Colorado Springs Writers Reading Series

JANUARY REVIEW & FEBRUARY PREVIEW

2012-02-06T19:37:00.000-08:00

Guten Tag, meine Freunde!

Well, I wasn't able to host the January event for the Writers Reading Series, but our guest hostess, Janele Johnson, and the lovely Patti Mirehouse have told me it was a fun evening -- I hope everyone enjoyed Sandra Knauf as well as her contributors and their different approach to the featured reading. Sandra's got issues of Greenwoman Magazine if you're interested in purchasing copies still, and for those of you with writing students, I would encourage them to submit their garden- and/or nature-related work. It's a magazine with spunk, flavor, and distinctive voice.

I will be at the reading this Friday, the 10th, at 7:30PM at the BAC -- and I'm so excited. First of all, February is my birthday month and I love Valentines Day. I love the richness that the downhill slide of winter brings -- it's still cold enough to bundle up, and our thoughts are set on warmth. Second, the featured author for February is L. Annette Binder, winner of a Pushcart Prize and the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, Annette creates the. coolest. short stories. (Find her bio here.) We will, of course, start the evening with a short Open Mic session, and Annette will take over after intermission.

Looking forward to seeing all of you there. Remember, if you have questions about upcoming readings, you can contact me by leaving comments here or emailing cswritersreading@gmail.com.

See you Friday!

Abby E. Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

SIDE NOTE

2012-01-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention something in my blog post yesterday. I currently have available seats in my English 227 (Poetry Writing) class at PPCC this spring. Enrollment is still open, and I'd love for those of you who are interested-- in Colorado only, though, as it's a face-to-face class-- to register, or spread the word to those of your writing friends who might enjoy the class. Honestly, I think the study of poetry is educational for any student or intellectual, so even if you write primarily fiction or nonfiction, try it out.

This class meets at the Centennial campus, Monday nights from 5:30 till 8. We'll be completing one rhetorical analysis, tons of writing exercises and prompts, and several workshop sessions. Hope you can join!

Abby E Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

JANUARY PREVIEW & DECEMBER REVIEW

2012-01-01T20:03:00.001-08:00

Here's an announcement before I get to the photos from last month's reading. At 7:30pm on Friday, January 13th, the CSWRS event will have a guest host, as I will be out of town for that particular weekend. (And I will be purchasing a very large, very obnoxious daily planner so this double-scheduling doesn't happen again.)

Janele Johnson, chair of the literature department at PPCC, will be stepping in for me. You might remember her from March 2011, when she presented her poetry as a featured author. She's basically awesome. Books will still be sold at the book table, we'll still be in the BAC main gallery, and there will still be a suggested donation of $2/person to pay for venue costs. Remember to support the BAC by purchasing a drink at the bar! Feel free to email me with any questions at cswritersreading@gmail.com, or leave a comment here on the blog.

The January event will resume our regular format of ten Open Mic readers (3-5 minutes each), a short intermission, and our featured guest, Greenwoman Zine editor and publisher Sandra Knauf. I first learned about Sandra's writing through this article in The Gazette. I'm sad that I'll miss her reading, but I know each of you will enjoy it. Nonfiction buffs, gardeners, and those who find inspiration in nature should make sure they don't miss this one!

Okay. So December's reading was fantastic. We had a great turnout, and the rich artwork lining the walls of the BAC seemed to envelop everyone in attendance. Books by past featured authors were sold, and peppermint cookies were consumed.

Oh. And did I mention that we had three fabulous writers share their work?

Michael Ferguson, a regular Open Mic contributor

and student of writing at UCCS, shared a fiction piece exposing

the complex relationships between brothers and fathers.

M.R. Hyde (of the blog I frequent, HydeWords) read a holiday story that had

everyone rolling. ReeAnn "does the voices" of her characters - something

I've always admired about hearing her written work!

Tim Christian, another writer who reads his characters so perfectly

well aloud, had copies of his first novel (The Strange and Thrilling

Adventures of James Charles Fogarty) for sale, and more copies

will be available at future readings.

My thanks to those who read during our shortened Open Mic session. It was another successful night for the creative writing that flourishes in Colorado Springs.

Enjoy January's reading!

Abby E Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

NOVEMBER REVIEW & DECEMBER PREVIEW

2011-12-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, poet and writing instructor Sandy Tseng read selections from her book of poems, Sediment, as well as some new work yet to be published. We were again situated in the main gallery of the BAC in Manitou Springs, where impressive oil paintings had been hung on every wall. Sandy's work orbited round two themes that are actually closely linked in emotional quality: tragedy overseas, and loss. Her volunteer work in Haiti shone through as strongly as her love for her ill and aging yellow lab, Hamlet.

I've always felt that the way a writer responds to animals, especially those closest to her, the ones she's cared for and let care for her, is one of the simplest indicators of how her creative process works. Our link to imagination is what we know through experience. Sandy's poems showed the November audience how her particular experiences with others, human or animal, became catalysts for poetic composition. Her book will still be available for sale at the December reading, in case you missed out on buying a copy!

December, the month of chilly green and white, of busy schedules and holiday baking, will shake things up a bit for the Writers Reading Series. At our next event, Friday, December 9th, at 7:30 in the BAC, the Open Mic list will be shortened to a maximum of three readers (still 3-5 minutes apiece) in order to accomodate our three featured readers: fiction writers Tim Christian, Michael Ferguson, and M.R. Hyde will be in the spotlight with short selections of their own works. These writers have just begun to publish their works more widely, and the audience will have a chance to support them. These are also the three writers that have attended CSWRS events most regularly, captivating us during their Open Mic readings.

