Swords to Plowshares to Host Panel at Litquake of Women Veteran Authors
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 10, 2014 -- Swords to Plowshares will host the first-ever panel of women veteran authors at Litquake 2014, coinciding with the literary festival’s 15th anniversary.
The panel, titled “Women in War: Truth and Fiction,” centers on a diverse group of female veterans who will discuss their experiences in combat, gender issues in the military, media portrayals of women veterans and what it means to fight as a female servicemember.
“The percentage of women serving in the military has climbed above 15 percent, expanding their role in modern conflict across the globe,” said Starlyn Lara, Women Veterans Coordinator at Swords to Plowshares. “This exciting partnership with Litquake allows us to showcase the women’s perspective in war literature—a venerable genre that is long overdue for some new voices. This panel will provide a fresh point of view that needs to be heard.”
The panel will include:
Kristin Beck, former Navy SEAL and author of “Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy Seal’s Journey to Coming out Transgender.” Beck is also the subject of the CNN feature film "Lady Valor: The Kristen Beck Story."
Kayla Williams, former soldier and author of two memoirs: “Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army,” and “Plenty of Time When We Get Home: Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War.”
Mariette Kalinowski, former Marine and contributor to the short story collection “Fire and Forget: Short Stories From the Long War.”
Evette Davis, moderator and author of the “Woman King” trilogy.
All authors are available for interviews in advance of the event. The panel will take place Oct. 15, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in Koret Auditorium, Main Library, located at 100 Larkin St. in San Francisco. The San Francisco Public Library has long served as a venue for Litquake readings, lectures and panel discussions.
About Swords to Plowshares
Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, employment and training, housing and legal assistance to homeless and low-income veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Swords to Plowshares promotes and protects the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state and national entities. Learn more about the work of Swords to Plowshares, and ways in which you can help, by visiting our website at http://www.stp-sf.org.
About Litquake
Litquake seeks to foster interest in literature for people of all ages, perpetuate a sense of literary community, and provide a vibrant forum for Bay Area writing as a complement to the city’s music, film, and cultural festivals. Litquake is a project of the Litquake Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the state of California. For more information visit http://www.litquake.org.
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Brian Jarvis, Swords to Plowshares, http://www.swords-to-plowshares.org, +1 (415) 252-4787 Ext: 250, [email protected]
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