Submissions around themes of sustainability, environmental awareness and/or reverence for nature will be accepted throughout the month of February.
Smart Bets: Ken Waldman
The Alaskan poet and musician brings his new theater piece “Donald Trump Is My Muse” to Firestorm Books on Jan. 5.
Asheville’s nonwhite literary scene, past and present, Part 2
“Anybody can write, but to choose it as a profession? That’s a hard economic choice,” poet Glenis Redmond muses. “I think people were making those choices, no matter what, but it was harder choice in the mountains.”
Asheville’s nonwhite literary scene, past and present, Part 1
“In a lot of places in the United States, you can still get a degree in English literature and not have to study any people of color,” says poet, author and educator Frank X Walker.
Smart Bets: Kimberly J. Simms
As part of the Asheville Poetry Series, the Greenville, S.C. author will read from her debut book of verse Dec. 18 at The BLOCK off Biltmore.
Monica McDaniel stages a play inspired by addiction issues in her community
McDaniel has also published two books, including the 2014 poetry and short-story hybrid Misty’s Blues, and is currently at work on a novel. “My community, the African-American community, has been supportive,” she says. “You have to build up your fan base — you have to leave your readers wanting more.”
Local nonprofits foster well-being through creative expression
Some Asheville-based arts organizations are focused on more than teaching technique to those in search of a new skill. Sure, learning how to use the tools is no small accomplishment, but these initiatives use artwork to expand horizons, explore self and community and heal wounds both physical and emotional.
Distinguished storytellers gather for TELLEBRATION!
Founded in 1988 by the late J.G. Pinkerton, TELLEBRATION! is a trademarked event that invites guilds from across the world to host a celebration in their own city the weekend before Thanksgiving. Doug Elliott will be joined by Asheville Storytelling Circle’s Chet Allen, Lee Lyons, Mary White and Becky Stone.
HomeWord host slams and cultivates young writers
HomeWord’s monthly slams are open to all interested students and the slam team is selected, based on points accrued, from those events. A pool of 50-75 youth poets is culled to the six who represent Asheville on the national level.
Halloween happenings around WNC
Here’s a selection of costumed capers, ghoulish gatherings and pumpkin-spiced parties. From autumnal festivities to puppet shows, there’s a celebration for nearly every reveler.
Smart Bets: Mark Twain
Marvin Cole’s one-man show takes place Tuesday, Oct. 24 in the Fellowship Hall of Beverly Hills Baptist Church.
Amy Reed’s latest novel battles rape culture with self-discovery
Amy Reed hopes readers will be inspired by the Nowhere Girls’ self-discovery, by their creation of community, and by the way the two processes work together. “The girls of the school realize that they aren’t enemies, and once they start looking at things that way, things start changing for them internally,” she says.
Faces in the crowd: WNC crowdfunding initiatives
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features a graphic novel told through the lens of a cell phone, an immersive musical by The Synthesis Experiment and a comedic film about the wild ride of parenting.
Wiley Cash’s latest novel reimagines the 1929 Loray Mill strike
On Tuesday, Oct. 3. writer Wiley Cash will celebrate the official release of his third novel, The Last Ballad, with a reading and book-signing session at UNC Asheville’s Lipinisky Hall.
ReVIEWING Black Mountain College conference looks at process and performance
As the annual conference attests, ideas and influences continue to ripple from the legendary school. This year’s theme is “Process + Performance.”
In ‘The Last Castle,’ Denise Kiernan tells the story of the Biltmore Estate
As it happens, the author has some things in common with the historic figures whose story she tells. Like Vanderbilt, Kiernan was born in New York City, and like the scion and his wife, Edith, Kiernan traveled widely (including a stint in Italy reporting on soccer for ESPN) before settling in Asheville.
Smart Bets: Sharyn McCrumb
The Virginia author will discuss her latest novel at Malaprop’s on Thursday, Sept. 14, and discuss the life and legacy of Zebulon B. Vance at UNCA on Friday, Sept. 15.
Smart Bets: Heather Bell Adams
The Hendersonville native will discuss her debut novel in conversation with Jeremy Jones at Malaprop’s on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Carolina Mountain Literary Festival takes over Burnsville
The list of participating writers is diverse and extensive, featuring local, national and international authors. These individuals range from award-winning poets and historians to first time novelists and cookbook authors.
Read this year’s Indie 500 flash fiction contest winners
The grand-prize winner of this year’s Indie 500 flash fiction contest is “Lucky Stars,” by Black Mountain-based author Amy Manikowski. The runners up are “Winsome,” by Eugene McLaughlin and “Small-town Superhero Trains a Sidekick,” by Zack Lindsey.
Smart Bets: Daren Wang
The former public radio producer will discuss his debut novel in conversation with Charles Frazier at Malaprop’s on Tuesday, Sept. 5.