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Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen with student/publishers. |
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Enthusiasm is blooming for Where the Roses Smell the Best: A Literary Companion to Portland, the inaugural offering from Unique Ink, a student-staffed publisher at Roosevelt High School. Festivities kicked off earlier this month at Powell's Books on Hawthorne, where students emceed the event and Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen and others read pieces they contributed to the anthology.
Where the Roses Smell the Best features a mix of short stories, vignettes, poems and visual art that highlights the city's people, places and lifestyles. Written by Roosevelt High School students as well as established authors and poets, selections range from pieces offering insight into Portland's coffee culture and culinary scene to what it's like to live in the City of Roses (and how it came by its nickname).
"This book is both an illuminating guide for visitors to Portland and a delight to read at home for those who love the city and want to increase their knowledge of it," explained Portland mayor Charlie Hales in an introductory letter in Where the Roses Smell the Best.
Unique Ink is part of the Writing and Publishing Center at Roosevelt High School, one of the most culturally diverse and economically challenged high schools in Oregon. Established to address new state writing proficiency standards, the center not only assists students in meeting graduation requirements but helps prepare them for college and careers.
Students worked for a year on Where the Roses Smell the Best, from brainstorming an idea for a book and reviewing editorial submissions to overseeing the production process and marketing the finished product. "What's unique about this venture is that it highlights both adult and young people's work together," said Kate McPherson, community engagement specialist, writing, and Publishing Center director.
Unique Ink's mission is to publish regionally themed books featuring student work along with that of professional and aspiring writers in the area. The goal is turn out one book annually, with a new literary companion every other year.
The Heathman Hotel in downtown Portland plans to shelve Where the Roses Smell the Best in its catalogued lending library alongside books by Bill Clinton, Maya Angelou and other luminaries. The library is stocked with more than 2,000 volumes by author guests, a roster that will soon include several Roosevelt students hosted by the hotel. In addition, the anthology will be carried in the Heathman gift shop.
Other Portland stores celebrating Where the Roses Smell the Best with readings include Broadway Books (July 24) and Annie Bloom's Books (July 29). Attending and participating in events adds another dimension to the publishing experience for students. "It's a wonderful thing for them to see that reading and writing is a lifetime joy for lots of people and not only something you endure in a classroom because somebody tells you that you have to," said McPherson. "It's a way to breathe life into writing."
Proceeds from the sale of Where the Roses Smell the Best support the Roosevelt High School Writing and Publishing Center. To learn more about the program, visit RooseveltRoughWriters.org. --Shannon McKenna Schmidt