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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2005
Contact:
, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
Mayor Will Wynn Announces a New
Program to Keep Austin Writing
AUSTIN, September 28, 2005—Tonight at the Plaza at City
Hall, Mayor Will Wynn wrapped up another successful year of reading as part of this
year’s Mayor’s Book Club. At the evening event the Mayor announced a new program
–not only to Keep Austin Reading, but Writing as well—an interactive Web site where
veteran and aspiring authors can offer stories about their lives and
Austin—www.writeonaustin.org.
When Mayor Wynn announced his choice of Writing Austin’s
Lives: A Community Portrait as the 2005 Mayor’s Book Club selection he also issued a
challenge. Not only did he want everyone to read the book, he wanted people in the
community to continue writing about their life experiences in Austin.
Through the combined efforts of the Austin Public
Library, the University of Texas Humanities Institute, and with additional support of
community-minded volunteers at Metropolitan Austin Interactive
Network (www.main.org), a Webspace is
ready to extend Mayor Wynn’s vision. Write On, Austin! encourages people to continue
to write about their experiences living in Austin and contribute their stories to the
growing community at writeonaustin.org. The stories submitted to the Web site will
be viewable and will be permanently stored at the Austin History Center, Austin
Public Library.>
History – Writing Austin’s Lives
In April 2003, The University of Texas Humanities
Institute launched a citywide campaign called “Writing Austin’s Lives.” Within four
months, nearly 800 residents from nearly every zip code in greater Austin had
submitted stories in English and in Spanish. Written by people of diverse ages,
backgrounds, and life circumstances, including many new and inexperienced writers,
the stories formed a compelling description of Austin, Texas.
While the hundreds of original stories submitted were
donated to the Austin History Center’s permanent collection, 127 of these original
visions and personal experiences were released in a 412 page anthology published in
partnership with the Austin History Center Association under the Waterloo Press
imprint.
This book presents a compelling portrait of the community
illustrated with historical and contemporary images of Austin from the Austin History
Center’s collection as well as images contributed by local photographers.
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