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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Poetry Opportunities in Princeton this week.

WV Writers' own Sal Buttaci and Jeff Travers will be the featured poets at a poetry reading at the Princeton Public Library, this coming Thursday, December 3, at 6 p.m. Following the featured poets, members of the public are invited to read one or two of their poems or the poems of others.

The Princeton Public Library is located at 205 Center Street, Princeton, WV.


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The same evening, at Concord University, there will be a reception and poetry reading held in honor of the second issue of the new literary journal Holler. The reception and reading will take place at 7:00 P.M., in the State Room of the Jerry L. Beasley Student Center at Concord University, Athens, WV.

Driving directions and a campus map are available on the university's website (http://www.concord.edu) under the "Parents and Visitors" menu. (The Stateroom is on the second floor of the Student Center.)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Independent Publishers Who are Reinventing the Future

Sci-fi blog io9 has a nice article about some independent publishers in the sci-fi/horror/fantasty genre that are growing and producing great things. Could be a good market or two in there.

Check it out HERE.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Greenbrier Valley Theatre Accepting Play Submissions

Greenbrier Valley Theater is now accepting submissions for the second annual “New Voices” Short Play Festival. The winning plays are given a public performance in GVT’s Festival of Community Plays in January/February 2010. This is an opportunity for local playwrights to have their work produced. A panel of professional theatre artists judges the pieces and winners are chosen in early December.

Submissions are welcome from anyone, but local playwrights in the Greenbrier Valley are especially encouraged to participate. Entries should be 10 to15 minutes in length (longer plays will be disqualified) and include between two and five characters. Plays should be appropriate for all ages (with minimal offensive material) and should be written to be played by adult actors (15 and up.) There is no official theme for the plays. Musicals may be considered depending on available production staff. Due to the nature of the festival and production restrictions, plays with single unit sets will be given priority. The deadline for receipt of entries is December 15, 2009.

Entries must be received by GVT no later than December 15, 2009. The public festival performance dates are to be announced at a later date. Please email submissions to Kurtis Donnelly, kurtis@gvtheatre.org (prefered) or mail them to PO Box 494, Lewisburg, WV 24901. Please do not submit an original copy of your play, as copies will not be returned.

By submitting a play to the “New Voices” Festival, you grant GVT the rights to perform your play at the festival in January/February 2010, if chosen. The number of winners selected to be performed will vary on the length of the selected shows. Anywhere from 4-7 may be chosen for performance. If an inadequate number of entries are received, GVT reserves the right to not select any play for performance.

For complete details visit http://www.gvtheatre.org/ or contact Kurtis Donnelly at 645-3838 or kurtis@gvtheatre.org.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Survey from Phyllis Wilson Moore (Audience Participation Required)

FROM WV WRITERS PRESIDENT TERRY MCNEMAR:

Phyllis Wilson Moore of Clarksburg, West Virginia, an avid reader and word lover, researches and writes about the literature of West Virginia and she credits Dr. Jim Wayne Miller with inspiring her research project. Her publication credits are in the genres of fiction, literary history, memoir, nonfiction, and poetry. She headed the state’s effort to create its first official literary map, “From a Place Called Solid” and she managed www.mountainlit.com through much of its beginning.

In a continuance of this good work, Phyllis has requested our assistance in the form of a questionnaire about southern lit and West Virginia lit. Read it carefully and please respond. My mind is already spinning with ideas (well, that and visions of pumpkin pie). Please pass this on so that it gets a good circulation, to members of your own writing and reading community, in your schools, on Facebook, etc. This is an important project, please jump in with both feet.

Thanks!


FROM PHYLLIS WILSON MOORE:

Dear Members of WV Writers, Inc. and Others:


Would you care to have a go at sending your answers to these five questions about West Virginia literature, along with any other thoughts on the subject ? If so, thanks in advance.

Phyllis Wilson Moore.

Send your answers to: scoutdil@aol.com

2010 will soon be here. I'm looking back at the developments in West Virginia literature over the last fifty years.

  • When you think of West Virginia fiction written since 1960, what ten works of fiction best portray the West Virginia you know?
  • Over the years, folks in the know have been asked to describe West Virginia's literature in two words. The range has been wide: blood and politics; hope and suffocation; religion and family, etc.
  • What two words would you come up with?
  • A scholar asked to define southern literature quipped, "Is there a dead mule in it?" This humorous idea became the genesis for the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. http://www.deadmule.com/
  • Does WV's literature differ from southern literature?
  • If so, do you have a humorous name to suggest it?
  • I'm interested in organizing panel discussions on West Virginia's literature; can you suggest knowledgeable panel members? I'd like the panel to represent the state’s ethnic diversity.

