StoFest Play Festival in Wheeling

The Independent Theatre Collective's StoFest Play Festival will take place in Wheeling, September 17 – 20. The festival is named after Wheeling playwright T.S. Stobart, whose plays were celebrated this past April with the first version of StoFest. Due to the response this second festival is being produced, featuring not only Stobart’s plays but plays from writers throughout WV and the surrounding region (including one by El Prez Emeritus Eric Fritzius).

The Festival will take place at the Independent Theatre Collective stage located on Historic Second Presbyterian / 2001 Market Street / Wheeling, WV 26003. "...to a Flame" will run on September 20.

The schedule for the festival is as follows…

Thursday, September 17th 2009:

I Endorse This Message - by Jonathon Joy (Huntington, WV)
Opposite but Equal - by Ron Scott, Jr (Wheeling, WV)
Dinnertime - by Dr. Jeffrey Scott Elwell (formerly Huntington, WV)
Painting Faces - by Ned Gallaway (formerly Wheeling, WV)
Next to Nothing - by T. S. Stobart

Friday, September 18th 2009:

Fine - Butch Maxwell (Wheeling, WV)
L3 - by Jeremy Richter (Wheeling, WV)
Spirals - by Dr. Jeffrey Scott Elwell (formerly Huntington, WV)
Lucy Dreaming - by Stacey Lane (formerly St Albans, WV)
Simple Filing - by T.S. Stobart

Saturday, September 19th 2009:

Postcards from a Dead Dog - by F.J. Hartland (Pittsburgh, PA)
Oh, Rob - by T. S. Stobart

Sunday, September 20th 2009:

the War on Halloween - by Jonathon Joy (Huntington, WV)
Evolving Elliot - Jeremy Richter (Wheeling, WV)
Alien to Antiquity by Stacey Lane (formerly St Albans, WV)
...to a Flame - by Eric Fritzius (Princeton, WV)
Gaffer Gone - by T. S. Stobart

* Nightly order & titles subject to change *

WV Writers Podcast Episode 15 Now Online

Episode 15 of the WV Writers Podcast is now online. In it, we talk to storyteller Susanna "Granny Sue" Holstein. She’s been a featured storytelling performer at events from Bellingham, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts and points in between. She's especially well known, however, for being a West Virginia storyteller, focusing much of her repertoire on WV history, ghost stories, Appalachian tales and ballads.

We talk about how she began storytelling, the fluidity of the artform, the skills required to do it correctly and, of course, we'll hear one of her more famous stories.

Download it HERE or subscribe with iTunes.

Children's play and book authors' database needs writers from WV

Phyllis Wilson Moore sent a note out regarding two website directories of children's authors and children's playwrights that are in dire need of WV-based writers. USA Plays For Kids and America Writes for Kids are projects of Drury University School of Education and Child Development. Both of these sites offer links to the websites of children's writers (plays or childrens books, respectively) around the nation. So far, WV has one children's book author and no children's playwrights listed. If you fall into either of these categories and would like to be listed, you're invited to contact them for free membership at the site. All the details can be found at the bottom of the page for the links below.

http://usawrites4kids.drury.edu/
http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/

WVW's own Dwight Harshbarger to appear on WV Metro News Radio

Dwight Harsbarger, author of the new book "Witness at Hawk's Nest" is scheduled to appear on Hoppy Kercheval's Metronews Talkline program on Thursday, at 11 AM, to speak about the Hawk's Nest tragedy.

Consult your local frequencies for channel.

WEST VIRGINIA WRITERS Members Live Reading Aug 28 - 30

(This news courtesy of George Lies)

WEST VIRGINIA WRITERS Members Read at Barnes & Noble Friday and Saturday

Morgantown Poets celebrates its one-year anniversary this weekend (Aug. 28-30) with a book fair event at Barnes & Noble. Besides some great musicians and authors, the MWG Writers have been invited to this fund-raiser.

