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PN

PENN'S STORE PRESENTS
2013 KENTUCKY WRITER'S DAY CELEBRATION
Friday April 19, Saturday, April 20,
and Sunday April 21, 2013
Writers/PARTICIPANTS

For a Schedule of the 2013 weekend events, click here.

You will enjoy Kentucky Writers' Day at two area locations;
we look forward to your being part of it. 



Dr. H. R. Stoneback and the Elizabeth Madox Roberts Society from New York will be joining us again this year. 

H. R. Stoneback is Distinguished Professor of English at the State University of New York. As Honorary President of the Elizabeth Madox Roberts Society, every year he leads dozens of students from New York and many other states (including France!) to Kentucky to study Roberts, one of Kentucky's greatest writers, and to participate in the annual Roberts Conferences held at St. Catharine College (and other venues in Springfield and Harrodsburg) every April since 1999. In addition, Roberts Society members have participated in the Penn's Store Kentucky Writers Day programs for over a decade.  Stoneback is the author or editor of 30 books, roughly half poetry and half literary studies.









Dr. H. R. Stoneback

KY Writer's Day Show - performances by Dawn Lane Osborn, and other Kentucky Writers' Day Songwriters.  Dawn is a poet, song writer, and musician and performs professionally.

Special Guest Appearance

NEWS FLASH!
NEW ADDITION: 
The BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL KICKOFF held in  January at the Roby Dome, Marion County High School, Lebanon, Kentucky held its first "Songwriting Contest".  Jeanne Lane, on behalf of Historic Penn's Store and the 2013 KWD CELEBRATION presented to the winner a "spot" in the "SONGWRITERS TRIBUTE SHOWCASE"  for the Friday Night line up. 

The winner - DON GAYLORD - Nashville, originally from New York state.  Here's some info on him below. 

 Guest Appearance Friday Evening-- Don Gaylord

 

 Don Gaylord is an award-winning songwriter and performer from Kinderhook, NY.   He moved to Nashville in February of 2006 on following the 2002-2003 success of the song “Better Chance” which was co-written with his friend Jim Dufty and recorded by independent artist Dave Young.  Don has also had his share of success in his native Northeast with numerous nominations and wins for awards from the NorthEastCMA as well as radio airplay on multiple Upstate New York stations and a weekly television show based in Schenectady, NY.

 Don’s writing and performing styles reflect the diversity of his musical interests that range from Electronica to Delta Blues.   

 You can hear Don at http://www.reverbnation.com/dongaylord

Guest Appearance -- Friday Evening
Obie Slater
From the cotton fields of the Egypt Plantation in Bentonia, Mississippi, to a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee.

In a small town located in Central Kentucky, was an old Cinder Block building, which stood on a back street of a town called Lebanon. The correct name was Water Street, the nick name was “Back Street” the old building was the home of Club Cherry where the black folk went to party. Though it is not mentioned as one of the stops on the well known “Chitlin Circuit” it was very much a part of the journey.

Here a man who was born the son of a Sharecropper, with barely a fourth grade education, became one of the most recognized men in the town of Lebanon, Kentucky and in all the surrounding counties because he was the manager of the famed black night club called “Club Cherry” where entertainers from Otis Redding to Count Bassie played their music long before they became famous.  Reminisce with him as he tells of his journey and the Hall of Fame Entertainers he booked long before they were Hall of Famers.

Obie Slater will do a book signing in the lobby of EMS on Friday Evening, and maybe even answer some of your questions about Otis Redding, Little Richard, Ike & Tina and some of the other "greats" many of us remember. 


Guest Appearance -- Saturday Evening
Terry Wooley

 

Singer, songwriter, actor, author and the new host of "COUNTRY JUNCTION" on WDRB - TV, Louisville, TERRY WOOLEY is an accomplished musician with over 300 songs and jingles to his credit.  He has also written a book, a movie script and the score for his first full length motion picture.  He is one who not only enjoys the writing and performing, but is actively involved in the creation of music behind the scenes.  As a producer and an engineer, along with being a session guitar player, he has played on or recorded countless albums including 6 of his own.  A great showman and entertainer Terry Wooley has headlined music venues all across the U.S.  A workaholic that spends every waking moment for the music, and now is the host of his very own variety TV show, "COUNTRY JUNCTION".  Catch Terry's show any opportunity you may have.  You won't be disappointed.  

" COUNTRY JUNCTION "

on WBKI - TV and ION Network,  Louisville.   

Check your local listings for dates/times.

