Nomadic Ink

Images of America: Harrodsburg

2011-07-18T11:37:00.001-04:00

Soon to be released from Arcadia Publishing is Images of America: Harrodsburg, written by Harrodsburg’s Bobbi Dawn Rightmyer (writer) and Anna Armstrong (photography). The book will be released the week of August 8th, but is already up for pre-order on several different websites:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Arcadia

As of this moment, we are not sure when the book launch and signing will be, but we will keep you up-to-date.

Here is an excerpt from Images of America: Harrodsburg:

“Harrodsburg is the oldest permanent settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains and was founded in 1774 by James Harrod. Images of America: Harrodsburg covers the city limits from the late 1770s to the early 1960s and provides over 220 images from the Armstrong Collection, the Harrodsburg Historical Society, the Mercer County Public Library and the Kentucky Historical Society. Within these pages, experience and explore Harrodsburg during the pivotal era at the beginning of the great commonwealth – from the settlement of Old Fort Harrod to the “Saratoga of the West” mineral springs and spas. Follow the growth, hard times, and recovery of Harrodsburg, including government and growing businesses, advancements in education, the rise of religious institutions, and local and visiting celebrities. These well-preserved photographs from the entrepreneurs, grand openings, and expert news reporting all the reader to step back in time.”

Sorry for the shameless promotion, but this is a wonderful book about Harrodsburg - the oldest permanent settlement in Kentucky. Please try to buy a copy! This will also be great for tourist who will be visiting our area on vacations.

New Writing Workship

2011-07-09T11:15:00.001-04:00

Hello, All,

I just wanted to remind you that I will begin a new writing workshop at the library beginning this coming Tuesday. We will meet at 6:30 and all of you are welcome to attend. I really hope a lot of you will come because you will be a big help for those folks just getting interested in writing. The workshop will run for 6 weeks and we will discuss everything from basic writing to publishing. I hope to see many of you there.

Tony

6 week writing workshops

2011-06-28T16:42:00.004-04:00

Hello, Ink Blots,

I have finally gotten all of my travels complete and would like to get The Community of Mercer County Writers up and running again. What I need to know is how many of you are interested in getting started again. For me, it is time to get back to the basic idea of the group which is to get together and encourage and inspire each other's writing. I think we may have gotten off track and involved in too many things that took up more of our time than the basic mission of the original group. We all want to succeed with out writing, to get our best work published and find the satisfaction of getting our passion on paper. If this sounds like something you want to continue to be involved in please reply to this email as soon as possible. There are a couple of places downtown where we can meet on a regular basis but I need some idea of how many will be participating, so let me know as soon as you can.

I will be starting a 6 week workshop at the library on July 12th beginning at 6:30. Each week will be devoted to a different aspect of writing from just the basics to getting published. I invite you to attend and be a part of this. Actually, I would appreciate some of you coming to help me guide any of the new writers who might attend. You do not have to commit to every week but the more you can be there to help the better.

Looking forward to sharing with all of you again and hearing from you.

Tony

Accents Publishing 2011 International Poetry Book Contest

2011-04-23T10:48:00.003-04:00

Accents Publishing is happy to announce its 2011 International Poetry Book Contest. Two winners will be selected – one by an independent judge, Lisa Williams, and one by the Senior Editor and founder of Accents Publishing, Katerina Stoykova-Klemer. Each winner will have his/her submission published and will receive a $500 cash prize. Additionally, the winners will be invited for a featured reading at a book premiere celebration event. All contest entries will be considered for regular publication with Accents Publishing, as well.

The entry fee is $20.00. Multiple submissions are allowed, as long as each one is accompanied by a separate entry fee and submission form. Winning books may be pre-ordered at the time of submission for $10.00 each.

A complete submission should include the following:

A completed submission formYour manuscript, including:
--An acknowledgement page, if necessary
--Two title pages – one with name and contact information, one without
--Your biography or CV
--A check or a confirmation of payment via Paypal covering the $20 entry fee, plus any optional book preorders

Please do not include a SASE, as notification will be made by email only.

We will accept submissions between February 1st and July 31st. Winners will be announced in August. The contest is open to any poet writing in English. Employees of Accents or family members of judges are ineligible to participate. Simultaneous submissions will be accepted, but please notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere.

Manuscripts should conform to the following guidelines:

--60 to 120 pages of poetry
--Table of contents
--Single spaced
--Numbered pages
--11 pt font minimum

Your name should not appear anywhere within the manuscript. Please do not send your only copy of your work, as manuscripts will be recycled.

Entries should be mailed to:

Accents Publishing

Attn: Katerina Stoykova-Klemer

P.O. Box 910456

Lexington, KY 40591-0456

U.S.A.

Accents Publishing is an independent press for brilliant voices. For more information, or to download the submission form, please visit us at Accents Publishing.

Call for Submissions

2011-04-09T12:16:00.007-04:00

Nomadic Ink (The Community of Mercer County Writers) is looking for submissions of poetry or prose for our annual chapbook, "Prose and Poetry for Pets." Submissions need to be received before the end of April. Prose and Poetry for Pets will be held in conjunction with the Bark in the Park event on May 14th at Old Fort Harrod State Park.

All the proceeds from the sale of this book will be going to the Mercer County Humane Society. The submissions should be pet related and we will give high priority to submissions about rescued animals or pets adopted from a Humane Society. Send all submissions by email to:

nomadicinkmercer@gmail.com

Bianca Sriggs

2011-04-06T15:20:00.004-04:00

Press Release April 6, 2001:

Accents Publishing is proud to announce:

How Swallowtails Become Dragons

by Bianca Spriggs is now available from Accents Publishing. How Swallowtails Become Dragons is part of the Accents Publishing Winged Series, which features selections from Accents Publishing chapbook contests.

"In How Swallowtails Become Dragons, Bianca Spriggs proves herself to be a poet of metamorphosis - a shape shifter, a medium for the dead and imagined. She speaks for those long silenced and for those who remind us to never make a pact with our own silence. In these pages we meet Sweet Evenin' Breeze; Orfeu Negro; the Boabab Girl; and even Eurydice Thomas, a lazarus slave sold dead for parts. But in these pages we also meet a poet who is willing to welcome the wild into her own house, and even into her sleep - a poet willing to reach deep into the dark depth and mine that bit of light last remaining." - Rebecca Gayle Howell, Author of The Hatchet Buddha Perfect Bound.

Last night I dreamt you loved my earrings. They were simple: silver shells hinged by iridescent plastic beads. You wanted to see them up close, fascinated by whatever made them shine that way in fluorescent light. So you tugged too hard when I let you pull on my left lobe. Still laughing, I awoke wanting to call you and to know what your favorite candy is, what music you like to listen to while walking the dogs. I wanted to be closer to you than pages cleaving to a spine.

Affrilachian Poet and Cave Canem Fellow Bianca Spriggs is a freelance instructor of composition, literature, and creative writing. She holds degrees from Transylvania University and the University of Wisconsin. She is a Kentucky Humanities Council Lecturer and the creator and programmer of the Gypsy Poetry Slam featured annually at the Kentucky Women Writers Conference. Heralded as "the new standard bearer for the Affrilachian Poets" by founding member Frank X Walker, Bianca is the author of Kaffir Lily (Wind Publications) and her work may also be found in the anthologies New Growth: Recent Kentucky Writings and America! What's My Name? and the journals Union Station Magazine, Appalachian Heritage Magazine, TORCH, Pluck!, Alehouse, and others.

Bianca Spriggs's How Swallowtails Become Dragons has a 90-second YouTube book trailer, in which she reads the title poem from her new book, How Swallowtails Become Dragons.

Accents Publishing 2011 - $5.00 ISBN: 978-1-936628-01-8

Order directly from the publisher at Accents Publishing.

Maureen Morehead as Poet Laureate

2011-04-02T10:40:00.001-04:00

Kentucky Arts Council News Release Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet April 1, 2011 Contact: Ed Lawrence, Communications Director at ed.lawrence@ky.gov 502-564-3757, ext. 473 Kentucky Arts Council inducts Maureen Morehead as Poet Laureate at Kentucky Writers’ Day

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Arts Council will celebrate Kentucky Writers’ Day at 11 a.m. EDT, April 25, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda, Frankfort. Poet, writer and teacher Maureen Morehead of Louisville will be formally inducted as Kentucky Poet Laureate for the two-year term of 2011 – 2012. Morehead was appointed to the honorary post by Gov. Steve Beshear to promote the literary arts in Kentucky through readings and public presentations at meetings, seminars, conferences and events, including Kentucky Writers’ Day. Morehead will be joined by former Kentucky Poets Laureate Gurney Norman, Jane Gentry, Sena Jeter Naslund, Joe Survant and Richard Taylor in presenting readings of their work. Kentucky state Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest first-place winner Torie DiMartile of Beechwood High School in Ft. Mitchell and second-place winner Tyler Poteet of Butler Traditional High School in Louisville will recite selected poems. Lindy Casebier, deputy secretary, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, will present DiMartile and Poteet the official awards for their accomplishments. A special reception to honor all Kentucky writers will follow at noon on the mezzanine level of the Capitol. This is an opportunity to congratulate Morehead, talk with Kentucky’s poets laureate and mingle with other readers and writers. This event is free and open to the public. The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. Maureen Morehead Kentucky Poet Laureate 2011-2012

Journal of Kentucky Studies

2011-03-30T22:27:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-30T21:13:00.005-04:00

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

2011-03-09T09:42:00.002-05:00

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

2011-03-06T08:05:00.002-05:00

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.

Grasshopper Holler

2011-02-26T08:16:00.007-05:00

(Drawing by Josh Pincus)

We had such a great meeting last night! 14 members in attendance - that must be a record, and we hope to keep it up.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 11th at 6:30 in the Kentucky AG Center - we are hoping this will be our last meeting in the Ag Center before we can move back to the Mercer Public Library.

The assignment for next meeting is to begin expanding "Grasshopper Holler" - this is a concept Tony started in a workshop a few years ago. You have several options:

Develop a character
Construct a building
Describe the town and/or setting
Begin writing a story

This is an idea we are kicking around for the literary magazine we have in the works - a serial story about "Grasshopper Holler" with each member making a contribution for each magazine.

Don't Forget ...

2011-02-23T15:03:00.005-05:00

... the next meeting for Nomadic Ink is this Friday, February 25th, 6:30 at the Kentucky Ag Center. Paula says we have plenty of chips, but we may need something sweet. We will continue to talk about the new "Nomadic Ink" literary magazine. Hope to see everyone there Friday night.

Nomadic Ink

2011-02-20T16:14:00.004-05:00

The next meeting of NOMADIC INK will be Friday, February 25th at 6:30pm - 8:30pm - Kentucky Ag Center, across the road from the Kountry Kupboard.

We will be "Kneading" out more ideas for starting out our new literary magazine, so come prepared with more ideas and suggestions. There was no official assignment for this week - but you were asked to work on the first sentence of "The Sled" and see if it changes your story.

If you have any sketches, drawings or cartoons you would like for use to see, please bring those as well.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday - and why not invite a friend? We have been picking up new members, so we always love to have new faces.

A new season for Nomadic Ink

2011-01-26T15:07:00.005-05:00

Welcome to a brand New Year and a new chapter for this wonderful writing group. You will notice some improvement to our site and we would love comments on whether the improvements are working or not. Although we went through some chaos and hard times the last few months of 2010, we hope to make 2011 the best year possible for Nomadic Ink.

Some of you may also know us by the name of The Community of Mercer County Writers, but this was such a long name and we now have some members from out of Mercer County, we are formally changing our name to NOMADIC INK.

If you are interested in joining our writing group, you can email us at:

nomadicinkmercer@gmail.com

2010-11-09T15:34:00.001-05:00

Hi Ink Blots, it's time for our next bi-monthly meeting - Nomadic Ink - Friday November 12 at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at United Presbyterian Church in the fellowship hall. The Church is at the top of Main Street - just park around back and we'll leave a door open. There will be a jump start at the beginning of the meeting to get our creative juices flowing, then we need to discuss what activities we plan to be involved in next year. So bring your ideas - let's make 2011 Nomadic Ink's best year yet!
See you on Friday!

