists we’ve been reading are categorized by genre. Not this one. This impressive list of books published in 2023 will be sorted into categories that those of us who visit and live on the Vineyard spend quality time debating. The three categories for this list of book...

30/05/2023

Tom Dresser talks about his latest book with Mathew Tombers, manager of Edgartown Books, in the 5-Minute Book Bite.

Martha's Vineyard writer Thomas Dresser discusses his newest book "Martha's Vineyard in the Roaring Twenties: Radicals and Rascals" with Mathew Tombers, mana...

25/05/2023

A sad good-bye indeed. This gorgeous painting of the legendary Tina Turner was done by Vineyard resident Basia Jaworska Silva.

25/05/2023

A writer's workshop with Emily Bernard and welcoming novelist Walker Ryan to the Vineyard. Read more in this week's Writers' Table.

While trying to decide on what to write for this week’s Writer’s Table, I received an email from Walker Ryan, a professional skateboarder and the author of two novels, “Top of Mason” and “Off Clark.” Ryan moved year-round to the Vineyard just a few weeks ago with his wife Whitney Swolinz...

23/05/2023

Novelist Hanna Halperin talks about her latest novel "I Could Live Here Forever" in this 5-Minute Book. Described as a gripping portrait of a tumultuous, consuming relationship between a young woman and a recovering addict, it is a story that stays with you long after you've finished reading it.

Martha's Vineyard Arts & Ideas magazine is published by The Martha’s Vineyard Times, which also publishes The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Edible Vineyard, and V...

18/05/2023

Katherine Sherbrooke - author of The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly - talks about her new book and how a secret in her own mother's life inspired the story in this 5-Minute Book Bite.

Martha's Vineyard Arts & Ideas magazine is published by The Martha’s Vineyard Times, which also publishes The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Edible Vineyard, and V...

13/05/2023

We hope you enjoy our new series of 5-Minute Book Bites, which we are producing in collaboration with Edgartown Books. We will be posting 2-3 new book bites a week. Please subscribe to the MV Arts and Ideas Youtube channel and enjoy noshing!

Introducing a series of short interviews with writers and publishing professionals who live and spend time on Martha's Vineyard. Conducted by Mathew Tombers,...

27/04/2023

Vineyard writers Substack.

I recently received an email from a writer I know asking me to subscribe to his Substack. Then a second request came from another writer, who also has a Substack. I ignored both these requests, as I didn’t want to get bogged down with one more thing to do when there were already too many …

06/04/2023

Since 1996, April has been designated National Poetry Month. While there are a few readings and workshops afoot, I’m a bit surprised there isn’t more going on locally, given the poetry this place inspires and the number of poets living on the Island. For me personally, this year’s National Poe...

02/03/2023

Thank you MV Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council for your support of the Island's arts and culture!

The first Islanders Write was held at the Grange Hall on a sweltering August day in 2014. From the beginning we wanted to make Islanders Write free to attend; it would be a gift to the community from the MV Times. There was no advance registration for the event, which meant we had no idea …

16/02/2023

Save the date for Islanders Write -
Sunday, August 20th and Monday, August 21!

After you’ve filled up on fried dough, taken a spin on the Ferris wheel, and marveled at the fireworks, The MV Times invites you to switch gears and join us at Featherstone Center for the Arts for Islanders Write 2023. The writers’ festival, which explores the art, craft, and business of writing...

03/02/2023

This frost-biter of a weekend will be a fabulous time to read! Here are some suggestions from Edgartown Books manager Mathew Tombers of books by Vineyard writers that'll help you forget the weather outside.

I am delighted to turn over this week’s Writers’ Table to Mathew Tombers, manager of Edgartown Books. When I asked him for book recommendations to help get readers through the long haul of an Island winter, he came back with a thoughtful essay filled with books by Vineyard authors. As I was goin...

21/01/2023

Suggestions for winter reads - Part 1

It’s about to happen again — February on the Vineyard. While Vineyard winters aren’t what they used to be, the long nights of the shortest month are still, arguably, the best time of the year for a literary hibernation. Maybe you’re inclined to dust off an old favorite, tackle the classics, ...

18/01/2023

We miss you Arnie! Tonight (Jan 18) please join The Cleaveland House poets and Paula Lyons for readings from his new book “Cages of Stages” (Published posthumously). MV Playhouse 5-6:30 pm.

The Cleaveland House Poets will host a special event on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 5 to 6:30 pm at Arnie’s Poetry Cafe at the M.V. Playhouse in honor of the memory of Arnie Reisman. He was the founder of the Poetry Cafe, just one of the many gifts he gave to the Island. Paula Lyons …

06/01/2023

What is your writing related resolution?

Along with the new year come the resolutions to do better, be better, and strive for better. Of course, not everyone is a resolution maker — as we all know, most good resolutions can’t compete with bad habits. As Mark Twain once said, “Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last ...

24/12/2022

A lovely essay by Laurie Lindeen on turning 60 and moving to MV.

I’m about to turn 60. To celebrate, I rented the outside venue at the Hook and Ladder night club and hired my favorite local superstar-studded cover band, Zeppo

21/12/2022

We encourage you to shop local and buy books! It looks like it's going to be a long cold winter - a perfect time to get some reading done!

It has long been my belief that every bookcase on the Vineyard should have at least one shelf dedicated to Island authors. If you don’t already have a “Vineyard bookshelf,” it’s time to designate one to the ever-increasing number of extraordinary books written by writers who live, vacation, ...

31/07/2022

Fabulous opening night and first day of Islanders Write.... Have a correction for the start time of tomorrow's first panel however. It is at 9am....It'a correct on the website.
www.islanderswrite.com

30/07/2022

Filmmaker Doug Liman and journalist Josh Hammer will be talking with journalist Bob Drogin about the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
Tonight (Saturday, July 30) at 7:30 at Featherstone Canter for the Arts at the MV Times sponsored writers festival Islanders Write kicks off. Free to attend. First come/first seated. No advance reservations necessary. (Video is of Doug being interviewed while in Ukraine).

The filmmaker behind such blockbusters as "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and the “Bourne” franchise is overseas following amazing people and showcasing their stories.S...