I look forward to seeing everyone there. Spread the word about CSWRS, too, and bring a friend. Speaking of spreading the word... I'm going to be teaching an English 227 (Poetry Writing) course through Pikes Peak Community College in the spring, Monday nights from 5:30 till 8, if any of you Colorado writers is interested. You don't have to be a poet to participate, either-- in fact, I recommend poetry classes to fiction and nonfiction writers all the time. As a poet, I've learned a great deal from the prose classes I've taken in the past. So, if you know anyone who may be interested in this course, tell them to contact me!

See you on the 9th at 7:30!

Abby E. Murray
CSWRS Coordinator

OCTOBER REVIEW & NOVEMBER PREVIEW

2011-10-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

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.

SEPTEMBER REVIEW & OCTOBER PREVIEW

2011-09-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

So, last Friday was amazing.

George Drew, pictured at right (with his good friend, poet Lynn Wagner, in the front row) charmed us all with new poems as well as pieces from his book American Cool. Frankly, I think "Our Daughter Is Becoming Elvis" might be one of my favorite poems to emerge in this series.

I am grateful for George's presence here during his stay in Colorado, just as I am indebted to those Open Mic readers who showcase snippets of their work for the pleasure of the community. Thanks, everyone. For this reading, we packed the BAC, running out of chairs before the Open Mic was even started.

And, before I get all mushy, let me quickly say that I have been so touched by the donations you've contributed to keep CSWRS afloat. As of now, we've raised enough money to fund October, November, and most of December's events.

Speaking of future months, be sure to catch Kathryn Eastburn at our next reading on October 14th. Kathryn's nonfiction works and creative contributions to both KRCC and The Independent make her one of the most genuine local writers in this community.

We'll be in the BAC gallery again, at 7:30pm, October 14th. I truly look forward to seeing you there, as I always look forward to meeting new writers and readers in the area.

Have a great September,

Abby E. Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

TONIGHT, SEPT. 9 - GEORGE DREW

2011-09-09T10:46:00.001-07:00

Tonight, at 7:30pm, the Colorado Springs Writers Reading Series will host featured reader George Drew. We'll also have an Open Mic session to kick things off, with the usual limit of ten readers maximum, each allowed 3-5 minutes of prose or poetry reading.

If you're new to the Open Mic thing, I'll have more copies of a handy insight available-- just something I typed up a couple months ago regarding a few tips for every reader. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of students, new writers, lovers of lit, and local writers tonight!

One more thing: I think I'm going to retire the blog sign up list, as I just don't have room on the book table anymore! Too many good books for sale! So, here's a re-cap of all the blogs of writers in our area. Check them out and leave comments!

Tom Preble: www.tompreble.com

Marie Ostarello: www.ostarello.com

Julianza Shavin: www.droppinglikerubies.com

Dan Gardner: www.esldatingdiaries.blogspot.com

Joseph Uphoff: www.home.earthlink.net/~pfuphoff/id4.html

M.R. Hyde: www.hydewords.blogspot.com

Amanda Coburn: www.amandacoburn.blogspot.com

Debbie Maxwell Allen: www.writingwhilethericeboils.blogspot.com

Angela Giles Klocke: www.angelagilesklocke.com

Have fun with each other's work, guys. Stay connected and support each other! I'll see you all this evening at the BAC - 513 Manitou Avenue.

Abby E. Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

AUGUST REVIEW & SEPTEMBER PREVIEW

2011-08-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night, August 12th, Lynne Bryant read a selection from her debut novel, Catfish Alley. And, as I do every month, I sat behind the book table and watched the audience fall under the spell created whenever a story is told-- we lean forward a bit, the corners of our mouths lift in little flinching smiles when a main character triumphs, our eyes soften a little and the stress of the week melts away just slightly. We leave our town and spend time in the homes of the characters.

Catfish Alley will particularly appeal to those of you who have read The Help, though it's important to know how Catfish Alley follows a very different storyline, even when the location and theme strike similar chords. If you weren't able to purchase a copy of Lynne's book at the reading, you'll be happy to know that I've got several copies on hand for you at the next event, each for $15.

Speaking of the next reading: George Drew, poet from New York and author of several manuscripts including The View From Jackass Hill and American Cool, will be our featured guest on Friday, September 9th at 7:30pm. We'll begin, as always, with an Open Mic session of ten readers maximum, each allowed 3-5 minutes of prose or poetry.

Please come purchase books to support our authors! Or, buy a beer or glass of wine for you and your date at the bar. This supports the BAC in Manitou, and I, for one, am thankful for their contribution to this series.

I'll see everybody on Friday, September 9th, at 7:30pm in the BAC main building. For now, have enjoy the rest of this scalding summer!

Abby Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

JULY REVIEW & AUGUST PREVIEW

2011-07-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

On July 8th, Donita K. Paul showcased an excerpt from her fantastic YA novel, Dragonspell, the first in the Dragon Keeper Chronicles. The series has moved forward into several novels since its publication in 2004, and Donita has recently expanded her writing adventures into the realm of children's books.

Actually, I purchased a copy of The Dragon and the Turtle (co-written with Donita's daughter Evangeline Denmark) for my four-year-old niece in Washington state, and I've been informed that she was over the moon about it-- and is sending me some hand-drawn pictures in thanks. The storylines of Donita's books are each full of whimsy, as well as the practicality that comes from an imagined character's voice. I've been told that many people who attended that Friday's reading enjoyed most Ms. Paul's eagerness to connect with the crowd, answer questions about everything from plot to publishing, and, of course, the Open Mic participants that kicked off the evening.