Friday night, June 16, 2012, at the  Woodstock Festival Art Center in Woodstock, Alabama, Terry Wooley performed for an enthusiastic crowd. Terry was there to promote the movie “Alabama Gator Oil. ” which is based on his book by the same name. He also wrote the title song and has a part in the movie which will come out in August 2014 and stars American Idol winners, Scotty McCrary and Carrie Underwood.

Terry Wooley is a gifted singer, songwriter, actor and author who brought cheers from the crowd with songs such as “Country Boy,” , and “Average Joe,” then tears with his moving story of Haley, for whom he wrote the song “There Is A Cure.” As a result of his meeting with young cancer victim , Terry now donates all the proceeds from the sale his merchandise from the “Terry Wooley Show,”  to the “Children’s Miracle Network.” You can find this and other Wooley charities along with his music at http://www.terrywooley.com/fr_welcome.cfm.

  SATURDAY EVENING in the LOBBY 

  GUITAR  SIGNING  for VETERANS         6 PM  -  8 PM

 Terry Wooley has a guitar he takes with him when he performs around the country for veterans to sign.  The guitar is being donated to the WOUNDED WARRIORS.   Terry will have the guitar available for signing by veterans in the lobby of EMS before his performance.  

   To all VETERANS ...  

  Come out,  meet Terry and sign this special guitar.

Emcees

Larry Sanders & BorderLine are a versatile group of musicians. If you enjoy country music, (old and new), old rock and roll, some gospel and a little bit of bluegrass, Larry Sanders and BorderLine is the of entertainers for you. They are well known for their impersonations, colorful costumes and comedy routines. If you've ever been to a Pigeon Forge or Branson music show, Larry Sanders & BorderLine are the group for you. 

They have worked with Ronnie McDowell and The Jordaniers, The Kentucky Headhunters, International folk singer Michael Jonathan and they were the band when Gary Edwards visited Kentucky. They have performed on cable and KET. Larry has been a special guest on the RFDTV broadcast of MidWest Country and Jordan Leigh Young has appeared on "The Morning Show" on CBS with Dolly Parton and has been Dolly's guest at the Grand Ole Opry.

Larry Sanders & BorderLine are known for their "Tribute to Kentucky", Patriotic and Christmas concerts. If you want "Excellence in Entertainment" for your next event, contact Larry Sanders & BorderLine.


Wilma Brown
of Danville is a retired English teacher and librarian.  She is also an artists whose portraits hang in over 300 homes in central Kentucky.  In community involvement, she has been a founding member of several non-profit arts organizations as well as the owner of a retail store representing the work of over 100 Kentucky artists.  For the past six years she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Arts Council.


Jim Powell
was born and reared in Washington Co. Ky.  He has been involved with music his entire life.  He has been a member of several bands in the area including Wild Roses and Borderline.  He has been an emcee for numerous events and enjoys entertaining with a touch of comedy.  He is a licensed auctioneer and is never at a loss for words. 

 

Chad M. Horn is an award winning poet and author of three books.  He owns and operates KENTUCKYLIT, an independent bookstore in Harrodsburg specializing in Kentucky authors. Chad frequently appears on WRFL, WHBN, and WHIR radio programs discussing Kentucky literature, and has taught and lectured on this subject for the past eight years.

Hershel McKinley is probably best known for his many years on Danville radio stations WKLO, WHIR, and WMGE-FM, as News Director, public affairs broadcaster and morning air personality.  He is also one of the Main Stage Emcees for the Great American Brass Band Festival held each June in Danville.  In what Hershel describes as "long ago and far away" he wrote, produced, directed and appeared in many films for the State of Kentucky in The Department of Public Information.  Hershel has worked in the Lexington and northern Ohio radio and television markets and is a graduate of Kent State University.

Born in Southern Kentucky, Hershel called Danville home for many years, but now lives on a farm in northern Mercer County with his wife Shirley, who is a Labor/Delivery RN at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville.  Hershel and Shirley have two married children, Jason and Mary Beth McKinley, Rachel and Preston Correll and two grandchildren, Gus and Annie Correll.

Calling himself a lifelong fledgling novice in creative writing Hershel is a member of Speaking Out and Nomadic Ink writing groups in Mercer County. 

Hershel currently does freelance voice work and script writing.  He has been heard throughout the South in radio and television commercials, industrial video voiceovers, audio book readings, and political radio advertisements.  For the last few years he has also been the sound engineer for the Forkland Festival Bean Supper Play.

He and Shirley, and their children, have had the opportunity to travel or work in many parts of the world including East Africa, Central America, England, the Caribbean, and India.

