OCTOBER REVIEW & NOVEMBER PREVIEW

Kathryn Eastburn, featured reader for this month's Colorado Springs Writers Reading Series, showcased selections from her books of essays as well as her regular column ("The Middle Distance") for the local NPR station, KRCC. Her imagination captivated everyone as much as her personal perspectives on writing and loss.

A week after the reading, I was back at the BAC for a preview-exhibit of artist Laura BenAmots' collection of larger-than-life paintings under the title "Battle Portraits." Laura emphasized how much her work functions as a part of soldiers and their stories as they became involved in the arts after or between deployments. Kathryn was at the preview as well, and, over glasses of wine and mini-cupcakes, we continued discussing her idea of starting an eight-week workshop for soldiers and vets interested in creative nonfiction. The pilot workshop will take place in January 2012, and I get to be part of it too, teaching a couple weeks of poetry within it. If you know someone who might be interested in enrolling, please email me and let me know (cswritersreading@gmail.com), or have that person email the series blog address so I can pass the messages to Kathryn.

Next month, on Friday, November 11th, Denver poet Sandy Tseng will be our guest author. Sandy currently teaches at Metropolitan State College and is the author of a book of poems called Sediment. She's been a delight to work with and I can't wait for everyone to hear her work.

Remember, we're usually in the main gallery of the BAC, but sometimes we end up moving due to various art exhibits. If we're in Venue 515 again, there will be plenty of signs posted directing everyone next door. Not a major change.

See you guys next month,

Abby E Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

P.S. My pumpkin cookies complimented the wine bar well at the reading. Just thought I'd say so.