...Blizzard Short Story Contest, sponsored by Radical Arts for Women, is now accepting submissions from all female writers living in Alaska. Short stories must be between 250 and 5,000 words and contain some lesbian content. The grand prize...

...able to recognize and properly handle medicinal gifts from the forests, even the most forgetful forager can be prepared to adapt to emergency situations in the wilderness. ? Jennifer Nu is a freelance writer living in Juneau, Alaska.

Now Playing Synopsis: A tragic and shameful moment in French history continues to have consequences in the present day in this screen adaptation of the novel by Tatiana de Rosnay. Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas) is an American writer living in Paris with her husband, Bertrand (Frédéric Pierrot), an architect who is restoring a block of apartments in Paris owned by his family. Julia learns that Bertrand's family obtained the building through less than honorable means; the original owners were Jews who were forced to sell in the wake of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942, when the Nazi-affiliated Vichy government arrested over 13,000 Parisian Jews. One of the victims was Sarah Starzynski (Mélusine Mayance), a ten-year-old girl who tried to protect her younger brother by locking him in a cupboard in their apartment. Fearing for her brother's safety, Sarah escapes the crowded cycling stadium where the Jews are being held and tries to make her way back home. Julia learns of Sarah's story while doing research on the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, and her investigation teaches her a great deal about an event many in France are reluctant to discuss, as well as the links to Bertrand's family. Elle S'Appelait Sarah (aka Sarah's Key) was, along with La Rafle, one of two films concerning the Vel'd'Hiv Roundup released in France in 2010. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup, Frédéric Pierrot, Michel Duchaussoy, Dominique Frot Movie Details Play Trailer Movie Review

...something really unique and wonderful," said Janes. "It's really rewarding." Joan Pardes is a free-lance writer living in Juneau. Above and Beyond Alaska's Web site is www.beyondak.com .

...optimist," she smiled and said, "We still have great stores to draw the shoppers in." Phil Greeney is a free-lance writer living in Juneau. He can be reached at Bigdawg1@alaska.com .

...Headquarters. More information is available on the Web site www.projecthomesafe.org/ . Amy Maio is a free-lance writer living in Juneau. Empire editor Ed Schoenfeld contributed to this article.

...find the time. Maybe they all misplaced their adding machines. Maybe we should pass the hat and buy for our political representatives new calculators (solar powered, of course). Hank Lentfer is a freelance writer living in Gustavus.

...It's the customers," she said. "My customers are absolutely wonderful." Phil Greeney is a free-lance writer living in Juneau, and can be reached at Bigdawg1@alaska.com .

...woodstove, fall in love with the land, stay through the winter. Then maybe "sourdough" will mean more than a store-bought chunk of bread. Maybe then they'll know what it is to be one. Kevin Reeves is a freelance writer living in Haines.

...elite, with the exception of their meaning to "govern well". As to their wanting to be "masters", we have ample opportunity to observe that truth. And there's that word again. Kevin Reeves is a freelance writer living in Haines.