Photography is a long time hobby of Hershel's and one of his photos was recently used in an advertisement on the back cover of a national equine magazine.

List of Other Writers and Performers
Chris Hamilton is an award-winning journalist and photographer. Over a span of 23 years, he worked as sports editor, news editor and, eventually, managing editor of The Lebanon (Ky.) Enterprise. He is currently executive director of the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in Aurora, Ill.

In 2011, Hamilton was named one of Kentucky’s Top 200 Authors and he routinely reads selections from his unpublished autobiography “Two Inches to the Left” at Kentucky Writers Day Celebration.

      

John Robinson, photographer

Having spent his early years in the USMC, C. A. Shelley became a member of the Lexington Fire Department, retiring after 28 years of service. In 2010 he found his voice in the arts by writing and co-producing the movie Gone But Not Forgotten, the Story of the Smoke Eaters, a full length
documentary chronicling the memories and experiences of his “Firefighter Brothers”. 

During the filming Shelley became so inspired that he began to write. First: A Collection of Poems, Thoughts & Short Stories about his beloved Fire Department.  Second: Wake up America Its Your Conscience Calling, 30 poems honoring the struggles that our military and their families are enduring every moment. Third: A Spiritual Awakening, 49 poems of inspiration and hope. His current book: God and Kentucky, a book of love poems about God in all His glory and Kentucky, its beauty, people and history with a touch of humor thrown in.

He calls himself a “Blue-Collar Poet”, with My God guiding this ship, putting His words in my heart, which I put to paper. I am on a mission and I have a lot to say, look for me; I’m coming to you down God’s highway.”

C. A. and his wife Rita reside at Herrington Lake, Mercer County, Kentucky.


Darlene Franklin Campbell
is an award-winning poet and novelist from southern Kentucky. She is also a first grade teacher and visual artist. Her works include I Listened, Momma, Uncommon Clay, Looking for Pork Chop McQuade and Touched.

Darlene donates portions of her royalties to aid in the fight against cancer and to fund efforts aimed at halting mountaintop removal. She holds an Master’s Degree from Lindsey Wilson College and has done post grad work at Western Kentucky University. She is proud of her Appalachian heritage and writes about the region and its people, not as an outsider looking in with romantic notions, but as one who has risen up out of the Kentucky soil, like a tree, with roots going four hundred years deep, touching long-gone Scotch Irish settlers, Native American bloodlines and Melungeon legends.

In her spare time, Darlene is an avid disciple of martial arts and enjoys spending time with friends, family and nature.

http://www.darlenefranklincampbell.com/chippie

http://www.nochipa.wordpress.com

The Elizabeth Madox Roberts Society will be part of
 the events, in conjunction with their conference at St. Catherine College in Springfield.

Paula Hill grew up in Danville, where her father West T. Hill was chairman of the theatre department of Centre College.  He later founded West T. Hill Community Theatre and gave Paula a great love for writing and all the fine arts.  Paula taught English and Theatre at the University of Kentucky, Lexington Community College and Centre College.  She designs and leads fine arts tour groups to New York, London and Tuscany.  Her compositions include a chapbook of poetry: By Heart, writing and directing plays at the West T. Hill Community Theatre, and writing a business column for The Advocate-Messenger.

Paula Hill is a retired teacher and lives in Danville.  She recently directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof  at The West T. Hill Community Theatre.  She has a chapbook entitled By Heart and is working on a new book of poetry tentatively entitled Incandescence


Homeland Inspiration Group recording artist Jim Sheldon has earned his first ever Top 20 hit single this month. His first single to Christian Country radio – “God Is Looking At My Heart” – jumped all the way to #20 on the PowerSource Magazine Inspirational Country Top 100 Chart.  “This is such amazing news,” mentioned Jim Sheldon. “God has really been moving in ways I never imagined in my ministry. I’m so thankful that a song like ‘God Is Looking at My Heart’ can touch so many lives.”

“God Is Looking at My Heart” is the debut single from Jim’s recording His Grace. The single was released and promoted to Christian Country radio through HMG Nashville. Fans of Christian country and Southern Gospel music can hear the single by visiting Jim’s website at http://www.jimsheldonmusic.com . You can also sample Jim’s music by visiting his Reverb Nation site at http://www.reverbnation.com/jimsheldon .

In addition, Jim’s debut music video for his Southern Gospel single “I Belong to Jesus” has received an overwhelming response on YouTube and is garnering much media attention for the Christian Country singer.

The video has already had an impressive 40,000 views and counting since its debut on the web just last month.