Tonight Meeting

2010-09-24T08:54:00.002-04:00

Hello Ink Blots,

In light of Tony's condition, we have decided NOT to have our meeting tonight at the Ag Center. However, we do plan to meet on Friday, October 1st - at this point, probably at the Old Fort (back play/picnic area).

I am working hard to try and get the chapbook pulled together, so if you have not sent me your scary/ghost story, please do so ASAP. My email address is: brightmyer249@hotmail.com.

With any luck, we will be able to proofread the book on October 1st and still have time to get it printed before the Arts Festival on October 9th.

I'm not a very good substitute leader, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

Thanks!
Bobbi

As many of you now know ...

2010-09-16T04:25:00.006-04:00

... our fearless leader, Tony Sexton has been ill and in the hospital. Our meeting on September 10th was cancelled and the meeting for September 24th may also be cancelled, unless someone wants to step forward and lead the group. I'm not comfortable leading the group, but I am continuing to work and edit the two chapbooks we are working on.

The first one - Scary/Ghost Stories - has a deadline of September 24th in order for us to get it edited, proofed and printed by October 9th, the day of the Arts Council Fall Festival.

The second one - Library Memories - has a deadline of October 22nd and will be used at the grand opening of the brand-new Mercer County Public Library.

You can email your stories, poems or prose directly to me at:

brightmyer249@hotmail.com

Everyone will receive a draft of the chapbook before it is printed to make sure everything is correct and placed in the way you want it.

Please be sending in stories ASAP - the deadline for the first one is fast approaching and we currently only have 24 pages filled. The "Prose and Poetry for Pets" was 60 pages long and we don't necessarily need to have that many pages, but I would like to have between 35 and 40. These stories are not limited to people from Mercer County, so if you have friends that like to write, please tell them to send something in.

Please keep Tony in your thoughts and prayers, and hopefully he will be back with us very soon.

Spell-Bound

2010-09-16T04:25:00.001-04:00

SPELL-BOUND

Terrifying experiences
signal a disaster is coming.
Although the surface seems calm and serene,
unbeknownst to them,
strange things have begun to happen
A long dead woman,
spell-bound by her beauty,
has been lured from her grave,
to make them pay,
to seek her revenge.

(Photo by Randy Ellefson)

Roberta Simpson Brown

2010-09-14T19:52:00.008-04:00

Roberta Simpson Brown will be appearing in Harrodsburg on October 30th for "The Night of the Great Pumpkin." According to her website:

Roberta Simpson Brown is known by fellow storytellers as the "Queen of the Cold-Blooded Tales" for good reason. Her chilling stories are set in familiar, contemporary settings-family rooms, farms, campgrounds-with an undercurrent of something very, very scary pulling the reader into the undertow of terror.

She has a new Ghost Story book coming out later this year. Some of her books include:

The Scariest Stories Ever
Queen of the Cold-Blooded Tales
Scared in School
Strains of Music
Lamplight Tales

Harrodsburg owes a huge thank you to Chad Horn for sponsoring the appearance of Mrs. Brown. Horn's new store on Main Street in Harrodsburg is KENTUCKYLIT. Kentucky Lit welcomes Kentucky's "Queen of the Cold Blooded Tales" - she will be reading from her Parents Choice Award nominated book "Walking Trees and Other Scary Stories." After the reading, there will be a Book Signing/ Meet-and-Greet with Mrs. Brown

When I First Picked Up the Book ...

2010-09-07T23:26:00.005-04:00

... I didn’t believe what I was seeing ...

... A genuine first edition “Trixie Belden Mystery from 1948. Trixie has always been my favorite book series, especially when I was a young girl.

There are 16 original books, but a few years ago, they found a new author and started writing more Trixie books – in paper back – ick, I’m a hardcover girl all the way, so I’ve never read any of the newer books.

I currently own the 1970 Whitman edition of the books, hard cover, of course, so these mean the most to me because I’ve always loved the covers. But deep down inside, I have always coveted the first edition books, even though they are truly rare, especially if you find one in good condition. The only time I’ve ever seen these books was from my babysitter’s daughter and they were much older than my collection.

I’ve seen the older hardcovers on eBay and Amazon, but $200 is a bit rick for my blood, so I never dreamed of owning a first edition ...

... until I walked into Dave’s Antiques. Dave’s is a little hole in the wall in the middle of Lancaster, Kentucky, and it feels like you’re walking into a cave. My anxiety normally keeps me out of places like this, but something was beckoning me into Dave’s.

As my hubby looked around at the older Depression glass, trying to find the green parrot pattern of glass. I saw the crate of books in the back of the store and I slowly walked to it. I sat down on a chair that reminded me of something out of Penn’s Store, easing into it so as not to break it down.

I slowly started pulling out the old books. There is just something about the smell and feel of an old book that makes my spine tingle. Old cookbooks – something my Momma loved – early readers, a third edition of an obscure Edgar Alan Poe book, and then there it was. I could hardly believe my eyes.

“Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion.” My hands were trembling as I opened the dusty books. It was not in mint condition by any means, but it was in good condition as as I turned to the title page, I couldn’t believe my eyes – 1958. I was holding in my hands a very first edition of a book I thought I’d never see.

As I carefully carried the book to the front, Dave was dickering with my hubby over a green parrot tea saucer.

“How much for this book?” I calmly asked.

“Don’t you already have that one?” my hubby innocently asked.

“No, I don’t think I do,” I replied, giving him that look.

“Did it come out of that crate in the back?” asked Dave.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“Well, I’ll take $2 for it.”

I looked at the book and said, “It’s in pretty bad shape. How about $1.50?”

“Sold,” said Dave

On the way home, my hubby said, “you do own that book – I bought it for you.”

“I know, but this is a very first edition. Last time I found one on Amazon, it was worth $225.

My hubby was silent all the way home as I caressed my new, “old” book.

**(This was a jumpstart for the August 28, 2010 Nomadic Ink Writing Group)

Great Meeting

2010-08-29T18:44:00.004-04:00

We had a great meeting Friday night - lots of old friends and a few new friends. Welcome John Cotten and welcome back Laura Kellerberger.

We are talking about working on a "Scary Story" chapbook to have ready to sell at the 2nd Annual Arts Festival on October 9th at the Fort Harrod State Park. We are looking for scary/ghost stories or poem, but nothing bloody or horrific - we want kids to be able to read these without being too scared.

We also talked about doing a "Library Memories" chapbook for the grand opening of the new Mercer County Public Library. We need memories of your first library trip, you best/worst trip or anything that reminds you of the library, the bookmobile or reading in general.

The deadlines for these stories are:

Scary/ghost stories or poems - September 24th
Library memories - stories or poems - October 22nd

You can email your writings to Tony at: contentedme@hotmail.com
or Bobbi (who will be doing the editing) at: brightmyer249@hotmail.com

So everyone needs to get writing and let's get this ball rolling. We haven't even talked about what we want to do for Christmas!! Send us your thoughts and ideas.

Attention Inkblots

2010-08-26T14:20:00.003-04:00

Inkblots!!

I haven't heard from many of you so this is a reminder that we are going to try and get back in the swing of writing again... time for a real Jump Start!!! This Friday, 6:30 at the Heritage Center on US 127... Bring a friend who may want to get started with us... we will be discussing a lot of stuff and trying to get back in the groove... I hope to see you there... SERIOUSLY!!!

Tony

Don't Forget ...

2010-08-24T18:15:00.003-04:00

... our first meeting of the new writing season will be August 27th at the KY Ag Heritage Center on Hwy 127 across from the Kountry Kupboard. We will begin at 6:30pm.

If you know someone who is interested in joining us or just would like to check us out, bring them along. If you would like to bring a snack to share, let me know.

One of the projects we are going to work on is Scary Stories or Poems (but not horror) for a chapbook we are considering doing for Halloween this year. If you are not a member of The Community of Mercer County Writers, you are still invited to join us or submit a piece for this chapbook. I am not sure when we will present it to the public, but we would like to have it ready for the downtown Halloween event, Night of the Great Pumpkin. The idea is to write something that has a scary tone, but would not give kids nightmares if they heard it or read it. The piece could even be funny if you we so inclined. So think about it, maybe even get something down on paper to read at the meeting.

We also want to work on another chapbook to celebrate the opening of the brand-new Mercer County Public Library in November. We would like the proceeds of the sale of this book to go toward subscriptions of writing journals for the library. Think about your first library visit, your favorite library visit, or even the worst time you had at a library - whatever reminds you of libraries.

If you are working on something and would like a bit of critique, bring that along as well. Please, please let me know if you can or cannot come on the 27th so we know how many snacks we need and what to plan for. I am looking forward to seeing all of you there.

Hope to see you all there!

Tony

Care and Feeding of Nightmares

2010-08-11T05:49:00.003-04:00

For anyone who would like to purchase my 2nd chapbook of poetry, "Care and Feeding of Nightmares" - you can email me at:

careandfeedingofnightmares@gmail.com

with your snail-mail address. The books are $5 each plus $2 for shipping and handling. I hope to have PayPal set up on my blog in a few weeks for payments, but currently I can only accept checks or money orders. I will mail out the book on the day I receive your order. You can also buy the books at J. Sampson Antiques on Main Street in Harrodsburg. Thanks to everyone who buys a book!

New Library Kick-Off

2010-08-10T11:50:00.002-04:00

As many of you know, our new Mercer County Public Library will be opening hopefully sometime in November and the Community of Mercer County Writers may be asked to help with the Grand Opening. I am not sure what we might be asked to do but I am sure whatever it is, it will be fun.

In conjunction with that I thought we might create another chapbook to give away during the celebration (which will probably last more than one day). I am open for suggestions as to what sort of content we might put in to such a chapbook but my initial thought is that we write about some experience we have had with reading, the importance of a library or even a fictional piece about a library visit... something along those lines but I am not locked into that so if you have suggestions let's talk about them when we meet on August 27th.

I have been asked to have a workshop scheduled as soon as the library is open. It will be something they will promote during the opening. I would like to do something different but I am at a loss for a good idea at the moment. So, again, I am open for suggestions. I have been considering having a running workshop that meets once a week there and the first workshop could be a kick off for that... I bet some of you already have a good idea... bring these ideas with you on the 27th as well. You may not know it but when the library was being designed, I asked for a room that we could use for workshops, one with a small kitchen, maybe a dry erase board and so forth.... well, it is there.

They have designed a large room that can be divided and both rooms will have a sink and a place to make coffee, etc. One side is larger than the other and the plan is for us to use the smaller of the two parts. Both rooms will have access to the restrooms and we will have our own exit so we do not disturb anyone or vise versa. They have gone out of their way to make it easy for us to meet and have workshops so I want us to use it to the max. Isn't that really cool? This morning I toured the new library. It is coming along great and you can see where everything is going to be and I will tell you it is going to be a very impressive place and we will be so proud to have such a place right here in Mercer County.

Hope to see everyone there,

Tony Sexton

First Meeting of the new Writing Season

2010-08-10T11:47:00.003-04:00

For our first meeting of the new writing season, we will meet on August 27th at the Heritage Center where we have met before (US 127 across from the Kountry Kupboard). We will begin at 6:30.

If you know someone who is interested in joining us or just would like to check us out, bring them along. If you would like to bring a snack to share, let me know.

One of the projects we are going to work on is the Sort of Scary Story (or poem) for a chapbook we are considering doing for Halloween this year. If you are not a member of The Community of Mercer County Writers you are still invited to join us or submit a piece for this chapbook. I am not sure when we will present it to the public, it could be during the Zombie Crawl sponsored by The Arts Council of Mercer County or during the downtown Halloween event or at another time around Halloween. The idea is to write something that has a scary thought to it but would not give kids nightmares if they heard it or read it. The piece could even be funny if you we so inclined. It should be fun to do even if the chapbook did not develop. So think about it, maybe even get something down on paper to read at the meeting.

