This year the NC Writers Conference--a longstanding, loosely organized group of NC writers--met in Asheville for its annual gathering. I loved every minute of the time there, the last weekend in July. I remember when I first attended back in the early 1990s as a guest of my late friend Marie Gilbert, who later nominated me for membership. I was starry eyed at being among so many talented writers, and I loved the warm spirit, the casual fun of the group. I still do love the group's laid-back, yet friendly energy.
This year Margaret Bauer, Programs Chair, asked me to moderate the session on the James Applewhite Poetry Prize, which meant that I got to introduce James Applewhite before he announced the winner of this year's contest sponsored annually by North Carolina Literary Review. I also got to introduce the finalists and honorable mentions for this year. And we all got to hear readings by them--plus a reading by Jim Applewhite from his new book Cosmos. Did I mention that I had a great time? Yes, all weekend!
Next year our gathering will be in "Little" Washington--Washington, NC. Can't wait!
Saturday, August 09, 2014
The Blanket Stories anthology has been released
Honored to be in this anthology,
just released by Ragged Sky Press in July.
 |
| Richard Jochum & Ruth Zamoyta, editors |
Jun 22: NCPS McIntyre's Poetry Reading Series
What a delight to read with Barbara G.S. Hagerty and Deborah Miller at McIntyre's Books in Fearrington Village near Pittsboro, NC, on June 22. NC Poetry Society leader Sara Claytor is in charge of planning the monthly series and does a wonderful job of rounding up poets to read. Barbara is the author of the newly released Twinzilla; Deborah is the author of Remants of Strawberry Blonde; and I read from My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass. We were happy to read to a supportive audience, after which Sara offered a lively drawing from poems and art for those in attendance.
Thanks to the NC Poetry Society and to McIntyre's Books for offering this series.
Thanks to the NC Poetry Society and to McIntyre's Books for offering this series.
 |
| Deborah, Susan, and Barbara |
Fall Lines: Summer issue of Jasper magazine
Fall Lines, the summer issue of Jasper: The Word on Columbia Arts, made its debut this summer. It offers a full issue of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction with a prize in poetry and prose. Mary Hutchens Harris won the Saluda Poetry Prize, and Nicola Waldron won the Broad River Prize for Prose. A reception was held on Sunday, June 8, to celebrate Fall Lines, along with its prize winners and contributors. Here are the contributors for Fall Lines 2014. Congratulations to all! I'm happy to be included, among so many talented poets and writers.
 |
| Fall Lines reception, June 8, 2014 |
Dig and Delve – Nicola Waldron
April, 1965 – Betsy Breen
Soon – Jonathan Butler
Accidentals – Mary Hutchins Harris
Forgotten – Marjory Wentworth
Militants Ban School Bells in a Town in Somalia – Marjory Wentworth
Taste the Sound – Jennifer Bartell
Davy Crockett’s Last Stand – Nancy Brock
Like – Jo Angela Edwins
Island Time – Josephine Humphries
What I wish I had said to Billy Collins – Brandi Perry
Queens – Alexis Stratton
Almost – Angie Zealberg
Ghost Crabs – Hastings Hensel
Lap – Robert Petersen
Like a little bell he trembles III – Matthew Stark
Pilgrimage – Christopher Dickey
Want a ride? – Aïda Rogers
A Bike – Bob Blencowe
Cancer Voodoo II – Melissa Johnson
The Ache of Beekeeping – Tony Tallent
Ruts – Ray McManus
At Congaree Swamp – Nicola Waldron
My Father’s Chest – Jarred Coffin
Jumping into the Abyss of History, A Prologue – Megan Volpert
you burn me – Susan Laughter Meyers
The Gunpowder Craze – Doug Berg
One Quiet Morning – William Claxon
In May’s Blue Box – Linda Lee Harper
What Tassio Fulgrass Thinks of Life – Susan Levi Wallach
Letting You Die – Marlena Impisi
early November – Laura Rashley
Crazing – Lisa Hammond
Mission – Tara Powell
The Ride Back – Jo Ann Hoffman
Open Windows – Matt Mossman
Fishing for Bream – Ivan Young
Through a Glass Darkly – Debra Daniel
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Ragged Sky Press: Blanket Stories Project
The Blanket Stories Project is based on the following fable:
Five siblings inherit a blanket. They
lie beneath it, together, to stay warm.