Next month, CSWRS will be hosting fiction writer Lynne Bryant, whose debut novel, Catfish Alley, was published in April of this year. Lynne has popped up on our Open Mic list before, and it's going to be a delight to hear her read with a publication under her belt. The Southern Literary Review has said of Catfish Alley, "[it] brims with humor and pathos in equal parts, with realistic, three-dimensional characters sure to delight and intrigue from the start. Of all the novels set in the South, Lynne Bryant's debut novel deserves an honored place on any bookshelf."

I hope to see you all on Friday, August 12th, at 7:30 in the BAC in Manitou. August, like July, will take place in Venue 515 (515 Manitou Avenue) due to an exhibit in the BAC's main gallery. Remember to support the authors by buying books at the book table, and support the BAC by purchasing wine and soda at the bar!

See you in August!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

quick change!

2011-07-08T07:35:00.001-07:00

Just a tiny update: tonight's reading with Donita K. Paul will be hosted in the building next door to the BAC's main gallery, in Venue 515. We'll have signs up on both doors, so you should be able to find your way.

See you tonight!

Abby E. Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

REVIEW & PREVIEW

2011-07-04T08:11:00.001-07:00

Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting poet Juliana Aragon Fatula at the CSWRS's new venue, the main building of the Business of Arts Center in Manitou Springs. Juliana's poems were electric, filling the room and our minds with everything from the sassy to the aromatic. Her poetic voice spread a blanket beneath what brings family together in writing, in history - food, competition, politics, loss, mystery.

I think, as I sat back at the book table, the audience was captivated by both Juliana's poems and her dramatic energy; the surge of intensity in her writing is equally met by her ability to perform and engage. If anyone has the opportunity to hear Juliana read in the future, I say jump on it! Hailing from Cañon City, she has participated in CSWRS as well as the Southern Colorado Reading Series (sponsored by CSU-Pueblo).

(Juliana enchants the crowd in the center of the BAC's gallery)

This Friday, July 8th, CSWRS will be hosting author Donita K. Paul. Her credits include both the Dragonkeeper Chronicles and the Chiril Chronicles, as well as the new children's book The Dragon and the Turtle. She's a weaver of fantasy stories, and I'm really looking forward to hearing her work in a couple days.

Bring a friend and come early to wander around the BAC's gallery space beforehand. Also, remember that we have some great titles for sale at great prices:

(our book table, with titles from yours truly as well as Lynn Wagner, Laura Feldman, Jessy Randall, Juan Morales, and more!)

I'll see you all on Friday the 8th, at 7:30pm, at 513 Manitou Avenue. Looking forward to it!

Abby E. Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

TOMORROW EVENING

2011-06-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Poet Juliana Aragon Fatula will be joining the Colorado Springs Writers Reading Series as the featured author for tomorrow night's event (Friday, June 10th).

Remember, CSWRS has moved to the main building of the Business of Arts Center (513 Manitou Avenue), not far from its previous home. Open Mic begins, as usual, at 7:30pm. Sign up for Open Mic when you arrive, and come prepared to purchase books for sale by local authors!

See you all then,

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

UPDATES!

2011-05-04T08:02:00.001-07:00

Remember, there is no reading this month (May) and we will reunite in June. Specifically, June 10th, at 7:30pm in the main building of the Business of Arts Center at 513 Manitou Avenue. A big thank you to Jana at the BAC for working with me on landing such an artistically inspiring venue. We will be hosting events at the BAC from now on! We will have books for sale, refreshments, and a genuinely good time for all.

Our featured writer in June will be Juliana Aragon Fatula, author of Crazy Chicana in Catholic City, and I'm really looking forward to it-- Juliana is a fantastic poet who was recently accepted to take part in the Macondo Writer's Workshop in San Antonio this July.

The best way to stay informed about the Colorado Springs Writers Reading Series (and share this information with others) is to check this blog every now and then, or join the email mailing list. (No more than two emails a month-- I promise!) We are no longer going to be sticking to a third-Friday-of-the-month schedule; instead, we'll most likely be hosting an event every second Friday of the month. I will let you know when this is confirmed for future readings. Until then, keep your ears open!

Also, and I just have to put this out there, I'm teaching an English 227: Poetry Writing course this summer through Pikes Peak Community College, and I wanted to let all those who might be interested know that they should enroll! The class will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Centennial campus, from 1-3:15pm. If you know of any students or potential poets who might be interested in studying feminist, political, surreal, and formal poetry with me for ten weeks, let them know. The class will be part workshop format.

Thank you so much to those of you who have attended CSWRS events over the past year. Your presence forms the literary stamina of the series, and I'm grateful to have seen you there!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

APRIL REVIEW

2011-04-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that, one year ago, this reading series hosted its first event in downtown Colorado Springs. Deidre Schoolcraft, the first featured author, read a selection of her fiction, and the Open Mic list revealed an array of creative literary tastes. Afterward, the audience mingled (shoeless, in the yoga studio we started out in) and helped put away chairs, laughing and smiling about the stories and poems they'd spent the evening listening to.

It was the first time I felt truly welcome in a new town, and it was entirely because of the connection between writing and community-- what it brings out in people, what it allows them to let go of. I am so thankful for the opportunity I've had to host this series for you, and if I could, if berries were in season and I didn't have a stack of papers to grade, I would make each of you a jar of homemade jam. I'm that grateful!