Also, if you are working on something and would like a bit of critique, bring that along as well. Please, please let me know if you can or cannot come on the 27th so we know how many snacks we need and what to plan for. I am looking forward to seeing all of you there.

Hope to see you all there!
Tony

Journal of Kentucky Studies

2010-07-29T19:10:00.004-04:00

I am so excited! One of my poems - "Silent Memories" - has been selected to be published in the next edition of the Journal of Kentucky Studies, published by Northern Kentucky University.

This will be a special issue honoring James Baker Hall.

Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts

2010-07-27T19:49:00.002-04:00

The 1st Annual Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts was a huge success, even with the extreme heat of the day. This was a joint venture between The Community of Mercer County Writers, The Arts Council of Mercer County and Harrodsburg First. Here are a few highlights from the event:

Harrodsburg Festival of Book and Arts sign

The man who made this event possible - Tony Sexton

Ed McClanahan - Master of Ceremonies

Hershel McKinley and Tony Sexton

My favorite photo of Katerina (Katya) Stoykova-Klemer

Writers awaiting their turn at reading to the public

Carolyn Worley - a member of The Community of Mercer County Writers

Irene Mitchell during her reading

Katya reading from "The Air Around the Butterfly"

Katya

The Community of Mercer County Writers (Nomadic Ink) - from left Katerina Klemer, the Barn Goddess and Paula Pinkston. In the background is Dr. Richard Taylor, an honorary member of Nomadic Ink for the day.

Ruth Ann Fogel, Kentucky native now living near Cincinnati

Peace and Well-Being Seminar

2010-07-19T18:18:00.002-04:00

Check out this new venture by one of our Inkblots:

Introducing...
Peace & Well-Being

Free Seminars this Sunday July 25th, 2010
by Ms. Pat Osborn

• Healthy Diet, from 2 to 3p.m.
• Exercise Basics, from 3 to 4 p.m.
• Goal Setting, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Harrodsburg, KY * Seating is Limited * $25 value, each

Reserve your spot in one or more classes:

peacefulone@localnet.com or 859-734-6839

Observations

2010-07-18T20:06:00.002-04:00

OBSERVATIONS

I'm not going to give up.
Stomping in mud puddles and making mud pies.
I will never hurt you.
Curling up with a good book, listening to the rain pitter-patter on the tin roof.
...like Rocky Road ice cream good.
Doritio-stained fingertips leaving orange blotches on the pages of my favorite books.
Some men still holding the door open for women.
Some women holding the door open for men.
The smell of an old book as you flip through the pages.
Not seeing your way around the dark veil of depression that increasingly squeezed in on your life.
Occasionally, tiny specks of happiness sprinkled through your life, like bits of candy cane in peppermint ice cream - sharp, but sweet.
The sun hitting the warmest portion of the chair that your cat has already claimed its own.
Mud slurping from you shoes as you trudge through a marshy shore.
Your hair dancing behind you like fairy wisps in a breeze.
Arguing back at the television, but unwilling to turn it off.
Lips that may crack from the width of your smile.
Pretending not to notice the obvious reasons we aren't alike.
Obsessing on the reasons we are alike.
Living half your life, knowing there is only one other half left.

You Bring Out The ....

2010-07-08T14:09:00.000-04:00

(Photo copyright Graphic Hunts)

You Bring Out the …… In Me

You bring out the bitch in me.
You bring out the I wouldn’t lift a finger to help you out of a burning fire, in me.
You bring out the “How dare you think you’re better than everyone else,” in me.
You bring out the pure unadulterated hate in me, that I know God may punish me for.
Your bring out the angry stomach hornets and anxious nerves in me.
You bring out the “Why the hell don’t you just stay out of my life,” in me.
You bring out the Cruella DeVille in me.
You bring out the sour stomach and acid reflux in me.
You bring out the evil part of me, the one I am ashamed I feel, but I’ve tried to ignore it and it won’t go away, so I’ll just have to try harder to understand your ignorance.

Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts

2010-06-25T11:19:00.004-04:00

Below you will find the booth assignments for Saturday's Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts. Remember to bring a tent or umbrella, sun screen.. floppy hats or whatever to protect yourself if the sun gets too hot for you.
Tony
1. Ed McClanahan
2. Donna Ison
3. Roberta & Lonnie Brown
4. Christopher Kelder
5. Sheri Wright
6. Abigail Keam
7. Kathy Skaggs
8. Alonzo Fugate
9. Fred L. Cook
10. Ann Gabhart
11. Nic Brown
12. Fiona Young-Brown
13. Mason Smith
14. Marie Mitchell
15. Rebecca Turney
16. Ragged Edge Theater
17. Russell A. Vassallo
18. Bill Womack
19. Betty Pace
20. Nash Black
21. Kentucky Monthly (publisher)
22. Kari Burchfield (artist)
23. Billy Reed
24. The Community of Mercer County Writers (Nomadic Ink) & Katerina Klemer (This is OUR Booth!!!)
25. Richard Taylor
26. Kris Marnon (artist)
27. Joanna Thompson (potter)
28. Shaker Village (organization)
29. Kaboom Writers
30. Lynn Pruett
31. Tim Renfrow (publisher booth)
32. Jeff Loane (artist)
33. Mathew Rodgers (artist)
35. Mark Wayne Adams (writer/ artist)
36. Mike Young (artist)
37. Fort Harrod (organization)
38. Jacquie Woodward (artist)
39. Fan Fun Books
40. Dreama
41. Paula Sparrow
42. Tim Callahan
43. E. Gail Chandler
44. Nelda Shattles Copas
45. Tourist Commission
46. Normandi Ellis
47. Russell Lunsford
48. Jan Sullivan
49. Alycia Davidson
50. Rinda Hahn
51. Lori A. Moore
52.
53. Georgia Stamper/Sherry Chandler
54. Sylvia DeLee Davis
55. Dr. William Montell
56. Vickie Cimprich
57. Ruth Thompson
58. John Braxton Sparks
59. Joan Hall
60. Ron Rhody

Information for Authors and other participants,

Thank you for being a part of this event. I wish each of you great success and a lot of fun.
* You have received your booth assignment but there could be a slight change between now and then but if there is I will let you know. There will be a name tent on each table so if you get lost just look for your name. There should be a volunteer somewhere around the booth area to assist you if you have any problems.

* The Country Hearth Inn in Harrodsburg is offering some great deals on rooms. Call 859-734-2400 and mention The Harrodsburg Books and Arts Festival or ask for Nate Patel

* If you come in from the North or South you will be most likely traveling on US 127 which comes directly into Harrodsburg. Do not take the by pass. Once you get into town there will be signs directing you to the area reserved for our authors and other vendors. If you come in from another direction just watch for the signs bringing you to the parking area. If you do a map quest or google directions put your destination point as Greenville Street, Harrodsburg, KY That will put you very near the parking area. If you need more detailed directions, please call me at either 859-734-7867 or 859-247-0522 (C) if you need to talk with me on the 26th please call the cell phone.

* The booths should be set up by 9 am. If you need help getting to your booth please drop me an email so I can make arrangements but we will be really busy that morning. But if you do need help we will assist you.

* Please bring sun screen. We will provide you will all the water you need and there will be someone to go get it for you. We will also have food available and someone to sit at your booth while you go eat or whatever you need.

* If you have a patio table umbrella with a holder, feel free to bring it. I have one and you fill the base with water so it does not fly away, it will help some if the sun shines too much on your booth. The sun does not shine on both sides of Main St all day. But it will be hot and will shine on you for awhile so please prepare for that. We hope to have a big tent next year and the sun will not be a problem. We will try to make you as comfortable as possible.

We are so excited about you being here and we want your experience to be a great one. And, thank you for being a part of this first Books and Arts Festival.

Tony Sexton

Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts

2010-06-16T09:46:00.003-04:00

Hey Folks,

Just a reminder that the Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts is just around the corner. As you know this thing actually happened because we sat down last November and made some plans for this year... what we thought would be a small book fair blossomed into an amazing event.

Anyway, there will be around 50 authors, a lot of artists and things happening all day that will give folks a lot of things to do. We will be doing reading all day at two locations and we will have a booth where we can sell chap books or whatever and meet all the folks passing by.

The most important thing I have to ask is CAN YOU HELP? We are in charge of the authors. That involves making sure they have everything they need, getting them bottled water or a snack... sitting at their booth if they need a break and so forth. I have done this at The Kentucky Book Fair in Frankfort and it is really a lot of fun. It is a great way to get to know the authors and make friends. We need as many as we can get for as long as they can stay.. so if you can work a few hours or all day please let me know as soon as possible.

I really hope we make a good showing since it was our idea. I know other groups have 15 or 20 volunteers so we need to try and be there. I know some of you will not be able to spend the entire day but I hope you can come for a few hours. Also, if you would like to fix some sort of snack or finger food to share with other volunteers Goldie would appreciate it. We will have a hospitality room at Studio G for all the volunteers (water, food a place to take a break) so we need lots of goodies and I know many of you make some FANTASTIC goodies.

So, please, please try to adjust your schedule so you can be a part of this, help out and go away with a fun and exciting time and let me know as soon as possible how long you can work, what times and so forth. I will send a schedule of the things we need to do and a schedule of who is reading where sometime this week.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Tony

Put an End to Poetry Rejection Letters

2010-06-02T10:07:00.006-04:00

Tired of having your poetry rejected from literary magazine after literary magazine? Then check out this new article from WRITER'S RELIEF - "Poetry Turnoffs - Styles and Formatting That Make Editors Cringe." It is very informative and may just turn your rejection letters into acceptance letters.

Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Art

2010-06-01T16:42:00.001-04:00

The Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Art

on Main Street

Harrodsburg

June 26, 2010

The public is invited to this event which will feature authors and artists from Kentucky and surrounding states. The day will be filled with interesting activities and an eclectic group of authors, artists and select vendors.

If you would like to participate contact Tony Sexton at

contentedme@hotmail

or call 859-734-7867

Bad News ...

2010-05-24T11:23:00.000-04:00

... I'm sorry for being so out of touch, but I have some bad news to pass on to all my bloggy friends.

My mom passed away Sunday evening about 6pm. She was only 65 yo, but she had been in poor health for at least the past 6 months. We tried a few things in CCU to try and wake up her kidneys and other organs back up, but when we realized they weren't working, daddy made the decision - the right decision and mom's wishes - to turn all the machines off. She was in no pain and thankfully went peacefully.

Please keep my family in your prayers ...

Next Meeting

2010-05-03T19:13:00.003-04:00

Hello Ink Blots and friends,

We will be meeting at my house - 657 Fairview Court - this Friday, May 7th at 6:30 pm for our first monthly meeting this month (due to unforseen complications, we are not able to meet at the Ag Center). Along with our regular antics we will talk about the Prose and Poetry for Pets project on Saturday, May 8th. If you have a piece in the chapbook, we will have them available at the meeting. We need you to be here if at all possible so we can make sure everything goes as planned on Saturday. As you know, Todd Borek (WKYT TV morning weatherman) will be with us so we want to have a good showing of our group. If you do not have a piece in the book but have a pet/animal story you would like to share, you are welcome to come and read - just let us know .. all are welcome.

Please let me know if you can or cannot come Friday Night -(859)-247-0522 or (859)-734-7867 and leave me a message.

I hope many of you can make it to this meeting... it is going to be a fun couple of days!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Tony Sexton

Prose for Pets

2010-05-01T16:40:00.000-04:00

Prose for Pets

May 8, 2010

Downtown on Broadway

My pet writing contest
Pet Art - come and let your pet paint a work of art
Rabies Clinic
Pet Parade
Music, food and fun for every age

Bring your own pet

Adopt a new pet from the Mercer County Humane Society

All proceeds to benefit the Mercer County Humane Society

Kentucky Writers' Day

2010-04-16T10:13:00.002-04:00

The Kentucky Arts Council will celebrate Kentucky Writers' Day at 10am Friday, April 23rd in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

Past Kentucky Poets laureate Jane Gentry Vance (2007-2008), Sena Jeter Naslund (2005-2006), Joe Survant (2003-2004), and Richard Taylor (1999-2000) will give readings of their work as part of the event.

