The
Traverse City National Writers Series has a new executive director who plans to keep the program strong while helping local youth.
Jill Tewsley began her job as the executive director for the Traverse City National Writer Series in August, but her path to get there started a long time ago, with a character named Horton.
Born in Grand Rapids and raised in nearby Alto, Tewsley's love for reading began at a young age with the book "Horton Hatches the Egg," which she got from her parents for her fourth birthday.
"What I do recall was loving Horton. He did something unusual out of the kindness of his heart and even though people teased him and thought he was odd, he kept his word," she says. "'He meant what he said and he said what he meant.' Those words and images really stuck with me."
This early interest in books led Tewsley down a path of learning and experience. She got her bachelor's degree in English at Aquinas College and her career after school was what ultimately led her to her current position.
Tewsley started out working as a youth counselor, when a nearby bookstore was opened. Because of her interest in books, she applied to be a bookseller in addition to her youth counselor position. Both positions, she says, have been important along the way.
"Working with troubled youth taught me many useful things," she says. "Helping others to make smart choices, for one; it also taught me a lot about managing the business-related aspects of a job that was much more than just business."
During her time as a bookseller she climbed the ladder and eventually became a bookstore manager. After her regional manager left the company to work for Borders, she too went to work for the company in Dearborn. She spent a year there before moving on to marketing events for 13 years for Borders, including their "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" release festivities, which took place at stores all over the country and got a lot of public attention.
"You would think that planning these parties would be a piece of cake, but the truth was that midnight release parties had been done over and over and over. We needed to make the parties seem new and exciting. We also wanted to make our parties be the party to be at at midnight," she says.
During her time with Borders she had the opportunity to meet a variety of authors, publishers and booksellers (and even her future husband, but that's another story.)
Now, as the executive director at the National Writers Series, Tewsley has the opportunity to bring nationally-renowned authors and writers into an up-close and intimate environment for people of all ages to learn more about the books and pieces these authors have written, the work that went into them and the authors themselves.
Each series event is attended by hundreds of people and takes place at the Traverse City Opera House. Making these events open to all who want to attend is important, said Tewsley. This has been accomplished by dropping ticket prices with help from donors, sponsors and the Friends of NWS and offering discounted tickets to students.
Each event is different, says Tewsley, and they are conducted less like an interview and more like a conversation between the moderator and the guest of honor--the visiting writer.
So far, Tewsley has worked with three author events since she has started and is excited to bring more authors to the area.
"There is no typical event," she says. "That is part of what makes these events so special... magical. What is constant is a great author or writer on stage engaged in conversation about their art form."
The series not only has an impact on the community as a whole but it also greatly affects high school students who have an interest in writing. Through the recently added Front Street Writers program, and with the help of the public schools, NWS offers a program free of charge to enrolled students. As an accredited program, it gives high school juniors and seniors the chance to partake in a creative writing curriculum. In addition, NWS has granted thousands of dollars in scholarships to those following the path to a writing career.
Tewsley expects to see interest in the youth program amplify and plans to increase growth within the NWS by finding ways to build relationships with libraries, book clubs and other organizations. She also hopes to add smaller-scale events in the series.
"I hope you always see growth," Tewsley says. "Growth doesn't necessarily mean more authors, although it could, but rather it means that the program will continue to evolve."
Ten years from now, she hopes the series will be stronger than ever.
"I still see the series being a vibrant and important part of this community, while attracting more attendees from around the state and beyond."
Julia Woehrer is a freelance writer, photographer and social media coordinator. She attended the School of Art and Design at Northern Michigan University where she concentrated in photography and minored in journalism. She volunteers at a local no-kill cat shelter and enjoys spending time with her cats, Bella and Macy.