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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Ann Pancake & Diane Gilliam Fisher at WV Wesleyan appearance

BUCKHANNON - Nationally acclaimed West Virginia writers Ann Pancake and Diane Gilliam Fisher will speak at West Virginia Wesleyan College on Thursday. [November 1, 2007]

Pancake holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington and currently teaches at Pacific Lutheran University.

Fisher holds a Ph.D. in romance languages and literature from Ohio State University and a master of fine arts from the Warren Wilson Program for Writers.

The program, which begins at 7 p.m. in Nellie Wilson Lounge, is free and open to the public.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

365 Days of the Dead

(This news courtesy T.W. McNemar.)

Morgantown Writers Group’s resident horror writer, Scott Emerson has reported to MWG Moderator, George Lies that he will be blogging on zombies….non stop for one year.
Starting October 31st (a day, I'm sure you'll recall, he’s quite fond of) he'll be starting 365 Days of the Dead, a blog experiment in which he'll watch one zombie film a day, every day, for an entire year. Each day's entry will then be reviewed on the website:http://www.365daysofthedead.blogspot.com/

I know this will be great fun…check it out.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Christmas Traditions Seeks Submissions

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Christmas Traditions: True Stories of Holiday Celebration

Send submissions to: Helen Kay Polaski (Szymanski) at hkpolaski@yahoo.com

Christmas Traditions: True Stories of Holiday Celebration will be filled with stories that touch the mind as well as the soul as they take the reader on a magical journey through Christmas—past and present—while giving the reader ideas for traditions they might be interested in adapting in the future. Each story will include a well-known holiday tradition or a unique tradition known only to a particular family or community, as well as a touching story that circulates around each individual tradition. (I love traditions and can’t wait to see how your family celebrates Christmas!)

Stories must be first person, true accountings of either shared or unique traditions celebrated by families, communities, and/or groups during the Christmas holiday season, and all must be based on strong individual family/community dynamics, specific geographical location, and/or different cultures and religion. Approximately 70-80 stories (700-1,200 words) will be gathered. (When writing your story please keep in mind that Christmas is the most magical time of the year. I want to see the magic unfolding on the page before me as I read, and so do my readers.)

Only stories that have a beginning, middle, and an end will be considered. I’m looking for great inspirational stories that “include” a holiday tradition. Please do not send an essay that lists all of the things your family enjoys during the holidays. Instead, choose one tradition your family follows and write a story about it that is as moving as it is real. Only true stories that have not been previously published will be accepted.

Payment: upon publication, $75 and a copy of the book (for each accepted story)
Deadline: November 15, 2007

Please include your full name, current address, email address, phone number, and a 50-word bio.

Editor – Helen Kay Polaski (Szymanski)

Helen Kay Polaski

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Christmas Traditions
Editor: A Cup of Comfort for Weddings, Rocking Chair Reader book series, Classic Christmas, Christmas Through a Child's Eyes
http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Gift-Baskets.htm
http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Handmade-by-Helen.htm

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Self-Rising Flowers

A new book illustrating the spirit of Appalachian women has been published. It's called Self-Rising Flowers. Among its authors is WV Writers own Susanna Holstein.

Read all about it HERE.

Friday, October 19, 2007

prizewinnerreadings tonight in Harpers Ferry

Neighborly lovers of verbal artistry, remember tonight at Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Library we'll have the WV Writers prizewinnerreadings, free, starting at 7 (refreshments)----including Hap Becker and Sean O'Leary anda short play by the late Joe McCabe. I'll befilling in for Joe, who was to be emcee.Words will be willing to dance tonight!Yours in the new reign of rain,Ethan Fischer

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Brown Bag Reading in Greenbrier County

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR TO APPEAR AT

GREENBRIER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Award-winning author Russell A. Vassallo, (Tears and Tales and The Horse with the Golden Mane) will appear at the Greenbrier County Public Library on October 18 th at 12 noon for the debut of a new occasional lunch-time program called Brown Bag Readings. The Brown Bag Readings concept is a simple one: You bring your lunch and the library will provide the place to eat it and the literary entertainment . Mr. Vassallo will treat attendees of the first Brown Bag Reading with readings from his two short story collections.