Thanks again,

Phyllis Wilson Moore
Clarksburg

Monday, November 23, 2009

Stony River Microfiction Monday from Irish writer, Susan Carleton

(This news courtesy of Granny Sue Holstein)

Susan Carleton, a writer who lives in Ireland, runs a Monday morning writing prompt called Microfiction Monday. She provides a photo and her story based on the photo, and those who want to can do the same on their blogs. The only catch: the story can only be 140 characters (same number as a tweet). That includes punctuation and spaces.

Susan visited West Virginia twice in the past year and bought a home here. Her blog is an interesting chronicle of her life in Ireland, her writing and links to places accepting submissions or writing contests.

Find the Stony River blog at...http://www.stonyriver.ie/

Friday, November 20, 2009

Podcast Episode 21: A conversation with Lee Maynard


Episode 21 of the WVW Podcast is now available, featuring a conversation between WV Writers 1st Vice President Cat Pleska and Lee Maynard, author of the book Crum, its followup Screaming with the Cannibals and the new novel-in-memoir-form The Pale Light of Sunset: Scattershots and Hallucinations in an Imagined Life, published by West Virginia University Press.


As those of you who've attended Lee's workshops at previous WV Writers Summer Conferences well know, he's an extremely talented writer who specializes in gut-level writing. This week's part of the conversation explores some of that as well as his writing discipline, his philosophy on truth in memoir vs. storytelling and his feelings about West Virginia.

Hear it for yourself at our PODCAST PAGE.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Ray Bradbury's Advice to Writers

Science fiction great Ray Bradbury has some advice for struggling writers: Struggle harder. Read what he has to say courtesy of the sci-fi blog io9.

http://io9.com/5408150/ray-bradburys-advice-to-struggling-writers-struggle-harder

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Morgantown Poets welcomes novelist Emily Mitchell this Thursday

Novelist Emily Mitchell will be featured during Morgantown Poets 7 p.m. literary event Thursday (Nov. 19) at Monongalia Arts Center (MAC).

The reading is free and open to the public. The MAC is at 107 High St., downtown Morgantown (beside Hotel Morgan).

Mitchell's first novel "The Last Summer of the World" was a finalist for the New York Public Library's Young Lion's Fiction Award in 2008.

"First time novelist Mitchell pulls off the dazzling trick of allowing readers to see through the eyes of art-photography pioneer Edward Steichen in her excellent reconsideration of his life and art," says Publishers Weekly. "This would be merely impressive if the book confined itself to the stormy end of Steichen's first marriage, a subtheme that gets its due and packs a psychological punch. Instead, Mitchell follows Steichen through his airborne reconnaissance work during WWI, providing a devastating portrait of the insanity of war in general and the Great War in particular... this commanding novel is about the images one can never quite burn from memory."

Mitchell's short fiction has appeared in New England Review, Indiana Review, Raritan and Agni. She also has a story that will be published in a forthcoming issue of Ploughshares. Her reviews have appeared in The New York Times and New Statesman.

Mitchell is a faculty member in the Department of English in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University. Born in London, she has lived in Virginia, Vermont, Osaka, New York, California and now, West Virginia.

Public parking is available near the MAC in the parking garage at the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut streets and at the city lot behind 142 High Street (enter off Spruce). The MAC is accessible to individuals with mobility impairments; please schedule ahead at least two days prior to the event by calling                30...       , or write to info@monartscenter.com for more information.

Morgantown Poets is an informal community group that meets from 7-9 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the MAC, providing literary enthusiasts the opportunity to express themselves, share their work, network and to connect up-and-coming writers with more established authors.

New writers are welcome. Meetings usually begin with a spoken reading by a featured author that is followed by readings from attendees.

Join Morgantown Poets’ mailing list by writing to morgantownpoets@yahoo.com or join the group on Facebook by entering "Morgantown Poets" in Facebook’s search. We also have a listserve at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/motownpoetry.

On the Web: http://lastsummeroftheworldbook.googlepages.com/home

Morgantown Poets Fall 2009 Series

Dec. 17 - Doug Van Gundy, author of the poetry book, "A Life Above Water"

(Note: This falls on WVU Final Exam Week. WVU Winter Break begins Dec. 20. Christmas is Dec. 25.)

Morgantown Poets Spring 2010 Series

Jan. 21 - Special Morgantown Poets spring series/new year kick-off event featuring three authors: T.W. McNemar, president of West Virginia Writers, Inc. and author of the novel, "Ragdoll Angel," and poets Matt Anserello of Morgantown and Isaac Pressnell of Keyser. Adam Atkinson of the regional arts organization, Open Thread (http://openthread.org) will introduce the poets. (Note: Due to the nature of this special event and the number of featured authors, Morgantown Poets may not conduct the usual open reading portion of the event Jan. 21.)

