Hudson Valley Writers Guild Newsletter, February 1, 2011
In This Issue
Guild Announcement: Special Offer for New Memberships, Volunteer needed
Member Announcements: M.E. Kemp
Area Announcements: Writers Institute Programs, Poetry and Prose Open Mic at the Arts Center, Fantasy Writing Workshop at East Line Books, Yes! Reading Series Resumes, Benefit for Mt. McGregor Arts Programming, Bookmarks Reading Series at the Arts Center, Announcement for Second Annual Smith’s Tavern Poet Laureate Contest.
Guild Announcements
Special Offer for New Memberships
The Guild invites recipients of this newsletter who are not members to consider membership. Members are vital to the activities and events of the Guild through their participation and through their dues which enable the Guild to provide a wide variety of readings, workshops and other activities. Members receive discounts for Guild events where admission is charged (although most events are free) and for participation in the Guild’s writing contests. Members can also use the newsletter to publicize their publications and readings. As a special offer, the Guild is offering new members a copy of Peer Glass, An Anthology: Writings from Hudson Valley Peer Groups (while supplies last). Membership information and an application form are available at our website: hvwg.org.
WANTED : Replacement Volunteer
The HVWG needs a volunteer to send out welcome letters to new HVWG members and acknowledgment letters to returning members. The task involves receiving weekly reports via email, then responding with snail-mail addressed and stamped letters.
Depending on how many new or returning members, the task can be as short as a half-hour or as long as one to two hours. Present volunteer has usually collected names/addresses for the month and done them in one sitting once a month. E-mailing material to those with email addresses is an option. This volunteer found that enough people had computer compatibility problems with attachments that it was easier to send snail-mail. It is also very effective and attractive to receive written material.
Welcome “packets” usually include a welcome letter, occasionally updated to include recent changes or events, a one-page history of Hudson Valley Writers Guild and a listing of ongoing support groups for writers. All of these are composed and on-file for the willing person. Interested persons may contact Catherine Norr at (518) 852-5608 or email: catherinenorr@msn.com or contact any board member or our president.
Member announcements
Saratoga Springs author M. E. Kemp, the new Vice President for HVWG, has combined with Albany author Susanne Alleyn to give talks on their historical mysteries featuring various periods of revolution: “Boston, 1689 and Paris, 1793.” The two appeared at the Watervliet library on January 25 and will speak at the Pine Hills Library in Albany on February 26 at 2 p.m. Please come to hear this unusual look at what makes an historical mystery.
Area announcements
Writers Institute Programs, February 10 & 17
The State Writers Institute will present fiction writers Julie Orringer and Karen Russell at the Standish Room, Science Library, Uptown SUNYA campus on February 10 at 8 p.m. On February 17, satiric novelist Gary Shteyngart will be at the Recital Hall of the Performing Arts Center on the Uptown campus at 8 p.m.
Poetry and Prose Open Mic, February 13
This monthly event will take place on Sunday, February 13, at 2 p.m. at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, 265 River Street in Troy. Bring something to read. Dan Wilcox and Nancy Klepsch are the co-hosts.
How to Create Believable Fantasy Characters and Book Signing, February 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
East Line Books will host a writing workshop (6:30 p.m.) and book signing (7:30 p.m.) on February 15. Do you really know the characters in your story? Whether they are mythological heroes or mysterious villains, knowing your character and what motivates them is essential to pulling your reader in and writing a great story. Learn the essential steps in building a well-rounded character in this one-hour workshop. Facilitated by author Janine De Tillio Cammarata.
Janine will talk about her second book in the Fianna Cycle, Eyes of the Goddess, which won the Best Books Finalist award for USA Book News. Books will be on sale at the event: Warriors Within: Book One of the Fianna Cycle for $10j and Eyes of the Goddess: Book Two of the Fianna Cycle for $15 (or get both books for $20). The workshop costs $30 (fee includes both books; or $25 for workshop and one book).
All workshop and book sales from this event will be donated to Nick’s Fight to be Healed Foundation, a local non-profit organization that financially and emotionally supports pediatric cancer patients at The Melodies Center at Albany Med.
East Line Books is located at 1714 Route 9, Clifton Park. For more information or to register, call (518) 371-4151 or visit eastlinebooks.com.
Yes! Reading, February 13, 4 p.m.
Yes! Reading series kicks off its 3rd season with a stupendous bang! Please join us February 13 at 4 p.m. for a radical afternoon of poetry and prose. Featured readers will be poet and translator Adam Golaski and poet and fiction writer John Cotter. This event takes place at the Albany Social Justice Center at 33 Central Ave.
Benefit for Mt. McGregor Arts Program, February 17, 6:30 p.m.
A Benefit Evening of Music and Poetry from Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility. Proceeds to support arts programming at the prison. Thursday, February 17. 6:30 p.m. Bethesda Parish House (41 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs). Suggested donation: $15.
It will be a super strong night of dynamic poems from the “inside” read by former students who are now out and thriving in community. Also, music composed by inmate musicians will be performed by regional College talent. There will be a lively panel discussion regarding the efficacy of arts programming and rehabilitation. National poets active in prison work will perform and speak. Food, drinks, good will.
Bookmarks Reading Series Continues at the Arts Center, February 28
Bookmarks is part of the Memoir Project at the Arts Center of the Capital Region. The next reading, presented by invited writers, will take place on Monday, February 28, at 7 p.m. in the Arts Center, 265 River Street, in downtown Troy. This reading revolves around the topic of Text as Art and is curated by Nancy Klepsch.
Smith’s Tavern Second Annual Poet Laureate Contest, April 17
Sunday, April 17, at noon sharp at Smith’s Tavern, 112 Maple Avenue, Voorheesville. Prizes are: Poet Laureate – $100; Second Place – $50; Honorable Mention – $25.
Open to the first 25 poets who register by emailing, starting noon March 21st. E-mail must be from the registering poet only. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by March 28.
Each poet will read three poems (one per round) of 25, 35, 45 (or fewer) lines respectively, the title of the poem not being counted. Poets will read the title of the poem followed by the body without introductory remarks, and only once. Poets must bring five hard copies of each poem to the contest to be handed in to Laureate Coordinator, Michael Burke, at time of registration. The poems for all three rounds must have lines visibly and neatly numbered in the margin for easy identification, and name at top, before they will be accepted.
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The Hudson Valley Writers Guild offers space in its newsletter for submission and program opportunities but does not endorse any programs or publications that are not offered through the Guild. Two notes from the newsletter editors:
* Within each section, announcements/events are arranged, when possible, by relevant dates.
* We are always curious to know if the formatting “works” (appears neat and tidy) in your email or if it causes issues (is difficult to read). Send feedback and suggestions regarding any formatting issues to hvwginfo@gmail.com.
* News items should go to Bob Sharkey at riverrun@nycap.rr.com. Please use Times New Roman size 12 font whenever possible.
Thank you!
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Carolee Sherwood
Newsletter Co-Editor
Robert Sharkey
Newsletter Co-Editor
