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Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Pam Cable Review

First time WV Writers workshop presenter, Pamela King Cable, has written a wonderful review of this year's summer conference. You can find it on her blog at...

http://southernfriedwoman.blogspot.com/2007/06/west-virginia-writers-conference.html

We loved having Pam and her husband Michael as presenters and are glad they enjoyed it too. For those of you new to WV Writers and our summer conference, I couldn't think of a more glowing review to send you to.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Appalachian Writers Read at Malaprops

(This information sent in by Kird Judd)



Asheville, NC—On Sunday, July 15, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., seven writers from the Southern



Appalachian Writer’s Cooperative (SAWC) —Hilda Downer, Frankie Finley, David Wayne Hampton, Jane Hicks, Jim Minick, Jim Webb, and Dana Wildsmith—will read at the Malaprops Book Store/CafĂ© at 55 Haywood Street. The reading is free and open to the public; a reception follows. For more information, call (828) 254-6734.

In 1974, SAWC was born when a group of writers and activists gathered at the Highlander Center in New Market, Tennessee. The gathering has been an annual event (more or less) ever since. Recently, SAWC has added an annual summer gathering at Wiley's Last Resort atop Pine Mountain in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Through these gatherings, the sponsorship of local readings around the region, and the support of the literary magazine Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel, SAWC continues its original mission to foster community among and encourage publication of Appalachia's writers. For information on attending a gathering, visit http://www.sawc.us.

About the Readers
Hilda Downer teaches English at Appalachian State University. She has been published in journals and anthologies, including Bloodroot.

Frankie Finley works as a writer in Lexington, KY, where she lives with her partner, daughter, and two dogs. She enjoys kayaking and cloud-watching.

David Wayne Hampton teaches high school English and currently lives in Morganton, North Carolina, with his wife, daughter, and newborn son. Though he calls the
North Carolina mountains home, he grew up in Carroll County and Galax, Virginia.

Jane Hicks quilts, writes, and teaches in northeast Tennessee. Her book, Blood and Bone Remember, was the Appalachian Writers Association Poetry Book of the Year in 2006.

Jim Minick lives in southwest Virginia and teaches at Radford University. His poems and essays have appeared in Orion, Shenandoah, Rivendell, the San Francisco Chronicle, and others. His essay collection Finding a Clear Path was published by WVU Press; currently, he's working on a memoir about an organic blueberry farm.

Jim Webb—poet, playwright, and swarper from Pine Mountain in Letcher County, KY—wrote “Get in Jesus,” a poem heard by thousands, read by untold multitudes, and worn by nearly 600 people.

Dana Wildsmith is the author of four collections of poetry; the most recent of which—One Good Hand (Iris Press, 2005)—was a SIBA poetry award nominee.

2007 Spring Writing Contest Winners List

The winners list can be found at the following link...

http://www.wvwriters.org/WINNERS_LIST_2007.pdf

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Terror of the Tug



On August 1, 1921, Matewan's Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers were shot to death at the Welch Court House. This “assassination” was part of the coal mining wars that had been going on in WV for over a decade. These murders followed the shoot out in Matewan in May, 1920 between the coal company's Baldwin-Felts agents and the coal miners. The murder of these miner's martyrs led to the Battle of Blair mountain and continuing conflicts as the miners tried to organize the UMW.

These dramatic events are portrayed in McArts outdoor drama,"Terror of the Tug" Written by Jean Battlo.

The playwright and cast of "Terror of the Tug" were briefly filmed for an upcoming History Channel Documentary.

A member of the Institute of Outdoor Drama(UNC) since 2005: it will be directed by Benny Mills and stars John and Maria Cox as Sid and Jessie Hatfield For more information go to mcartswv.com.

Showtime: July 27-28, August 3-4, 8pm (with a special 3pm reenactment at the Welch Court House: August 4 only) at the McArts Amphitheater, located at Mount View: Rt. 52; Between Welch and Kimball.

Admission: $10.00

Contact: (304)585-7959 alvinc@citlink.net

Down East Writers' Conference

Can't make the WV Writers Conference this weekend?

Taking a trip to Maine instead? Well, we got just what you're looking for. The Down East Writers' Conference is taking place on Deer Isle, MN, June 14-16, 2007.

Learn all about it at the following link...

http://www.downeastwriters.com

Monday, June 04, 2007

Uncle Terry's Conference Prep Talk

Our goal was simple.

For our thirtieth anniversary, what say we get someone who does a really great presentation and those attending will remember this conference for quite some time. Good idea? No, Great Idea. Wait! You know what would make it even better? Let’s see if we can get an agent from New York City to come down and talk some business and do some interviews. Even better.

So, we went about, inviting this one and that and some were busy and well, the bottom line is just this. We have assembled a list of presenters to delight, inform, and inspire you beyond the coming year.

Thanks to everyone for such hard work.

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We welcome aboard Susan Ellen Nicholas as WV Writers’ Inc. Representative for Region Five. We will have Susan’s contact information online in a few days and a special thanks to Susan and Joe McCabe.

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When I was a child I went off to a camp one summer, away from the hubbub of a tough mountain ghetto neighborhood. I met new friends, and I guess I got to be what I couldn’t be at home. Now we are assigned to these traditional roles of family member, bread winner, overseer and more. It’s just what life does to us, but I’ll never forget that year I went to that camp, and the times and those people…

It’s just something I recalled last year, while I stared into a bonfire, and got to be what we often cannot.

And I spent those few days with my friends . . .


Thanks, T.