Program made possible by grant from
John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank, Trustee

Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky., announces its new Creative Writing Vision Program, supported by a grant from the John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank, Trustee. A key component of the Creative Writing Vision Program is the addition of author and teacher Pauletta Hansel to the TMC faculty as the College’s first writer-in-residence, offering both on- and off-campus writing experiences for TMC students and the community-at-large. Hansel is a Kentucky-born writer whose most recent books of poetry include The Lives We Live in Houses (Wind Publications 2011) and What I Did There (Dos Madres Press 2011). She has led creative writing programs for Grailville in Loveland, Ohio, the Urban Appalachian Council and at schools and community settings regionally and beyond.

Thomas More College English Professor Sherry Cook Stanforth, PhD, founded and currently directs the Creative Writing Vision Program. Stanforth described the program’s mission as “fostering collaboration with local organizations and institutions to promote high impact experiences in the literary arts.”  The program also supports the College’s fast-growing creative writing major. According to Stanforth, opportunities like this help promote community spirit as well as individual growth. “The best creative writing education for undergraduates evolves from active literary involvement and community leadership,” she added.

Appalachian Writers Series 2012

Thomas More College launches the Creative Writing Vision Program with a collaboration involving Joseph Beth Booksellers/Crestview Hills, the Urban Appalachian Council and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to present an Appalachian Writers Series featuring Pauletta Hansel, Richard Hague, Frank X Walker and George Ella Lyon in 2012, and more programs in the works in 2013.  (Ohio programs are funded in part by the Ohio Arts Council.) The upcoming programs are open to the public and include:

Mon. Aug 27, 7 pm – Cincinnati –Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Main Library – Pauletta Hansel presents “Talking Poetry: A conversation and writing experience.”  For more information, contact: David Siders in the Popular Library Department at 513-369-6919 or visit www.cincinnatilibrary.org/programs.

Wed. Sept. 5, 7 pm – Crestview Hills, Ky.,- Joseph Beth Booksellers—Poetry reading and book signing by local author Pauletta Hansel. Hansel serves as the writer-in-residence at Thomas More College and leads community poetry workshops for the Urban Appalachian Council, Grailville, in Loveland, Ohio, and elsewhere.  She is the author of four collections of poetry, her most recent publications being The Lives We Live in Houses and What I Did There.  Contact (859) 912-7860 or visit www.josephbeth.com.

Wed, Sept. 12 – Oct. 4, 6:30-8 pm – Crestview Hills, Ky., – Thomas More College –Community of Creative Writers Workshop with Richard Hague and Pauletta Hansel, “Inviting the Muse.” Generate new material to later craft into finished pieces. (Note: Four-week Series on “Crafting the Work” begins Oct. 17.) For more information, visit www.thomasmore.edu/adult/furthermore.cfm or call 859-344-3304.

Mon. Sept. 24, 7 pm – Cincinnati – Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Main Library – “Our Beloved Community: Poetry, Story and Song about Over the Rhine,” written and performed by Richard Hague, Pauletta Hansel, Michael Henson and Desirae Hosley. Contact: David Siders in the Popular Library Department at 513-369-6919 or visit www.cincinnatilibrary.org/programs.

Wed. October 10, 7 pm – Crestview Hills, KY- Joseph Beth Booksellers—Poetry reading and book signing by award-winning author Richard Hague. Born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio, Hague delves reflectively into the social, cultural and economic tensions of Appalachian life.  His most recent works include Public Hearings (poems) and Learning How: Stories, Yarns and Tales. Contact (859) 912-7860 or visit www.josephbeth.com.

Mon. Nov. 12 , 7 pm – Crestview Hills, KY- Joseph Beth Booksellers—Poetry reading and book signing by Affrilachian poet Frank X Walker. The author of five poetry collections, Walker’s most recent works (Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride and When Winter Come: the Ascension of York) feature historically inspired narrative poetry.  Founder of the Affrilachian Poets and a 2005 recipient of the Lannan Literary Fellowship in Poetry, Walker is a professor of English at the University of Kentucky and the publisher and editor of PLUCK!, the Journal of Affrilachian Art & Culture.

Sun. Dec. 2 , 4 pm – Crestview Hills, KY- Joseph Beth Booksellers—Prolific author George Ella Lyon reads and signs from her newest books for children and young adults.. Lyon’s recent books include Holding on to Zoe, a novel for young adults, and a poetry collection, She Let Herself Go.  Contact (859) 912-7860 or visit www.josephbeth.com.

Mon. Dec. 3, 7 pm Cincinnati –Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Main Library – Poet, novelist, memoirist and children’s author George Ella Lyon presents “Talking Poetry: A conversation and writing experience. Contact David Siders in the Popular Library Department at 513-369-6919 or visit www.cincinnatilibrary.org/programs.

Second Wednesday Eat and Create Brownbag with Writer-In-Residence Pauletta Hansel

Hosted at Thomas More College, the “Eat and Create” series invites the community to join TMC staff, faculty and students 12:00-12:50 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month this fall semester in the Chancellor’s Room (located in the Administration Building) for some creative fun. Bring pen and paper and an open mind. For more information, contact 859-341-5800 or visit www.thomasmore.edu.

Wednesday, September 12:  Wisdom Story Circle: Share and hear our stories of wisdom from surprising sources.

Wednesday, October 10: So You Think You Can’t Write: Writing prompts to jumpstart anybody’s writing.

Wednesday, November 14: So You Think You CAN Write: We think you can too! Share your work in a non-competitive, open mic poetry and flash fiction/nonfiction reading.

Wednesday, December 12: Poetry Break: Find inspiration from poetry in the midst of exam week. No pressure. Show up for as much or little as you can.