A video conversation with Jaimy Gordon

One of the guest presenters at this year's West Virginia Book Festival was author Jaimy Gordon. Her books include "Bogeywoman," "She Drove Without Stopping" and "Shamp of the City-Solo." But it is her most recent novel, Lord of Misrule, that has gained the most acclaim, being the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction in 2010. It’s a novel set in West Virginia, amidst the world of horse-racing.

Jaimy was gracious enough to sit down with us for a conversation with fellow WV Writers member Dr. Edwina Pendarvis.

Thanks go out to Phyllis Wilson Moore for arranging this interview.

Episode 61: An interview with Jaimy Gordon

One of the guest presenters at this year's West Virginia Book Festival was author Jaimy Gordon. Her books include "Bogeywoman," "She Drove Without Stopping" and "Shamp of the City-Solo." But it is her most recent novel, Lord of Misrule, that has gained the most acclaim, being the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction in 2010. It’s a novel set in West Virginia, amidst the world of horse-racing.

Jaimy was gracious enough to sit down with us for a conversation with fellow WV Writers member Dr. Edwina Pendarvis.

Thanks go out to Phyllis Wilson Moore for arranging this interview.

(NOTE:  A video edition of this podcast will be available in the coming weeks)

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 61

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Lord of Misrule 
• Video as Jaimy Gordon accepts National Book Award

Episode 60: A Quest for Humor WV Style panel

Recorded at the West Virginia Book Festival, A Quest for Humor: WV Style is a panel of four humor writers from our state both reading examples of their work and commenting on the style of our state's sense of humor.

Featured on the panel are Diane Tarantini (WVW Podcast #31, #46), Karin Fuller, Terry McNemar (Podcasts #1, #23, #31), and Rick Steelhammer.  The panel is moderated by former podcast guest Steve Goff (#23, #25, #49 and Bonus Show #9).



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West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 60

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Karin Fuller
• Diane Tarantini's blog Caught Butterflies
• Terry McNemar
• Rick Steelhammer

Episode 59: Granny Sue Holstein Recorded Live Reading

This week we present a recorded live reading from the 2011 WVW Summer Conference featuring Susanna "Granny Sue" Holstein. She’s been a featured storytelling performer at events from Bellingham, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts and points in between. She's especially well known, however, for being a West Virginia storyteller, focusing much of her repertoire on WV history, ghost stories, Appalachian tales and ballads.


TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 59

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Granny Sue's interview in Episode 15 
• Granny Sue's News & Reviews 
• WV Book Festival

Episode 58: WV Writers Inked Anthology Info and Conference Wrap Up

Recorded live at the 2011 WV Writers Board of Directors Retreat, we present a conversation with WVW President Cat Pleska regarding the organization's anthology collaboration with Woodland Press, West Virginia Writers Inked.  The anthology will be open exclusively for submissions by members of WV Writers, Inc.  We also spill a few beans on some upcoming guests for the 2012 Summer Conference as well as give a wrap up to the 2011 Conference.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 58

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Woodland press
• West Virginia Book Festival 2012
• WV Writers YouTube Channel
  

Episode 57: Jim Minick recorded live reading from Summer Conference 2011

Welcome back for Episode 57. It's been a longer than usual summer hiatus, but we are now back with new episodes.

This week we present a recorded live reading from the 2011 WVW Summer Conference by Jim Minick, conference presenter and author of The Blueberry Years, Burning Heaven, and Finding a Clear Path among others.

Jim reads from his work.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 57

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Jim Minick's website
• Doug & Telisha Williams
• Whose Lie is it Anyway?: The 2011 Conference Friday Night Improv
• WVW/Woodland Press anthology guidelines
  

Episode 56: Meredith Sue Willis Interview

In our continued effort to whet appetites for the 2011 WV Writers Summer Conference, this week's podcast features an interview with author, conference presenter and banquet keynote speaker, Meredith Sue Willis.

Meredith Sue was born and raised in Shinnston, West Virginia. She has degrees from Barnard College and Columbia University, and her fiction has been published by Scribners', HarperCollins, West Virginia University Press, Ohio University Press, and others. Her novels include A Space Apart, Oradell at Sea, Higher Ground, Only Great Changes, and Tresspassers. Her short story collections include Dwight’s House and other Stories, In the Mountains of America, and her latest, Out of the Mountains. Meredith Sue is also devoted to writing about the craft of writing. She’s written nonfiction titles such as Blazing Pencils, Personal Fiction Writing, Deep Revision, and her latest, Ten Strategies to Write Your Novel.