“The video was a blast to make, but more importantly, it’s really touching lives, and people are getting the message behind the song,” mentioned Jim. “It’s exciting to see God’s hand in all of this stuff.”

You can view the video by visiting YouTube at http://youtu.be/t43KwQMYKcg . The video is also streaming on the industry’s leading website AbsolutelyGospel.com.

Jim recently released his debut recording for Homeland Inspirational Group’s Christian country label Mont Eagle Records. The album – I Belong to Jesus – released during the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky this past September. The new album is also available on iTunes.

For more information about Jim, visit his website at www.jimsheldonmusic.com.

"Back Street" from Lebanon, Kentucky, started in the late 1970s with six of the seven original members being cousins.   Today's group consist of Melvin Porter (bass, vocals), George Brown (lead vocal, guitar, drums bass), Mike Hill (guitar, bass, drums), Billy Downs (drums, vocals), and Wayne Pollock (keyboards, drums bass, vocals).

Brenda Smith Edwards worked for 42 years at the Advocate-Messenger in Danville, Kentucky before retiring in 2007.  She covered news in Boyle and surrounding counties and began writing historical and genealogical features for the Sunday Looking Back page in the early 1980s.  She has written more than 1400 articles and continues as a contributing writer for the newspaper.  She also helped gather and compile information for seven books.  She gives the credit for her love of Kentucky history to her former editor, the late Enos Swain, one of Kentucky’s greatest historians.  Brenda has just compiled many of her articles into a book named It’s history from Brenda’s notebook. 

Brenda is a native of Cleveland, Virginia, a small railroad town on the Clinch River.  Her ancestors settled there in Russell County in the late 1700s.  Brenda came to Kentucky in 1959 after she married L. Harold Edwards of the Forkland Community. 

Doris Purdom was born in the Forkland Community on Black Lick Creek in 1931 and graduated from Forkland School in 1949.  She serves as Vice-President of the Forkland Community Center , has been chairman of "Forkland's Old-Fashioned Bean Supper" for 38 years and has performed in most of the 38 dramas.  Doris has been married to her husband Carroll for 59 years, has one daughter Dianna Barker and one granddaughter Jamie M. Hamblin.  Doris, along with Shirley Sheperson and Darrell Ellis, researched all cemeteries in the Forkland community and compiled a cemetery book called The Forgotten Past in 1976.  Doris also served on the Forkland Committee that put together the Forkland History of families called Forkland Heritage: Its People Past and Present, 1793-1996, Vol. 1 & 2.

Joe Crafa was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He became interested in music of the thirties and forties while listening to his parents' record collection and became influenced by the styles of Dick Haymes, Bing Crosby, and several other artists of that era. Joe was the lead singer for several "oldies" groups while living in New York. He played tenor saxophone and performed at resorts in the Catskill Mountains of New York state. After marrying he moved to New Jersy and discontinued any public performances. He moved to Casey County, Kentucky in 2005 and in 2009 was "drafted" by his friends to help start an open mic at Uncle Bob's in Stanford, Kentucky.It was there that he first heard Leah Clark perform. The two tried an unrehearsed song together at the open mic, which was so well received that they decided to form a duet.

Leah Bugg Clark, born and raised in Stanford, Kentucky, developed a love for music at an early age, learning to play the guitar and sing at the age of thirteen. She grew up playing music and singing in church, using praise and worship music as the foundation of her musical ability. She later branched out and began singing at coffee shops and open mics, and started writing her own music. Leah's writing influences include Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, and Melissa Etheridge. She is frequently compared to sixties and seventies folk music icons like Joan Biaz and Judy Collins. Leah's melodic song writing and stunning vocals can be described as dream-like and haunting.

Although they came from such different musical and geographical backgrounds, the similarity in style and vocal quality was immediately evident. They have been described as having a "magic blend" that captures their audiences.