Feb. 18 - Mark DeFoe, author of the poetry books, "Bringing Home Breakfast," "Palmate," "AIR," "Aviary," "The Green Chair," and "Greatest Hits."

March 18 - Elizabeth Savage, faculty member, Fairmont State University, poetry editor of Kestrel, FSU's literary publication

(Note: WVU Spring Recess begins March 27.)

April 15 - Kirk Judd, performance artist and author of the poetry books, "Field of Vision" and "Tao Billy"

May 20 - Judy Byers, storyteller, folklorist, faculty member and director, The Frank and Jane Gabor WV Folklife Center, Fairmont State University

(Note: WVU Commencement is May 16.)

NOTE: If you know of any upcoming literary arts events, programs, publications, collaborations and/or publishing opportunities and would like Morgantown Poets to announce it, feel free to e-mail us back at morgantownpoets@yahoo.com with the date, time and location of the event, as well as all other details such as deadlines. One of our goals is to support authors, artists and the literary arts throughout the community.. While we are very busy and cannot make any promises or 100 percent guarantee we will be able to announce every single event or opportunity, we will do our best to share these opportunities during our scheduled events, and will make an effort to help get the word out online as well. Our deadline for announcements is no later than 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. (Or one week prior to our regularly scheduled event.)

Generally, we focus on announcements concerning the literary community in north-central West Virginia, where Morgantown Poets is located, with a few exceptions for announcements such as publishing opportunities. For statewide literary announcements, we highly encourage everyone to join/get in touch with the statewide writing organization, West Virginia Writers, Inc., http://www.wvwriters.org. West Virginia Writers publishes a frequent e-newsletter and does a wonderful job announcing what's going on in the literary world throughout West Virginia. To get on the West Virginia Writers e-newsletter mailing list, email twmcnemar@verizon.net.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Granny Sue Releases New CD

(This news courtesy of "Granny" Sue Holstein)

Friends,

I am happy to announce that my newest CD is ready! Beyond the Grave is a collection of West Virginia ghost stories, with some of our most famous--Greenbrier Ghost and Wizard Clipp, and some not as well known but every bit as interesting. Included on the CD are three ballads, and one of them I wrote right here on the Roundtable when someone posed a ballad challenge. I wrote a ballad about the Greenbrier Ghost and realized that I could sing it to the melody of Barbara Ellen--it's now called The Cruel Blacksmith on the CD.

I have listed the CD on CDBaby, and it will be ready for downloads or purchase there and on amazon.com and other sites in the next week or so. You can also buy it from me :-) at a discounted price of $12ppd. It would make a great Christmas present for anyone into ghost stories or West Virginia stories. Today three co-workers listened to the CD during a road trip and immediately bought copies for Christmas gifts. That was unexpected but nice!

Call or email me if you're interested in a copy.

Susanna
R2 Box 110
Sandyville, WV 25275
toll free 866-643-1353
susannaholstein@yahoo.com
www.grannysu.blogspot.com

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Mountainline Poetry in Motion Accepting Entries

(This news courtesy of Granny Sue Holstein)

Mountain Line Transit is interested in setting up Poetry in Motion. Poetry in Motion will be an on going project where local poets’ poems will be displayed on our buses. This is a great opportunity for the West Virginia community to display their talent. Ideally the poems we are looking to display would represent West Virginia, the Morgantown area, or transportation in the area but all pieces will be accepted.

All poems received will be approved by the Mountain Line Transit Board of Directors for appropriate content. Poems will be displayed on an 11″ x 5’ printed board that is displayed on the interior of our buses. The Poetry selected will also be complimented by a background designed by a local artist. The background will support the poems expression and theme.

Poetry in Motion will be a continuing program between Mountain Line Transit and the West Virginia community. Poems will be refreshed every six months. Deadlines for future submissions will be announced at a later date.

Poetry in Motion Outline:

Poetry in Motion will be an on going project between Mountain Line Transit and the community of West Virginia.

Five Poems will be selected. Poems relating to the local region or transportation will be more likely to be chosen.

The deadline for submitting poems is Nov. 13. Poems will be displayed on buses by Jan. 1, 2010.

One submission per person.

Submission guidelines:

Poems must be: approximately 20 lines or less, previously unpublished, written by local first-time or established poets of any age.

Flash fiction of 50 words or less will also be considered.

We look for poems that celebrate words, the region, an experience, and/or personal thoughts and feelings. The poems may take on a regional flavor or be an inspiring look at life and the language.

