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 KWG Weekly Update
Keep up with events as they occur and watch for the
East Tennessee Writer every other month!
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Alan Gratz
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KWG News
Alan Gratz to Speak
at Nov. 3 Meeting
Alan Gratz, acclaimed writer of young adult novels, television scripts and plays, will speak at the Thursday, Nov. 3 meeting of the Knoxville Writers' Guild.
Gratz's first novel, Samurai Shortstop, was named one of the ALA's 2007 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults. His second novel, Something Rotten, was a 2008 ALA Quick Pick for Young Adult Readers, and was followed by a sequel, Something Wicked, in October 2008. His first middle grade novel,The Brooklyn Nine, was one of the ALA's Top Ten Sports Books for Youth, and another middle grade baseball novel, Fantasy Baseball, is due out in Spring of 2011. His short fiction has appeared in Knoxville's Metropulse, and in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. . Born in Knoxville, Gratz attended the University of Tennessee. He earned both a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing and a Master's degree in English education. His credits include writing several episodes of A&E's City Confidential. Gratz lives with his wife Wendi and his daughter Jo in the high country of Western North Carolina. There, he enjoys reading, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, watching baseball. Advanced Poetry Group Formed
Please note that the list of KWG writing groups now includes an Advanced Poetry Group! Moderator is Dale Mackey (mackeyda@gmail.com) Visit the website to see the group's guidelines.
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 Recognitions
Congratuations to
Hall of Fame Writers!
Congratulations to our 2011 East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame inductees! They are Jim Dykes, Lifetime Achievement, Michael Knight, Fiction, Don Williams, Non-fiction, Linda Parsons Marion, Poetry, and Katie Granju, Social Media. Tickets for the October 20th Hall of Fame are available for purchase online or by calling 594-1507. Friends of Literacy will induct five local writers into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame at its annual banquet on Thursday, Oct. 20. This marks the eighth year the nonprofit has honored writers for their contributions to local culture and history.the For more information, Click here. This year's keynote speaker is Inky Johnson, a former UT football player. Johnson suffered a serious injury to his arm in 2006 while playing against Air Force. His new book, "Inky: An Amazing Story of Faith and Perseverance," details how he persevered through his poverty-stricken upbringing, and the life-threatening injury that ultimately paralyzed his right arm and ended his football career. Southern Festival of Books
An estimated 30,000 people attended the free, 23rd annual Southern Festival of Books in Nashville last weekend. Knoxville writers Bob Cumming, Jeff Gordon, Connie Green, Marilyn Kallet, Bill Landry, Linda Marion, Pamela Schoenewaldt and Pam Uschuk were among readers and presenters. Among spirited sessions was "Are We Nearing the End of the Print Age?" - led by a panel including John Egerton, Cold Tree Press founder Peter Honsberger, blind golf champion David Meador, and the Ingram Content Group's Janice Schnell.
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Events and Readings
Blas Falconer Oct. 24
The University of Tennessee Department of Creative Writing will host a reading by award winning poet Blas Falconer at the John c. Hodges Library on Monday, October 24 at 7 p.m
Falconer's latest book of poems is "A Question of Gravity and Light." His topics include identity as a gay and Puerto Rican man in rural Tennessee.
Celebration of the Life of George Scarbrough
Come to a celebration of the life and work of poet George Scarbrough on Sunday, Oct. 30th at 2:30 p.m. in the Polk County Court House in Benton. A reception will be held afterward at the Polk County News Office across the street from the court house where visitors may view a display books, pictures, etc. of the life of Mr. Scarbrough. The Polk County News Bookstore will sell the two latest releases of Scarbrough books by Iris Press, A Summer Ago, a re-issue of his novel, and Under the Lemon Tree, a new book of poetry.
The celebration will be part of the annual Benton Fall Festival Oct. 27-30. Other events of the weekend will include a formal program with music by Judge Carroll Ross playing his hammered dulcimer, a Thursday night open mike event in the court yard of the Polk County News, a Saturday Oct. 29th show of the quilted wall hangings of 90-year-old Lora Creasman, and an exhibit by local artist Marie Haas. Info: Click Here.
KWG Offers Playwriting Workshop
Playwright Lisa Soland will lead a workshop on Saturday, Oct. 22 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Redeemer Church of Knoxville.
The cost is $35--Members $40--Non-members. You can click here to pay online "No matter what level of experience you have, no matter how far along you are in the process, this playwriting workshop will pick you up where you are and advance you toward where you want to go," Soland said. Soland will discuss writing effective dialogue for all media genres, including screenwriting and television, as well as playwriting. Other topics will include approaching your first draft, using proper stage format, developing likable characters, rewriting, submissions, and fostering a winning attitude. Snacks will be provided. For more information or to register, visit www.knoxvillewritersguild.org or send your check to KWG Workshops, P.O. Box 10326, Knoxville TN 37939-0326.
PSCC, Southland Books
Anthology readings have been scheduled at PSCC at 1 pm Nov. 9 and at Southland Books, Maryville, on Oct. 28 at 8:30. More details on these events will be forthcoming.
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Upcoming Programs
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November - Alan Gratz, YA fiction
December - Bill Landry, nonfiction book
January - Contest winners February - Glenn Meade, thriller writer
March - Chris Hebert, literary novelist
April - Poetry, speakers TBA
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Submit Your News!
Send your news of readings, writers and writers' events to the KWG Weekly Update, Kelly Norrell, webmistress, at norrellmedia@gmail.com, and to the East Tennessee Writer, Alison Miller, Editor, at mrs.hey.mom@gmail.com.
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 *Is your Guild membership current?
Life gets busy, and sometimes we forget. Please update your Guild membership and rejoin your Knoxville-area circle of writers, publishers, poets, and performers. To renew, please visit http://www.knoxvillewritersguild.org/orderpaypal.htmIf you are unsure about your membership status, please contact the Guild's Membership Coordinator. Click here.
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Disclaimer: As a service to members, KWG shares announcements of literary competitions and publishing opportunities. If you have any questions about the listings, please contact the sponsor. Unless specifically noted, these are not KWG-sponsored projects.
The Knoxville Writers' Guild meets the first Thursday of each month at the Laurel Theatre, 16 St. and Laurel Ave., Knoxville, TN at 7:00pm. For more information about the Guild, visit www.knoxvillewritersguild.org.
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