LITERARY ARTS

JOIN A LOCAL WRITING GROUP

The Johnston County Writers Group meets the second Thursday of every month, from 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm at the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield, 305 E Market St, Smithfield. “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 meetups, write-ins and open mics in Selma, Four Oaks, Princeton and more. Open to the public.”
Join our group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/jocowriters/
Contact Cindy Brookshire at jocowriters@gmail.com

The Clayton Writer’s Guild meets monthly at various locations in Garner and Clayton. “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

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.
Contact Dr. Tammy Bird at t_bird@johnstoncc.edu

Join a Professional Association
Triangle Association of Freelancers (https://tafnc.com)
North Carolina Writers Network (www.ncwriters.org)
North Carolina Poetry Society (https://www.ncpoetrysociety.org/)

For more information, find our group on Facebook and Meetup.com or contact jocowriters@gmail.com.
We encourage writers to master their craft through workshops and conferences offered by the Triangle Association of Freelancers (https://tafnc.com) and the North Carolina Writers Network (www.ncwriter.org). Sarah Spencer is the regional NCWN 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.

Cindy Brookshire
Facilitator, Johnston County Writers Group

UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY 9, 2020

JOHNSTON COUNTY WRITERS GROUP 1ST MEETUP / 6:00 - 7:45 PM
LOCATION: SMITHFIELD LIBRARY
The first meeting of the Johnston County Writers Group in 2020 is Thursday, Jan. 9 from 6 to 7:45pm at the library in Smithfield! Join us for a group discussion of “Blogging for Beginners.” Share your tips if you have experience! Group facilitator is Cindy Brookshire, brookshire1014@verizon.net Free, open to the public.

JANUARY 13, 2020

CLAYTON WRITERS GUILD MEETUP / 6:00 PM
LOCATION: CONUNDRUM ESCAPES, 41-A TECHNOLOGY DR, GARNER
The Clayton Writer’s Guild meets monthly at various locations in Garner and Clayton. “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

JANUARY 23, 2020

CLAYTON WRITERS GUILD MEETUP / 6:00 PM
LOCATION: FLIPSIDE RESTAURANT, 408 E 2ND ST IN DOWNTOWN CLAYTON
The Clayton Writer’s Guild meets monthly at various locations in Garner and Clayton. “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

JANUARY 24, 2020

FOURTH FRIDAY OPEN MIC IN SELMA / 6:30 - 7:30PM
LOCATION: SELMA PUBLIC LIBRARY, 301 N POLLOCK ST, SELMA
Our December open mic had seven participants including humorist Ralph Wagner of Goldsboro. We shared stories about "The Minister's Front Porch," "St. Nicholas of Myra & the Santa Train," "Star Wars Christmas in Montana," "My Father Survived Pearl Harbor" and a poem about "Love." All are welcome, including musicians!

JANUARY 27 - APRIL 13, 2020

THE ARTISTS WAY FOR WRITERS / MONDAYS FROM 10:00 AM - 12:00PM
LOCATION: SELMA PUBLIC LIBRARY, 301 N POLLOCK ST, SELMA
"The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron, a free 12-week drop-in course that uses a group approach to help you recover a sense of power, strength, faith and more in your writing. Facilitator Cindy Brookshire has six used books ($10 each – reserve your copy at jocowriters@gmail.com) or purchase Cameron's book on Amazon.com.

MARCH 28, 2020

2ND ANNUAL SPRING WRITERS / 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
LOCATION: SELMA LIONS CLUB, 203 W. OAK ST, SELMA
To help you “Spring into Action,” USA Today best-selling author Susan Schild will lead a session on “Creating Memorable Characters: From the Darling to the Dastardly.” Susan lives in Clayton and has published six books. Her genre/niche is small town romance for women over 40. Also, Arlene S. Bice, author of “Ghosts Along the Border,” and a dozen+ non-fiction books, will lead “Writing Memoirs: Dos/Don’ts/Tips/Advice.” Arlene facilitates memoir writing workshops, leads three writing groups and hosts Poetry in Nature afternoons. She is an award-winning artist who lives in South Hill, Virginia with her psychic cat Mz Lizzie, and drives to Raleigh to attend regular meetings of the Triangle Association for Freelancers. “Cost is $25 per person and seating is limited. For registration form, send an email to jocowriters@gmail.com.”

Literary Artists

Dr. Stephanie Andrea Allen, Clayton. A Failure to Communicate, Solace (editor), Lez Talk (editor), BLF Press, www.blfpress.com
Tammy Bird, Wendell. Novelist, Sandman. https://nitty-gritty-writer.com/author-page/
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, Smithfield. Inspirational romance novelist: Irish Encounter, Mars with Venus Rising, Rescued Hearts. www.hopetolerdougherty.com
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/
Susan Schild, Clayton. 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 and Christmas at the Lakeside Resort, and Summer at the 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
.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/
Emily Wallace, Smithfield native, Road Sides, an Illustrated Companion to Dining and Driving in the American South. http://eewallace.com/
Evelyn Wool, Pine Level. Children’s book author, illustrator and photographer. Mischievous Misty (book and activity book). https://www.facebook.com/StoriesFromTheWoolFamilyFarm/