This month, Iver Arnegard, our featured author and instructor from CSU-Pueblo, read a selection from his poetry collection, Welcome to Deadhorse, as well as a powerful piece from Levant, his current work-in-progress highlighting his experience as an instructor at the American University of Beirut. (Those of you interested in purchasing a copy of Welcome to Deadhorse: please contact Iver directly at iverarnegard@yahoo.com.) The audience was rapt. His words had us coiled around his finger, even when he stopped a moment to say, "I'm not purposefully trying to depress you." His writing, infused with humility and imagery capable of transporting us overseas, left me marveling at the role of writing in human survival. Without it, we would surely be lost, unable to connect to one another, silent.

I'd like to thank Christopher Gilbert, too, for photographing the event. Here's a wonderful shot of Iver with the audience:

Thank you, also, to the many wonderful Open Mic readers who have signed up to read their work over the past year. I hope you all continue to make this series part of your regular writing routine.

That reminds me, I need to thank Natalie Johnson, owner of Black Cat Books, who has graciously opened her doors to this series (as well as several other regular creative arts functions). As I announced last week, Black Cat is changing shape (combining store space with Safron) and will no longer be able to host us, but we are in the works with the Business of Arts Center, and I will announce the new location as soon as it's settled.

Stay tuned to this blog for updates. And remember, I'm taking the month of May off to travel, and we will resume our regularly scheduled readings in June!

Thanks to all of you!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

MARCH REVIEW

2011-03-28T13:32:00.001-07:00

I have been remiss these past couple weeks, and this review of March's reading is coming to you late! For those of you who weren't at this month's reading, remember that next month (April) is National Poetry Month. Iver Arnegard will be our guest author, and his reading will also mark the one-year birthday of the Colorado Springs Writers Reading Series! Hurray!

I wish I could reach the photographer from The Independent who was clicking away on her beautiful camera at the reading for Janele Johnson on the 18th. (Are you out there, photographer?) I only have one picture to share from Janele's reading, but it's probably nowhere near as crisp as the ones a professional could take. Still, I have to post this one. Janele's poetry truly lit up the room, warmed our faces into smiles-- something we all know great literature is capable of, even when the message or metaphor aren't necessarily cheerful! Janele's narratives had this lyrical intimacy I really connected with, and so did the audience. So, thanks, Janele!

Remember, Juliana Aragon Fatula is still going to be reading as a featured author, but her appearance has yet to be rescheduled. Stay tuned for that!

Here's another update: I recently received an email from www.poets.org, from The Academy of American Poets, and it made a good point: it costs money to keep poetry and poetry education circulating in our towns and cities! For National Poetry Month, poets.org is asking for donations of any size, and I thought I might put a "tip jar" out on the book table in April. (Not sure if any others out there subscribe to poets.org's Poem-A-Day series, but I do, and it's fantastic-- I find out about new writers via that service and I rediscover the oldie/goodies through it as well.) Anyway, if you can drop a dollar in the jar in April, great! If not, don't worry about it. I just thought it might be nice to donate something to the site, considering how much I've enjoyed their resources lately (and I've watched my students enjoy it too). I'll just donate 100% of whatever falls into the jar that night!

Also, remember that I'm taking the month of May off for travel, and we'll be seeing each other after April's reading in June!

Have a great week, everyone.

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

FEBRUARY REVIEW

2011-02-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

As we draw closer to the end of February, I consider how the reading series has become a regular reminder of community in Colorado Springs-- among writers, readers, and lovers of literature. This series will hit its one year anniversary in April; since the first reading, I have never left one event without feeling recharged, refreshed, and thrilled to see the energy within local writers.

Juan Morales gave us another welcome jumpstart last Friday when he read from his collection of poetry, Friday and the Year that Followed. His book sold out after the reading (don't worry, I'll have a couple more copies for sale at the March event), and his poems confirmed what has been said of his writing style before: that it dwells simultaneously in myth, magic, the violence of war and the love of family. The audience was captivated.

(Juan Morales + the front rows of Friday's audience)

This wasn't the only great part of Juan's reading; we also had a stellar Open Mic line-up, with new and regular readers, including local student writers. Here are some new blog/website addresses to add to your list of bookmarked sites:

Julianza, Inkling: www.droppinglikerubies.com

Dan Gardner: esldatingdiaries.blogspot.com

(both of these authors will have work for sale on the book table)

Remember that our events are always held on the third Friday of the month, and our next reading will be March 18th, 7:30pm, at Black Cat Books. Bring a friend. Spread the word. Our featured reader will be Juliana Aragon Fatula, author of Crazy Chicana in Catholic City, a collection of poems published by Ghost Road in 2009.

See you then!

...

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

FEBRUARY PREVIEW

2011-02-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

This Friday, February 18th, poet Juan Morales from CSU-Pueblo will be our featured reader at Black Cat Books in Manitou Springs. Here's an excerpt from Juan's website, just to give you some info about his background:

Juan J. Morales was born in the U.S. to an Ecuadorian mother and a Puerto Rican father. He grew up hearing family stories that inspired much of the poems in Friday and the Year that Followed, his first collection of poetry, which was chosen by Vern Rutsala for the 2005 Rhea and Seymour Gorsline Poetry Competition and published by Bedbug Press. Juan received his MFA from the University of New Mexico in 2005. His poetry has also appeared inAcentos Review, Blue Mesa Review, Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, Copper Nickel, Many Mountains Moving, Palabra (forthcoming), Poet Lore, War, Literature, & the Arts, and other journals. He is the Director of Creative Writing as an Assistant Professor at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he curates the Southern Colorado Reading Series and the student literary magazine Tempered Steel, formerly The Hungry Eye. Currently, Juan is working on his second collection of poems.

I hope to see, as usual, a vibrant crowd of writers and readers. Remember, the Open Mic session gets started first thing, and there's only room for ten readers! Get there a little early if you have a prepared poem or excerpt to read, and I'll see you then!

