Tuolumne Writers Retreat

The Tuolumne Writers Retreat is coming up on September 25th-27th in Columbia. You can find out more at www.sonorawriters.org or by calling 209-743-8097. This will feature 16 writers’ workshops, prose and poetry open mics, a Ghost Poetry Walk, guest speakers, book signings, and performances. It sounds like a lot of fun, so if you are interested sign up early and give yourself something to look forward to.

UPDATE: Salvatore Salerno of Modesto, a MoSt board member, will be teaching a workshop titled “Making a Poem” on Saturday, September 26 at the Tuolumne Writers’ Retreat. His recent chapbook is “New Wine in Old Barrels.”

Apr 30

Come to Our 2nd Annual Benefit, Sunday May 3rd!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center to Host Second Annual Gala at Barkin’ Dog Grill

Poetry Nonprofit Event Promises Food, Drinks and Fun in Downtown Modesto

Modesto – Calling all poetry lovers: get ready to party! On Sunday, May 3, the Modesto-Stanislaus (MoSt) Poetry Center is set to host its second annual Gala Celebration at the Barkin’ Dog Grill in Modesto. Last year’s MoSt Gala was the talk of the town, and this year’s event is sure to offer fun for poets and poetry lovers alike.

From 2-5 p.m., the local arts nonprofit will celebrate another year of great local poetry with food, drinks, music and good company at the eatery on 11th Street in downtown Modesto.

The gala will feature live music by Guy Powell and Petar Magazinovic, hors d’oeuvres prepared by the chefs of Barkin’ Dog Grill and fun poetry-related activities to tempt the minds of poetry lovers of all ages.

In addition, attendees of this year’s Gala event will be able to bid on a host of incredible silent auction items which celebrate our area’s vibrant arts community. Guests can bid on original work from local artists, crafts from local artisans and even poetry book baskets featuring the work of area poets (including some in attendance!).

Whether you love the written word, or just believe in it, your attendance helps support the creation, enjoyment and dissemination of poetry in the Stanislaus County region.

Tickets for the select event are $20 and are available online at Eventbrite and at the door of the event. Barkin’ Dog Grill is located at 940 11th Street in Downtown Modesto. Hope to see you there!

The Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center is dedicated to promoting poetry throughout Stanislaus County and to promoting Stanislaus County through poetry. Since 2014, the nonprofit has spread poetry through readings, workshops and partnerships with other arts organizations. To become a member or for more information, visit mostpoetry.org

Writer’s Digest Poetry Contest – Early Bird Deadline

WD’s Annual Writing Competition has an early-bird deadline on May 4th–if you enter by May 4th, the entry fee is lower! Rules and information here.

Apr 19

Announcing the 2015 Poets’ Corner Contest Winners

This year’s Poets’ Corner contest has come to an end, and the results are in! Check below for the names of all the winning poets, and make sure to come celebrate with them (and us)! The winning poems will be read at the Poets’ Corner Contest Reception to be held on Sunday, May 17, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. on the Main Floor at the McHenry Museum, 1402 I Street.

Winning poems will be printed in a booklet that will be placed in the Poets’ Bookshelf, which contains published works by local writers and will be kept at the McHenry Museum. Each winner will receive a copy of the booklet.

Winners in the Adult – General Submissions Category
Ed Bearden for The Call
Pat Egenberger for Three Haiku
Lynn Hansen for Choir of Canaries
Nancy Haskett for Crayola Memories
Louise Kantro for Elegy for Felix
Angelique Limatoc Arnold for A Good Sunny Day
Nancee Kinkaid Maya for San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
Tom Portwood for Christmas Season, 1958
Gary Thomas for and to the young ravens when they cry

Winners in the Adult – Special Submissions Category
Roberta Bearden for Still Gray Morning
Virginia Dall for Signals
Pat Egenberger for Earth
Tom Myers for Transformation
Stephen E. Peters for Bristlecone
Linda Marie Prather for Tree Trimming
Gordon Preston for Last Summer Eggs
Mary Rodgers for Ranchito Rio Tuolumne
Naomi Ward for Kentucky Memory
Gillian Wegener for Rain After Drought

Winners in the Children – General Submission Category
Katherine Andrews for A Mother’s Lie
Hayden Dinsdale for Animals Being Happy
Arshaun Faraji for Snow
Ann Marie Hendricks for My Dog Princess
Elsa Jesberg for Apple Tree
Tabitha Jory for Orca, oh Orca
Jose Guadalupe Martinez for Three Haiku
Ella Oliver for Family
Annabelle Rousseau for Untitled
Austin Salazar for The Lonesome Cowboy
Gabriella Sanchez for Unable to Justify
Katelin Urgo for Her Mind

Winners in the Children – Special Submission Category
Carson Carranza for Fire on Ice
Vinay Channaveerappa for A Dancer Called ‘Fire’
Avery Cloward for Down There
Lizzie Doll for Fire
Maeg Domingo for Brother Son and Sister Moon
Emma Garber for The Rain of Beauty
Nandini Naidu for Rain! Rain!
Raymond Noriega for Fire
Agustin Valdes for Elemental Beauty

Apr 09

Tickets Now Available for Our 2nd Annual Benefit!

Our first year was so fun that we thought we should do it again. Come join us on Sunday, May 3rd, from 2-5 pm at the Barkin’ Dog Grill. Tickets are only $20 and are available online at Eventbrite as well as directly from MoSt board members.

Enjoy food, drinks, and music while mingling with poetry-minded friends. Bid on silent auction items, including art from local artists, original crafts from local artisans, and poetry book baskets. Maybe even write a few lines of poetry yourself–we’ll have writing prompts and ideas on hand.

Your attendance helps us raise money to support the creation, enjoyment, and dissemination of POETRY in the Stanislaus County region. Hope to see you there!

Facebook members can also join the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1420506498260268/

Check out photos from last year’s event here.