Come hear WVW Writers Members:

-Mary Lucille DeBerry (Friday at 7:00 p.m.),
-George Lies (Saturday at 2:00 p.m.),
-Terry McNemar (Saturday at 2:30 p.m.)
-Patricia Patteson (Saturday at 5:00 p.m.),
-Joey Madia (Sunday 1:00 p.m.)

At Barnes and Noble this coming weekend, the three-day event will feature free and open public readings by West Virginia authors. The schedule follows below. The book fair will serve as a fund-raiser for Morgantown Poets so that the group can continue to conduct its monthly community-based literary arts gathering at the Monongalia Arts Center (MAC). Several musicians will be performing throughout the weekend. Barnes & Noble is located at the University Town Center, 3000 University Towne Centre Drive, off Star City exit off I-79, organtown.

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY
The book fair kicks off with a reception from 6-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28. Wayne Rowand, a classically trained guitarist, will be performing. Refreshments provided. Immediately following the reception, West Virginia poet Mary Lucille DeBerry (author of "Bertha Butcher's Coat") will read from 7-7:30 p.m., followed by poet Cheryl Denise ("I Saw God Dancing") from 7:30-8 p.m.

SATURDAY
On Saturday, Aug. 29, events begin with an 11-11:30 a.m. reading by Cari Carpenter ("Seeing Red: Anger, Sentimentality, and American Indians," a non-fiction book), which will be followed by poet Bonnie M. Brown from 11:30 a.m.-noon. Carpenter is a faculty member in the Department of English at West Virginia University, specializing in 19th century American literature and Native American literature. A published poet, Brown has performed her work throughout the country. Musician Ben Harki will be performing from noon-1 p.m.

George Lies, fiction author and steering committee member for the Morgantown Writers Group (MWG), with stories published in Mountain Voices, Mist on the Mon, and Hamilton Stone Editions, will read from 2-2:30 p.m. Then, fiction author T.W. McNemar ("Ragdoll Angel") will read from 2:30-3 p.m. McNemar is president of West Virginia Writers, Inc., the statewide organization that supports and encourages writing activities throughout West Virginia.

Also on Saturday (Aug. 29), fiction and non-fiction author Patricia Patteson will read from 5-5:30 p.m., followed by Mark Brazaitis (author of the recently released poetry book, "The Other Language") from 5:30-6 p.m. Brazaitis directs the Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing in the Department of English at WVU.

Poet Lori Wilson ("House Where a Woman", Autumn House Press) will read from 7-7:30 p.m., and Suzanne Heagy (author of the novel "Meridian Inn," which has been recently accepted for publication by Diversion Press) will read from 7:30-8 p.m. Wilson is a computer systems analyst and a Master of Fine Arts student at Drew University. Heagy is a faculty member in the Department of Language and Literature at Fairmont State University.

SUNDAY
On Sunday, Aug. 30, events begin with a special reading from 1-1:30 p.m.. by Joey Madia (author of the fantasy/adventure novel, "Jester-Knight: Book One of the Ambir Dragon Tales"). Madia's reading of "Jester-Knight" will be enjoyed by older children and teens (ages 10 and up), as well as adults. In addition to his literary pursuits, Madia is the artistic director/resident playwright for New Mystics Theatre Company, Inc., which, according to its Web site, "uses the performing arts as a means of engaging young people, faculty, families, and communities in explorations of cultural and social issues affecting our lives.."

Immediately following the reading of "Jester-Knight," from 1:30-2 p.m., poet, artist and craftswoman Tonya Madia will conduct a special children's reading in the children's section at Barnes & Noble (ages 4-10). She will read from the well-known children's books, "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak and "King Bidgood's in the Bathtub" by Audrey Wood.

Musician and songwriter Jim Savarino, facilitator of the Songwriters Circle at the MAC, will perform from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday. Rounding out the weekend, Morgantown Poets will host an open reading with a sign up sheet for writers in the community from 4-5 p.m. Sunday. Poetry and short excerpts of fiction, non-fiction, essays and other forms of writing/literature suitable for the general public are acceptable for the open reading.

