Welcome to RiverPoets.com!
Upcoming Events
NOTE: Most events are held at Phillips Emporium, 10-12 East Main Street, Bloomsburg (downtown, revitalized) PA.
MAY 12, 7:30 – LAWRENCE BASSETT Featured Reader - plus an Open Reading; Lawrence Bassett is an ex-teacher and athletic event announcer living in the Williamsport area. His novel Marjorie and collection of poems Possum Love feature a fresh yet familiar voice but which still startles and impresses. MC: Tara Holdren.
JUNE 9, 7:30 – SABRINA McLAUGHLIN Featured Reader plus an Open Reading; Sabrina A. McLaughlin grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania and attended Bloomsburg and Wilkes Universities; she has a M.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from SUNY Binghamton. Most recently, she worked as a field organizer on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, and currently she is an adjunct instructor at Luzerne County Community College. River Poets is the first poetry reading she ever attended, so she is very happy to be returning. MC: Angela Runciman.
JULY 14, 7:00 – DICK SWEENEY Featured Reader plus an Open Reading (Bloomsburg Town Park; pavilion near the volleyball courts, northwest of the lagoon). Dick has lived in exotically named places LaGrange Illinois, Detroit Michigan, Rensselear Indiana, Providence Rhode Island and Bloomsburg to name a few. He has had varied work experience from college residence kitchen crewman to being a missile launch instructor for the US Army; from field crop farmer to college professor. He is a reader, writer, gardener, husband, father, and grandfather. MC: Dave Barsky.
In the News
Tara Shoemaker Holdren of the River Poets won first prize in the Mulberry Poets and Writers Association for 2008.
Tara Shoemaker Holdren is a member of Bloomsburg's River Poets and lives in Millville, PA with her husband and two sons. She also plays guitar and sings in her church's contemporary worship team each week. She teaches high school English and is the advisor for the school's literary magazine. Tara's work has been published in Watershed, Time of Singing, The Press Enterprise, The Daily Item, and Pennsylvania Magazine. Her collection of poetry Circumnavigation is slated for publication in fall 2008 by Paper Kite Press. Soli Deo Gloria.
Disclaimers and Possible Grains of Truth Department:
BOOKLET – You must be heard to be seen. Poems for this year’s booklet must have been read aloud between April 2008 and March 10, 2009 (aka, the deadline) -> Verbalize and SUBMIT!! Limit one page of poems per poet. You may bring a paper copy of the poetry submitted to the March reading, or e-mail it to richardb@ptd.net. SURRENDER! Most often, the booklets are assembled and ready for distribution by April’s reading and for a nominal charge you may have one. Special note: there are copies of previous annual poetry booklets if you are historically minded or curious about growth or the evolution (creation) of progress, art, and production.
ORIGINS Founded in May 1994 at the Bloomsburg Public Library, River Poets has attracted members and poets from Scranton to Selinsgrove and other undisclosed locations. Phillips Emporium has been the center of space, gatherings, and organizational support since nearly the beginning of River Poet time. The format is themed (suggested, not required; encouraged not forced) or a featured reader(s) followed by an open reading. Although not strictly rule-bound, we do encourage a 3-poem or 5-minute time constraint on open readers, before we bring out the hook. Mostly we try to avoid having the audience zone out or run away screaming. All people and all works are welcomed – bring original items, favorite works, songs, a lie or two. River Poets is an encouraging and supportive group of pilgrims, pioneers, not too preachy, and notoriously polite. Really!!
GETTING CONNECTED – Well, you could show up at Phillips Emporium on a second Tuesday at 7:30 PM or other scheduled event, at 7:30PM; but if that is not your style (you are shy?) then e-mail Dick Sweeney at rms8634@verizon.net or phone him at 570-437-2661; Or Dave Barsky: phone number. 784-9231; Or Mike DeMarco at mdmep@sunlink.net or phone him at 570-387-0920. If you are computer friendly and would like to receive reminders of poetry events, please send your e-mail address to Janet Locke jlocke@bloomu.edu.
