Welcome to RiverPoets.com!
Upcoming Events
NOTE: Most events are held at Phillips Emporium, 10-12 East Main Street, Bloomsburg (downtown, revitalized) PA.
Sept. 9th - Tara Shoemaker Holdren reads from her new book, "Circumnavigation," at River Poets, open reading to follow. 7:30pm, donations welcome.
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 2007 and March 2008. 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 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 and pioneers, not too preachy, and notoriously polite, too. Really!
GETTING CONNECTED - Well, you could show up at Phillips Emporium on a second Tuesday at 7:30 PM; 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: 784-9231; or Mike DeMarco at mdmep@sunlink.net or phone him at 570-387-0920.
If you are e-mail friendly and would like to receive reminders of poetry events, please sign up for our e-newsletter. We won't share your address with anyone - promise.