A former winner of WVW's Just Uncommonly Good Award, Meredith Sue will be leading two workshops at the 2011 Summer Conference, June 10, 11 and 12 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, WV.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 56

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Meredith Sue Willis.com
• Books for Readers
• Ten Strategies for Writing Your Novel
• Out of the Mountains

Episode 55: Sarah Dooley interview

In our continued effort to whet appetites for the 2011 WV Writers Summer Conference, this week we interview Sarah Dooley, author of the young adult novel Livvie Owen Lived Here. The book is a story told from the perspective of an autistic 14-year-old girl whose loving family is frequently thrown into chaos by her actions. In real life Sarah is a teacher of special needs children and can speak to the reality of kids like Livvie.

Sarah will be leading two workshops at the 2011 Summer Conference, June 10, 11 and 12 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, WV.


TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 55

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Sarah Dooley's website Dooley Noted
  
• Livvie Owen Lived Here
• Livvie Owen Lived Here book trailer
• Livvie Owen Facebook page
  

Episode 54: 2011 ConferenceCast Part 2

With the 2011 WV Writers Summer Conference a mere 3 weeks from this recording, it's time to check back in with our organizational president and conference organizer, Cat Pleska, regarding updates to the conference lineup and schedule. We also drop a few hints as to who will be interview guests on this very podcast as we go to a weekly schedule through the conference itself.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 54

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• 2011 Summer Conference Page
• Workshop Descriptions & Presenter Bios
  
• Conference Videos from last year
• Doug & Telisha Williams music
• Katharine Sands Q&A (by Belinda Anderson)
• Ben LeRoy extended interview (by Geoff Fuller)
• Sands/LeRoy pitch session information
  
• Conference 1st Timer's Guide
  

Conference Countdown Vidcast: Irene McKinney interview

To whet your appetite for our upcoming 2011 WV Writers Summer Conference, below is a video interview shot at the 2010 Summer Conference featuring an interview with WV Poet Laureate Irene McKinney, conducted by poet Llewellyn McKernan.

Conference Countdown Vidcast: Peter Lynch interview from 2010 Conference

To whet your appetite for our upcoming 2011 WV Writers Summer Conference, below is a video interview shot at the 2010 Summer Conference featuring Peter Lynch, editor with Sourcebooks, Inc. Our President Emeritus T.W. McNemar does the interviewing duties.

Episode 53: Poetry Podcast Hotline

In honor of April being National Poetry Month, today's podcast is a listener generated one usign poems gathered via our Podcast Poetry Hotline. We asked listeners to voicemail us some poetry and voicemail it they did. Featured on the show today are Debbie Richard, Twyla Vincent, Dreama Frisk, as well as previous podcast guests Tim Armentrout, Pam Hanson and Salvatore Buttaci. We also have a couple of major announcements at the start of the show regarding the 2011 Summer Conference.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast Episode 53

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Pam Hanson from Podcast #6
  
• Previous podcasts with Tim Armentrout
• Previous podcasts with Sal Buttaci

Episode 52: Princeton Public Library Poetry Reading (Parts 1 &2)

In honor of April being National Poetry Month, today's podcast is another recorded live poetry reading, this one captured at the Princeton Public Library in down town Princeton, WV. The poets featured are all members of the Appalachian Penworks writers group. Featured poets include Raymond Neely, Ashleigh Gill, Salvatore Buttaci, Beth and Steve Godfrey, and Rob Merritt.


TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast Episode 52 Part 1
West Virginia Writers Podcast Episode 52 Part 2

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Princeton Public Library
• Appalachian Penworks' Chiseled In Stone Forum
  
• Sal Buttaci's previous appearance on Podcast Bonus Show #7

Episode 51: Raleigh County Library Poetry Reading (NATIONAL POETRY MONTH)

In honor of April being National Poetry Month, today's podcast features a recorded live poetry reading from Raleigh County Library's poetry reading in March. Featured poets include Sammye Lewis, Sue Atkinson, Kitty Mooney, Miles Dean and Rebecca Dean. The evening was also hosted by Rebecca Dean.