...

Abby E. Murray

CSWRS Coordinator

JANUARY REVIEW

2011-01-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

Well, it's taken me almost a week, but I'm finally getting around to telling everyone how delightful last Friday's reading with Lynn Wagner was. Not only did Lynn make us laugh with her take on an ex-lover coming back as a dog, she opened up several of her poems from the book No Blues This Raucous Song. (I'm still partial to "Neruda", which I think embodies some of Lynn's richest language. Find it on her website here.)

(a shot of Lynn and I with each other's books)

Before Lynn's reading, we had a full sign up of Open Mic readers, each filling up the 3-5 minute slots with a dazzling array of stories and poems.

(a shot of Janele Johnson, instructor at Pikes Peak Community College,

reading poetry during the Open Mic session.)

There were some blog addresses left on the update sheet, and I'm including their addresses below. (One is Tom Preble's website; the other is Marie Ostarello's. Both have extensive publication backgrounds, and I recommend checking out their stuff!) If you have a writing blog you'd like to get on this site, be sure to leave the address at the next CSWRS event.

Tom Preble: www.tompreble.com

Marie Ostarello: www.ostarello.com

Remember, next month's featured reader is Juan Morales, the head of CSU-Pueblo's Creative Writing program. He'll be reading on Friday evening, February 18th, at 7:30pm in the downstairs area of Black Cat Books in Manitou. If you'd like to participate in the Open Mic beforehand, be sure to get there a little early to sign up-- ten readers maximum-- and have your work timed to no more than five minutes, tops.

Thank you all for a fantastic evening!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

JANUARY PREVIEW

2011-01-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

Join us on Friday, January 21st (7:30pm) at Black Cat Books in Manitou Springs for a reading with Lynn Wagner, author of the chapbook No Blues This Raucous Song. Lynn will be traveling from Denver to feature her work at this month's event, and I can't wait to hear it!

Remember that each event kicks off with an Open Mic session, and some tips for Open Mic presentation have been posted on this blog! If you'll be attending for the first time this month and aren't sure about reading yet, pick up one of the write-ups from the book table and take a look at what an Open Mic entails.

See everyone on the 18th!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

...

QUICK DECEMBER REVIEW

2010-12-30T11:32:00.001-08:00

Tim Christian, as I expected, delighted us all with his short story "The Mantel Clock" on Friday, December 17th. What a fantastic reading-- everyone was able to take a break from the craziness of holiday preparations and enjoy some well-crafted fiction.

Our next reading is scheduled for January 21st, 7:30pm at Black Cat Books in Manitou (as usual). Please mark the date on your calendar, and come prepared to support local writers by possibly purchasing a book or two!

More updates to come on future scheduled writers. Everybody have a great new year!

-Abby
CSWRS Coordinator

...

NOVEMBER REVIEW & OPEN MIC TIPS

2010-12-03T14:12:00.001-08:00

Hi all!

Thanks to each of you that attended November's reading, even though I had to rush to Seattle at the last minute. I am so grateful that Deidre Schoolcraft, the first featured reader for CSWRS back in April, was able to fill in as hostess. I hear the place was packed and Aaron Anstett wowed everyone with some great poems.

We are still scheduled for one more reading in 2010, on December 17th at 7:30pm (still at Black Cat Books). Our featured reader will be Tim Christian, whose fiction has delighted several of us already during his occasional appearances during Open Mic.

Speaking of Open Mic, I wanted to post something I wrote up the other day regarding what this type of setting typically requires from writers and readers alike. I've noticed, at each monthly event, that not all beginning writers (or even experienced ones) are 100% confident with what an Open Mic entails. How many pieces should you read, how long should they be, should they be written in a certain style, what if my voice wobbles-- they're all good questions. I want those who attend this series to feel good about reading their work, and to feel they are in a unique, creative, professional environment. Writing is a craft. So is reading. Both can be daunting. So read on, and let me know your thoughts on the comments page.

I'll see everyone on Friday the 17th at 7:30pm!

WHAT IS AN OPEN MIC?

An Open Mic is the opportunity for various writers attending a particular reading to present a glimpse of their own work to the audience. Open Mic settings serve as an opportunity to establish unity (through a shared spotlight) at any literary event; many groups get together for strictly Open Mic sessions, without a featured reader to follow. There are two goals accomplished at any successful Open Mic: 1) the writer makes his or her work accessible to a larger audience than they may be used to, simultaneously familiarizing him or herself with the sound of his or her own work, and 2) the audience experiences and enjoys work other than its own. It’s a presentation of diversity, of accessibility, and connection.

WHAT IS OPEN MIC ETIQUETTE?

Yes, it exists. There are a few guidelines that most Open Mic readers adhere to, even though different events vary in tone, atmosphere, and subject. Here are a few that I’ve noticed over the past couple years, traveling from one reading to the next, each involving both student writers and published authors:

1) Absolutely, positively, completely obey the time limit. The Open Mic sessions for CSWRS allow 3-5 minutes per reader, and it is strongly recommended that each writer reads his or her piece aloud at home, timed, before participating. I remember going to an Open Mic as a high school student in Bellingham, Washington, with a recently sparked interest in poetry; I occasionally went over the time limit because the audience was polite enough to let me. I didn’t realize until later that it was just too awkward to pull me off my soapbox, and that, in fact, everyone wanted to be given an equal amount of time. Even if your piece is well-written and intriguing, an Open Mic may not be the place to present it in its entirety. Read excerpts from prose and a limited number of poems.