A special receiption to honor all Kentucky writers will follow at 11am on the mezzanine level of the Capitol. "Five Kentucky Poets Laureate: An Anthology," "Abraham Lincoln of Kentucky" and poet laureat broadsides will be offered for sale at the reception.

Kentucky Writers' Day is officially April 24 in honor of the birth date of Kentucky native Robert Penn Warren, the first poet laureate of the United States and winner of three Pulitzer prizes.

This event is free and open to the public.

KSPS Mid-Year Conference

2010-04-07T11:33:00.002-04:00

The Kentucky State Poetry Society will have its Mid-Year Conference April 16-17, 2010 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky

All events will take place on Main Street in Harrodsburg. Meetings and workshop will be held in the Masonic Lodge and The Kentucky Fudge Company at the top of Main Street across from the courthouse construction.

Main Street intersects with US 68 from Lexington, from Louisville turn left at the intersection of US 127 and US 68 then at the stop light turn right on Main Street.

The Friday Night Poetry Reading will begin at 7 pm in the Masonic Lodge and end when everyone is ready to stop. You may come and go as you please.

Saturday Morning we will meet upstairs at The Kentucky Fudge Company, (great coffee and scones) just up the street from the Masonic Lodge at 10 am for a short introduction meeting and workshop assignments and locations.

Workshops will begin @ 10:45 and run until lunch time. There are several wonderful places to have lunch right on Main Street including one of Kentucky’s best Mexican restaurants, Lafonda’s. The Kentucky Fudge Company will be open with fantastic sandwiches and drinks and we are hoping one of the best home cooking restaurant in Harrodsburg, Cousins, will be open. Just off of Main Street is a wonderful café called The Bus Station where you can get a great burger and other tasty delights.

At 1 pm we will meet at The Ragged Edge Theater, just down Main Street from the Masonic Lodge where we will be entertained by some of the Ragged Edge Players. From there we will go to the next round of workshops which will end @ 4-4:30.

The Finality Banquet will be held upstairs at The Kentucky Fudge Company where you will be treated to one of the finest buffets you have ever experienced. After we eat The Kaboom Writers Collective will speak to us about their writing experiences and read some of their work.

The Workshops:

Haiku Workshop led by Drew Logan. I highly recommend this workshop if you have ever wanted to write haiku or if you are just wondering if you could. Drew has a large collection of haiku to share including many of his own.

How To Produced A Video Of Your Creative Writing led by Tom Vigneri a professional videographer and producer is a Workshop discussing how to adapt printed work into television presentations by explaining visualization, sound, performance, equipment needs, resources, the production process and production techniques.

A Persona Workshop led by Sherri Wright will explain persona poems, what they are, how to share someone else's skin for a brief time, see as they see, think as they do, let them whisper their stories into your ear. No brain cells will be harmed in the attendance of this workshop

(Note: Due to the lack of proper equipment we will not be doing the Chapbook Workshop led by Bobbi Rightmyer but Bobbi will be around to answer questions and explain the process. Just ask her to tell you about the process.)

We want your visit to Harrodsburg to be a wonderful experience. If you have not signed up and still would like to, give me a call so I can get a good banquet count. You will be able to pay your fee Saturday morning.

~~Tony Sexton

Tragedy at Upper Big Branch

2010-04-07T11:05:00.000-04:00

TRAGEDY AT UPPER BIG BRANCH

It’s happened again
another coal mine disaster
more human lives lost because of our obsession with coal.
An explosion has rocked the underground mine,
Massey Energy again – where’s the surprise?
The largest coal producer in central Appalachia,
the largest number of safety violations;
when will they start caring about the heartache they have caused?
The worst explosion since 1984,
today, 25 miners are dead, and four still unaccounted for,
husbands, brothers, sons, nephews;
grandsons, friends, lovers –
for what?
So I can turn on a light with the flick of a switch,
power up my laptop without a thought in the world,
waste the electricity these men sacrificed for.
Some are cursing what John Peter Salley discovered,
in Boone County, West Virginia in 1742;
coal seams ripe with black gold,
there for the taking
to produce half of the nation’s electricity.
But again, is it worth it?
Coal dust and black lung,
poisonous methane gas,
carcinogens all to the frailty of man.
The women are breaking down
knowing they will ever see their husbands again.
Mothers and fathers will have to bury sons
well before their time.
Sadness engulfs the nation
as we all have the same prayer,
“God be with these families, friends and other loved ones,
protect them with your loving guidance, lessen their sorrow,
their hurting, their grief.”
And to the next generation coming down the line,
please hurry with alternative energy sources,
help us break the dependency on coal,
help us stop this unnecessary suffering;
help us stop the pain.

Accents Publishing

2010-04-04T10:53:00.001-04:00

I was so excited today to read the wonderful article in the Lexington Herald Leader on my friend, Katerina Stoykova-Klemer and Accents Publishing, Lexington's newest printer of poetry and prose.

Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, left, with help from her son, Simeon Kondev, center, and Shawn Wright put together a book of poetry at Accents Publishing. Kondev draws the cover art for all the books, which sell for $ 5 each. (Photo copyright Lexington Herald Leader)

The mission statement for her new publishing house is:

"Our vision is to bring low-cost books to people who love literature but often can't afford it," she says. "So we do it quick, easy and cheap. Every one of our books is $ 5, and that is how we want to keep it. "

Katerina Stoykova-Klemer put pages in a glue binder while volunteer Tony Sexton grouped pages at Accents Publishing. Sexton is president of the Kentucky State Poetry Society. (Photo copyright Lexington Herald Leader)

Book publisher Katerina Stoykova-Klemer shown in her upstairs office on Thursday, March 18, 2010 in her home in Lexington, Ky. Katerina Stoykova-Klemer has started her own small company, Accents Publishing, to publish books of poetry that sell for just $ 5 each. This is her way of getting people to read poetry. Her printing and book binding operation, staffed by volunteers, is at her home. (Photo copyright Lexington Herald Leader; Photo by David Perry)

You can find Accents books at The Morris Book Shop, 408 Southland Drive; on Amazon.com; or at www.accents-publishing.com.

Stoykova-Klemer sees good things ahead.

"I think we'll make up in volume for the low cost of our books," she said. "Poetry lets you know about yourself and about the world. It cuts through to the things you don't know, and it's always true in some way.

"We need that. We need the truth."

Poetry Month Gathering

2010-04-01T16:38:00.000-04:00

Kentucky State Poetry Society

Poetry Month Gathering

Featuring Workshops, Readings, Special Guest Speakers and Social Activities

April 17, 2010

in downtown

Harrodsburg

All events including the finale dinner are open to the public. Readings will be in an open mic format. Prior reservations are required for the open mic and the dinner.

Prose For Pets

2010-03-10T14:29:00.004-05:00

Here is the jump start for the May 8th Prose for Pets event - it can be prose or poetry.

Finish this:

"I picked her up on the side of the road during the worst thunder storm I had ever seen..."

Send your writing to Tony at: contentedme@hotmail.com. Once I get several of these back, I am going to send them to Todd Borek (the morning weatherman for Channel 27) who is going to be at Prose For Pets event we have planned.

.

Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Art

2010-03-10T14:24:00.003-05:00

Here is the logo for the 1st Annual Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Art - pretty cool!

We are going to be needing volunteers for both the April 16th-17th KSPS Mid-Year Conference and the June 26th Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Art. We need help with giving people information about where things are and playing host to our out of town guests. The festival needs lots of volunteers: hosts for the hospitality room, author helpers, information booth and general help with whatever might come up. So far we have at least 30 authors signed up with at least that many more who are just going to read at the festival.

If you want to volunteer, contact Tony at: contentedme@hotmail.com

Next Meeting

2010-03-10T11:44:00.003-05:00

We will be meeting this Friday

March 12th @ 6:30pm

at the Ag Center on US 127

and we are going to have a great meeting

Bobbi Rightmyer will be doing a Make Your Own Chapbook workshop

She will be showing us how to put one together

and how to bind it.

Shirley Walls will bring some cool material to use for binding

You need to bring a few poems or short stories with you

if you can print them in landscape so there are two poems per page

or two pages of short story on each page

that will help in laying it out.

THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY COOL!!!

So come on and join us so Bobbi can practice on us for her big workshop on April 17th

Please/Please/Please

let me know if you can or cannot come so we can have enough snacks and supplies

I hope to see you there.

Tony

Limerick Contest

2010-03-01T16:35:00.002-05:00

March 17, 2010

Saint Patrick's Day

8pm at

Old Owl Tavern

Top 15 entries will be judged by the patrons of the tavern. Open to all and the winner will receive a nice prize, but

you must be present to read your limerick to win!!!

For more information, contact

Tony Sexton

contentedme@hotmail.com

or call (859) 734-7867

Just a reminder ...

2010-02-23T17:43:00.003-05:00

... very important meeting

Friday

February 26th

@ 6:30

@ the KY Ag Center on US 127

Bring a friend who might like to be involved

in some of the things we are doing this year

WE NEED SOME HELP

and we are hoping to have a

Nomadic Ink Reunion

which means we hope some who have been gone for a while will be back and ready to go!!!

See you there

bring pet stories or poems if you have them

and thanks to those of you who have already sent some.

Call or email me if you have questions

Tony

2010-02-10T16:21:00.002-05:00

Here is the cover for Volume Two of Speaking Out. Just received it today.

I hope you all are satisfied with it. It does look like Mercer County I think.

Nomadic Ink Meeting

2010-02-08T11:52:00.003-05:00

Hello, Ink Blots of the World

Next meeting

February 26th

at the Ag Center on US 127

across from the Amish Store

6:30 pm

I hope most of you will be able to attend this meeting. Think about all the things we have coming up: Limerick contest on St Patty's Day, Prose and Poetry for Pets, The KSPS meeting on April 17th, The Festival of Books and Art in June and a bunch of stuff in between... FUN stuff to keep you writing and out there doing what writers do.

Many of us have been in a Winter slump it seems... Well it is time to focus on the coming spring and get those creative juices flowing... I hope you can make it. OF COURSE IN CASE OF SNOW... WE WON'T MEET... but I am hoping no snow. SPREAD THE WORD TO THOSE WITHOUT EMAIL...

Please let me know if you can or cannot make it. We love our snacks and we need a better count and we just want to see you there we need you there

See you there!

Tony

Happy 2K10

2010-01-19T15:59:00.002-05:00

Hello Ink Blots!

The next meeting of The Community of Mercer County Writers will be on January 29th at the Ag Center on US 127 at 6:30.

If you can bring a story or poem about a pet or an animal it would be great since we are working on putting out a chapbook for the Prose for Pets event in May.

We have some great stuff going on this year so please try to come and bring a writer friend with you...spread the word to those without email and let's get 2010 started off with a big bang... I am excited and hope those of you who have been missing can get started back and we can see lots of great things happen for each of you this year.

PLEASE let me know as soon as you can if you can make it and if you are bringing someone with you so I can make plans for snacks etc...