Dooley-Miller Band is:

Joel Miller
from Irvine, KY now living in Frankfort with his wife of 39 years. He says that performing his songs is very difficult for him. “I am so close to the subject that the feelings that motivated me to make up the song come back when I perform it.”
Steve Dooley from Conway, KY, is the southern rock influence of Dooley Miller.
Jennifer Gwinn from Frankfort, KY.  She is a nurse who has been gigging since age 12.
Mark Dedman from Berea, KY percussionist.
Wayne Westerfield, a bank vice-president and a veteran drummer who play all types of music.
Wendell Butler from Frankfort, KY is a retired state employee who played all types of music regularly throughout the central KY area during the late 1980s and then walked away.  Thirteen years later at the the urging of a friend, he returneded to music as a member of a contemporary Christian group.  With the passion turned back on, and a mere decade later, Dooley Miller came knocking.
Lisa Buchanan from Frankfort, KY.  A state employee, originally from Western KY, has been playing music in the public arena since the age of 14.  She played throughout the tri-state area during the '80s and early '90s.  She stepped out of public gigs for several years while raising her daughter.  She says, "I am thrilled to be back doing what my whole heart loves to do."
Three of Joel's songs …
AMY’S SONG- Remember when your children were small and a Band-Aid (with a hug) could fix just about any injury? Adult children have painful problems that can’t be fixed so easily.
MOMMA PLAYED GUITAR
– Before arthritis stopped the music, my Mother could play any song she wanted……but only in the key of “C”. I was told I had to learn how to play “Wildwood Flower” on the guitar before I could get one. (Don’t go near the water until you learn how to swim.) Joel’s Mom taught him how and Joel’s Dad brought a new guitar to him from Northern Kentucky in a caboose on an L&N coal train.
OLD GATE ON THE HILL
- Family reunions and gatherings were at my Great-Grandparents farm in the Sand Hill area of Estill County. The gate was on the top of a rise about ¼ mile from the house and could be clearly seen from the front porch. As family members got out of the car to open the gate the folks on the porch could see their arrival and would wave a greeting. Do you think heaven is like that?
Richard Moore  -  Artisan, Craftsman, Musician / Songwriter presently resides in Ashville, North Carolina.   His grandfather gets the credit for teaching him to play guitar and Johnny Cash for the inspiration to start writing songs at the age of fifteen.  Being reared in a military family, he gathered influences from all over the country; mainly the southeast.  Moore was introduced to Penn's Store when he accompanied buddy and Hall of Fame inductee Billy Edd Wheeler at the 2007 "GREAT OUTHOUSE BLOWOUT". 

Ed McClanahan is a native of Brookville, Kentucky.  A graduate of Miami University in Ohio and the University
 of Kentucky, he has taught English  and creative writing
 at Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Montana, the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University.  His books include The  Natural Man (a novel), Famous People I Have Known, A Congress of Wonders, and My Vita, If You Will.  McClanahan is now working on a novel, The Return of the Son of Needmore

Glenn D. Metzger has been performing music for most of his 65 years, beginning with church choirs from age six.  After taking up violin at ten and guitar at twelve, he played folk and rock and roll through his teen years and early twenties while continuing to study classical music and majoring in music in college.  A long hiatus to attend to tend to family duties was followed by a return to performing. Now, along with his solo work he plays with the string band The Well Wishers and the song writer's collective Tingo.

Just One is a Gospel R&B Praise band that God brought together in 2009.  The members of Just One share a common joy for music that is encouraging, uplifting and points their audience to the Lord.  Musical influences include R & B, Gospel, and Contemporary Praise.  Just One’s song lineup includes old favorites such as “Lean on Me” and “Oh Happy Day” as well as many original songs.  Located in central Kentucky, Just One welcomes all opportunities to share the Gospel in song.  Members of Just One are: Barry Harmon (keyboard & vocals), Patsy Harmon (rhythm guitar), Renita Gray (lead vocal), Robert Coulter (bass guitar), Cammie Coulter (background vocals), Ronnie Readnour (drums & background vocals), Trish Claunch (background vocals) and Gerald “Shotgun” Wethington (sound technician).  If you would like to book Just One in concert for your worship service or event, contact Trish at 859-940-9192, via e-mail at JustOne156@gmail.com or message on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/JustOneBand.


   John Robinson, photographer

Gregg Neikirk and Adam Neikirk are songwriters from Danville who currently live in Westfield, Massachusetts. Gregg Neikirk is professor of English at Westfield State University, where he teaches literature and writing, including a popular Songwriting course. Adam Neikirk will soon enter graduate school in an MFA program where he will use his jazz guitar skills to help write poetry, among other things. Adam, who has a B.A. in Jazz Studies, has also been a teacher in the Songwriting classes at WSU.


Steven Gray
from Campbellsville, Kentucky, writes poetry and short children's stories and also composes and writes music. He is a singer and a craftsman.

Yolantha Harrison-Pace, award winning author, playwright and poet,referenced as America's Top 100 Literary African American Divas, Poet of the Year, Humanitarian Author of the Year, Adjunct Reporter for University of Southern California's Institute of Genetic Medicine Art Museum, Guest Columnist Advocate Messenger, On-Line Arts and Education Reporter for Examiner, Guest Poet for THE CAN FACTORY of Mohnesee, Germany. Ambassador to Haiti for Arise and Shine the Light Ministries.

