LITERARY ARTS
MEETINGS AND GROUP UPDATES
The Johnston County Writers Group
Our May 14 Meeting is by Zoom thanks to a generous donation by one of our members! We meet the second Thursday of every month, from 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm on Zoom. “We are a diverse group of working writers ranging from beginner to advanced. We share information, critique each other’s work, host guest authors, and schedule meetings, critique groups and open mics." Open to the public. For the Zoom link information, join our group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/jocowriters/ or contact Cindy Brookshire at jocowriters@gmail.com
Writers of Rohan
meets bimonthly on Zoom. Our "typical" meeting includes our writing prompt, which is 10 minutes of writing and then sharing based on a prompt provide by anyone attending. We have also begun sharing short pieces of writing (up to 5 pages) if someone wants to get input. Check out the Facebook group Writers of Rohan, and request your membership. “This group is about awakening creativity. We motivate and encourage writers' to strengthen their craft through feedback and prompts. Be prepared to show up with a working or finished piece to share and a willingness to participate. No egos. All abilities welcome.” Contact Alison Hendrix at lightingthedark@hotmail.com.
Clayton Poetry Group
Clayton Poetry Group is facilitated on Zoom by Leslie Waugh. In addition to sharing poems and fresh writing, group members talk about the art and craft of poetry and its power to forge connections and healing — in any time, but, given current circumstances, particularly in this time. If you are interested, please contact Leslie at lesliewaugh67@gmail.com. Besides “dusting off” her blog, Leslie has been volunteering her writing skills for a local youth theater. Visit her website, Write from Your Heart at https://www.leslie-waugh.com/.
WOW – World of Words
is a writing initiative at Johnston Community College that brings authors on campus to talk with students and to encourage them to grow in their writing skills. Past visiting authors included Hope Dougherty, Marina DelVecchio, Tammy Bird, Carrie Knowles, Travis Mulhauser and Emily Wallace. JCC also has a spring semester Cynthia DeFord Adams Literature Competition. Contact Susan Austin at seaustin@johnstoncc.edu
Join a Professional Association or a Writing Group
Triangle Association of Freelancers (https://tafnc.com)
North Carolina Poetry Society (https://www.ncpoetrysociety.org/)
North Carolina Writers Network (www.ncwriters.org)
Sarah Spencer is the regional NCWN representative for Johnston, Sampson and Harnett Counties, and facilitates regional meetings for NCWN members and other writers once a month.
For more information, contact Sarah at saspen0104@embarqmail.com.
Clayton Poetry Group, Leslie Waugh, lesliewaugh67@gmail.com
Write from Your Heart, https://www.leslie-waugh.com/
Johnston County Writers Group, Cindy Brookshire, jocowriters@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1596535073795048/
Writers of Rohan, Alison Hendrix, lightingthedark@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1046420459083748/
Johnston County Arts Council, Darlene Williford, info@jcartscouncil.org
https://www.jcartscouncil.org/literary-arts.html
Our Local Literary Artists with Highlights
- Dr. Stephanie Andrea Allen, Clayton. A Failure to Communicate, Solace (editor), Lez Talk (editor), BLF Press, www.blfpress.com
- Oakley Dean Baldwin of Garner recently released THE TRIANGLE, a book about the many horrific, mysterious and strange happenings in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and surrounding areas. Check out his website at thebaldwinstories.wixsite.com.
- Tammy Bird of Wendell, author of the novel, Sandman, has released her second book on May 1, a young adult novel titled THE BOOK OF PROMISES. The book is about learning the difference between a caring friendship and manipulation, between a loving and a toxic relationship, and about learning to embrace one's self-worth above the world's noise. Check out Bird’s author page on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Tammy-Bird/e/B07MFG1YP1?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_tkin_p1_i1
- Gabrielle Bryant, Cleveland area. YA Christian, Fantasy, Romance. Her Prince of Dreams, https://www.gabriellebryant.com
- T.C. Carter, Four Oaks. Poet. Southern Collective Experience. http://www.southerncollectiveexperience.com/t-c-carter/
- Cornell Woodall Cox, Smithfield. Memoirist, Promise of Better Days: A Farm Boy’s Odyssey through North Carolina’s Tobacco Way of Life. Available at The Heritage Center, 241 East Market Street, Smithfield or through their online store at www.johnstonnc.com/heritage2/hcshop.cfm.