Let's all get back together and have some great fun.
Tony

It's Finally Over

2010-01-19T00:03:00.000-05:00

It's Finally Over

You caused so much heartache and pain,
you ripped my family apart.
Your lies and manipulation
were things we never understood.
You could never be trusted
or depended on
you really were no man,
but when you pulled her into your life,
nothing was ever the same again.
From booze to drugs to all the things you stole,
you dragged her down into your world,
into that angry pit of deception.
There was a time I prayed for your death
when the drunken crash almost took you away,
but she nursed you back to health,
thou you were never again quiet whole.
She was finally able to escape and turn her life around,
but the hand of fate had other plans,
and the grief remains today.
Not even a prison term
could change your shoddy character,
and you emerged just the same,
not worse, but no hell of a lot better.
I tired very hard to avoid your presence,
but whenever I'd least expect it,
there you were in my face
triggering the volatile emotions
I couldn't wrap my head around.
But now you've taken the coward's way out,
thrown away the life she gave you back,
and I wish I could feel compassion for you -
I am sorry your family must suffer and
I am sorry your momma had to find you -
but now I don't have to worry anymore
about the affect you have had on my family.
I know she may be feeling sadness,
as she looks down from above,
but she'll never see you again
because if there is a God up in Heaven,
then your elevator went down.

Prose for Pets - V V

2010-01-14T11:53:00.000-05:00

(This is the closest picture I could find to match V V, without the black V on her head. As soon as I can scan a picture of the real V V, I will post it.)

V V
1969 - 1986

I’ve always been a cat person. Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs, too, but cats are my favorite pets of all. I’ve had many pets over the years, but my first cat will always hold a special place in my heart.

When I was seven years old, my parents allowed us to have an indoor cat. I’m not sure where the little kitten came from, but she instantly became a part of our family.

A solid white Persian cat with faint black markings on top of her head, this little bundle of white fluff was so cute and my brother and sister and I argued over what to name her. They wanted cutesy names like Snowball or Fluffy; I wanted something unusual.

Because of the black markings on top of her head were in the shape of the letter V, I convinced my siblings the name V V was appropriate for our beloved cat. And V V she would be all through my childhood.

For those of you who have cats, you know a cat chooses her person, not the other way around. V V tolerated everyone in our family, but she loved me. She would sleep at the foot of my bed or lay on my stomach whenever I was reading.

She loved to sit on the divider between the living room and the hallway – a little half wall with spindles. She would sit very still and then swat at people with her paw, as they would walk down the hall.

Or she would hid in a corner and jump out at your ankles whenever you passed by.

V V was especially bad at Christmas time when she would try and climb the Christmas tree. In the early 1970s, most ornaments were glass and we lost quiet a few ornaments because of her adventures with the tree.

By the time I was married, V V was over 10 years old and becoming slow with her old age. My brother and sister wanted a dog for a pet because V V was no longer fun to play with. My new husband did not want an indoor cat and V V was too pampered and set in her ways to start being an outdoor cat.

So, V V went to live with friends for the remainder of her life, and she lived to the grand old age of 17. Although I’ve had many cats since that time, V V was the first and I will always remember her fondly.

3 KY Authors to Read at Carmichael's Bookstore

2010-01-01T20:30:00.001-05:00

Sunday, January 31, 2010, Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville,KY will host readings featuring three talented writers. Poet Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, a recent graduate of Spalding University’s MFA program and the author of Air Around the Butterfly, a book of poems in English and her native Bulgarian. She is the host of Accents, a radio show for literature, arts and culture that airs on Lexington’s WRFL. Katerina is the founder and leader of poetry and prose groups for writers in Lexington and is a member of The Community of Mercer County Writers - NOMADIC INK. Her poems and stories have appeared in literary publications in the U. S. and Europe and have been nominated for several literary awards. Angela Jackson-Brown is a poet and writer who will read from her recent work which includes a story in the newest issue of New Southerner magazine. Angela teaches English at Ball State University and is a graduate of Spalding’s MFA in Creative Writing program. She is working on a novel, a collection of short stories set during the Harlem Renaissance and a poetry collection. The third reader is local favorite Sheri Wright. Sheri is the author of four books of poetry including the forthcoming The Courtship of Reason, which will be published in March by Kentucky’s Finishing Line Press.

Christmas

2009-12-02T10:25:00.002-05:00

Hey, All,

We had a good suggestion for a little extra fun at our "pot luck" Christmas meeting. If you would, bring a very inexpensive Christmas ornament to the party. I am not sure exactly what we are going to do with them but I am told it is a fun game we will play while enjoying all the goodies and friendship. It sounds like a fun idea to me and I hope it does for you too.

I still have not heard from a few of you but so far about 6 are confirmed. I would plan on no more than 10 as you decide what goodie you might bring. I sure hope to hear from those of you who have not responded yet, we miss you a lot and need you back soon.

Tony

Christmas Potluck

2009-12-01T10:53:00.002-05:00

Hello, Ink Blots,

Can you believe it is Christmas time again? I know everyone is very busy with the holidays but I am hoping everyone can reserve one evening to meeting with your friends and fellow writers.

We had planned on meeting on the 11th but due to conflicts the Ag Center will not be available so we have changed the date to the 18th. This will be our only meeting in December and it will be our annual "pot luck"... pot luck meaning bring goodies, not major food. Some wonderful homemade snacks or something like that would be great. We always have such wonderful things to nibble on while we have our meeting. We will probably do more eating and enjoying each other's company than we will writing but we will do a bit of writing and talk about our up coming year. 2010 is going to be the best year The Community of Mercer County writers has ever had and we want to really get fired up for all the fun stuff we are going to be doing.

If you have not been with us for awhile... please, please try to come and share a beautiful night of Christmas.

I do ask that you RSVP as soon as possible so I can let everyone know how many we can expect so everyone has an idea of what and how much to bring.

We will meet at 6:30 at the Ag Center. I look forward to seeing each of you. If you have been writing, bring it and share it. If you have anything about Christmas written, bring that for sure.

I look forward to seeing you again and hearing from you soon. Our newest member Katerina is on a book tour in Bulgaria so she probably won't be back in time to join us but we will be thinking about her success.

See you soon,
Tony

My Life on MUTE

2009-11-25T16:08:00.001-05:00

Take out my vocal cords,
Remove my voice box ,
and,

go ahead press mute.

I'll mime my way around all of their stupidity.

Turn down the volume,
no subtitles or captions,
I'll mouth the solutions to our problems with my lips,
and never a sound to interrupt,
but kiss-
and Silence will overwhelm.

Go ahead-press mute on me,
turn off my voice and expect me lame.
in the quiet you will find.
my voice is.
the
loudest.

Katerina Stoykova-Klemer

2009-11-19T08:49:00.005-05:00

... Katerina Stoykova-Klemer's new chapbook - THE MOST - from Finishing Line Press, is now available for pre-order. The book will be released in March 2010.

Katerina is also the author of the bilingual poetry book, THE AIR AROUND THE BUTTERFLY. She is the host of ACCENTS - a Radio Show for Literature, Art and Culture. Listen to ACCENTS every Friday @ 2pm EST on WRFL 88.1 FM Lexington or stream live from wrfl.fm.

Home for the Holidays

2009-11-17T10:27:00.002-05:00

Dear Ink Blots and others,

The Community of Mercer County Writers has a full slate of things to do and I hope you can get started on some of them.

We have been invited to read during the Home for the Holidays event in downtown Harrodsburg on the weekend of November 27th and 28th ( I am not sure what times it will be but I am pretty sure it will be Satuday afternoon)

I would like to see us read new material that has something to do with the Christmas season.

A few topic suggestions I have are:

The Best Christmas Tree Ever
My Encounter with Santa (this does not have to be your 1st encounter, just any encounter)
The Manger and Mary {My thought on this one is Mary and the manger having a conversation about their relationship. And it does not have to be Mary, it could be The lamb and the manger or the Shepherd and the manger. I think you get the idea... it would be an interesting thing to hear the perspective of the manger as it is associated with one of the other characters in the Nativity}
Searching For The Star (this one is open to what your thought are not so much about the wise men searching but maybe your search or someone or something else's search)
Candy Canes and Jam Cake

These are just a few of the suggestions I came up with, you get the idea I think... something about Christmas that is just a little different or an odd twist

We do not have a lot of time so it is up to you to write and prepare for the event. I would like to see a lot of you spark the creativity I know each of you have and come up with some really interesting pieces. The pieces can be poetry, short stories or even non-fiction... Whatever you want to write. I really do hope you can do something and be ready to read it during the event. We will be inside at Studio G on Main Street.

Some of us are now working on doing the play I wrote, "Nan's Diner" for this event as well. Several had asked if we could do it again this year and so we are. I am even going to play a part this year... won't that be a hoot. So if nothing else I hope you come watch me make a fool of myself on stage. The play will be on Saturday evening but I do not know what time yet.

So please plan to be a part of all of this. If you just cannot get something written plan on coming and supporting those who do... It is important for us as a group to support each other.

There are a lot more exciting things we have planned but I will tell you about them after the Christmas event.

I do need to know if you will try and write something to present so I have an idea about the time we will need to do the presentation. So PLEASE let me know as soon as you can.

You guys are the greatest and I am so proud to be a part of this group of great writers.

I look forward to hearing from you ASAP.

Tony

Home for the Holidays

2009-11-16T15:59:00.002-05:00

Attention Ink Blots ... the Home for the Holidays weekend is coming up November 27th and 28th. This is a time for Harrodsburg to come together as a community and shop downtown Harrodsburg, enjoy carriage rides and other entertainment, plus much, much more!

The Community of Mercer County Writers will be reading at Goldie's Studio G sometime during this weekend - more details to follow. Tony would like for us to all be thinking about an "unusual" Christmas story to write. A few topics he has suggested include:

The Best Christmas Tree Ever
My Encounter with Santa
The Manger and Mary (or the lamb, or the Shepherd, etc)
Searching for the Star
Candy Canes and Jam Cake

These are just a few ideas, so don't be limited by the suggestions - come up with your own unusual tale.

It is Tony's plan to compile all these stories into a chapbook to have for sale during next year's Home for the Holidays.

Next Meeting

2009-11-10T10:30:00.001-05:00

Hello, Ink Blots and friends,

We will be meeting at 7:00 (NOTE this change of time) this coming Friday at the Ag Center on US 127. There will be a lot of things to discuss and we will be doing some writing (hint it is Friday the 13th).

If you would like to bring some snacks let me know... If I get some response I will let you know so everyone does not bring something.

I had to change the time because I have to meet some folks after the Thriller presentation downtown. If you want to see the presentation come on down. I should be on time but could be running a little late... if I am just have some snacks and talk until I get there.

If you know someone who would like to join us for this meeting, bring them along because we are going to have a lot of fun and make some important plans for the coming year. I have some really exciting news to share.

Be thinking about some piece of writing you might want to write about Christmas. We have been asked to do a reading during the Holiday celebration downtown. If all goes well one or two of the plays we did last year might be done as well as maybe a couple that were not done last year... nothing in stone yet but certainly in the works.

Looking forward to seeing all of you. For those of you who cannot attend, we will miss you and I will send you an update on all the happening after the meeting...

Please let me know if you plan to attend.

Tony

Arts Festival Poetry Contest

2009-09-23T09:03:00.001-04:00

The Arts Council of Mercer County
Presents
Arts Festival Poetry Contest

Three Categories
1. Adult
2. High School Students
3. Middle School Students
(This includes ALL Home School Students)

Entrants may submit up to 4 poems

Any length is ok but the subject must be “Art”
Entry fees are:
$1.00 for one poem
$3.00 for four poems

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS
October 12th, 2009

Winner will receive 5 copies of a chapbook of their poetry up to 20 pages. Entrants will be able to read some of their work at The Writer’s Café booth at the festival.

Entries and fees should be sent to The Arts Council of Mercer County, 235 Ashley Camp Rd. Harrodsburg, KY. 40330. Any questions should be sent to Tony Sexton at contentedme@hotmail.com

Authors to Read

2009-09-21T16:50:00.000-04:00

Harrodsburg poet Tony Sexton will be reading at the Terrapin Hill Festival on Saturaday, September 26th from 2 until 3. He will also be sharing this time slot with another Kentucky author, Ed McClanahan. Come on out to Terrapin Hill Farm this weekend and support these wonderful authors!