Maurice Manning was a Guggenheim fellow for 2011-2012.  His fourth book of poetry, The Common Man, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2011.  Manning teaches in the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College and at Transylvania University in Lexington.  Most recently Manning received the Lee Smith Award from Lincoln Memorial University.  His next book, The Gone and the Going Away, will be published in the spring of 2013.


BE SQUARE began as a duo with Becci Loomer and Bob Stang sharing vocal, bass, and guitar duties.  They soon added Jonathan Clark on drums.  This exciting trio brings a modern sound to traditional and classic songs.  BE SQUARE plays the music we all love: country, rock, folk and R & B.  They keep it simple and keep it fun.  Get ready to smile and tap your foot; BE SQUARE is in the house!


Dixie Bertram
has been teaching language arts for 21 years in Lincoln County, Kentucky. She always had a great personal love for writing, and since becoming a teacher, has an even greater love for teaching others to write. Dixie began writing stories at a very young age. A high school poetry class opened the door to another genre. Bertram has written plays for church, which she also directed and produced, and has also written sermon skits and personal narratives.
Dixie Bertram presently teaches at Lincoln County Middle School; lives in Stanford, Kentucky where she has resided most of her life, has two daughters and two granddaughters.
 


Regina Noel-Wethington
 
was reared in Dry Creek, Kentucky.   She graduated from Casey County High School at the top of her class in Choir and Music Theory.  Her love for singing and writing began at an early age.  She began writing songs at age 14.   While in high school she pursued her love of music by singing in a gospel group and also in church.  In a later move to Indiana,  Wethington continued her musical interests in writing and by singing with a soft rock band for 2 years.    Upon return to Kentucky she sang with Jerry Chapman and the Young Country Band.  Her published poems include "Peace of Mind" and "Life". 

 Regina is married to Ernest R. Wethington, a Kentucky native, and has 4 beautiful children who also carry Mom's love of music, one son-in-law now serving in Afghanistan and one adorable grandson.  Regina Wethington resides in Summersville, Kentucky.

"RAPTURE" - Classic Rock & Christian Rock

Lead Guitarist Lynnwood Peavler is 13 years old and his brother, drummer/vocalist, Bowman Peavler is 11. Both have been playing music since the age of 5 and 6.  They are homeschooled and live in Harrodsburg, Ky. These brothers have performed at charity events, Natasha's of Lexington, the Kentucky State Fair, Ralph Long State Park of Lexington, Burgin Fall Festival, and Battle of the Bands of Eddie Montgomery Steakhouse.
They have been with the Lexington Music Academy for 3 years.
Both are members of the Lexington's Bethel Harvest Church Adult Praise and Worship Band, & Youth Band ReFuse.

On bass guitar is Joanah Loomer, age 14.  She has played guitar 7 years and is no stranger to music.  She plays music with her church and has been rockin with RAPTURE for over a year. On rhythm guitar  is Olivia Raygoza, age 15.  She had played guitar for 6 years.  She like 80s music and heavy-metal Christian and this is her second gig with Rapture.

Tony Cooper is an Award winning songwriter who splits his time between his native Casey County, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee writing songs and playing music any time he can.  While he likes many types and genres of music, his favorites are the old time tearjerkers. 
Barry Morrison,born March 20, 1949, in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, is an American country music singer-songwriter. This multi-talented artist is largely identified with the country rock/americana genre(s) of music, and is best know for his 1970's cult-classic "Snakey Hollow Stud"; a song released on the RCM Records label which charted on the Independent Country Music Charts at number one. Based on this initial success, Morrison received a 1971 first round nomination for Country Male Vocalist of the Year. In the interveining years, several other of Morrison's releases have entered into a top five chart position, with "There Ain't No Country" being the only other of his songs to reach number one. The offer to record his music on his own terms for a Nashville-based label lead Morrison back to recording and performing in 2007. Given the opportunity, he took a bare bones approach to recording the highly acclaimed roots music album; "A Cold Wild Wind". That year saw him touring solo throughout the central and southeastern United States in support of the album release. In 2009, Morrison recorded outstanding cover versions of "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Good Hearted Woman" in preparation for headlining and promoting the 2010 Walk the Line-Good Hearted Woman Tour. In April 2012, Morrison returns to the studio to record more original material. He'll be backed by an outstanding studio ensemble featuring bassist Paul Martin, better known as "The Apostle", the Americana Music Association 2006 Instrumentalist of the Year Kenny Vaughn and dobro virtuoso Matt DeSpain. Morrison writes and performs music his devotees can relate to on a gut level. His songs have a build and release to them that make them memorable because he performs them with raw emotion and with feelings bound together by his well-crafted lyrics and melodies that "sing". Morrison's edgy, Cash-like, baritone delivery clinches the deal. His songs are a reflection of his life. When he sings to us, we believe him. The Barry Morrison discography chronicles the very powerful musical output of a consummate singer-songwriter. The lyrics from one of his songs proclaims, "I'm a hundred miles of bad road, I'm a bridge washed out". Luckily, he found the way around it all. The 2012 Kentucky Writers Day Celebration welcomes him to our stage.

