Women Who Write | A Place, A Space, A Voice | Louisville, Kentucky Dear WWW Members,
The October WWW Writer’s retreat at Hopscotch House provided members an opportunity to write, revise, and rejuvenate. I enjoyed seeing and talking to so many members at the event. Thanks to the WWW Board who planned and provided the retreat.
WWW is presenting several events in the coming months including our Annual Evening of Reading at the Bard’s Town on Thursday, November 1 at 6 pm. I hope you will come out and listen to our members read their works. The Evening of Reading replaces our regular scheduled meeting at the library.
You are also invited to join us at the WWW Book Club in November, our annual Holiday Brunch, and a special Victorian Winter Write in December. I look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events.
Diane Cruze
Director, Women Who Write
Welcome New Members
Welcome to the following who recently joined Women Who Write.
Barbara Hegermiller-Smith
Ramona Osborne
Amy Shah
Melissa Smith
Kelly Valenti
WWW Volunteer Opportunities.
We have had a great response to the WWW call for volunteers who will serve in WWW Board and support positions for 2019. But we still have the following two positions which we still need to fill.
WWW Public Relation Officer
The Public Relations position is an officer on the WWW Board. The Public Relations officer will promote WWW events through press releases to local media, member emails, and communication with local literary arts organizations. Events include but are not limited to; workshops, “seasonal rites”, conferences, public literary readings and retreats. The Public Relations officer will receive support from WWW Marketing Committee members, and the WWW Facebook/Social Media Coordinator. According to the bylaws, the Public Relations officer is designated as a two-year commitment and attends monthly Board meetings.
WWW Marketing Committee
(Need one additional member)
Marketing Committee members will help the Public Relations Officer develop and implement marketing strategies which promote Women Who Write events. Committee members will maintain and update the WWW press release / marketing contact list for event promotions. Members are welcome to help represent Women Who Write and provide WWW information at community literary events. Committee members will also assist the WWW contracted Website Manager in publicizing events on the WWW website. We are looking for a minimum of two members to serve on this committee. Board meeting attendance is welcome but not required. We encourage committee members to hold the position for two years, but one year is acceptable.
Please support WWW by volunteering for one of these positions.
Member News
Congratulations to Selene Phillips whose poems have been published in Cultural Survival. Founded in 1972, the nonprofit publication is dedicated to defending the human rights of indigenous people. Read Selene’s poems at https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/selene-phillips-flambeau-seasons
Bonnie Jean Feldkamp has had numerous articles published recently. You can read her writing online at the following links:
USA Today:
Your Teen for Parents:
https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/having-difficult-conversations
Third Annual WWW Evening of Readings
Please join us at The Bard’s Town 1801 Bardstown Road, for Women Who Write’s Third Annual Evening of Readings on Thursday, November 1, 2018. Gather at 6:00 pm to order beverage and food. Readings by members will begin promptly at 6:30 pm. This event is in lieu of our November WWW monthly meeting at the library.
The Louisville Literary Arts Writer’s Block Festival
Saturday, November 10, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Spalding University, College Street Building 812 South Second Street
The Writer’s Block Festival brings together published and emerging writers, readers, professors, and book industry professionals for a full-day, free public event. The Festival hosts a range of workshops, readings, panels, staged interviews, open mics, and a print & resource fair. More information at https://www.louisvilleliteraryarts.org
Women Who Write has reserved a half table at the festival’s print fair from 9:00 to 4:00 pm where we will provide WWW promotional information for visitors to pick up. The half table is also available at no cost for members who would like to sell their books at the event. Members will be responsible for handling all book sales. Contact Diane Cruze at if you wish to participate.
Women Who Write Book Club
The WWW Book Club will resume on Wed., Nov. 14, 2018, at 6 p.m., at Breckenridge Chapel, Free Methodist Church, 239 Breckenridge Land, Louisville 40207. We will read There There by Tommy Orange. Kim Snead will host the event, and Kim and Selene Phillips will provide pasta and other light snacks. Kim’s church is located in St. Matthews at the corner of Breckenridge Lane and Grandview, almost to Shelbyville Road. RSVP to Selene at .
Write Like a Victorian
Winter Write
We can’t promise quill pens and inkwells, but a special evening Winter Write is your chance to focus on your writing in the comfort of a Victorian-era home in Old Louisville. Join Susan Lindsey on Thursday, December 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for an evening of writing and light refreshments: 1335 South First Street, Unit 2, Louisville, KY (on First Street between Ormsby and Magnolia). Space is limited. Please RSVP to or 502-439-7222.