The Memory Lives On

2009-09-12T17:12:00.003-04:00

The Memory Lives On
By Bobbi Rightmyer

I was going through a rough spot in my life
in between jobs from birthing babies to elderly care.
I finally had the day off and after seeing my family off to school and work,
I settled in to enjoy the TODAY show.
No sooner did I have my nest made when the first plane hit the first tower.
Was it a horrible accident?
Had something gone terribly wrong?
Or were we under attack from a growing terror
we’ve kept on the back burner too long?
Bomb drills and survival skills raced through the edges of my mind
as I tried to comprehend what was going on.
Never one for telephone calls, I detested using the phone,
but I needed to have some answers
so I picked up the receiver to make my first call.
My hubby wasn’t quiet to work yet, but still on his long commute
and he turned on the radio to listen.
Still in shock, I was on the phone again with my soul sister Linda Loo,
when the next tower was hit.
What the hell is going on?
What do we do?
Why hasn’t the Emergency Broadcast System made an interruption –
they interrupt programming when the wind blows the wrong way?
Throughout the next hours I was glued with horror
to the images coming from the frosty screen.
Airplanes,
box cutters,
terrorist attacks – how is this happening in the great USA?
And why is Bush Jr.,
our Commander in Chief,
reading a book upside down to the children all around?
Why doesn’t he do something – anything to make the horror stop?
Our lives will never be the same again, our freedom has been threatened.
I feel I dug a hole that day to bury myself away,
but all the pain and suffering in my personal life just no longer seems to compare.
And now it’s eight years later and the New York skyline remains ruptured –
our tribute to the terrorist,
by our lack of cohesive structure.

Monthly Meeting of Nomadic Ink

2009-09-12T14:23:00.001-04:00

Here is a summary of the September meeting of Nomadic Ink, from Tony Sexton:

Attention Ink Blots

Here is an update you will want to take note of:

Beginning the 25th of September we will be meeting twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month. Meeting will be at the Ag Center unless otherwise notified (Paula please check your calendar and see what conflicts we have) and the time will be 6:30 to @8:30. We felt that in order to make the meetings possible for everyone this would be the best plan, it also eliminates all the confusion of when and where we are going to meet. I hope everyone can make every meeting but I know that is dreaming but I hope everyone can make at least one meeting a month. We will try to have the first meeting in a workshop format which will give those working on something new a chance to try it out on the group before making too much revision. We will continue to have Jump Starts and exercises designed to keep us writing. The other meeting will be more like the regular meetings we have been having, more of a discussion about events we are working on or plans for other things going on. I hope we can go back to having a different moderator at least once a month to give a bit more variety to the meeting (I am sure you must be tired of my droneing on and on by now).

The revision workshop meeting on Tuesday nights at 7 at my house will continue for several more weeks and then we will incorporate it into our regular meetings. The only exception to this will be on Tuesday September the 22nd when we will take a van load of writers to the release party of Silas House's newest book. This will be at the Carnegie Center in Lexington and we will leave Harrodsburg between 5 and 5:30 pm and be back before 10. If you would like to go please let me know as soon as possible so if we need more transportation we can arrange that. I think leaving from the old CVS parking lot is best (that is where the library will be housed until the new one is built).

At last night's meeting we brainstormed some ideas for events next year. We have to have these planned before Oct. 1st so we can share them with the Arts Council of Mercer County so they can get them in the Tourist Commission's calendar. Some of the ideas were: Poetry Readings in the downtown park during the month of April which is Poetry Month, other reading events in the park during other months of the year (we are open to suggestions as to what and when if you have a good idea)... We would also like to host some sort of Book Fair with an auction of books donated by well known authors or items those authors might donate... several idea were tossed around and we are hoping you might have some input to that as well. I would also welcome any other ideas for events that you might come up with... we want to do something very outside of the box as far as a writing event... so get out of the box and give us some ideas.

We will be hosting a few other author reading at the Fudge Company but we have no way to schedule those a year in advance.

I almost have the Tee shirt design completed and if you want one or two please let me know. The shirts will be around $8.00 and we can do long sleeve or short sleeve so let me know which you would rather have and what size you would like. I will send you a copy of the design as soon as I have it complete but I need to give Tim and idea of how many we will want. Do you think we should order several to sell to folks outside the group?

I am sure I have forgotten something so if you were at the meeting please reply to all and fill the others in.

We sure do miss a lot of you who were once so excited about the group... if you are still hoping to be a part but things just aren't working out right now, please let us know (if you want a shirt, let me know) AND if you know some who do not have emails please pass this info on to them...or send me a snail mail address and I will try to mail them this message.

Thanks to all of you who have help build this group into something to be proud of.

Tony

Book Launch

2009-08-16T10:46:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Tony Sexton and Earl P. Dean on your successful book launch/mixer yesterday at the Kentucky Fudge Company. Tony has just released his first book of poetry, "Scraps," and Earl has release a science fiction novella, "A Tailor Maiden's Secret."

Both of these books are available at Wasteland Press and Amazon.

Herschel McKinley - the MC (Photo by Bobbi Rightmyer)

Earl P. Dean (Photo by Cheryl Sexton)

Tony Sexton (Photo by Bobbi Rightmyer)

Earl P. Dean and Tony Sexton (Photo by Cheryl Sexton)

I Am v.2

2009-08-08T19:42:00.002-04:00

In my mind I am a woman of great beauty,
A passionate lover,
A breeze floating through the meadow…

I am the light rain on the plains,
I am the surf on the sand;
I am the water of the tide,
I am a shell in the ocean…

A breeching wave crashes into me and sends me sprawling onto the shore where I am collected in buckets and in the cloth of shirts and bathing suits. I collect in pockets and in tide pools dug by children. I am strung up and hung around the necks of friends, family, and lovers…

I am a gentle kiss,
I am a light touch that delights the skin,
I am a promise wrapped in a dazzling disguise.

In my mind I am a bit of sunlight,
A reflecting rainbow,
A nervous laugh.

I am the blush on excited cheeks,
I am the gap in braced teeth,
I am the smell of kind flowers,
I am the sweet summer rain,

I fall through sky and wind, winding down through the clouds and broad leaves of trees. I connect the earth and sky that never meet, and let the sky kiss the earth with her broad fingertips. I am the water of life; I am the messenger of the heavens…

I am the moonlight on the water,
A gull’s lonely call,
A bullfrog in the silence.

I am the smile on your lips,
I am the photograph in the frame,
I am the wind in the valley.

I am all the simple things we take for granted.
I am the kind life unnoticed but ever-changing.

I am the way the world begins at the end.

Full Moon Fever

2009-08-07T11:01:00.001-04:00

(Photo by Jim Pankey "WildSpirit" - Jim's Photography can be found at Picasa and Fotothing)

FULL MOON FEVER

Full moon fever,
On a Friday night;
Brings the crazies,
into the light.

Blinding light,
in the darkness prey;
Will steal the sight,
And light of day.

Be still my heart,
Locked away in love,
You're not so smart,
With powers' glove.

Give me a pass,
Just once would you please;
Leave me still on the grass,
And down low on my knees.

So werewolf in kind,
Gathered 'round in the wood;
Will each link their minds,
As they draw up their hoods.

New Speaking Out! Writing Workshop

2009-08-04T15:56:00.000-04:00

Speaking Out! Writing Workshop

Mercer County Senior High School

Thursdays at 6:30 pm
August 20th and 27th
September 17th and 24th
October 22nd and 29th
November 17th

For more information contact:
Roni Gilpin @ 859-319-3531
Betty Dean @ 859-583-6355

Book Release Party

2009-08-03T11:18:00.006-04:00

Host: Nomadic Ink
Type: Party - Mixer
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Kentucky Fudge Company
Main Street, Harrodsburg, Kentucky

The Community of Mercer County Writers - Nomadic Ink - is hosting a book release party to celebrate 2 books by Harrodsburg native authors. Earl Dean will be signing his new young adult book - A TAILOR MAIDEN'S SECRET - and Tony Sexton will be signing his new book of poetry - SCRAPS.

Everyone is encouraged to come out and support these wonderful authors. Books will be available for purchase.

My Angel

2009-07-24T02:13:00.001-04:00

I fell into you a million times.
Cradled in your arms and surrounded with your light,
Your wings caressed my skin,
And with your kiss,
I Took flight,
With you,
my angel from the night,
Who gave me hope to love again,
I learned,
To fly.

Tony Sexton's Scraps

2009-07-22T10:47:00.006-04:00

Congratulations, Tony Sexton, for the publication of your new book, SCRAPS. Tony is the leader of The Community of Mercer County Writers and has lead several writing workshops in the community.
Many writers have said they never knew when an idea or inspiration might hit them and I am no different. Often I find myself considering an idea with no means of jotting it down. Usually I have a pen but, more often than not, I don't have a notebook handy. The only solution, in these cases, is to use what ever I can find; a napkin, box top, grocery receipt or an envelope. The title of this first collection, Scraps, comes from this dilemma. I began writing in the fifth grade when is teacher, Miss Castle, gave me writing challenge using the word “compulsion”. Since then I has spent over 20 years writing, leading writing workshops, which are designed for all ages and experiences and trying to complete her assignment. I am a member of The Community of Mercer County Writers and president elect of The Kentucky State Poetry. You can find my writing in The Journal of Kentucky Studies, Jar and several magazines including Good Old Days. I live in Mercer County with my wonderful wife, Cheryl and their dog, Mercy.

SCRAPS is available from Amazon and Wasteland Press

Happy Birthday ...

2009-07-22T10:35:00.001-04:00

... I just want to take a moment to wish my youngest daughter a

HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY ! ! !

Christine Nicole was born on this date, 17 years ago at 9:10 in the morning. Even though she was 5 weeks early and only weighed 5 lbs. 10 oz., she has been the love of our life.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart, we love you bunches!

Sylvia Davis

2009-07-18T21:13:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder - Sylvia Davis will be reading from her new book, APPALACHIAN ANGELS, on Saturday, July 25th at 2pm at the Kentucky Fudge Company on Main Street. We hope everyone comes out to support this talented Kentucky author.

REUNION

2009-07-18T12:01:00.002-04:00

The driveway was filled with tables covered with trampolines from the weekend yard sale. I had expected Good Will to pick them up while I was at the doctor’s office so seeing them aggravated me because now I had to park at the curb in front of my house where some kid on a bicycle might bump it. I shut off the engine and glanced toward the front porch. Some raggedy looking black man was sitting on the step leaning on a dirty backpack and smoking a cigarette. When he saw me looking, he smiled a wide, upper front teeth-missing smile, lifted the hand holding the cigarette and waved. I didn’t wave back. I only got that much more aggravated and wondered who the vagabond looking man was and why he was acting so familiar with me. I got out of the car and slammed the door.

My day had been long and tiring and I was in no mood to deal with a begging, homeless man, no matter how much I sympathized with his plight. Then he spoke.

“Andy, that’s you isn’t it?”

I looked hard at him. The voice sounded familiar but it was from somewhere in my obscure past.

He went on speaking, “ I thought that was you the other day mowing the grass but I wasn’t sure.”

Then it hit me. I had worked with him several years ago at the water plant. “John?” I questioned.

“Yeah, you didn’t recognize me did you?”

I wasn’t happy to see him. Not that I disliked him but more because he brought back bitter memories of a phase in my life I had tried hard to forget. “Not until I heard your voice. You’ve lost some weight?”

“Yeah, and you grew a beard.”

“Still a rebel, even in my old age.” I was walking towards him and he stood up, stuck out his hand and I shook it. “It’s been awhile.”

“Twenty years almost.” He released his grip and I let go of his hand, which felt oily and warm. “I heard you moved to Georgia.”

I knew eventually he would get around to wanting to talk about the old days I had tried so hard to forget. “I was gone for a few years. Spent a couple on the beach but my health brought me back here.”

“Oh, Man, the beach, sounds like a pretty good life to me, you know.”

"It was.” We sat down on the top step of the porch. “So what’s up with you these days?” I asked.