2) Typical form for an Open Mic is a brief introduction (Hi, my name is Abby E. Murray, and I’m a writing instructor at the community college”), followed by the title of the piece (“I’d like to read a poem tonight called 'Me and Coyote'") and its content. Let the prose or poetry speak for itself; don’t tell us what it’s about, whether it’s good or bad, or how much you struggled with it. Don’t tell the audience if you’re terrified or embarrassed, and avoid giving the impression that you don’t care or don’t want to be there. If you read your piece at home before attending and it’s not quite ready to “speak for itself”, it may be that you need to wait to present it until you’ve done more revision. If you attend simply to watch and enjoy the work of others, don’t feel intimidated to read. If you do read, simply say “Thank you” when you’ve finished to signal that you’re done, and smile—appreciate an audience that wants to applaud. Don’t linger, but don’t run from the podium before you’ve finished either.

3) Be aware of your body. Avoid pacing, fidgeting, or mumbling. Also, be aware of what you can’t control; if you blush a bright red when you read, so be it. Sweat a little? Fine. Most writers are anxious in some way about presenting their work to a crowd. Remember to focus on the piece itself, not a nervous habit.

4) Consider the content of your work and the setting for the Open Mic you’re attending. For example, if you’re attending a reading where the featured reader is an author of humorous poetry, it might be more interesting to apply that knowledge while you search for possible pieces to read, honing in on pieces that showcase your own unique humor in writing. If you’re attending an Open Mic at a religious university, consider what the host/hostess and audience may not be interested in; showing up to read some graphic erotica at such a setting might make everyone unnecessarily uncomfortable. (I say “unnecessarily” because, ultimately, good writing makes us all a little uncomfortable—enough for us to think in a way we aren’t used to. However, most writers and readers don’t relish humiliation.) Look into the venue, check out the group’s history; in other words, do your research.

5) Show humility but don’t laugh at yourself. This is a personal preference of mine that I think more writers should embrace. Every writer is a lifelong student, continually absorbing new techniques and a fresh perspective. Enjoy this process and take in the reading with an open mind. An Open Mic is not a workshop. It is sometimes difficult to know where to fall, between a healthy grasp of humility and a detrimental sense of self-doubt. I tell my students when they present their work to “be confident, not proud.” Enjoy what you do.

6) Lastly, show appreciation for each other. If a reader’s piece captured your imagination, let them know afterward. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy the community.

...

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

OCTOBER READING REVIEW

2010-10-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who made it out to our October event at Black Cat Books last Friday. Laura Feldman, our featured reader, gave us a glimpse of some new poems as well as a selection from her chapbook, Heading for a Change of Light.

If you missed this reading, Laura's book will still be available for purchase at November's reading for $10, and I recommend it-- it's a beautiful book printed by Finishing Line Press, and Laura's poems on the passage from life to death are rooted in the dedication to her father, David H. Feldman, M.D., who passed away in 2007.

(A funny little story? Because Laura is a private practice family practitioner herself, Natalie (owner of Black Cat) had several calls during the past month asking, "Is my doctor really reading at your store? Can I come?") The turnout of local writers, readers, and students was great, and we all enjoyed hearing the work of a poet so closely tied to the community.

Remember, November's featured reader is Aaron Anstett, previous Poet Laureate for the Pikes Peak Region. Be there or be square... or something. November 19th, 7:30pm, at Black Cat in Manitou (720 Manitou Avenue).

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

...

OCTOBER READING PREVIEW

2010-10-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Tomorrow night (Friday, October 15) at 7:30pm, I'll be hosting this month's reading, featuring Laura Feldman as our guest author. Same place as last time: Black Cat Books (720 Manitou Avenue), and there will be books for sale afterward and during the intermission.

Tell your writing buddies. Tell your students. Tell your cats, and I'll see you there.

Abby
CSWRS Coordinator

SEPTEMBER READING REVIEW

2010-09-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

Well, if you missed this past Friday's reading, you have my sympathy.

And for those of you who made it, thank you for you participation, engagement, and rapt attention as Jane Hilberry transported us from the cozy stone basement of Black Cat Books to long-lost childhood neighborhoods and the crackling fire of feminine wit and beauty. Jane's book, Body Painting, is still sitting on my table as I write this, dogeared on several pages.

I'm including a link to purchasing her book here, if you'd like to buy it. (Hopefully the link works!) Remember, we have books for sale at these readings to support these authors.

I'll see you October 15th (7:30pm, 720 Manitou Avenue) for our next reading!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

SEPTEMBER'S READING PREVIEW

2010-09-08T21:40:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

Just checking-- did you know that Jane Hilberry, instructor at Colorado College and author of the collection of poems titled Body Painting, will be our featured reader for the month of September?

Be sure to get to Black Cat Books (720 Manitou Avenue) early on Friday, September 17th for the 7:30pm start time, when those on the Open Mic sign up will present 3-5 minutes of their own work, followed by a short break for wine and refreshments, then Jane will take us away. She'll have some books for sale (mine will be for sale as well!), and exact change or checks are appreciated!

Bring a poem or snippet of a story to read! And enjoy an evening of community and creative writing!

See you there,

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

...and fun was had by all!

2010-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to everyone who made it out to last night's reading in Manitou-- especially the ones who had standing room only! Jenn Koiter pretty much blew us out of the water with her poetry, which seemed to lighten our loads and end our weeks with some much-needed laughter.

Next month's reading is scheduled for Friday, September 17th, at 7:30pm. Same place, Black Cat Books in Manitou, and hopefully parking won't be so crazy without the marathoners in the neighborhood! I think we might have a crowd of students at September's reading, considering the awesome extra credit power these events hold in college classrooms, so get there early. And if you're a writer, bring some work to read for Open Mic!

