WyoPoets will hold its spring writing workshop on Saturday, April 28, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, 400 West F St., Casper. Sheridan writer (and WAC roster artist) Joan Puma Bennet will lead the workshop. For more information -- and to reserve a spot -- contact Mary Hein in Casper or Lee Ann Seibken in Douglas.

Labels: poetry, workshops, WyoPoets

- posted by Michael Shay @ 8:29 AM 0 comments

 
Reading Under the Stars

Wyoming summers are short.

That thought occurred to me (not for the first time) as I prowled around Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis a few weeks ago on a below-zero morning. My ears froze to my head and my breath formed clouds as I chugged along. I was transfixed by the patterns made by the ice which froze as it spilled over the hot springs terrace. Local ducks seemed content floating on the section of the Big Horn River where the geothermal flow spilled into the stream's icy waters.

During my gawking tour, I checked out the park's pavillion. At a meeting in Cheyenne in November, HSSP Superintendent Kevin Skates had offered the pavillion as a venue for summer arts events. Now that I had a chance to look at it, buried as it was under several feet of snow, I could see its possibilities. I suggested to Wyoming Writers, Inc., conference planners that it would make a great place to hold open readings during its annual conference June 1-3 at the Holiday Inn, located right inside the park.

So that's what we're going to do. Our sunset readings will be held on Friday, June 1, 7:30-10 p.m. and on Saturday, June 2, 8:30-10 p.m. I will serve as emcee, a role I've grown into the past few years. Charles Curley and I are looking around for a sound system and Kevin Skates promised to set up chairs for both nights. Although the pavillion is located within spitting distance of the hotel, a shuttle service will be available. Park visitors are also being invited to come out and see some of the best writers in the state read their work. This is part of Kevin's goal to add more arts programming to his summer events' schedule.

Some long-time Wyomingites might be remembering that the first weekend in June can be warm and dry and calm. Or cold and wet and windy. The pavillion stage is sheltered. Alas, the audience area is not. Never fear -- we're making contingency plans.

Still, how could you come to such a gorgeous place in the summer and not want to read your poetry outside?

Labels: nature, poetry, readings, writing conferences, Wyoming Writers, WyoPoets

- posted by Michael Shay @ 11:30 AM 0 comments

 


Hot Springs State Park Site for Wyoming Writers Inc. Conference

An internationally-renowned (and Wyoming-based) husband-wife writing duo, Montana’s poet laureate, and the Jackson novelist whom the New York Times Book Review recognized as the writer who “brilliantly and knowingly captures the spirit of the Wyoming wilderness."

Michael and Kathleen Gear of Thermopolis, Sandra Alcosser of Florence, Montana, and Tim Sandlin of Jackson are the authors who will highlight the 33rd annual conference for Wyoming Writers, Inc., June 1-3 in Thermopolis.They will lead panels and critique manuscripts during the course of the three-day event.

Joining them is children’s writer Dr. Toran Isom. She has been a professor at University of Arkansas-Little Rock for 17 years and teaches “Nonfiction Writing for Children” and other courses. John Helfers, acquiring editor for Tekno Books, will attend to talk about the world of publishing. A book packager, Tekno Books creates and sells fiction and nonfiction manuscripts to publishers.

Labels: writing conferences, Wyoming Writers, WyoPoets

- posted by Michael Shay @ 2:57 PM 4 comments

 
WYOPOETS MARKS 30 YEARS: As WyoPoets begins its thirtieth year, President Myra L. Peak (a 2007 WAC fellowship recipient) sends word that the organization has a new web site at wyopoets.org. I took a quick look and was impressed. It’s attractive, user-friendly, and full of info about the organization. Here’s a little bit of history from member Midge Farmer of Gillette: “Did you know we were born in the fall of 1977 as a 'committee' of Wyoming Writers, Inc., with 25 members? Did you know our name was Poets of Wyoming Writers when we joined the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) that year? Did you know we could not call ourselves the Wyoming State Poetry Society because a fly-by-night scam had operated in Wyo. the previous year under a similar name? Did you know we compiled a beautiful book of poetry called WORDWEAVERS published by Wyoming Writers, Inc., in 1986?” If you have historical items about WyoPoets (photos, newspaper clippings, conference fliers, etc.), please send them to Midge Farmer, 1117 Indian Hills Drive, Gillette, WY 82716; 307-682-3488; pfarmer@vcn.com. One more thing: Deadline for entering the WyoPoets chapbook contest is Dec. 12. Go to the cool new web site for more info.

Labels: Wyoming Writers, WyoPoets

- posted by Michael Shay @ 10:18 AM 0 comments