“Just livin’, Man, you know, just livin’. Eight hours a day, one day to the next. It ain’t life, but it’s livin’. But it’s all good. What about you? Just moved in here, huh?”

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“I work over there.” He put up his thumb like he was hitching a ride. The thumb pointed to a shopping plaza across the street from my back yard. “Flippin’ burgers, Monday through Friday, sometimes half a day on Saturday.”

“So you live around here?”

“On over the hill, pasted the fairgrounds in Hanks Apartments. Heck of a name, ain’t it, Hank’s?” He laughed. “I just cut through everybody’s yard to make the trip shorter.”

“Well, yeah, that would save a lot of time.”

“Yeah, but, you know, a trashy lookin’ black man, carrying a backpack ain’t always welcome in some folks backyard. But, so far no trouble except for a few dogs wantin’ a taste of me.”

I laughed, “Things don’t change much do they?”

“Only in your head.” He grinned that toothless smile again. To look at him you’d never know he was a college graduate who took a wrong turn early in life.

“Well, other than having a tendency to forget things, my head is in the same place it always was.”

“I like to think mine is on a little straighter than it used to be back then.” I was surprised he did not mention the problems he had at the plant.

“I’m glad to hear that, John.’

“Listen, if I know you, I figure you’d rather not talk about our years at the water plant?”

“Not one of my favorite subjects for sure. I am pretty much over that so you’re right, it is a topic I’d rather not dwell on.”

I figured so. But, you know, Man, I had to stop by for a few minutes.”

“It’s fine, John. We worked together, we were pretty good friends… worked together for a long time. We saw a lot of crap go down.”

“Well, that’s why I stopped by.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, they were so wrong lettin’ you go the way they did. They fired me for a good reason, my own fault, you know. But, you, Man, it was just wrong.”

“We’re both probably better off that they did.”

“I think so, but, like I said, I had to stop by and tell you… well, I’ve known a lot of people in my life, but you’re the most honest one I ever met.”
I felt my face redden.

“You taught me a lot and I don’t mean just about that damn plant. You taught me stuff I didn’t even realize for years after I left.”

I didn’t know what to say. I fumbled for words, “Well, I, well, I don’t know about that, we were just trying to survive. But, I do appreciate you saying it.”

He stood up, swung on the backpack and held out his hand again. “Well, I just wanted to tell you that, Man. I’ve waited a lot of years for the chance.” He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a pack of Marlboro Menthols and lit one up. “Thanks.”
I stood up, shook his hand and said, “You’re welcome, but I figure we taught each other a lot.”

“Gotta get goin’, gonna wash the Big Mac grease off of me and prop up my feet. What a life, huh?” He laughed again.

“Take care, John. Stop by again sometime if you want to.”

I just might do that.” He took a drag on the cigarette, blew out a cloud, turned and walked down my sidewalk. He never looked back.

I didn’t expect to see him again unless he was just walking down the street or though my backyard. I unlocked my front door and went inside.

Monthly Meeting

2009-07-17T21:10:00.003-04:00

Just a reminder to all members of The Community of Mercer County Writers - our next scheduled montly meeting will be Friday, July 24th at 6:30 at the Kentucky Ag Heritage Center on Louisville Road.

We hope to see everyone there.

Public Reading

2009-07-15T20:55:00.001-04:00

The Community of Mercer County Writers - Nomadic Ink - held a public reading on Sunday, July 12th. The following are a few photos of our members reading original works created during the Advanced Writers' Workshop held by Tony Sexton.

This is Tony Sexton, the group leader of Nomadic Ink and the instructor for the latest writing workshop.

Len Goodpaster

Shirley Cochran-Walls

Barnyard Queen from Hillbilly Zen

Charles Semones

Staci E. Hackney

And I can't believe I didn't get a photo of my own daughter, Christine Rightmyer, reading, so here is a photo from her graduation reading from the Governor's School of the Arts.

Monday's Untitled:

2009-07-14T01:58:00.000-04:00

Have you ever loved so much,
that it hurt to be,
loved someone like you shouldn't have,
and lost the will to see,
but baby you've taken all of me,
now all i've got is you inside,
you've got me feeling things Ive never felt,
love i don't know what to do.
these things i thought weren't possible,
you feel so amazing beneath my fingertips
i never thought i could fall all over,
Ive fallen so much harder than Ive fallen before,
baby you've taken me away,
and i cant ever see myself coming back.
I loved watching you in my arms,
you smell so amazing when you sleep,
the texture of your skin beneath my fingertips,
your heart beneath my hand,
you don't know what you've done to me with just that.
i can still hear the sound of your breathing,
feel your rapid heartbeat on my skin,
you're just so surreal,
i cant believe you,
you're just amazing,
and i just cant let you go.

Escaping the Memories

2009-07-13T22:45:00.002-04:00

Tennis sweatbands that smell like your wrists,
tender memories that taste like your kiss,
echoes of the songs you love to sing,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Dreams of your skin hot against mine,
My fingers aching for the hands they're longing to find,
cool air conditioning on fresh beads of sweat,
the look in your eyes as we watched the sun set,
teasing and playing,
i longed for your kiss,
waves and boogie boards you're sure to miss,
long talks through tears in the sand,
the moments when you took my hand,
these are the things stuck in my head.
The sound of your voice calling my name,
the way my skin will never be the same,
it still tingles with the last of your touch,
the bruises are fading from the falls and the scrapes,
My favorite memories are the ones i cant escape.

Reflections

2009-07-02T12:20:00.001-04:00

(Photograph by Lynda Lehmann)

REFLECTIONS

Reflections of my past flow freely through my mind
Happy childhood, miserable teenhood, skittish adulthood
All jumbled together in the melting pot of memories
Never really showing my past by outward means, but simmering slowly in my thoughts and dreams

Rippled memories like the ripple of waves
Skipping across the decades of time
Not unlike a skimming stone as it lights on spontaneous musings and perceptions
With no control over where the cognition begins and the flights of fancy end

Why is it older brains will always reflect the past
While newer brains are only interested in jetting to the future
Don't they know that time is fleeting and you should not wish it away
'Cause in the blink of an eye, the future is gone and all we're left with is the past

Water Off a Duck's Back

2009-06-23T09:03:00.001-04:00

WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck
It must be a duck

If it swims like a fish and breaths like a fish
It must be a fish

If it barks like a dog and chews like a dog
It must be a dog

If it meows like a cat and sleeps like a cat
It must be a cat

If it looks like a human and acts like a human
Never, ever believe they are a normal human

Humans can be
Sarcastically catty
Mean as a dog
Slippery as a fish
Clueless like a duck

Being a human can sometimes be underrated
Or very worthwhile and appreciated
Lonely, hollow, self-deprecating
Friendly, happy, and very loved

Too many humans worry
Too many stress
Instead of letting problems go
Like water off a duck's back

The Wedding

2009-06-21T20:25:00.005-04:00

Thanks for all the support from my fellow writers during the preparations for my daughter's wedding. I will only post one photo here, but if you would like to see more, check them out on my writing blog or my rants blog:

My Muse and Me

Rightmyer Rants

From Rightmyer Rants

Temporary Insanity

2009-06-19T09:07:00.001-04:00

Sorry guys, but I'm pleading temporary insanity for the rest of the weekend. If I don't see you guys Tuesday night at class, someone come looking for me - I may need you to bail me out of jail or cart me off to Eastern State.

Wedding, wedding, wedding, wedding ... bet you can't guess what's on my mind!

Sylvia Davis Is Coming to Town

2009-06-18T15:11:00.003-04:00

Sylvia DeLee Davis will be reading in Harrodsburg on Saturday, July 25th at 2pm at the Kentucky Fudge Company. Please join us in welcoming this wonderful author to our hometown.

Sylvia is a seasoned writer whose works appear in numerous anthologies and journals. She is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and resides in Richmond, Kentucky where she is a teacher and tutor. Sylvia compiled Appalachian Angels after listening to friends tell of crossing over to the other side during a near-death experience (NDE), or being assisted by angels during emergency situations. An avid collector of books on NDE, Sylvia is convinced that angels do indeed reside in the hills and hollers of Appalachia. She trusts you will believe too.

Happy Grandpappy

2009-06-18T13:49:00.005-04:00

I am not one to brag too much but since I am a new grandpa and it is sort of my first, I just had to do this post. One thing though, I will not leave it up too long (maybe a week) so everyone can get a look and then I will get back to the real stuff.

Her name is Lilianna Abree Ormond, she weighed 9 pounds 6 ounces and was 21 inches long. She and MaMa are doing great.

In the pic of me with her, she was less than 5 hours old and when I talked to here she just watched and listened. I hope you all don't mind my bragging just a little. By the way, in the bottom picture, she was about 20 minutes old. And, you should see here feet and fingers... they are really long... I will have to erase this because if she ever saw it she would hate me for telling you that.

Prayer To The Waning Moon

2009-06-16T17:48:00.003-04:00

Prayer To The Waning Moon

Beautiful Sister,

As the alabaster warmth of your face

Fades in sleep,

Take this melancholy with you.

Let it dissipate

Like hurtful smoke,

In the jet black darkness of your dreams.

Normandi Ellis

2009-06-15T05:38:00.005-04:00

Normandi Ellis - Kentucky author, Berea College teacher and Editor of Berea College Magazine - was the guest speaker at The Advanced Writer Workshop, lead by Tony Sexton on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the Mercer County Public Library. She offered the class a "jump start" - a prompt to help start the writing process - in addition to talking about the publishing aspect of writing. She also read several passages from two of her books.

For more information on Normandi Ellis you can visit her website here.

June Assignment

2009-06-12T00:11:00.000-04:00

At our last meeting, Tony played a game of 20 questions with us. From out 20 answers he choice 3: 1.) Favorite character we have written about; 2.) Made-up name for a female character; and 3.) Made-up name for a male character. From these 3 names, our assignment is to write a story incorporating all 3 of the characters. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 12, 6:30 at the Ag Center.

An Evening with Normandi Ellis

2009-06-09T10:04:00.004-04:00

The Advanced Writer Workshop - lead by Harrodsburg's own Tony Sexton - and The Community of Mercer County Writers will be hosting Normandi Ellis as our guest speaker on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 7pm at the Mercer County Public Library. It is very exciting to be hosting this wonderful Kentucky Writer.

Books by Normandi Ellis:

Dreams of Isis

Awakening Osiris

Feasts of Light

Fresh-fleshed Sisters

Sorrowful Mysteries and Other Stories

She is also the editor of the Berea College Magazine

Barn Shadows

2009-06-06T19:14:00.001-04:00

(Photo by Dan Felstead of Wood and Pixels Narratives)

BARN SHADOWS

The standing barn has absorbed the frequencies
Of passing memories and feelings gone by
Darkened with shadows of passing time
Or the communications of a earlier eon

The old oak planks are a testimony
Of the hardworking tobacco farmer's life
Permeated wood with fragrances not soon forgotten
The emotional scars like the many wood worm holes

So why is my life wrapped in the shadows
Like the claustrophobic lines on the barn
Instead of breaking free to a different life
Where laughter can chase the shadows away

The shadows help to conceal my presence
As I wait behind the scenes
Never quite comfortable in the role of a leader
A follower I'll always be

Will my life eventually calm down
Will I come to miss these times
But I don't want everything all sunshine and roses
Because the shadows are now my best friends

Eyesight is the First Thing to Go ...

2009-06-05T08:49:00.000-04:00

... so, I have changed the font size on the blog. Even with my glasses, I'm having more and more trouble reading small print, so I made the change out of necessity.

If you think this is too large, please let me know and I can make it a tad smaller, or change it back to the original size.

Writers' Cafe Canceled

2009-05-28T16:06:00.002-04:00

Due to the Kentucky Fudge Company being closed on Sunday, May 31st, this month's Writers' Cafe has been canceled.

The next scheduled reading of the Writers' Cafe is Sunday, June 28th at 2:00 pm.

