Check out Annie's Book Stop's Interview with Diane Vanaskie Mulligan

Annie's Book Stop interviewed Worcester Storyteller's upcoming feature, Diane Vanaskie Mulligan, for their December 26, 2012 blog.  Check out what Diane has to say about the writing process at the Annie's Book Stop blog.

I also got the honor to interview with Annie's Book Stop.  My interview was posted today at their blog.  You can read about how I (re-)started Worcester Storytellers and learn more about me as a writer.

Thank you to Annie's Book Stop for such a wonderful partnership in 2012.  I'm looking forward to our continued collaboration in 2013!

I'm also pleased to say that I've confirmed features through April 2013. 

Michael Fisher is the most recent confirmation for Friday, April 26, 2013.  I was lucky enough to ask him on the same day he got a manuscript of strange poetry accepted for publication.  Congrats, Michael!

Diane Vanaskie Mulligan features on December 28th!

Please join us for the December edition of Worcester Storytellers!

Feature:  Diane Vanaskie Mulligan

Host: Kristina England

Date/Time: Friday, December 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Location: Annie's Book Stop, 65 James Street, Worcester, MA

 

The reading starts with an Open Mic (1 to 2 pieces, no longer than 5 minutes). This venue loves fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and prose (sorry, no musical instruments).

 

 

Feature Bio:

 

Diane Vanaskie Mulligan's debut teen novel Watch Me Disappear was released in August, 2012. She teaches high school English in central Massachusetts, directs the Betty Curtis Worcester County Young Writers' Conference, and is managing editor of The Worcester Review. Originally, from Northeastern Pennsylvania, Diane is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Simmons College. She lives with her husband Todd, her cat Taco, and her dog Amelia in Worcester, MA. When not writing or teaching, Diane loves to garden, bake, play her guitar, swim, hike, and ski. In other words, she doesn't sit still unless she's reading or writing.

The venue is a small, intimate setting so get there early for a seat.

Thank you to Annie's Book Stop for the great space! There's nothing better than books surrounding a storyteller!
 

Jessica Bane Robert features on October 26th

Please join us for the October edition of Worcester Storytellers!

Feature:  Jessica Bane Robert

Host:  Kristina England

Date/Time:  Friday, October 26, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Location:  Annie's Book Stop, 65 James Street, Worcester, MA

The reading starts with an Open Mic (1 to 2 pieces, no longer than 5 minutes).  This venue loves fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and prose (sorry, no musical instruments).

Feature Bio:

Jessica Bane Robert grew up off the grid on a mountain in Maine in a log cabin built

by her father. This experience informs much of what she does as a teacher and writer. An essay from her memoir has been published in Ecotone, a literary journal about place. Her poems have been published and anthologized by a variety of journals and presses including Naugatuck River Review, Cider Press Review, and Outrider Press. She won the Writecorner Press editor’s prize for her villanelle entitled “Family Plot”. Her poems were recently awarded an international merit award from the Atlanta Review and won Salem College’s International Rita Dove Poetry Award.


Her first chap book of poems, Scarred Seasons, was published by Finishing Line Press and was nominated for a Mass Book Award and a Pen New England Literary Award.

Jessica currently teaches Writing and Literature courses at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and she is the proprietor of the Barred Owl Retreat: A Writing and Learning Center in Leicester, MA. (www.barredowlretreat.com)

Upcoming Readings

Hey All,

I've confirmed the features for Worcester Storytellers through 2012:

• Friday, October 26, 2012 - Jessica Bane Robert (Non-fiction and Poetry)
• No November Reading due to Thanksgiving.
• Friday, December 28, 2012 - Diane Mulligan (Fiction)

Stay tuned for more information, including a bio and picture of our October feature.

Cheers,

Kristina England

A Recap of Worcester Storytellers Relaunch

Feature Dave Macpherson.  September 28, 2012. 
Photo by: Kristina England

First, a big thank you to the staff at Annie's Book Stop.  When I arrived last night, they had done a wonderful job setting up for the reading.  They then accomodated a couple other requests by me and were wonderful through out the night.  They have also helped market the reading on facebook and made great posters for that are hanging up in the store.  This reading would not have happened without such a wonderful space.  Plus, what's better for a writer than being surrounded by books?

The re-launch of Worcester Storytellers happened last night, Friday, September 28th, at Annie's Book Stop.  Although there was a small crowd for the first reading (which is normal), the intimate atmosphere made for a fun night. 

The evening kicked off with host Kristina England reading Joyce Peseroff's poem "The Hardness Scale".  Kristina will change it up each month with a different author to kick off the night.  Sometimes it will be a short story, other times a longer poem such as Peseroff's.  She may even grab a children's book from the wonderful display background in the performance room at Annie's.  Who knows?

Up next was the open mic with Sam Lalos, Michel Duncan-Merle, and Robert Steele reading from their collection of stories.  It was a nice change of pace as Lalos often reads from his current poetry and Steele is working on a book in which we got a little glimpse into the characters.  Merle read some different pieces from his "Stranger" collection.

Once the open Mic wrapped up, we welcomed feature David Macpherson to the stage.  Dave is the founder of the Worcester Storytellers and, well, loves storytelling.  His work is both comical and dark at times.  A new piece he performed at the feature that stood out last night was about a father's rivalry with dirt bikers.  He also performed all time favorites such as his famous bread cutter piece and, naturally, his murdering of crows.

At the end of Dave's reading (the last piece, actually), local poet Jenith Charpentier made a surprise appearance, which allowed us to get a few more pieces from Dave (always a wonderful thing).

I've included a few pictures from last night's reading.

Next month we will welcome Jessica Bane Robert, a local writer of non-fiction and poetry.  But more on her later.

Ciao for now!

 

Michel Duncan-Merle reads in the Open Mic.  Photo by: Kristina England

 

Sam Lalos reads in the Open Mic.  September 28, 2012. 

Photo by: Kristina England

Worcester Storytellers is now on facebook

Here is our facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/events/402684836452248/#!/groups/464290920268090/

Join it and get automatic invites to upcoming readings.

Happy Labor Day, Everyone!

Your host,

Kristina England

Worcester Storytellers is back!

That's right, Worcester Storytellers is back from the... hrm... grave is probably not the right word (we aren't a zombie) so let's just use from the "void". 

This series was originally founded and hosted by the wonderful and vibrant David Macpherson.  A couple of years ago, Dave retired from hosting and thus the Worcester Storytellers curtain closed.  Recently, I (New Host: Kristina England) approached Dave about bringing back the reading.  I missed getting my fix of local fiction and non-fiction writers.  We have plenty of poetry series in Worcester (for which I am very thankful) but sometimes I want something more than just poetry.

Of course, the first dilemma for a series is to find the actual venue.  I approached Annie's Book Stop in June and about a week ago, received the greenlight for the venue (many thanks to Annie's!).  It wouldn't seem proper if I launched the reading without having Dave involved in some way, so without further ado, mark your calendars for the rebirth of Worcester Storytellers:

Worcester Storytellers

Friday, September 28th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Annie's Book Stop

65 James Street, Worcester, MA

 

SEPTEMBER FEATURE: 

DAVID MACPHERSON

The reading starts with an Open Mic so "bring your short stories, poetry and charming tales to share" (stolen from an old Poets' Asylum ad... speaking of which, check out the "Other Venues" tab for all the great local poetry venues other than Worcester Storytellers).

More information about the series and upcoming features can be found via the tabs at the top of this website.

Your host,

Kristina England