Hudson Valley Writers Guild Newsletter, December 1, 2011

In This Issue

Guild Announcements: HVWG Board Meeting

Member Announcements: M.E. Kemp, Keith W. Willis

Area Announcements: Writers Institute Readings at UAlbany, Caffe Lena Reading in Saratoga, Third Thursday Reading in Albany, Jewish Identity in Contemporary American Poetry Class in Niskayuna, Call for Entries for East Line Books Anthology, Amazing Little Warriors Call for Submissions

Guild Announcements

Save the date: HVWG Board Meeting, January 10
The next HVWG Board Meeting will be Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Albany Public Library Main Branch, 161 Washington Avenue, Albany. There is plenty of street parking both on Washington Avenue and behind the library on Elk Street. In addition, the library has a parking lot at the rear of the building on Elk Street.

Member Announcements

M. E. Kemp, vice president of HVWG, eagerly awaits the birth of her fifth “child,” Death of a Cape Cod Cavalier. Fifth in the historical mystery series she writes with two nosy Puritans as detectives, the book should be out any day now. The setting for this book, as the title makes clear, is Cape Cod, and Kemp was forced to spend time on the Cape doing research — a tough job, but somebody had to do it. Please look for the book on Amazon, at your library or at your local book source.

Keith W. Willis came across a great website which our members might be interested in: San Francisco Writers University (sfwritersu.com). Their mission is to create “a space online and in the real world that can offer valuable lessons and resources to writers of all types, at every stage of their writing journey.” There are classes available, both free and for-pay; forums; on-line critique groups, etc. Keith has signed up as a member, as he thinks it might be a valuable resource. Email Keith at: knightsofkilbourne@gmail.com

Area announcements

Writers Institute Fall Reading Series, December 6, 8 p.m.
This series wraps up with non-fiction author of biographies of American Colonial and Revolutionary War period figures Willard Sterne Randall reading at the Huxley Theatre, NYS Museum in Albany on December 6 at 8 p.m. For additional information, visit the website at albany.edu/writers-inst.

Caffe Lena Poetry Night, December 7, 7:30 p.m.
Judith Prest and Jan Tramontano will be the featured poets at this event. There is also an open mic. Caffe Lena is at 47 Phila Street in Saratoga Springs.

Third Thursday Poetry Night, December 15, 7:30 p.m.
This month’s edition of the series will feature the poetry and music of Murrow (Thom Francis and Keith Spencer.) There will be an open mic before and after the feature. Readers will get to sit on Santa’s lap. At the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Avenue, in Albany. Readings start at 7:30 p.m.

Jewish Identity in Contemporary American Poetry
As of January 4 on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., Susan Comninos will be teaching an eight-week reading, discussion and writing course, “Jewish Identity in Contemporary American Poetry,” at Congregation Agudat Achim, in Schenectady.

The class is open to the community. It will explore a host of contemporary Jewish-American identities in poems by such authors as Gerald Stern, Grace Paley, Matthew Dickman, Katha Pollitt and Matthew Zapruder. Cost: $65 per attendee. Send a check made out to Congregation Agudat Achim (“poetry program” on the memo line) along with contact information to the Congregation’s mailing address at 2117 Union Street, Niskayuna, NY 12309. Note that the class will be limited to the first 15 students to submit registration.

Call for Entries for New Anthology
Every Moment, Lightly Shaken: The East Line Anthology of Short Contemporary Literature. Edited by Robyn Ringler. In 2012, East Line Books will publish an anthology of writing by the students who have studied in classes at East Line Books. The book will be of the highest quality both in content and in format. Robyn is now looking for submissions from current and former students of any adult class or tutoring at East Line Books.

Please send entries in any genre: memoir, article, essay, blog entry, fiction such as short story, book chapter, or any format. Entries should be, above all, POWERFUL. Entries should be between 500 and 2500 words and should be sent to Robyn Ringler. Competition to get your pieces published in this anthology will be tough–I am only selecting pieces that are excellently written, well-edited, and powerful. That being said, I hope every student I have ever had will send in a piece, because so many of you are truly outstanding writers and you do have powerful pieces.

Deadline for submissions is January 15, 2012. Please send entries by email to RLDSR12@aol.com or drop them off at East Line Books. Include your name address and all contact information and whether your piece has been published previously (which will not normally be a problem).

Thank you for supporting this project with your work! If your piece is chosen, you will be paid with a copy of the anthology (I’m sorry it’s not more–we have a strained budget.) And you will be in a prestigious book, prestigious because it will be in a book of outstanding literature. Great for the resume and also something to be very proud of. Looking forward to your entries!

Amazing Little Warriors: Call for Submissions
Kara Skelly, who founded amazinglittlewarriors.com, is compiling essays about children diagnosed with debilitating medical conditions, birth defects or illnesses. Essays should be upbeat in nature, emphasizing the strength and courage of the child and family. Accepted essays will be published in a Chicken-Soup-for-the-Soul-style anthology. Kara’s son Jack was born with bladder exstrophy, a rare and devastating congenital deformity in which part of the bladder is present outside the body. After several years of researching the disease, she began to meet other families dealing with the same condition, as well as many other childhood diseases and serious illnesses. Realizing that sharing stories helped her begin to heal, she has decided to compile these and other stories into an anthology to help heal and inspire others. Her goal is for parents to be able to read stories of hope, faith, strength, success, love and the positives of these children’s lives. For more information or to submit your story, go to amazinglittlewarriors.com.