Monday, August 29, 2011

Decatur Book Festival 2011





The largest independent book festival in the country is happening again only an hour from Demorest! The Decatur Book Festival will take pace September 2-4 and will feature readings by writers like Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Washington Post reporter David Finkel, New York Times Best Seller Patty Callahan Henry, and National Poetry Series winner Patricia Smith. Events include author readings, a day of activities for elementary-aged children, and writing workshops. For full details, visit the festival's website: Decatur Book Festival 2011.

Monday, August 22, 2011

NANO Prize accepting submissions for flash prose



The 3rd annual NANO Prize is accepting submissions until August 31st! The NANO Prize awards $500 to a work of flash fiction, micro essay, or prose of 300 words or fewer. A $15 entrance fee rewards you with a chance at the prize and a one year subscription to NANO Fiction. Winners will be announced in October.

For full details, visit NANO Fiction.


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Athens GA reading



Presented by the UGA Creative Writing Program, featuring the works of new students including Bradley Bazzle, Elizabeth Cunningham, Johnny Damm, Will Dunlap, Lindsey Harding, and Matthew Nye.

SHOWTIMES: 7:30p - MON 8/22

ADMISSION: FREE

Thursday, August 11, 2011

These Books Are Made for Reading

Mark your calendar! The 13th Georgia Literary Festival will be held in Sautee-Nacoochee, GA--just 20 miles from Demorest.


This year's events are still being finalized. Last year, twenty-five authors from all over Georgia gave readings of their works, including Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, bestselling author Ferrol Sams, Georgia Poet Laureate David Bottoms, and award-winning writers like Tina Ansa, Philip Lee Williams, Damon Lee Fowler, Pamela Bauer Mueller, and many more.

According to the Georgia Center for the Book, "this will be the first time the festival, a “moveable feast” that is held in a different city each year and which celebrates writers in those areas of Georgia, has moved to the northeastern corner of the state."


Come out and represent!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Winner of the Butterfly Effect Challenge


"Part of the Demorest Butterfly Effect Celebration was a Creativity Challenge for Piedmont students...Eight students entered poems, short stories, songs, and artwork exemplifying the butterfly effect. While all of the entries showed great insight, one stood out among the rest. Congratulations to Sonya Leckman for her poem titled Butterfly!" -- From Piedmont's QEP (Quality Enhancement Program, a 5-year program focused specifically on inspiring critical thinking and student learning)


Butterfly
By: Sonya Leckman

Butterfly, Butterfly;
How sweetly you flap your wings
Do you know about the hurricane down south?
You flew that way the other day.
And now a baby cries as the wind stings his eyes.

Butterfly, Butterfly;
Where do you wander as day breaks?
Do you see that other butterfly
Cursed to crawl upon the ground
Because someone opened his cocoon
Before his wings were properly formed?

Butterfly, Butterfly;
Why don’t you warn them?
Those people who rush
Past the perfect moment
And find themselves headfirst in the future,
Much to their surprise.

Butterfly, Butterfly;
What blessing will you bring us?
An early spring, a happy Christmas?
I think I’ll help you
To spread joy around the world.
Each smile I share reaches out
To another soul that delights.

Butterfly, Butterfly;
Which way do you fly?
To greet the animals napping in the sun.
Goodbye sweet butterfly.