BOOKS
Workshop presents writings of veterans
Maxine Hong Kingston, the award-winning author of "The Woman Warrior" and "The Fifth Book of Peace," has been meeting with veterans in Northern California for 15 years, encouraging them to write as a way of healing the wounds of war.
She and 17 veterans will present "Reflecting on War and Peace" -- a meditation and writing workshop drawn from Kingston's Veterans' Writing Program -- from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Church of the Crossroads.
Therese Fitzgerald, a meditation teacher on Maui, will help lead sitting and walking meditations.
The workshop is geared toward war veterans, active military personnel and their families, but all are invited to share in the lessons of writing to strengthen body and soul.
A pre-publication edition of "Veterans: Reflecting on War and Peace" (Koa Books), generated through Kingston's work with the veterans, will be available at the workshop.
The church is at 1212 University Ave. Admission is free but donations will be accepted. Contact DharmaFriends@aol.com or call 808-875-7995, on Maui.
Kingston and the veteran writers will also read from and sign their new book at Native Books/Na Mea Hawaii, Ward Warehouse, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, and at the Hawai'i Book & Music Festival at Honolulu Hale, from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday.