Journal of Kentucky Studies

I have known for many months that one of my poems would be printed in "The Journal of Kentucky Studies"- published by Northern Kentucky University. The book should have been out in September 2011, but because it was a memorial tribute to James Baker Hall, it took a little long.

James Baker Hall (photo copyright Sarabande Books)

Opening the package on Monday and holding a real book in my hand was so exciting, but to see how many of my fellow peers also appear in the book just blows my mind:

• Katerina Sloykova-Klemer


• Wendell Berry


• Matthew Haughton


• Frank X Walker


• Normandi Ellis


• Rebecca Gayle Howell

If I can get my poem published in this prestiges literary journal, then anyone can. Just keep practicing.

Here is a past copy of "The Journal of Kentucky Studies" - copyright Northern Kentucky University.

Bi-Monthly Meeting

Nomadic Ink held their bi-monthly meeting this week at the United Presbyterian Ink. With Tony not present, no one had planned anything for the meeting. We eventually did a jump start:

You are finally going on your dream destination, the thing you have waited for all your life. You get to the place, and find there are no rooms to be found. What do you do? And just to make it a tad bit harder, we had to word in the song title "Great Balls of Fire."

For those who follow us on the blog, this can also be your assignment of the week.

At the beginning of Nomadic Ink (formerly known at The Community of Mercer County Writers), we all agreed the Mercer County Humane Society would be our volunteer program. Last May, we held the first annual "Prose and Poetry for Pets." We wrote volume 1 of the chapbook and sold them to benefit the Humane Society. There were also a food vendor, pet painting, and rabies clinic. The weatherman from channel 27 was the MC. We had fun and earned money for our organization.




Because we are so close to Prose and Poetry for Pets, the majority of members at the last meeting agreed we need to put Grasshopper Holler and the Literary Magazine on the back burner and work on the "Pets" chapbook. You can enter any type of pet or animal story, with preference given to rescued, adopted or stray animals. This can be poetry, prose or a short story and it is due to Bobbi by April 22nd

Torie DiMartile wins 6th annual Poetry Out Loud

March 8, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Communications Director - Ed Lawrence @ ed.lawrence@ky.gov or calling 502-564-3757, ext. 473

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Torie DiMartile, a senior at Beechwood High School, Ft. Mitchell, emerged as the winner among the 21 high school champions from across the Commonwealth who competed in the sixth annual Poetry Out Loud state finals today in Frankfort. DiMartile was the second place winner in 2010 and 2009.

DiMartile was both excited and poised when she talked about winning the statewide poetry recitation competition presented by the Kentucky Arts Council. “Wow, I didn’t believe after 3 years, I finally came in first,” said DiMartile. “I always liked all kinds of writing, but I never really enjoyed poetry until Poetry Out Loud. When I get on stage, the words seem to come off the page and into the audience and now I love poetry. Poetry Out Loud has also taught me to be a better speaker, a better reader and a better writer.”

Torie DiMartile’s mother, Pat DiMartile also had complimentary words for Poetry Out Loud. “I think it’s wonderful. Before Tori became involved, I didn’t care for poetry. Now I read poetry and listen with a different ear.”

As winner of the state finals, DiMartile and chaperone will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete with other state champions in the National Finals, April 27-29, 2011. Beechwood High School will also receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books for its library. The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest will award $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes to winners and top finalists.

Tyler Poteet, a senior at Butler Traditional High School, Louisville was named second place winner. He will receive a $100 cash prize and $200 for his school to purchase library books.

Both DiMartile and Poteet will be invited to recite poems at the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Writers’ Day celebration April 25, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

The Poetry Out Loud state finals are presented by the Kentucky Arts Council in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, as part of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

Competing students and their school supporters were able to travel from Kentucky cities as far away as Paducah and Pineville this year because the arts council received a state travel grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to increase the range of outreach across the Commonwealth. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is honored to provide travel support for regional and state finals of Poetry Out Loud in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Writers’ Workshops

Writers’ Workshops

Session 1: Kathleen Driskell, Story-telling and Poetry 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.
Session 2: Mary Ann Taylor-Hall, Something Has to Happen 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Session 3: Leatha Kendrick, Life Writing 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Fees:Advanced Registration (by March 11, 2011): $20 per session
Registration (after March 11, 2011): $30 per session

Workshop registration fee includes admission to Kentucky Crafted: The Market. Advanced registration recommended; workshop space is limited.

Publishing Panel (free admission)
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Moderator: Jessica Mohler, Carnegie Center marketing and communications director
Panelists include:
Ashley Runyon, University Press of Kentucky
Sarah Gorham, Sarabande Books
Gray Zeitz, Larkspur Press

“Kentucky’s Finest” Literary Reading (free admission)
4 – 5 p.m.

Emcee: Jan Isenhour, Carnegie Center executive director.
Readings by Kentucky’s current and past poets laureate: Maureen Morehead (2011 – 2012)
Richard Taylor (1999 – 2000)
Joe Survant (2003 – 2004)
Gurney Norman (2009 – 2010)


KENTUCKY CRAFTED: - THE MARKET
Saturday, March 19, 2011

Kentucky Exposition Center
South Wing, Room 104, Louisville

More literary arts at Kentucky Crafted: The Market publishers and writers in Row 700and children’s activities in the Children and Family Traditions booth in Row 100.

More information and advanced registration, contact the Kentucky Arts Council.