To assist Morgantown Poets, Barnes & Noble is providing vouchers in advance of the book fair which visitors should bring in for presentation when they check out over the weekend.. Barnes & Noble will use the vouchers as a way to donate directly to the MAC, a local, non-profit, community arts organization, to help cover costs associated with Morgantown Poets.

WV W charter member, Shirley Campbell, passes.

(This information sent to WV Writers by Geoffery Campbell)

Shirley Campbell, age 91, of Charleston, passed away at home Monday August 17, 2009 with her loving son and caregiver Timothy by her side.

She taught in Kanawha County Schools in East Bank High school, she was a founding member of Mountain State Press and West Virginia Writers Association, published Hill and Valley Magazine for several years, she has published books and poetry collections, both fiction and non-fiction. Shirley was a member of Village Chapel Presbyterian Church.

Shirley was preceded in death by her loving husband, George Edward Campbell and a son David.
She is survived by her children Geoffrey, Anne, Martha, and Timothy; five grandchildren Amanda, Aaron, Scott, Laura, and Craig; and four great grandchildren.

A tribute will be held Saturday August 22 at 1:00 pm at Village Chapel Presbyterian Church with Rev. Todd Wright officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hardingfamilygroup.com.

Harding Funerals & Cremations 514 50th St. SE Kanawha City is serving the Campbell family.

Opportunity for Playwrights at Independent Theatre Collective

Wheeling's Independent Theatre Collective has an opportunity for playwrights as part of their reader's series, Friday Night Footlights. ITC is looking for 60-90 minute plays -- no real restrictions, smaller casts & minimal tech requirements are appreciated -- for staged readings. The readings are held the first Friday of each month in front of a live house and are streamed via their website, along with a talk-back session about the plays. Those in attendance then vote on their favorite plays. The last script standing at the end of the season gets a full production as part of the following season.

Last year's winner - Stacey Lane's A Thousand Variations on a Lie Told Once will be mounted this coming November.

ITC has received a good many scripts, but few have been selected . . . so slots are available!

Send yours in .doc format to plays@itcgreenroom.org

io9 presents a backstage view of the job of Sci-Fi editors

An interesting peek into the job of a sci-fi editor, courtesy of the blog io9.

http://io9.com/5333077/a-peek-inside-the-life-of-a-science-fiction-editor

This week on the WV Writers Podcast

This Friday, the WV Writers Podcast will broadcast its first recorded live reading.

Our subject will be a live reading given by author Joey Madia from his novel Jester Knight.

You can see the trailer for this book by clicking the book cover on the right.

Tune in Friday morning, August 14, for Episode 14 of the WV Writers Podcast.

Belinda Anderson gives talk on the writers of WV and their stories in Hillsboro

On September 19, 2009, writer Belinda Anderson will give a talk entitled "West Virginia Writers and their Stories" at the Hillsboro Library of Pocahontas County, from 4:30 to 8 pm. There is no charge for the event, but attendees are encouraged to bring a covered dish to share with the whole group as part of a covered dish supper.

For more information call 304-653-4936.

Issue #2 of HOLLER seeks poetry submissions

The Princeton Poetry Project's quarterly literary journal, HOLLER, is seeking poetry submissions for its second issue.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, August 31.

Submit online or send your poems to:

The Princeton Poetry Project
P.O. Box 1924
Princeton, WV 24740

And tell your friends to submit, too.

The fall issue is scheduled for publication in September and there will be another reception to mark the occasion.