WWW WORDS, WARMTH, and WISDOM PROJECT
In an effort to support a community-wide program, Women Who Write has created the Words, Warmth, and Wisdom project. In collaboration with the local Catholic Charities English as a Second Language Director program, our project will encourage reading while providing warm winter garments to local refugee families who participate in The National Center for Families Learning program. (NCFL)
Donations of picture books and outwear (hat, scarf, gloves) along with a brief note of encouragement or welcome will be collected from September thru December. At our December meeting, we will attach the outerwear, and notes to the books with ribbon. A date will be scheduled to distribute the gifts and read to the families if you wish to participate.
NCFL provides various ways to assist refugee family members of all ages, including ESL classes, homework assistance, and guidance and support to ease the challenges of relocation and transition.
The NCFL program in Louisville run by Catholic Charities takes place at Holy Cross High School on Monday thru Thursday evenings from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Now in its second year, the program is expanding and looking for volunteers to work in several areas. If you would like to volunteer or want to learn more about the program, contact Debbie Chartoff at or 502-767-8346.
WWW Holiday Brunch
The Dutch treat holiday brunch is scheduled for Sat., Dec. 1, 20118, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Mimi’s Café 615 S Hurstbourne Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40222. Bring a gently used book you have read gift wrapped in newsprint if you want to participate in our literary gift exchange. RSVP online here: https://womenwhowrite.com/events/2018-12-01/
Celebrate Women’s History Month March 2019
Steve Cambron, organizer of the Flying Out Loud monthly public literary readings has invited WWW members to participate in celebrating Women’s History month in March 2019. Six WWW members will give ten minutes readings of work they have written that are related to a woman’s perspective on history or living in today’s world. All genres are welcome. The reading will be March 11, 2019 from 6 to 8 pm at Sunergos Coffee shop, 2122 South Preston Street. Reading slots are limited. Notify Diane Cruze if you would like to participate.
Volunteer To Host a Seasonal Write
Seasonal Rites events give members an opportunity to bring their laptop or writing tablet and start on that new writing project, revise and edit a piece, or use a writing prompt to jumpstart new writing ideas. It is also an opportunity for members to support each other in their writing pursuits.
We would love for members to volunteer to host a Seasonal Rite at their home or at a community location. As the host, you choose the date, place and time for us to gather. Contact a board member if you would like to host a Rite.
September Meeting and Readings
We had a total of thirteen members in attendance with no guests.
Readings:
Irene Sulyevich – “I Hear You”
Joan Dubay – Untitled, Story about Saint Anthony
Pat Smith – “House Divided” – Chapter 1
Pam LaFollette – “Murder at the Art Show – Leaving the Apartment, Act 2, 05)
Suzanne Cordery – “Christmas Eve” – Chapter 1
Diane Cruze – “The Joy of Goodwill Hunting”
October Meeting and Readings
Eighteen members were in attendance. We had two visitors Melissa Smith and Amy Shah. Melissa and Amy both joined.
Readings:
Pam Lafollette – Read a letter she is sending to a literary agent representing her book Murder at the Art Show.
Sherry Emery – Essay. “The Weirdest Party We NEVER Gave”
Linda Yewell – Read a character inventory developed from a piece she is working on. No title.
Kim Esteran – A poem. “Dreaming”
Cheri Powell – Two short essays. “Mix Master” and “The Afghan”
Selene Phillips – A poem. “firefly”
Diane Cruze – Essay. “Olfactory Delight”
Events and Opportunities
37th Annual Kentucky Book Fair – Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Alltech Arena, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington. Over 500 titles by Kentucky authors will be sold at the at the Kentucky Book Fair. Each author has their newest book for sale, and in some cases, older titles as well. The fair will also have panel discussions and talks by featured writers throughout the day.
Sarbande Writing Residency – Residencies at Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historical Homestead in May, June, or July 2019. Writers receive $200 stipend to help defray travel expenses. Deadline November 15. More information at http://www.sarabandebooks.org/residency/
Two Sylvias Press is looking to publish Full-Length Poetry Manuscripts by Women Over 50 (established or emerging poets) Prize: $1,000 and print book and eBook publication by Two Sylvias Press, 20 copies of the winning book, and a vintage art nouveau pendant. The Wilder Series Book Prize is open to women over 50 years of age. Women submitting manuscripts may be poets with one or more previously published chapbooks/books or poets without any prior chapbook/book publications. All manuscripts will be considered for publication. Deadline: November 30. More information at http://twosylviaspress.com/wilder-series-poetry-book-prize.html
Creative Nonfiction magazine is seeking new work for an upcoming issue dedicated to memoir. Creative Nonfiction editors will award $2,500 for Best Essay and two $500 prizes for runner-up. All essays will be considered for publication in a special “Memoir” issue of the magazine to be published in 2020. Essays must be previously unpublished and no longer than 4,000 words. Deadline: February 25, 2019. More information at https://www.creativenonfiction.org/submissions/memoir
