Members of Tuscaloosa Writers and Illustrators Guild, in collaboration with Tuscaloosa Public Library, are offering a free six-session memoir-writing course. Poet Jeff Weddle and authors, Jim Ezell and Carolyn Breckinridge Ezell offered the first session on Saturday, March 14th in the library’s History Room from 2-4. Carolyn also facilitated. Authors Walt Henley , Laura Hunter and Elizabeth Kitchens offered with second on April 18th with Laura facilitating.
There are two sessions during May, the 2nd and the 16th, followed by June 6th and July 11th. This program is offered by Tuscaloosa Public Library as part of the West Alabama celebration of the 250th birthday of our nation.
Signings
| Day / Date / Time | Author(s) | Event / Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 1 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | John Ryland | Live at the Plaza, Government Plaza 618 Almon Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Saturday, May 2 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Gary Miller | Rocky Heights Book Fair 298 W. Valley Ave., Birmingham, AL |
| Saturday, May 2 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Emily Walls Ray | Henrico County Community Authors Expo Fairfield Library, Richmond, VA |
| Saturday, May 9 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | John Ryland | Art in the Park, Gamble Park, Gamble Ave., Jasper, AL |
| Saturday, May 9 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Kristin Daryl | Art in the Park, Gamble Park, Gamble Ave., Jasper, AL |
| Saturday, May 9 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | TK Cassidy | Whitehall Convention Center Craft Fair Whitehall, MT |
| Saturday, May 15 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | John Ryland | Live at the Plaza, Government Plaza 618 Almon Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Saturday, May 23 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM | John Ryland | Decatur Jubilee, Point Mallard Park Decatur, AL |
| Saturday, May 30 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | TK Cassidy | Western Legacy Center Author Signing Whitehall, MT |
Celebrations
Congratulations to Jeff Weddle whose TWENTIETH BOOK, High on Rose, (poetry) has now been launched by Keeping the Flame Alive Press.
Readings and Appearances
| Day / Date / Time | Author(s) | Event / Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, May 24 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Sam Popkin | Unitarian Universalist Church 4300 Hampton Heights Dr.Birmingham, AL |
| Saturday, May 30 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Gary Minder | Lit Kick, The House 1600 John Knox Circle, Stillman CampusTuscaloosa, AL |
Trailer Links and YouTube Videos
- Megan Blaney has created a YouTube channel where she reads from her works.
https://youtu.be/xGJkA-dJyyg?si=gUtiBtfr8OWkuOG1 - Sam Popkins has a trailer for his memoir, Scenes Through the Narrow Window: Personal and Professional Reflections of a Clinical Psychologist.
https://linktr.ee/sampopkin
Community Activities
- Authors Sam Popkin and Carolyn Rhodes, and Author/Poet Beth Sherrill will make up the Tuscaloosa Public Library’s “Write Your Own Memoir” panel on Saturday, May 2nd. Sam Popkin will present memoir through reflective vignette (Scenes Through the Narrow Window: Personal and Professional Reflections of a Clinical Psychologist); Carolyn Rhodes will present memoir through memoir-book (Library Girls of New York, 2nd Edition); and Beth Sherrill will present memoir through her award-winning poetry. Author Laura Hunter will facilitate.
- Authors Gary Miller, Beverly Thorn, and Anne Weston will make up the Tuscaloosa Public Library’s memoir writing workshop panel on Saturday, May 16th. Gary Miller will present wedding memoir and fiction, (Ragsdale Blues), Beverly Thorn will present memoir incorporating self-help and educational themes (Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver) and Anne Weston will offer memoir through journal writing, letter writing and memories from her late mother’s (Aileen Kilgore Henderson’s) numerous books and Anne’s own memoirs. Carolyn Breckinridge Ezell will facilitate.
- Emily Ray Walls continues presenting her memoir class at Lakeside United Methodist Church, Richmond Virginia, on Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 (May 1-22).
- Emily also serves as a volunteer reader at Kidz Zone of the Atlantic Coast Athletics Center, Short Pump, Richmond, VA.
- Jennifer Horne continues to offer her Mid-Week poetry break on FB, most recently from Edinburgh, Scotland!
- Gregory N. Whitis organized a tour of the West Alabama catfish industry for radio personalities Johnnie Aycock and Lisa Jones, Catfish 100.1. Whitis has set two novels based around the catfish farming business, Nighthope and Blue-Green.
