Several writers will read from their original poems, stories and essays published in a new book “A Tapestry of Voices: an East Tennessee Anthology” by writers from the Knoxville Writers’ Guild at Union Ave Books from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 22.
This year’s theme of diversity will be reflected in the readings and will feature both prose and verse on a wide range of subjects. Some of those reading will be Lucy Sieger, whose essay about spiritual polygamy appears early in the book; Artress Bethany White, a poet and assistant professor at Carson-Newman College; and Jennifer Alldredge, who said the annual Shakespeare on the Square serves as the backdrop for her story, “Tarantella.”
Kay Newton and Doris Ivie edited “A Tapestry of Voices,” backed by a KWG committee that includes Martha Yarnell (chair), Kim West (designer), Meg Bensey, and others. The anthology is currently available for purchase at Union Ave Books and other independent bookstores or at www.knoxvillewritersguild.org.
TheKnoxville Writers’ Guildmeets the first Thursday of each month at 7pm at Laurel Theatre, located on the corner of Laurel Avenue and 16th St., Knoxville, Tenn.
The building is handicapped accessible and meetings are open to the public. The purpose of the KWG is to: facilitate a broad, inclusive, and egalitarian community among area writers; provide a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers; help members improve and market their writing skills; and promote writing and creativity in the wider community through education, publication, and sponsorship of writing-related public events.
The Knoxville Writers’ Guild cheerfully welcomed WBIR-TV star of the Heartland Series, Bill Landry, as their guest speaker for the December 1st meeting. Landry, who was invited by the Program Committee to discuss his new book “Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures,” arrived early to sign books and meet with members and guests. A crowd of over sixty chatted with the author while everyone munched on an array of Christmas snacks.
The meeting was called to order by president of the Guild, Terry Shaw, who made announcements and introduced the vice-president of the group, Judith Duvall. Duvall spoke to the group about all the things that have to be done in order to keep the Guild in operating order. “The Board of Directors for Knoxville Writers’ Guild wanted to pay honor to one of our leaders who, more than anyone, works tirelessly doing the business of this Guild,” said Duvall. “That person is Martha Yarnell.” Yarnell was then presented with an award from the Guild.
Shaw then introduced Jim Johnston, owner of Celtic Cat Publishing Company, the publisher for Landry’s new book who was given the honor of introducing Landry. Johnston, an Irishman with a heavy Irish accent, told the group of how he met Landry one day in a church parking lot. “We were both headed to meetings and were late,” said Johnston. “There was a heavy rain and Bill had left the lights on in his car. I stopped him to let him know. We made friends on that day and have been friends since, and that was 20 years ago. Bill hired me to play a tavern owner in one of the Heartland shows due to my accent,” explained Johnston. Johnston also told the group that Landry’s book has been selling at a remarkable pace. “We first ordered 3,000 copies,” he said. “We’ve had to reorder because we ran out of books,” he said.
Next, Landry took to the stage and delighted the crowd with his tales of how he came to create the Heartland Series. He read a few pages from his book, took questions from the crowd, but mostly talked about the people and events he had experienced during the last 25 years of working on the show. He also introduced his wife, Becky, and son.
Landry’s comments about people from Ohio drew the largest laughter from the crowd. “People from Ohio are stupid,” quipped Landry. “One lady from Ohio stopped in Cades Cove to tell one of the rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains that “your fences are broken and your deer have gotten out.” One man asked a ranger, “How much does it cost to ride an elk?” “See,” said Landry, “I told you they are stupid.” When Landry asked for questions from the audience, the first man he called on began his question by saying, “I am from Ohio.”
Landry’s book can be found on the internet and at all local stores. He has a full schedule of book signing events coming in the near future and can be found at
The Knoxville Writers’ Guild cheerfully welcomed WBIR-TV star of the Heartland Series, Bill Landry, as their guest speaker for the December 1st meeting. Landry, who was invited by the Program Committee to discuss his new book “Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures,” arrived early to sign books and meet with members and guests. A crowd of over sixty chatted with the author while everyone munched on an array of Christmas snacks.
The meeting was called to order by president of the Guild, Terry Shaw, who made announcements and introduced the vice-president of the group, Judith Duvall. Duvall spoke to the group about all the things that have to be done in order to keep the Guild in operating order. “The Board of Directors for Knoxville Writers’ Guild wanted to pay honor to one of our leaders who, more than anyone, works tirelessly doing the business of this Guild,” said Duvall. “That person is Martha Yarnell.” Yarnell was then presented with an award from the Guild.
Shaw then introduced Jim Johnston, owner of Celtic Cat Publishing Company, the publisher for Landry’s new book who was given the honor of introducing Landry. Johnston, an Irishman with a heavy Irish accent, told the group of how he met Landry one day in a church parking lot. “We were both headed to meetings and were late,” said Johnston. “There was a heavy rain and Bill had left the lights on in his car. I stopped him to let him know. We made friends on that day and have been friends since, and that was 20 years ago. Bill hired me to play a tavern owner in one of the Heartland shows due to my accent,” explained Johnston. Johnston also told the group that Landry’s book has been selling at a remarkable pace. “We first ordered 3,000 copies,” he said. “We’ve had to reorder because we ran out of books,” he said.
Next, Landry took to the stage and delighted the crowd with his tales of how he came to create the Heartland Series. He read a few pages from his book, took questions from the crowd, but mostly talked about the people and events he had experienced during the last 25 years of working on the show. He also introduced his wife, Becky, and son.
Landry’s comments about people from Ohio drew the largest laughter from the crowd. “People from Ohio are stupid,” quipped Landry. “One lady from Ohio stopped in Cades Cove to tell one of the rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains that “your fences are broken and your deer have gotten out.” One man asked a ranger, “How much does it cost to ride an elk?” “See,” said Landry, “I told you they are stupid.” When Landry asked for questions from the audience, the first man he called on began his question by saying, “I am from Ohio.”
Landry’s book can be found on the internet and at all local stores. He has a full schedule of book signing events coming in the near future and can be found at