Andy Rice, a native of Pulaski County, Kentucky currently resides in Boyle County with his wife Jane.  Andy's musical inspiration comes from his uncle, who would bring his guitar to family gatherings and perform for the family.  Andy's mother Geneva Rice was also an inspiration as she also played the guitar and sang.  Andy has written two songs, "Which Way to Pray" and "Slipped and Fell in Love".  Andy also played guitar and sang solo in a country band named "Andy and the Dandy's" in the early 1980s.  In the '80s and '90s he played with "The Kings Mt. Bluegrass Boys."


Call it traditional acoustic blues bluegrass alternative country with regular original words, and sometimes long words, too, put to a melody, and sung with a drawl.   Influenced primarily by old songwriters and blues singers, Aaron Raitiere has been writing and performing original songs since his childhood in Kentucky.  His swampy songs and soulful voice are a pleasure to even the most critical ear. 
Aaron's new solo CD "Kissin' Machine" is complete. Hear songs at www.myspace.com and buy the album at www.cdbaby.com.

Singer-Songwriter, Recording Artist, and Actress, Sarah Elizabeth Burkey, has performed in 18 countries but
has called Kentucky home all her life. Sarah plays 11 instruments and her work appears on 15 albums. Sarah Elizabeth
is to Kentucky what Fats Domino was to New Orleans. Fats epitomized the sound of the Crescent City in his time, equally giving an honorable nod to his musical ancestry while carrying the torch on to his generation. Sarah does this too, in our context and in our
time. Her sound is deeply rooted in the Kentucky hills, with a voice sweeter than a honeysuckle vine in spring and old as the current of the Ohio River.

Sarah Elizabeth Burkey was born and raised on Rural Route 4, Kevil, Kentucky. Her unique musical and literary compositions are born of this rich history. Sarah's work has been published in books and literary journals in the US and Europe.

The non-fiction book Western Kentucky: Lost & Forgotten, Found & Remembered
by Sarah Elizabeth and Ron Whitehead, a travel book unlike any other, is a must read! Inspired by hiking 325 miles for 19 days across Kentucky forests, fields, backroads & railroads, it is the companion book to Sarah's album When The Redbuds Bloom.

Sarah Elizabeth was the keynote speaker and featured performer at Ohio University's
8th Annual Women of Appalachia Conference in 2006. Sarah plays the lead in the independent feature film Red Velvet Cake, filmed entirely in Kentucky. This film has not yet been released.

Sarah recorded her latest album DON'T DIE YET immediately upon returning from the Sacred Black Hills of South Dakota where she spent a great deal of time on the Sioux Reservation with the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. Grammy Nominated Musician, Tony Redhouse accompanies Sarah on this album with Native American flute and drum plus many other instruments from indigenous cultures of the world. Sarah Elizabeth's songwriting drips
with passion and a sacred appreciation of life.

Mike Hill and Gordon Webb

Gordon Webb, a native of Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, has spent most of his adult life in Elizabethtown and now resides in Lebanon.  He picked up the guitar in his teenage years after a football injury put a damper on his

 mobility for several months.  Being the 9th of 10 children, and a teenager in the '60's, his musical influence was rock and roll and popular music of the 50's and 60's.  This is the style he has stayed with.  Although he does not write original music, he sometimes likes to alter the lyrics of rock and roll to spiritual wording and perform in his church (as in Sister Act). Gordon also performs covers in small venues with his friends Mike Hill (bass) and Ricky Cox (drums) calling themselves The Fogies (no 'Old' included but inferred.)



The 3 members of FIGURE 8 Rock Band, Levi Smock - Ryan Sanders - Jakob Duncan are all students at Mercer County Senior High. Formed in November 2011, the band plays predominantly original songs. They recorded their first CD in February 2011. At the 2012 SONGWRITERS TRIBUTE SHOWCASE they will perform all original songs.