Submit poems in a word or text document with your name and phone number to marketing@busride.org.

Please contact fisher@busride.org for any questions.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Billy Collins Speaking at Fairmont State

(This news courtesy of WVW Contest Coordinator, Steve Goff)

Billy Collins, one of the greatest living American poets, will be speaking at Fairmont State on Nov. 16. He has really become quite the ambassador for poetry. Any of his collections are very good. He is usually witty, sharp, thoughtful and inspirational in everyone of his poems.

Following the speaking info. I have included a poem of his from the collection The Art of Drowning. I recommend going to a library or bookstore and check out some of his other work for yourself.

He is a very good speaker and quite funny in person. Garrison Keillor has had him on his radio show a lot and he holds his own when the witticisms start flying.

In the poetry world, this is a big "get" for our region. Hope you can make it. I'd go early because I think there will be a very good turn out.


William "Billy" Collins
Nov. 16, 2009
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

William "Billy" Collins, born March 22, 1941, is an American poet. He served two terms as the Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2003. In his home state, Collins was recognized as a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library in 1992 and selected as the New York State Poet for 2004. He was recently appointed Claire Berman Artist in Residence at The Roxbury Latin School, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. He is a distinguished professor at Lehman College of the City University of New York.

Collins received a B.A. degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1963 and received his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Riverside. Collins joined the faculty of Lehman College in the Bronx in 1968 and has taught there for over thirty years. He is a founding Advisory Board member of the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies at Lehman College. He has taught and served as a visiting writer at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York.

In 1997, he recorded "The Best Cigarette," a collection of 34 of his poems that would become a bestseller. In 2005, he recorded "Billy Collins Live: A Performance at the Peter Norton Symphony Space" in New York City.

Poetry Magazine has awarded him several prizes in recognition of poems they publish. The magazine selected him as "Poet of the Year" in 1994. In 2005 Collins was the first annual recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for Humor in Poetry, bestowed by the Poetry Foundation (Poetry Magazine). He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation in 1993 and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Sandy Tritt Free Workshop in Clarksburg

(This news courtesy of el Presidente Terry McNemar)

For anyone who likes to write, there will be a free writing workshop this saturday at the Waldomore Mansion next to the Clarksburg Public Library. The presenter is Sandy Tritt, and she will be giving a workshop on creating lean and strong prose.

If you would like to attend, it will be at 9:30, and there will be a gift drawing at 9:29.

PLEASE RSVP to the.crows.quill@gmail.com if anyone would like to attend.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Novelist Emily Mitchell Reading in Morgantown

Novelist Emily Mitchell will be featured during Morgantown Poets 7 p.m. literary event Thursday, Nov. 19, at Monongalia Arts Center (MAC).

The reading is free and open to the public. The MAC is at 107 High St., downtown Morgantown (beside Hotel Morgan).

Mitchell's first novel "The Last Summer of the World" was a finalist for the New York Public Library's Young Lion's Fiction Award in 2008.

"First time novelist Mitchell pulls off the dazzling trick of allowing readers to see through the eyes of art-photography pioneer Edward Steichen in her excellent reconsideration of his life and art," says Publishers Weekly. "This would be merely impressive if the book confined itself to the stormy end of Steichen's first marriage, a subtheme that gets its due and packs a psychological punch. Instead, Mitchell follows Steichen through his airborne reconnaissance work during WWI, providing a devastating portrait of the insanity of war in general and the Great War in particular... this commanding novel is about the images one can never quite burn from memory."

Mitchell's short fiction has appeared in New England Review, Indiana Review, Raritan and Agni. She also has a story that will be published in a forthcoming issue of Ploughshares. Her reviews have appeared in The New York Times and New Statesman.

Mitchell is a faculty member in the Department of English in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University. Born in London, she has lived in Virginia, Vermont, Osaka, New York, California and now, West Virginia.

Public parking is available near the MAC in the parking garage at the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut streets and at the city lot behind 142 High Street (enter off Spruce). The MAC is accessible to individuals with mobility impairments; please schedule ahead at least two days prior to the event by calling 304-906-7268, or write to info@monartscenter.com for more information.

Morgantown Poets is an informal community group that meets from 7-9 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the MAC, providing literary enthusiasts the opportunity to express themselves, share their work, network and to connect up-and-coming writers with more established authors.

New writers are welcome. Meetings usually begin with a spoken reading by a featured author that is followed by readings from attendees.

Join Morgantown Poets’ mailing list by writing to morgantownpoets@yahoo.com or join the group on Facebook by entering "Morgantown Poets" in Facebook’s search.

On the Web: http://lastsummeroftheworldbook.googlepages.com/home