Here are a couple pictures from last night.

Jenn Koiter, poet, behind the podium-disguised-as-music-stand.

The crowd, which, although cozy, enjoyed the browsing, the wine, and the intimacy that Black Cat Books provides. Thank you, Natalie! We support our indy bookshops!

Tim Christian, who, as usual, delights us during Open Mic with his fiction.

Hopefully I'll see you as well as more new faces next month! This reading was a total success, in my book, and I can't wait for what happens next.

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

...

AUGUST FEATURED READER!

2010-08-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that we've got several great writers lined up to read over the next several months. This Friday, the 20th of August, we get to hear the poetry of Jenn Koiter, a writer who will be traveling to Colorado Springs from Laramie, Wyoming! Her bio on the link provided is great-- sweet, to the point, and right up the CSWRS alley when it comes to bridging writers and community through accessible and captivating work. Her "thesis" reads:

"I love poems that engage my full faculties as a reader to unearth something hard and true. Smug poems, on the other hand, poems that ask me to work too hard for too little, make me want to heave something heavy across the room. Onto the poet, if possible." (www.anti-poetry.com)

This reading is going to be fantastic. Be sure to catch it at Black Cat Books in Manitou Springs, Friday at 7:30pm, in the downstairs portion of the store. Get there a little early and start sipping some wine from the wine bar! This venue will be cozy... and you can keep your shoes on!

See you Friday night!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

AUGUST PREVIEW... almost!

2010-08-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

A quick update, here: we're still scheduled for our monthly event on August 20th at 7:30pm. I'll be announcing the featured reader shortly! Be prepared with some material for Open Mic-- I'd love to hear 3-5 minutes of your best poetry or prose. (Sign up at the door, ten readers max!)

Here's a big change, though: we're moving to Black Cat Books at 720 Manitou Avenue! Make sure you take note of the change. I may actually stop by Inner Space, our old venue (which isn't too far away from downtown, maybe ten minutes' drive), to leave a note on the door for those who haven't checked the blog. Natalie-- at Black Cat-- seems like a gracious hostess, and the venue will be just as intimate.

Featured reader to be announced soon... stay tuned! And I'll see you on the 20th!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

...

JULY READING REVIEW

2010-07-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Well, our July event seemed to go off without a hitch! We had writers from varying genres stand up to read for the Open Mic section, some new faces in the crowd, and Cicily Janus' reading from her new book The New Face of Jazz was (seriously) fantastic. Everyone left the room feeling inspired, including me, and I felt the overwhelming sensation of a community coming together for the sake of creativity.

No new blogs to report, so I'm just posting the ones we already have and want to keep an eye on for new work:

Debbie Allen: http://www.writingwhilethericeboils.blogspot.com/

Angela Giles Klocke: http://www.angelagilesklocke.com/

Sue Spengler: http://www.suesun40.blogspot.com/

(and yours truly) http://www.abbyemurray.blogspot.com/

I now have an email list started up for this series. We may be moving to a new venue soon, and I want to be able to let everyone know beforehand. Look out for emails from cswritersreading@gmail.com!

Hope to see you all again on August 20th, at our next event! (Featured reader TBA.) Thanks for coming!

Cicily Janus reading from The New Face of Jazz

JULY'S FEATURED READER

2010-06-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Just a quick update here. I'm currently in Oregon, hosting a delightful reading series at the Pacific University MFA Program, but I'll shortly be returning to Colorado Springs. While I've been here, though, I've scheduled the next featured reader, Cicily Janus, who will be reading some of her work at our event on Friday, July 16th, at 7:30PM.

Yep, you heard right, we're back on schedule this coming month. (Did you miss it in June??) I'm really looking forward to it.

Also, I'll have books available for sale from Jessy Randall, the May featured reader, as well as my own.

See you then!

Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

MAY READING REVIEW!

2010-05-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

As promised, I've posted some photos from our May reading, featuring poet Jessy Randall. I also wanted to list the blog sign up sheet, which is still growing. Supporters of the reading series should look up each other's writing and enjoy it! Give feedback and connect.

Debbie Allen's work: www.writingwhilethericeboils.blogspot.com
Angela Giles Klocke's work: www.angelagilesklocke.com
Sue Spengler's work: www.suesun40.blogspot.com
(my poetry can be found at: www.abbyemurray.com)

If anyone else has a writing blog they'd like me to post, let me know. Leave a comment or send me an email. Remember, next month's reading is cancelled due to my traveling out of state (I'm sure I'll post some exciting news about the writers gathering at Pacific University's MFA readings, though.) Our next reading is scheduled for FRIDAY, JULY 16th, at 7:30pm.

Oh! One more thing I thought you poets might enjoy. I met with Sharon Cumberland while I was in Seattle last week (her poetry is intelligent and graceful, I love it) and she showed me a neat compilation of poetry she's been teaching in her writing classes at Seattle University. It's called Story Hour: Contemporary Narratives By American Poets, and I highly recommend it. (That's the link to Story Line Press, where you can most easily purchase a copy.) The first poem Sharon pointed out was Linda McCarriston's "Le Coursier de Jeanne D'Arc," and it was stunning. No other word for it.

Okay, on to the pictures. Thanks for reading, everyone!

Jessy Randall, featured reader

Bryce Crawford, open mic poetry reading

Edie Adelstein, open mic prose reading

Everyone's smiling, so it must be good!

...

QUICK UPDATE - LAST FRIDAY'S READING

2010-05-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Thanks to those of you who came to this past Friday's reading. I really enjoyed meeting most of you, and what a great sample of new work during open mic, plus Jessy Randall's poetry, which kept us all smiling. A great time had by all, I say!