2009-05-28T15:08:00.003-04:00

Bobbi,
The posting of Normandi coming to the workshop looks great. For all who are reading this, you are certainly invited to attend even if you are not involved in the workshop. Normandi is quiet a treat to listen to. Come listen and visit with her, you won't be sorry. If you are coming and have the time to let me know, it will help in preparing for the night's activities. Those who are in the workshop do not need to let me know, only those who are not part of the workshop.... looking forward to having lots of folks attend.

Welcome To Wonderland

2009-05-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome dear Alice,
To the wonderland world,
Where the grass is soft,
And the air is cool,
Where paths to nowhere,
If nowhere you seek,
Are as plenty as paths to days of the week.
The people here,
Though queer,
Are fair,
Excluding the cat, the queen and the hare,
The doorknob, the caterpillar, the white rabbit as well.
Our Mad Hatter, he sits in his cool garden square,
At his table with odd kinds of mismatched chairs,
His cups are filled to the top-to the brink!
Half cups half filled-with two sugars to drink,
In celebration of an unbirthday they share,
Of the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.
The Cheshire cat awaits you with glee,
From his place atop the cold forest tree,
Contorted stripes appear one by one,
A disembodied grin and a riddle about sin,
He fades in echoing laughter.
The caterpillar that smokes and sways,
Of the hookah he knows his ways,
Mushrooms and riddles he leaves,
When size and proportion have left you stranded.
Though well she seems in temperament not,
The Queen of Roses red,
When she isn’t happy she yells “OFF WITH YOUR HEAD”,
Poor king of hers to sit and wait,
And please this mighty lady,
Whose court of cards has a job that’s hard,
Of painting her roses red.
So welcome dear Alice,
To the wonderland world,
Where the grass is soft,
And the air is cool,
Where paths to nowhere,
If nowhere you seek,
Are as plenty as paths to days of the week.
The people here,
Though queer,
Are fair,
Beware,
Of the wonderland world that you seek,
Welcome,
Welcome.

Unknown - Hallowed and Hushed

2009-05-24T14:55:00.000-04:00

(This is the beginning of a creative non-fiction piece I'm working on based on a true story. In the late 1800s, an unknown young woman came to the Graham Springs Hotel in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. During the evenings grand ball, she danced all night with one man after another. Immediately after the last dance, the lady died in her partners arms. Her identity remains a mystery to this day.)

Unknown - Hallowed and Hushed be the place of the dead. Step Softly. Bow Head.

As she entered the Graham Springs Hotel, she self-consciously touched her dark hair. Mid-back length, she had it artfully pulled on top of her head with several ringlets of curls dangling like tendrils around her graceful neck.

Her alabaster complexion was deathly white, but not a sickly pallor of ill-health, just the markings of a gentle lady brought up to protect her skin from the sun. The apples of each cheek held the faint hue of a pink rosebud at dawn with only a tiny dimple marring the line of her left cheek.

Her eyes were hazel with tiny flecks of gold that glistened and reflected in sunlight or candlelight. Thick curly eyelashes gave her eyes a dreamy look of someone older than her years.

When had only checked into the hotel for one night, arriving unescorted on a coach from Lexington. She had only a small trunk and she was reluctant to let out of her sight. She paid her bill with Confederate bills and signed her name daintily in the thick ledger Mrs. E. W. Maclaine. They later learned this was a false name.

She appeared in the grand ballroom at precisely the stroke of nine o'clock, her pale green dress draping behind her like a foaming waterfall. She was instantly the center of attention, turning every young man's head.

She danced with each man in turn and would then start all over again, rarely stopping to catch her breath. She refused all overs for a glass of punch and never left the ballroom for a walk in the moonlit garden.

Just a few strokes after midnight, guest began making their way to their rooms. As the mystery girl's last dance partner gave her one last twirl, he was horrified to find the young woman dead.

All attempts to learn the true identity of Mrs. E. W. Maclaine were unsuccessful. After a week of searching, he unknown lady was laid to rest on the grounds of Harrodsburg Springs. The unknown tombstone still marks the grave.

Give me some honest critique

2009-05-24T08:25:00.004-04:00

As you can see, I have posted the story I did not read at the meeting on Friday night. This is one of the stories I am working on for the book I am going to call "Snapshots" and I need your eyes.
If you would try to answer these questions for me:
1. What is the picture you get from this story?
2. What is hidden in the story that is not about going to the fair?
3. Is this story too predictable?
4. Is the dialogue believable?
5. What is your Very Honest opinion of the story? Give me details.

I am very serious about this book and each of you reading it can help me accomplish what I want to do if you give me a critical eye.
Thank you

By the way, I thought we had a good meeting Friday even though we did go a bit longer than usual... I promise that will not happen again.... You all are the greatest!

The Octopus circa 1957

2009-05-23T17:23:00.002-04:00

“What time we leavin’, Ma Ma?” Andy said sitting on the bottom step of the stairs.
“I’m almost ready, we’re gonna meet Gladys and Jolene at the front gate at six, so we have plenty of time.” Andy’s mother walked out of the bathroom, stopped to look at him and said, “My, don’t you look handsome.”
“I wanted to wear my blue shirt but I got it dirty and forgot to bring it downstairs.”
“Well, that one is just fine. It’s been a long time since we haven’t been to the fair in a long time have we?”
“Nope.” Actually this was the first time Andy could remember going anywhere with his mother since she started working the swing shift. They some times when to visit his grand parents on their farm where he usually spent most of his summer, but they never went any where fun.
“well, we will just have to make up for that tonight. We’ll have a lot of fun. Are any of your friends going to be at the fair tonight?”
Andy wondered if his mother was hoping there would be so she could go off with her friends. He hoped not. “I don’t know. Maybe Jerry if his mother will let him.”
The fairgrounds weren’t far from their home so they were able to walk. Andy could hear the rides running and the music playing. When they turned the corner of their street he could see how the midway was lit up even though the sun had not set. Andy could feel the excitement in the air.
“What do you want to ride tonight?”
“Everything.”
“Everything?”
“Well, maybe not everything. But the Tilt-a-Whirl for sure.”
His mother pointed to the front gate of the fairgrounds, “Oh, there is Jolene.”
Jolene was standing just outside the gate. Andy knew her because she came to visit his mother often.
“Well, you have a fine looking date tonight.” Jolene smiled at Andy.
“Isn’t he something?” His mother replied. “Says he wants to ride everything tonight.”
“Me too.” Jolene giggled. “Gladys will be here in a sec, I saw her come in but parking is tough tonight. I think the front is full.”
Andy saw the other woman walking along the fence and headed their way. “There she is.” He pointed towards her.
His mother waved and the woman waved back.
“Whew, I had to park all the way in the back. That is a long walk. Have you all been waiting long?” “Just got here.” Andy’s mother said.
“Well, come on,” Gladys said, “I need a Sno- cone. What about you, Andy, you need a Sno- cone or maybe some Cotton Candy?”
Andy smiled.
The four of them walked down the midway amid a barrage of clanking bells and barkers touting their goods and games. “Hey, Lady, come on over and win that boy a bear. Three balls for a quarter... come on..”
Andy’s mother ignored the man but Andy was fascinated by him watched him as they passed by. He was watching so close he almost tripped over a cable. Something about the man scared him. Andy took his mother’s hand.
“Look at tall these rides, Andy, do you think we can ride all of ‘em tonight?”
About that time they were passing one called The Octopus. It had seats a lot like the Tilt-a-Whirl but they were more enclosed. The difference was, this ride had long arms and when it was running the seats spun around and the arms went up and down in the air. It looked real scary to Andy.
“I don’t know if I want to ride that one or not.”
“Oh, sure you do.” His mother said, “It’s the best one they have.”
Andy frowned.
“Well get our Sno-cones and ride the Tilt-a-Whirl first.” His mother grinned and squeezed his hand.
They all sat at a picnic table and ate the Sno-cones while they watched all the people milling around. Many were headed into the grand stands to watch the horse show.
“I hope we have time to see some of the show.” Gladys said. “I really like the ones pulling the little carts.”
“Oh, yeah, me too,” said Jolene, “Do you like to watch the horses, Andy?”
“Yeah, I’d like to ride one of ‘em someday. Those with the carts, I mean”
Oh the way to their first ride, they passed by a tent where several women were standing on a stage and a man out front was shouting, “They wiggle, they giggle, they strut their stuff for just a dime you’ll get enough… come and see them perform.”
Andy looked at the women on the stage. His buddy, Jerry told him about this kind of show. Jerry’s dad called it a Hochie Cochie Show but Jerry wasn’t sure what that meant and Andy was afraid to ask.
The Tilt-a-Whirl was a lot of fun. Andy and his mother rode in one and Gladys and Jolene rode in another. Sometimes it seemed they would crash into each other and Andy’s mother would squeal. Andy would laugh and try to make the cart spin around.
When it was over, Andy’s mother said, “Ok, come on, Andy, let’s go ride The Octopus.”
“I don’t think I want to ride that one.”
“Oh, come on, Andy,” Jolene said, “We’re gonna ride everything tonight, right?” They bought the tickets but Andy still was not convinced he was going to ride.
“It’ll be fun, Andy; it’s just like the other one except it goes up in the air. You’ll love it, I promise.” Andy listened to his mother but still had doubts.
“Ok.” he finally agreed.
The man locked them in the car and gave them a spin. He did the same thing to everyone until all the cars were filled. Then he shouted, “Hang on, you’re going for the ride of your life.” And then he laughed.
It was slow at first and barely got off the ground. Andy held on to the bars so tight his knuckles were white. His mother knew he was scared so she didn’t make the car spin.
The ride picked up speed and Andy slid up next to his mother and the car began to spin. Now the ride was going faster and faster and the arms were going up and down, up and down. Andy’s heart raced.
“Ma Ma, I want off.”
“You can’t get off, Sweetheart, not until the ride is finished.”
“Please make them stop, Ma Ma.” Andy begged but his mother just grinned. Up and down, spinning around and around, around and around.
Andy caught a glimpse of the man on the ground and began hollering at him, “I want off, Mister, let me off.”
The ride just seemed to get faster and the man laughed harder.
“Please, Mister, Please.” Andy cried.
His mother tried to make the car quit spinning but since all their weight was on one side it wouldn’t stop.
Spinning and spinning, up and down, around and around, “Please, Mister, please.”
Finally the ride started slowing down and cam to a stop. It seemed like forever to Andy. Now, he wanted off and as far away as he could get. But they were the last to get released.
When the man unlocked the bar, he said to Andy, “Here wanna ride again?” and handed Andy a free ticket, then laughed again.
Andy didn’t take it; he just rushed to the gate leading back into the midway.
“Are you Ok, Son?”
“Yeah, I guess but that was way too scary.”
Jolene and Gladys came over and Jolene asked, “Did you all hear some kid screaming on that ride?”
Andy didn’t answer and his mother only said, “Let’s go see if we can win a bear and then see some of the horse show.
As the four walked off, Andy took his mother’s hand and said, “Maybe we’ll ride that again next year.”

May Assignment

2009-05-22T17:48:00.000-04:00

*****SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWEST POSTS*****

The next meeting for the Community of Mercer County Writers - or Nomadic Ink - will be Friday, May 22 at 6 pm at the Ag Center in McAfee.

Your assignment - if you choose to accept - write a story, poem, prose or song entitled:

"My Mother and Me"

We didn't have a very big response to members posting on the blog, but we encourage everyone to post their stories.

The next public reading for Nomadic Ink will be Sunday, May 31st at 2 pm at the Fudge Company on Main Street

The Windmill

2009-05-21T14:49:00.001-04:00

(Photo by Dan Felstead of Wood and Pixels Narratives

THE WINDMILL

Wind moves the windmill
Like a choreographed dance
The natural force
And the man made contraption
At one on the lonely prairie
Sending me images of the land before Oz
Stirring my emotions and memories
Holding them captive
Awaiting the creative outlet
That is bound to flow from my pen