The annual Schenectady Community of Writers readings will take place on Sunday November 21 at the Schenectady Public Library. The readings will take place between 2-4 p.m. with a reception and book sales to follow. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Guild and the library. The readers in order of appearance will be:
Steve Hellyard Swartz, Poet Laureate of Schenectady County. In addition to being a 2011 Pushcart Prize nominee for Poetry, he has received Honorable Mention in the Allen Ginsberg, Mary C. Mohr and Anna Davidson Rosenberg Poetry Awards. In 1990, his film “Never Leave Nevada” opened at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Margaret Bryant, poet and essayist, has been invited to read her poems and essays on NPR and participates at area open-mics. Her work is published in on-line magazines and journals, and in publications throughout the Capital District. Margaret’s book of poems, Aligning Stems, was published in March 2010 and was featured with others at Open Door Bookstore’s “Artists’ Night” in May 2010.
Kathe Kokolias, essayist and memoirist, painter and photographer, has been published on-line and in the Albany Times Union, the Schenectady Gazette and a variety of magazines and anthologies. In August 2009, she published a collection of essays entitled Spandex & Black Boots: Essays from an Abundant Life. Her travel memoir of Mexico, What Time do the Crocodiles Come Out? will be available in the fall of 2010. She lives with her husband, Brian, in Colonie, NY, and in Ixtapa, Mexico.
Tom Corrado, poet, visual artist and musician, has been writing poetry for 25 years. A founding member of the Every Other Thursday Night Poets, Tom is also a member of the Capital District Poets Collective and the Third Saturday Poesy Cafe. His poems have appeared in several publications.
Keziah Roselin, journal and short story writer, recently moved to Schenectady from Miami. She is majoring in Performing Arts Drama at SCCC. She has kept a journal and written short pieces for many years. Keziah will play the role of Tiger Lilly in the upcoming production of Peter Pan at the Schenectady Players Theater.
Rose Kent, writer of young adult fiction, is a former naval officer and public relations manager at a food corporation. She is the author of children’s novels, including Kimchi & Calamari (HarperCollins), which was chosen for several state reading lists including The New York State Charlotte Award. Rocky Road (Knopf Books), her most recent book, which takes place in Schenectady, about seven miles from her home.
Nancy Duci Denofio, author of What Brought You Here? and Did You Ever Want To Fly?, continues to work with her father, Mayor Frank Duci, on his memoir, from the birth of his mother in 1892. Her work has appeared in journals, publications and newspapers here and abroad. She teaches Author Presentation and several poetry and writing workshops.
Marc Renson, non-fiction writer and memoirist, graduated from Schenectady County Community College with an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts. He’s the co-owner of the restaurant “Ambition” on Jay Street, a resident of Schenectady and a mentor for the Boys and Girls Club.
Dean M. DeLuke, fiction writer, is author of Shedrow, a new thriller dubbed a cross between Dick Francis and Robin Cook. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon, business consultant and active volunteer, he is a graduate of St. Michael’s College, Columbia University (DMD) and Union Graduate College (MBA). You can read excerpts and reviews, view a book trailer and more at www.shedrow1.com.
