An Anniversary of Verse NC Poetry Society Celebrates 80th Year with Statewide Readings

2012 marks the 80th year of the North Carolina Poetry Society, and the Society and its friends and members are celebrating that anniversary with a series of readings across the state organized by and featuring NC's most prestigious poets.

It all begins with the state's current Poet Laureate, Joseph Bathanti, on November 29. The reading and Open Mic to be held at 3:30 at the Scholars Bookshop (Appalachian State's university bookstore) will include ASU professors and poets Hilda Downer and Lynn Doyle.

Six other readings will be held on December 1.

In Charlotte, Myers Park Baptist Church will host organizer Tony Abbott, Morri Creech, Annalee Kwochka, Alan Michael Parker, Dannye Romine Powell, David Radavich, and Lisa Zerkle at 2:00.

The Regulator Bookshop in Durham will feature readings by Betty Adcock, Noel Crook, and Marylin Hervieux also at 2:00.

Former state Poet Laureate, Kay Byer will host Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Joe Mills, and Julie Suk at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva at 3:00.
Another former state Poet Laureate, Fred Chappell, will be featured along with Malaika King Albrecht, Terry Kennedy, Val Nieman, and John Thomas York at the Community Arts Café in Winston-Salem at 2:00.

Peter Makuck and Mark Cox will read at St. Francis by the Sea in Salter Path at 4:00.

And Shelby Stephenson, Alex Albright, Marty Silverthorne, and Jim Clark will participate in a marathon reading from 9:00 AM to 3:15 PM at the R.A. Fountain General Store in Fountain.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the NC Poetry Society website at www.ncpoetrysociety.org

Thanks to Scott Owens for the above post. The bold and red text is my own.
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Posted By Blogger to Musings at 11/08/2012 09:11:00 PM 

Joseph Bathanti named new Poet Laureate for NC

Governor Beverly Purdue named Joseph Bathanti as new North Carolina Poet Laureate.

From a press release issued by the North Carolina Arts Council, Governor Purdue is quoted as saying, “Joseph Bathanti is an award-winning poet and novelist with a robust commitment to social causes. He first came to North Carolina to work in the VISTA program and has taught writing workshops in prisons for 35 years. As North Carolina’s new Poet Laureate, he plans to work with veterans to share their stories through poetry—a valuable and generous project.”

Writers Circle congratulates Joseph Bathanti.

Visit Press 53 to order a package of his poetry books along with one by the former Poet Laureate, Cathy Smith Bowers.