MOTESBOOKS SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FOR 2010 ANTHOLOGY

(This news courtesy of Meredith Sue Willis's Newsletter for Readers and Writers)

MOTIF is an anthology series published annually by MotesBooks of Louisville, Ky. VOLUME 1: WRITING BY EAR featured 116 writers, including Patty Griffin, Silas House, Buddy & Julie Miller, Maurice Manning, Evie Shockley, Neela Vaswani, Frank X Walker and Pamela Duncan. Each volume in the MOTIF series focuses on a theme – for Volume 2 the theme is CHANCE. Submissions may be poems, short stories, song lyrics, short memoirs, essays, letters, creative nonfiction, or other forms. Combinations of forms are acceptable up to the limits described: Prose must be under 3,000 words. Send no more than three poems/lyrics. All genres will be considered as long as “chance” is referenced or illuminated in the works. Submissions may address the theme either directly or indirectly, but “chance” should figure significantly and artfully in the piece.

For full guidelines, go to http://www.motesbooks.com/ Submission period closes September 1, 2009.

Mary Lucille DeBerry Reading in Bridgeport

(This news courtesy of Phyllis Wilson Moore)

West Virginia native Mary Lucille DeBerry will read from her first poetry collection, Bertha Butcher’s Coat at the Bridgeport Public Library (1200 Johnson Avenue, Bridgeport, WV 26330) Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 2:00 pm.

Refreshments and autograph session will follow the reading

~Free and open to the public~

Terry McNemar, president of WV Writers Inc., will introduce the poet

The event is sponsored by the Bridgeport Public Library and friends of the poet: Debbie Benedetti, Phyllis Wilson Moore, Anna Egan Smucker, and Dr. Sandra Vrana

For information contact Crystal Hamrick, Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave. Bridgeport, WV, 26330 at 304-842-8248

West Virginia Center for the Book Helps WV Writers Promote Works

(This news courtesy of George Lies WVW eNEWS -- August 3, 2009)

The 2009 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public. Check web
site at http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/

Please alert your great network of writing contacts that the West Virginia Center for the Book will have a table at the National Book Festival on Sept 26 and would love to promote as many West Virginia writers as possible.

Deadline for mailing materials: August 26.

Send Promotional Materials to:
Karen Goff, Director
Library Development Services
West Virginia Library Commission
1900 Kanawha Blvd., E.
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: 304-558-3978
Fax: 304-558-1612
Email: karen.e.goff@wv.gov

Writers should have promotional materials to Karen Goff no later than August 25 so we can ship everything off to DC.

Just a reminder, slick, colorful items move best. Information photocopied on 8 * x 11 paper - even colored paper - does not move.

This year*s featured title is Anna Smucker*s Golden Delicious, A Cinderella Apple Story.

CONTACT: Karen at Karen.E.Goff@wv.gov
===
General Festival Information
Phone: (888) 714-4696
E-Mail: bookfest@loc.gov
The Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540-1400

ANTHOLOGY OF APPALACHIAN WRITERS IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

(This news courtesy of Meredith Sue Willis's Newsletter for Readers and Writers)

The Anthology of Appalachian Writers is a publication that encourages a long-established tradition of storytelling, love of language, and creative expression associated broadly with the area of the country known as Appalachia. Though the principal mission of the anthology is to provide a venue for publication of new writers, it also provides a collection of literature and scholarship that contributes to an understanding and appreciation for the region. Poetry, fiction, memoir, heritage writers, as well as new voices appear in each annual volume of the anthology.

To submit any original, unpublished work of fiction or poetry for consideration by the editors, send an electronic copy, along with the information below, to Dr. S. Bailey Shurbutt, sshurbut@shepherd.edu .

All submissions must be in the submission format below.

Name:
Title of Submission:
Address:
E-mail:
Phone:
Brief Biography (limit 100 words):

Deadline for Submissions: October 15, 2009.

Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers

The Short Story Award for New Writers competition closes August 31. We're looking for original, unpublished stories by writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Word count range: 500 - 12,000. First-place wins $1,200 and publication in Glimmer Train Stories Issue 77. Second- and third-place winners win $500/$300 (or, if chosen for publication, $700).