- Hope Toler Dougherty of Smithfield fourth novel, FOREVER MUSIC, will be released on May 19. Pre-orders began in April on Amazon.com. Hope is a librarian at Princeton Public Library and has been reading children’s books live on the library’s Facebook page. Here is a link to her book trailer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91JuR9diD8k&t=2s, and her website: http://hopetolerdougherty.com.
- Deborah Dunn, Archer Lodge. The Coffins (A Roanoke Island Suspense Novel), The Vessel. www.deborahdunn.com
- Cindy K. Green, The Baby and the Bachelor, Challenging Miss Valentine. www.cindykgreen.com
- Jean Heller, Clayton. who spoke at one of our meetings, reports that ILL WIND, #4 in her Deuce Mora Mystery Series, is out now in both print and digital formats, and the “prequel” for one of the key characters, called MAXIMUM IMPACT, dropped earlier this spring. Check out her website at www.JeanHellerBooks.com.
- Lora Kempka, Meadow. Deep Water, https://lorakempka.com/
- Wanda Robinson Lee, Selma. God’s Voice: Choices That Led My Journey.
- Margaret Maron, Willow Springs. NC Literary Hall of Fame, award-winning mystery novelist and author of more than 30 novels and collections, including the Deborah Knott series and the Sigrid Harald series. www.margaretmaron.com
- Lee Mims, Clayton. Author of Cleo Cooper mysteries, Saving Cecil, Trusting Viktor and Hiding Gladys. www.leemims.com
- Don Overby, Clayton. Just Ordinary Soldiers: Recollections of a Cold War Vet. http://www.chapelhillpress.com/product/just-ordinary-soldiers-recollections-of-a-cold-war-vet/
- Greg Petty, Clayton. The Decline of the American Experiment: Politics, Economics and Opportunities for a Healthier Democracy.
- Susan Schild, of Garner. Author of heart-warming small-town novels of love and adventure featuring heroines over age forty. Linny’s Sweet Dream List, Sweet Carolina Morning, Sweet Southern Hearts, Christmas at the Lakeside Resort, Summer at the Lakeside Resort, and Mistletoe at Lakeside Resort. www.susanschild.com
- David O. Stephens, Smithfield. The Plantation Mistress and Her Daughter, a memoir about Fannie Mitchener and Mary Hastings Lawrence. Available at The Heritage Center, 241 East Market Street, Smithfield. or through their online store at www.johnstonnc.com/heritage2/hcshop.cfm.
- Shelby Stephenson, Benson native, NC Poet Laureate (2014-2018), NC Literary Hall of Fame. Our World, Fiddledeedee, Family Matters: Homage to July, the Slave Girl. www.shelbystephenson.com
- K.L. Stewart, Four Oaks. Angels and the Dark City of Trost, The Ruby Mountains, and more. www.authorklstewart.com
- Sherry Storrs. Children’s book author, illustrator and photographer. Jelly – It’s Not Just for Toast and The Giraffe, the Sun and the Apricot. Full Sun Press, https://www.facebook.com/fullsunpress/
- Michelle Sutton, It’s Not About Me and two dozen edgy, inspirational novels. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/873096.Michelle_Sutton
- Emily Wallace, Smithfield native. Road Sides, an Illustrated Companion to Dining and Driving in the American South. http://eewallace.com/
- Leslie Waugh convened a meeting of the CLAYTON POETRY GROUP in April 25 on Zoom. In addition to sharing poems and fresh writing, group members talked about the art and craft of poetry and its power to forge connections and healing — in any time, but, given current circumstances, particularly in this time. Leslie is planning a May meeting - if you are interested, please contact her at lesliewaugh67@gmail.com. Besides “dusting off” her blog, Leslie has been volunteering her writing skills for a local youth theater. Visit her website, Write from Your Heart at https://www.leslie-waugh.com/.
- Kay Whatley, Making Corrections, editor, The Grey Area News, https://greyareanews.com/author/kayadmin/
- Evelyn Wool, Pine Level. Besides becoming a new grandmother, children’s book author, illustrator and farmer released Home is Where the Herd Is, a coloring book that doubles as a poetic tour of the Wool Family Farm in Pine Level. The book is her third in a series that includes Mischievous Misty and Mischievous Misty Activity Book. https://thewoolfamilyfarm.com/