Apologies must go out to Danny McMillion and Sammye Lewis. Due to technical difficulties, The poem Danny read was not recorded, nor was Sammye's first poem of her set. We'll have them back on future podcasts to rectify this.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast Episode 51

LINKS TO TOPICS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST

• Raleigh County Library
• Sammye Lewis's previous appearance on Podcast #28
• Miles Dean's previous appearance on Podcast #41
• Shirley Young Campbell, who is mentioned in this podcast, was the mother of West Virginia Writers, Inc. and we featured a tribute show to her for Episode 16.
  

Episode 50: THE 2011 CONFERENCECAST

The 2011 WV Writers Summer Conference is coming up June 10, 11 and 12 at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, WV. While registration for the conference has been open since March 7, we've only revealed a preview of the presenters for it on our website. ConferenceCast 2011 helps fill in the blanks for the upcoming conference. Joining us to help fill the blanks is our Conference Coordinator and organizational president, Cat Pleska.

The current list of workshop presenters and their workshop descriptions will be available at our website on Monday 3/28.

DOWNLOAD (Right click and Save Link Target As)
West Virginia Writers Podcast: Episode 50


LINKS TO TOPICS FROM THIS PODCAST

• Our CONFERENCE registration page
• Cat Pleska Interview from Episode 4
• Cat's interview with Lee Maynard from Episodes 21 and 22
  
• Future Conference Presenter Barbara Smith from Episode 16
• Edwina Pendarvis's appearance on Podcast Episode 39
• Meredith Sue Willis's website
• Boyd Carr's interview from Episode 7
• Susanna "Granny Sue" Holstein from Episode 15
• Stonewood Kid Challenge
• Doug and Telisha Williams website
• Doug and Telisha Williams on YouTube
• Memories of Conferences Past Podcasts
  

Bonus Show #13: The Newsflash Show

Bonus Show #13 is all about announcements, including word about the ending days of the WVW 2011 Writing Contest, the registration opening for the 2011 Summer Conference, the Writers Toolkit Event and our special upcoming poetry hotline show in which you can participate.

Check our website for all the details on all of the above, but listen to the podcast to hear me say it.

TO LISTEN: to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

DOWNLOAD: WVW Podcast Bonus Show #13

LINKS
WVW 2011 Writing Contest
WVW 2011 Summer Conference
2011 Writers Toolkit
WVW Poetry Hotline Show

Episode 49: THE 2011 CONTESTCAST #2

We're now at the half-way mark for the 2011 WV Writers Annual Writing Contest. (DEADLINE March 14, LATE DEADLINE March 31 with $2 late fee per entry.) Therefore it's time for Part 2 of ContestCast 2011.

Joining us to give us an update on this year's contest will be Contest Coordinator and WVW 1st VP Teresa Newsome. And joining us to help answer your Frequenly Asked Questions about the contest will be Coordinator Emeritus Steve Goff.

DOWNLOAD (Right click and Save Link Target As)
West Virginia Writers 2011 Contestcast PART 2 (a.k.a Episode 49)


Download Contest Entry Forms As Reference for the Podcast


Entry Form (.doc) Entry Form (.pdf)



Student Entry Form (.doc) Student Entry Form (.pdf)

Episode 48: Dear City Letters

Way back in June, we put out a call for our listeners to submit Dear City Letters to help drum up some publicity for National Public Radio's State of the Re:Union paying a visit to our state. With the Dear City letters, people were invited to write a letter to their city, expressing love, anger, frustration, humor and beyond, addressing the likes and dislikes or breaking misconceptions. We passed the letters we received on to NPR. This podcast is our chance to finally play them.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right mouse click on the link below and choose Save Link Target As to save the file to your computer. Listen to it at your convenience using Windows Media Player (or whatever product Mac offers for media).

West Virginia Writers Podcast Episode 48

LINKS TO TOPICS FROM THIS PODCAST

• NPR's State of the Re:Union
  
• State of the Re:Union's Appalachia Show
• Joey Madea (Fairmont, WV)
• Sal Buttaci (Princeton, WV)
• Christine Atwell (Alderson, WV)
• Eric Fritzius (Lewisburg, WV)
• Coolest Small Town in America VOTING page