Those who would like to purchase one of Jessy Randall's books, come to the next reading and I'll have a couple available then too. Just a reminder: the next reading is Friday, July 16th, at 7:30pm. The featured reader will be announced later. For more updates, you can also look at the Inner Space website at www.downtowninnerspace.com.

Anyway, this is just a brief update to let you know that I'm going to post those new blogs added to the blog sign up when I return to Colorado Springs next week. (I flew out to Seattle the morning after the reading.) I'll also be putting up some pictures from the reading as well. So stay tuned!

And how, for the love of Mike, did I not think to use that enormous gong to get things started at the first reading?! I think that's a great way to get our minds going and ears buzzing!

Take care!
Abby

NEXT READING MAY 21ST!

2010-05-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that the next Colorado Springs Writers Reading Series event will take place on Friday, May 21st, at 7:30pm inside the Inner Space studio at 322 N. Tejon.

Our featured reader will be poet Jessy Randall! What a pleasure to sit down with her over coffee. You can find out more about Randall's work here.

The evening's format will be the same as our April event: 20 minutes reserved for Open Mic, a short break, and 20 minutes of Jessy Randall's selections. There will be books for sale (mine, plus Jessy's) as well as a place to sign up your writing blogs for connecting with other local writers. Same Inner Space rules apply, too, so remember to take off your shoes before entering the warm, beautiful room we're using.

Hopefully we'll see another great crowd, a mix of local writers, students, professionals, and those community members looking for a unique way to spend the evening.

Signs are popping up around town, so tell your friends to come too. Enjoy yourself and some creative writing!

See you there,

Abby

READING AT UCCS

2010-04-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know about a reading that's going to be happening here in Colorado Springs, soon! A friend of a friend of mine, Jacqui Johnson, is going to be visiting from London in early May, and she'll be presenting a paper of hers titled Villainy, Sluttony, and the Seduction of Genre in Shakespeare's Richard III. From what I've heard so far, it sounds fabulous.

So, if you're into Shakespeare, or writers, or the arts, come have a listen. Jacqui sounds like a lively critic. Still not sure if there will be refreshments for this, but I'm hoping I can contribute to that arena.

Friday, May 7th, 5PM

UCCS Campus

University Center, Room 116A

See you there!

REMINDER: Next CSWRS reading is scheduled for May 21st, 7:30PM, at the Inner Space Studio. Featured Reader still TBD.

OUR AWESOME FIRST READING

2010-04-17T09:12:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

(REMINDER: NEXT READING IS MAY 21, 2010, AT 7:30PM. Location still TBD.)

Thanks so much to everyone who attended last night's reading at Inner Space. What a success! The venue, although not wine-and-beverage-friendly, was cozy and beautiful and had great sound. The open mic readers were sharing some fantastic bits of writing, and Deidre Schoolcraft's novel excerpt was, as promised, right to the point; it kept everyone listening for more.

I'm going to post some pictures, but first I wanted to list the writers' blogs left on the sign up sheet. These are the addresses where you can find more creative work by authors attending last night's reading:

Debbie Allen's work can be found at:
www.writingwhilethericeboils.blogspot.com

Angela Giles Klocke's work can be found at:
www.angelagilesklocke.com

My own work can be found at:
www.abbyemurray.blogspot.com

Also, thanks to those who bought a copy of my book, Me and Coyote. If you're still interested, leave a comment with your email address and I'll get in touch with you. I still have seventy-six copies in my dining room, and they all need homes!

Now, for some pictures!

The crowd, deep in thought.

Me going over the reading format at the beginning. See, a beautiful room, no?

Tim Christian reading a short story for Open Mic.

Deidre Schoolcraft, our featured reader and author of Migratory Birds.

And a more artistic shot: here we have Audrey Birkett, composition and Shakespeare instructor, explaining the finer points of Tibetan art to the strange stuffed Emu that lives in the Inner Space studio.

Thanks again everybody! I'll be posting more updates soon...

...

PREMIER EVENT DATE!

2010-03-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

The premier date for our reading series has been confirmed:

FRIDAY, APRIL 16TH, 7:30PM

at the Inner Space studio located

at 322 North Tejon Street.

Our featured reader will be Deidre Schoolcraft, creative writing instructor at Pike's Peak Community College. She will read shortly after the open mic presentations.

If you are a student hoping to sign up for the open mic portion of the evening, try to get there by 7:20ish. We will only be able to have TEN open mic readers per event.

A small note about our venue: since Inner Space is a well-known yoga studio in Colorado Springs, the owners ask that you remove your shoes at the door. The room is lovely, artistic and intimate, and there are small cubbies outside the door for you to leave your shoes. Just another quirk we writers get to work with!

Also, donations will be collected at this event. We ask that you give whatever you feel you can, a dollar or two would be great. You will also be able to purchase books by local writers... as of now, I only have one title, so if you're a local writer or small press interested in selling work, please contact me at abby.murray@ppcc.edu.

Looking forward to it! More updates to come!

-Abby

CSWRS Coordinator

PREMIER POST!

2010-02-11T09:42:00.001-08:00

Hello, writers and literature lovers!

I am so excited to be getting this reading series off the ground, and I'm glad you've shown up to participate.

As of today, I've penciled in the premier reading for Friday, March 12th, at 7:30pm. These readings will always take place at Inner Space, a beautiful room most often used as a yoga studio in downtown Colorado Springs. Check out Inner Space online here.

I will post more information soon with details, including who the featured reader will be, how long we'll allow for open mic, and what to expect in general.

Until then, thanks!

Abby
CSWRS Coordinator