Jesse Stuart Foundation Hosts Writers Workshop

Jesse Stuart Foundation Hosts Writers Workshop

Pamela Hall

The Ashland Beacon

The Jesse Stuart Foundation will present the Jesse Stuart Writers Workshop April 17-18 at the Delta Marriott Hotel in Ashland. The event will feature sessions, panel discussions, keynote presentations and much more, from distinguished authors, literary professionals, and educators from around the state and beyond. They will cover a variety of topics such as writing poetry or fiction, journalism writing, memoir writing, publishing and more.

The Workshop is designed for writers of every level of proficiency, from beginners to experienced, even those who may not have ever written anything but have always wanted to. The sessions are meant to not only build and improve skills and to educate, but also to inspire and offer support in a creative environment. There will also be an opportunity to network with fellow writers and other authors.

“There are so many people who want to write,” said Dr. James Gifford, CEO and Senior Editor of the Jesse Stuart Foundation. “They want to improve their writing skills. We want to help and to encourage them to become better thinkers and better writers. We have assembled an all-star team of instructors for this event.”

Among this all-star team, which includes Dr. Gifford, is Lee Pennington who is a Poet Laureate of Kentucky and a protégé of Jesse Stuart; Gwyn Hyman Rubio, an award winning short fiction author; John W. McCauley, a published nonfiction and poetry author, and JSF Board Member; Keith Kappes, retired Morehead State University Vice President, award winning newspaper journalist, and publisher; Brenda Evans, published author, memoirist, and copy editor; Carol Boggess, Professor Emerita (English) at Mars Hill University and an award winning nonfiction author; and Adam Van Kirk, CEO of Right Eye Graphics.

Capping off this all-star team is this year’s keynote speaker, Al Cross, an award-winning journalist and educator with decades of experience in Kentucky media. He is the former director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. Cross is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter.

An added bonus for the Workshop will be Terry Diamond, a JSF Board Member and expert on Jesse Stuart collectibles and memorabilia. Originally from Flatwoods, he has been collecting items relating to Jesse Stuart for decades. He will be on hand to evaluate any Jesse Stuart books or other memorabilia that those in attendance may want to bring.

“I want to attend some of the sessions and learn as well,” Diamond said. He emphasized, “We would love to see some young aspiring writers come and be involved in the Writers Workshop.”

The event will begin on Friday, April 17 with registration from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pre-registration can be done by visiting the website, www.jsfbooks.com/writers-workshop. The non-refundable registration fee is $100, with a student rate of $50.

Dr. Gifford will open the Writers Workshop with a welcome at 2:00 p.m. followed by concurrent instruction sessions. The keynote address by Al Cross will be Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. followed by Open Mic for those in attendance. Saturday sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m and concluding about 3:30 p.m. For a complete agenda, visit the website.  

According to Dr. Gifford, the Jesse Stuart Writers Workshop event honors the rich literary legacy of Jesse Stuart while offering practical tools, insight, and inspiration to help writers strengthen their skills and move their work forward.

Don’t miss the Jesse Stuart Writers Workshop, April 17 – 18 at the Delta Marriott in Ashland.