Vassallo is a retired attorney who lives on a farm in south central Kentucky where he and his wife Virginia care for rescued animals. His true-life adventures with those animals have inspired the stories of his books. Vassallo began his writing career in 1999 while undergoing chemotherapy. His collection Tears and Tales is about life, faith and restoring hope. It's essentially a book about how animal rescue and human rescue can happen at the same time.

Tears and Tales has won the USABooknews Award, the Readers Choice Award and the Indies 500 Excellence Award. It contains tales of animals he has rescued and others that hastened his recovery from colon surgery and post surgery depression will be highlighted in his talk. Vassallo integrates a number of both sad and humorous tales about his animal friends, including that of a whiskey drinking duck that propelled him into manhood.

His second book, The Horse with the Golden Mane, is another collection based on true events with spine-tingling plots, twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Midwest Book Review wrote" "The Horse with the Golden Mane… is highly recommended and rewarding reading for anyone who has a deep regard for animals…"

Following the lunchtime reading session, Mr. Vassallo will be available to sell and autograph his books until 3 p.m. All proceeds from sales of his books go to benefit the animal rescue farm he and his wife run in Kentucky.

And on the evening of October 18, Mr. Vassallo will also be appearing as a part of Greenbrier Valley Theatre's Literary Tea series at 5:30 p.m. at GVT.

So please join the Greenbrier County Library for their first Brown Bag Reading, October 18 at noon in the lower-level multi-purpose room. Bring your lunch, bring your ears and be prepared to be entertained.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Directions to Joe McCabe Memorial

Joe McCabe's memorial gathering will take place at his home on this Sunday, October 14, 2007. Please bring a covered dish.

Here are directions from Joe's wife, Hilda Eiber:

Coming from the South: Take I 81 north past Martinsburg - go to the Marlow exit - turn left when coming off the ramp - turn left again in 1/4 mile (My Bank is on the north corner) onto Grade Road (don't know if there is a road sign) then go 1 mile until you see a small strip-mall and go left onto Forevergreen Drive ( it only goes left). Go up the hill to the second right turn (Manassas Drive) to number 82 (third house on the right).

I hope this helps. It's actually pretty easy to find. Here is my phone number, just in case: 304-274-6986

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

WVW/GVT 2007 Literary Tea Series

For those in the Lewisburg area, the Greenbrier Valley Theatre is about to begin its annual Literary Tea series, co-sponsored by West Virginia Writers. At the literary teas, attendees are treated to both tea and snacks as well as literary works read aloud by area and regional writers as well as by the actors from the theatre itself.

On Thursday, October 4, at 5:30 PM, I'll be reading from former Region 3 rep Beverly Pauley's new collection of humorous West Virginia vampire short stories. GVT's creative director, Cathey Sawyer will also be reading.

On October 11, Courtney Smith, who placed honorable mention in our scripts category in 2007's contest, will present scenes from her play The Hammer of the Scots.

On October 18, Kentucky-based author Russell Vassallo will present stories from his books The Horse with the Golden Mane and Tears & Tales.

And on October 25, Laura Benedict will take over the full Literary Tea hour to read from her new novel Isabella Moon. This will be the only tea to take place at 7 PM instead of 5:30.

So come on by, have some grub and enjoy the show.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

WVW Spring Writing Contest 2008 News

The WV Writers 2008 Spring Writing Competition will get under way very soon. The contest entry forms will make their debut at our table at the WV Book Festival in Charleston on October 13-14, 2007.

Then, on Monday, October 15, you will be able to find those forms available for download here on this very page as well as through the WV Writers Roundtable, WV Writers e-news and direct email to WV Writers members.