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Valley Writers Chapter |
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Previous Writing Events |
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Publishing Events Books: In 2007, Dick Raymond published his collection of Civil War poems, Blue and Gray Ballads (Mariner Media, 2006); Marion Higgins published her collection of humorous essays, When Men Move to the Basement (Infinity Publishing, 2006); and Rodney Franklin contributed two articles to The Mills of Bedford County (Bedford City/County Museum, 2006). Jim Morrison, who sold out of his 2,500+ press run of Bedford Goes to War (Warwick House, 2004) recently received the second edition with added information about more Bedford area veterans. Becky Mushko contributed to the e-book, Self-Publish Your Book: Authors Share Their Experiences (Red Arc Media, February 2007). New Books in 2007 John Koelsch: Forever in
Black
(self-published,
collection of poems inspired by
Becky Mushko: More Peevish Advice (Infinity Publishing, collection of "Peevish Advice" columns from 2001-2006). Becky’s essay, “Out of the Fog,” appears in A Cup of Comfort for Writers (Adams Media, August 2007).
Becky and Dick Raymond have work in the latest Bulwer-Lytton
anthology, It
Was a Dark and Stormy Night (The Friday Project, September 2007).
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Valley Writers Chapter Activities
On August 23, 2007, the Roanoke County Library sponsored A Valley Writers Sampler. Dick Raymond, Becky Mushko, and Rodney Franklin read from their works.
2008 Valley Writers Chapter Events To celebrate National Poetry Month, the Valley Writers Chapter presented two performances of “Poetry of the Blue Ridge.”April 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Edible Vibe in downtown Rocky Mount: The Franklin County Library sponsored the Valley Writers Chapter presentation of "Poetry of the Blue Ridge" as part of National Poetry Month and National Library Week. Originally conceived by Leonel Valle and Rodney Franklin, the program featured the following poets reading their Blue Ridge inspired poems: Leonel Valle, Nancy Valle, Rodney Franklin, Dick Raymond, Becky Mushko, Millie Willis, Grace Eddi, and Wayne White. April 29 at 7:00 p.m. at Ram’s Head Bookstore in Tower’s Mall. Both performances were free and open to the public. The program for both presentations of “Poetry of the Blue Ridge”:Introduction by Valley Writer president Jim Morrison
“A Blue Ridge Spring”
Nancy Valle INTERMISSION
“Portals of Autumn”
Nancy Valle 2007 Virginia Writers Club Writing Contests Valley Writers swept the 2007 Virginia Writers Club "Back Page Contest."
Becky Mushko's "Crit Group" won the essay division, Jim Morrison's "A Visit
to a Writer's Group" won the short story division, and Leonel Valle's "Blue
Sandals" won the poetry division. All three winners were published in issues
of The Virginia Writer. Roanoke Area Events
April 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Franklin County Library: Peggy Shifflett appeared as part of a National Library Week presentation, “Join the Circle of Knowledge at Your Library.”
Sedalia Writers' Conference: May 2-3. Sedalia Center, Big Island, VA 24526. The keynote speaker was John Lamb of Harrisonburg, a retired homicide detective married to a former CSI investigator who now collects teddy bears and writes murder mysteries about a retired homicide detective married to a retired CSI investigator who solves murders involving teddy bears (go figure). Other presenters included Dan Smith (memoir writing and magazine editing), Darrell Laurant (freelancing and writing for the Internet), and Sarah Cox (personal essays) and others. The $25 fee included a wine and cheese reception on Friday night, workshops, and lunch on Saturday. For more info, email Darrell Laurant. New London Day: May 3. New London Museum, Bedford County. Our own Valley Writers Jim Morrison and Rodney Franklin were two of the contributors of "The Patriot and the Profiteer," a drama about the 1789 John Hook-Patrick Henry trial that will presented as part of the celebration. For more information, click into the New London Museum web site. |
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Cottage Curio--Author
Signings: May 10, 2008. Valley Writer Peggy Shiflett read and signed her books, The Red Flannel Rag and Mom's Family
Pie. She also hosted author
signings, craft demonstrations, and home cooking at her shop at 622 Colorado
Street in Salem. Becky Mushko was one of the featured authors.
Other
Signings by Peggy Shiflett: April 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Salem
Historical Society meeting, Salem Public Library; April 27 at 2:00
p.m. at the New River Valley Historical Society, Newbern, VA; May 14
at 10:00 a.m. at the New Castle Library, New Castle, VA (sponsored by
Friends of the Library); May 22 at Timberville, VA (time and place
TBA); Oct 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical
Society Fall Banquet, Harrisonburg, VA.