Pat Barber

Okay, I'm a week late with the column. I'll blame it on the summer heat. The dog days of summer ate my Word document. It's been too hot to turn the calendar from July to August. I'm still trying to get used to this deadline thing…. Oops. Sorry. Won't happen again.

ED SIMPSON

This month I'd like to introduce you to Ed Simpson. Ed was kind enough to email last month to take me up on my stated intention to deliver news about area writers. (He started with a few compliments, and that always helps).

Ed is a playwright, Lecturer in Playwrighting at UNC-G and Chair of the Department of Theater at High Point University. He's also written for television. Most recently he was elected to the prestigious National Theatre Conference. Simpson will be inducted into the NTC on Oct. 30 at The Players Club in New York City. The National Theatre Conference, founded in 1925, is a cooperative association of distinguished leaders of the American theater, both professional and university.

Ed's plays have been regularly produced throughout the US and Canada. His latest, Elephant Sighs, has just been accepted for publication by Samual French, Inc. It joins four other of his plays in the French catalog. Not a shabby resume.

As you can see, Ed keeps pretty busy, and after moving back to the area after 30 years in New York and Pennsylvania, still feels that he hasn't had a chance to re-introduce himself to his hometown. So, Triad meet Ed Simpson. Ed, welcome home.

Ed Simpson can be reached at esimpson@highpoint.edu

YADKIN ARTS COUNCIL

Susan Lyons who is a managing consultant with the Yadkin Arts Council also wrote. The YAC has sponsored a number of workshops this summer with Sheryl Monks, on of the founders of Press 53. Most took place in July, but fortunately there is one scheduled for August:

WRITING WHAT YOU KNOW WITH SHERYL MONKS
August 29, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Fee: $15 Location to be announced
Experience is the great teacher. In this workshop, we'll draw upon our own vast knowledge of the world around us to generate stories, poems, and essays locked safely away in memory. Whether you're new to writing or have been writing for years, this afternoon of memory games and writing prompts is sure to unearth enough material to last any writer a lifetime. Bring notebook and pen and come ready to write.

Contact Sheryl Monks sherylmonks@aol.com or Susan Lyons yadkinarts@yadtel.net for more information. Or call the YAC at 336-679-2941.

The Yadkin Arts Council is demolishing their present building and constructing a new 10,000 square foot Cultural Arts Center in its place. The new building will include a lobby and art gallery, classrooms, outdoor courtyard, Internet café and bookstore, offices and a full-service catering kitchen. www.yadkinarts.org

WINSTON SALEM WRITERS

And finally, Winston-Salem Writers kicks off an exciting schedule after a summer's respite. Starting with:

IDEAFEST: Members and future members gather at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 19 in the auditorium of the Central Library, 660 West Fifth Street. The purpose of the hour-long IdeaFest: find ways to make WSW even more helpful to you and others. A WSW board meeting will follow at 7:30.

FIRST WEDNESDAY: WSW resumes its "First Wednesday" series at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 2 with "Writing in Hard Times" -- a program led by Dr. Audrey Forrest-Carter, novelist and associate professor, Winston-Salem State University. Location: Auditorium, Central Library, 660 West Fifth Street.

To make this column both interesting and useful, I'll need your help.

Know a local writer who deserves recognition? Are you recently published? Have you won a writing prize or award? Know of an upcoming writing event, contest or call for entries? Random thoughts? Any thoughts? Request for something new on the Wordsmith's Café menu? Please email writing-related news and information to wordsmithscafe@aol.com