Great article on Scott Owens in Pirene's Fountain Poetry Journal

Scott Owens, poet, teacher, editor and facilitator, taught a workshop at Writers Circle in October. All of our students enjoyed and learned a great deal from Scott who has authored seven books of poetry.
Pirene's Fountain Poetry Journal included an interview with Scott and a number of his poems in their recent issue. The article is well-written and interesting. Find the article  here 

Get acquainted with Scott and with Pirene's Fountain, an online journal published twice a year.

Registration begins February 1 for Spring Writers Circle Classes

Estelle Rice - March 12 at Writers Circle in Hayesville, NC

We have several instructors lined up for Spring Classes at Writers Circle in Hayesville, NC.

March 12, at 10:30 a.m. Estelle Rice will kick off our second season at Writers Circle. Estelle’s classes are such fun because she digs deep to find new and exciting things to bring to her students. Registration begins February 1. contact: nightwriter0302@yahoo.com


Karen Holmes will teach two Sunday afternoons, the 19th and 26th of March. She will instruct us in Reading Out Loud. Writers often present their work at public readings. Part of Karen’s course includes videoing each student’s performance.
Glenda Beall will lead a six week course beginning 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 23 with following classes March 30, April 6, April 20, April 27 and May 4. Want to write memoir or family stories? Write for your grandchildren; write for a newsletter, stories to share at family reunions, or any place you want to share your writing. Prompts, tips and detail instruction on making your work grab the reader on the first page.

On April 31, we have a new instructor, JoAnn LoVerde-Dropp, who recently received her MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. She teaches ESL classes in Cobb County, Georgia and is the poetry workshop facilitator for the Georgia Writers Association in Kennesaw, Georgia. She will teach poetry memoir. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

In May, Ronda Birtha will begin a series of three Saturday classes on Using Social Media to Promote Your Writing.
On May 4, Saturday, Rosemary Royston will hold a poetry class. More information later.
Michelle Keller will teach three classes on Wednesdays, June 15, 22, 29. She brings her knowledge of genealogy and writing to the students who want to write true stories about their ancestors.

Paul Donovan plans more Spiritual Writing classes to be held at Writers Circle. More information forthcoming when the schedule is complete.

Email Glenda Beall @ nightwriter0302@yahoo.com for registration information.

Writing and Poetry is Alive and Well in Cherokee County

Paul Donovan, founder of the Poetry and Essay Contests in Cherokee County

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the award ceremony for Poetry and Essay Contest winners in middle schools in Cherokee County. Mary Jo Dyer, principal of The Learning Center!, a charter school in Murphy, NC facilitated this contest, part of the original contest begun by Paul Donovan who, with support of the Cherokee Scout Newspaper, organized the Poetry and Essay contests for high school students eight years ago.

Below: Two essay winners for Cherokee County High Schools.

Poetry and Essay Contest Winners - Cherokee County Middle Schools

Essay Contest Winner for Cherokee County High Schools Contest

In a culture beset with admiration for athletics, it is wonderful to see young poets and writers rewarded for their excellence. As always, when I attend these ceremonies, I am amazed when I read or hear the work by these young people.

***Poetry winners for the Cherokee County High Schools were stranded in Europe at the time of the award ceremony so we have no photos of them.