Feb. 12 - 16: Ossabaw Island Writers' Retreat

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Ossabaw Island Writers' Retreat
February 12 - 16, 2012
Ossabaw Island, near Savannah, GA
Faculty: Craig Johnson, fiction; Sue William Silverman, nonfiction; Susan Laughter Meyers, poetry
Visit the website for further information.

What a beautiful setting for a writers' retreat! The program includes workshops, faculty lectures and readings, student readings, individual conferences, and time for writing and exploring the island.

March 19, 2012: Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at USC

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Tomorrow Bryan Penberthy and I will be guest teachers in Ed Madden's MFA poetry workshop at the University of South Carolina. We're both looking forward to the experience, meeting with the students while Ed is away in Ireland. We'll read a few poems, talk about our writing process and publication experience, and teach a brief mini-lesson. My mini-lesson will be on "The Usefulness of Silence in a Poem."

Reading & discussion held at City Lights Bookstore

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On July 19 I had a lovely time reading and discussing poetry at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC. Such a charming bookstore, complete with its two cats. We had a small, delightfully engaging group that circled up and talked about the writing process, as well as how poems affect us as readers. My good friend Pat Riviere-Seel took good care to get me from Asheville to Sylva--such a gorgeous drive!--and after the event we enjoyed spending time with Kay Byer, talented poet and former NC poet laureate.

If you're ever in the vicinity of Sylva, be sure to stop in at City Lights.

Sept. 14-15: Writing, Creativity, and Soul -- Sophia Institute

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September 14-15, 2012
Writing, Creativity, and Soul
Sophia Institute
297 East Bay St., Charleston, SC 29401
Mary Alice Monroe, Josephine Humphreys, Debra Moffitt, Stephanie Hunt, Susan Finch Stevens, Susan Laughter Meyers, Nina Bruhns




Beamong the unique gathering of writers who will engage in intimate conversationswith authors Mary Alice Monroe, Josephine Humphreys, Debra Moffitt, StephanieHunt, Nina Bruhns, and poet Susan Finch Stevens about writing, the creativelife, and publishing.

FridaySchedule:Evening session 6:30-8:30: TheWriter’s Life: Creativity, Soul, and Survival. Mary Alice Monroe, Debra Moffitt,Josephine Humphreys.  Carolyn Rivers to moderate. Bestselling authors discuss theirpersonal stories in an open fashion.  Topics  include: keys for motivation, sources ofinspiration, maintaining a healthy mind and body, overcoming rejection, themuse vs writer's block. Q&A from audience for a very special, intimatediscussion.

Booksof authors available for sale and autograph. Reception to follow.

Optional: Friday, 2:00-4:00: Debra Moffitt. Master Class. Preparing book proposals and developingplatforms $40.
Saturday Schedule:Morningsession - 9:30-11:00:MaryAlice Monroe
Morningsession - 11:30-1:00: JosephineHumphreys

Lunch1-2:30: Catered lunch. Working session:Nina Bruhns,  How to PublishOnline.

Afternoon sessions options– 2:30-4:00with break – focus on genre: Nonfictionand Memoir - Debra Moffitt; Personal essay, blog, nonfiction- StephanieHunt; Poetry - Susan Finch Stevens, Susan Laughter Meyers.Methods of Critique, Mary Alice Monroe, Nina Bruhns

BigConversation - 4:20-5:00: Dialogue with entire group and audience— final questions. Reflections
______________Authors:Mary AliceMonroe, NYTimes author of 16 novels, including BeachHouse Memories, The Butterfly's Daughter


JosephineHumphreys, authorof NY Times Notable Rich in Love, The Fireman’s Fair,  Dreams of Sleep, Nowhere Else on Earth. DebraMoffitt,author of Gold Medal award winner Awakein the World. StephanieHunt,  writer and editor published in Charleston Mag,Skirt, HOME, she writes personal essays, profiles features, blogs.SusanFinch Stevens, author of chapbook LetteredBones. Her poems appear in publications and invitational book artsexhibitions.SusanLaughter Meyers,  author of award winning  Keep andGive Away
NinaBruhns, awardwinning author of 40 novels and Editor at Entangled Publishing


                         Tuition: $195 by August 20, $225 afterward.                     
                         Go to The Sophia Institute for details of workshops and authors.

Keep and Give Away -- now on Kindle

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My book of poems Keep and Give Away is now on Kindle, good news--and yet news that leaves me with an odd mix of feelings. Joy, of course, for its new life in a different format. But what this news also says to me, in a mocking tone, is that I'm old fashioned. I don't own a Kindle. Or an iPad or any kind of tablet. So it feels as if Keep and Give Away has moved to another planet. 

Yes, this Kindle news is good news. It's also encouragement to catch up--so I can read the electronic version of my own book, so I can visit it on Mars. Somehow, though, I think I'll still prefer holding the old-fashioned print book in my hands, turning one paper page after another. Pure nostalgia--for paper.