But arms and legs stick out and the
siblings squabble and tug. They do
not realize that they would all fit
if they just moved closer together.
The project initially put a call out to poets, artists, and
musicians to respond to the fable. The results consist of a gallery of poems
and art, as well as a print anthology to be published by Ragged Sky Press. I'm
pleased to have a poem in the project. My poem “Blankets, a Childhood” is exhibited
in the gallery and will later appear in the anthology.
Here is my poem, displayed in the online gallery.
In June there will be a launch for the project:
Blanket
Stories Launch
Friday, June
6 at 5:00pm
Congratulations,
Ragged Sky Press!
Magnolia Gardens Poetry Contest
This spring Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
offered its Garden of Romance
Here
are the results for the adult division. The judges selected poems that “best
emulated the sensibility of romantic poets and described Magnolia as an idyllic
"garden of romance."
- Pam Stewart, Summerville, "O! Magnolia," first place, $500
- Susan Laughter Meyers, Summerville, “Morning Meditation,” second place, $300
- Warren Slesinger, Beaufort, “White Blossoms,” third place, $200
- Frances J. Pearce, Mount Pleasant, “Magnolia-on-the-Ashley,” honorable mention, $50
- Liz Rose Dolan, Rehoboth Beach, Del., “Even If It Rains, I Will Wait in the Garden,” honorable mention, $50
- Davi Walders, Chevy Chase, Md., “May Light,” honorable mention, $50
May 16 - 18: Last weekend's SC Book Festival
Last weekend’s 18th annual
SC Book Festival drew its usual crowds, and I was delighted to be a part of it:
May 16-18
SC BOOK FESTIVAL
Sunday, May 18, 1:30
p.m. panel:
"Diverse Verse"
with Gil Allen, Barbara Hagerty, Susan
Laughter Meyers & Marjory Wentworth; Ed Madden, moderator
free & open to public
http://scbookfestival.org
I especially enjoyed hearing Nikki
Giovanni talk and read a couple of poems in her session. That session was one
of only two poetry events offered at the Festival. So the other events there
that I attended featured writers of other genres. Sessions I sat in on included
Christopher Buckley, the keynote speaker; novelist Gail Godwin; and a
roundtable by Pat Conroy and his siblings.
Those of us on the poetry panel were
happy to see the room filled with about 50 poets and friends of poetry. Gil
read a couple of poems from his new book Catma;
Barbara from Twinzilla; me from My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass; and Marjory
from her New and Selected. (Ed will
be reading from his new book, Nests,
at next year’s Festival.)
Barbara
Hagerty and I would like to say a big thank you to the wonderful Hub City Press
booth for carrying our books: her Twinzilla
(The Word Works, 2014) and my own My
Dear, Dear Stagger Grass (Cider Press Review, 2013).
The Poetry
Society of SC and LILA shared a booth in the Festival’s exhibit hall—with members
taking turns to be at the booth. Among them—Debbie Scott, outgoing president of
PSSC; Frances Pearce; Barbara Hagerty; Linda Annas Ferguson; and me. Linda was
my guest for the weekend, giving us a chance to catch up on all things poetry
and non-poetry. Such a fun-filled weekend!
May 4 reading: Sundry Poets at Quail Ridge Books & Music
The early part of the month gave me
another chance to be in my old home state of North Carolina
Sunday, May 4
QUAIL RIDGE BOOKS & MUSIC
Three poets: Susan Laughter
Meyers, Maureen Sherbondy, John York
free & open to public
What a great opportunity, to have
been a part of the Sundry Poets series, headed by Jo Taylor. It's a series at
Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh , NC
And—yes,
there’s more—I got to visit all weekend with my long-time high school/college
buddies, Fran and Jeff. How many more reasons could a person think of for a great trip to NC!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)