The Nye Beach Writers' Series presents

Ceiridwen Terrill

The award-winning Nye Beach Writers Series' will feature nonfiction author Ceiridwen Terrill at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 26, at the Newport Visual Arts Center in Nye Beach, 777 Beach Drive. Admission is $5. Tickets are free to students.

An open mic follows. This live literary performance is co-sponsored by Mountain Writers Series of Portland and by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters in celebration of Earth Day 2008.

Terrill specializes in literary nonfiction, including environmental journalism, science writing and memoir, with a focus on urban ecology, urban and wild conflicts, and the intersections of gender, culture and science. Her book "Unnatural Landscapes: Tracking Invasive Species" was published by the University of Arizona Press in 2006. She also has published work in "Isotope: A Journal of Literary Nature and Science Writing" and the anthology "What Wildness Is This: Women write about the Southwest."

An avid backpacker, kayaker and sailor, Terrill is an assistant professor at Concordia University in Portland, where she teaches literary nonfiction, including environmental journalism and science writing.

"Unnatural Landscapes" provides a compelling introduction to invasion ecology and restoration management. On her website she recommends: 1) landscaping with native plants to attract birds and butterflies and lower the risk of birds ingesting exotic seeds and spreading them. 2) Buy birdseed that has been cracked or cooked so it doesn't germinate and spread. 3) Shake out camping gear, hose your car tires and hiking boots, pick seeds out of your shoelaces. 4) If you're a horse person and you trail ride, buy weed-free feed. 5) Don't own exotic pets. But if you do, don't let them go! They may escape and become invasive - like snakes, for example. 6) Never dump aquariums into streams; aquarium plants can take over a native stream system. 7) If you're a boater, empty your bilge water, hose your boat down and allow it to dry completely before entering a new waterway, so you don't take any hitchhiking snails or mussels or plant species with you.

An herbalist, Terrill teaches how to remove invasive plants and use them to make medicines. Presently, she is working on a new book "Inyo" about wolf-dogs in the United States. She lives on her sailboat Whistledown with her dog, Thelma.

Copies of Terrill's book will be available for purchase and autographing courtesy of Ulrike Bremer of Nye Beach Books.

Following a brief intermission and book signing, the Nye Beach Writers' Series, open mic will take place. The first 10 people who sign up can read their original work for up to five minutes. Open mic readers are welcome to display and sell copies of their own books. Light refreshments, wine and coffee will be available.

The Nye Beach Writers' Series is pure entertainment and showcases authors of diverse types of writing including fiction, nonfiction, plays, songs, Oregon history, memoir, poetry, essays, and investigative journalism. Almost 300 authors have been featured since its monthly literary events began in 1997. Readings and performances are appropriate for writers and readers who appreciate good writing and diversity of thought.

Future featured authors include:

May 16-17: Doug Thompson, author of "Whales: Touching The Mystery" (event co-sponsored with the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Mt. Writers Series of Portland. See website for event details on Friday evening and Saturday midday.)

June 21: Jan Baross, author of the novel "Jose Builds A Woman."

July 19: Derrick Jensen, author of "A Language Older Than Words" and many others.

Aug. 4-8: "Write On, Write Now," creative writing workshop for youth 7 to 10. (see website for registration information).

Aug. 16: Performance of poetry by students in "Write On, Write Now!"

Sept. 20: Charles Rossiter and Dan Wilcox, performance poets (two guys from Albany, NY)

Oct.18: Donna Henderson, poet, performing with Diane Baxter, piano

Nov. 15: Sharon Wood-Wortman and contributors to "Bridge Stories."