To learn more about FIGURE 8 check facebook.com/figure8.band or Email Figure.f8.gmail.com


Christina
Lovin is the author of the poetry collections What We Burned for Warmth and
Little Fires
. A two-time Pushcart nominee and multi-award winner, her writing has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Southern Women Writers named her a multi-award winner; her writing has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Southern Women Writers named in numerous journals and anthologies. Southern Women Writers named Lovin 2007 Emerging Poet. She has served as Writer-in-Residence at Devil’s Tower National Monument and the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Central Oregon. In 2010, she was named inaugural Writer-in-Residence at Connemara, the North Carolina home of the late poet Carl Sandburg, with whom she shares her home town of Galesburg, Illinois.

Lovin
has been a resident fellow at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Vermont Studio Center, Prairie Center of the Arts, Orcas Island Artsmith Residency at Kangaroo House, and Footpaths House to Creativity in the Azores. Her work has been supported with grants from Elizabeth George Foundation, Kentucky Foundation for Women, and Kentucky Arts Council. She resides with four dogs in a rural central Kentucky, where she teaches English and creative writing at Eastern Kentucky University.

"H. R. Stoneback--known as "Stoney" in the music world--is a part-time
singer-songwriter, a full-time writer and professor. He is the subject
of Jerry Jeff Walker's hit song "Stoney."
Well-known in the 1960s,
especially in singer-songwriter circles in New Orleans and Nashville, he
performed throughout Asia, Europe, and North America for four decades as
half of the singing duo "Stoney & Sparrow" (with his late wife). Over
the years, "Stoney & Sparrow" released four albums that included many of
the hundreds of songs he has written. (One album, "Oh, China!" was
recorded and released in 1984 in China, where it was a best-seller.)
"

Jude Lally
is a poet with a purpose.  He writes and recites his message, initially one of hope, inspiration and enlightenment regarding his life with a rare and degenerative neuromuscular condition called Friedrich’s ataxia.  It impairs his speech, coordination and motor skills. “It’s tough to be taken seriously as a writer when you don’t write,” he jokes. Jude lives in Lexington, Kentucky and earned a Business degree from the University of Kentucky but for him the only business booming was poetry.  Now, his writing covers a wide range of topics: family, travel, romance, nature and, of course, his impairment.  He fulfills creative, expressive and therapeutic needs by often invoking tears and smiles simultaneously.

Nancy Wilson’s background is in social work.  She was employed by the American Red Cross and served for a year with the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Viet Nam.  She also worked for the New York City Department for Social Services in the South Bronx .  She is retired from the Kentucky Department for Social Services.

She has been writing for the past five years to fulfill a lifelong ambition.  She and her husband Howard, an artist, released a Published in Heaven book in 2010 titled breaking out.  Another book of Nancy’s called the color red is me, published by Finishing Line Press, will be released in March, 2013.  Her poems have been accepted for publication in various magazines and publications throughout the United States and abroad including Struggle, Pearl Editions, and Levure Litteraire.  One of her poems recently won second place in the New Southerner literary magazine.

She and her husband make their home in Louisville, Kentucky.  Besides writing, she enjoys traveling and entertaining family and friends.

Just Us --- James Young has been playing music for 7 years. He started playing classical piano and soon moved to guitar and mandolin. James first performed playing worship music at his church and continues to do so today along with several other music ministry projects.  He just recently released a small ambient guitar EP entitled “Every Breath Closer” and plans on releasing more music from this genre in the future.  James is 17 and is graduating high school in the Spring. He plans on studying Modern Music Ministry with an emphasis in guitar at Visible Music College in Memphis, Tennessee. James enjoys all types of music from bluegrass to hard core to ambient. However, he finds his musical home in folk and acoustic music.  Rachel Young has been playing music and singing for 11 years. She studied classical piano for 9 years, guitar for 7 years, and recently started playing mandolin. Rachel enjoys playing different types of music and plays guitar for the worship team at her church. She performed with the Lexington Children Singers for 7 years and during that time had the privilege of singing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She is currently attending Eastern Kentucky University, majoring in nursing.  Joel Kurcab started his journey with music at the age of eleven when he started playing classical violin. He soon followed his four older brothers and picked up guitar. There he found his love of music performance in the freedom of expression that comes with this truly versatile instrument.  Joel has been singing his whole life and sang at his first show at the age of fourteen when he and his brother opened up for a local band. Joel loves all kinds of music but his heart truly lies with the independent folk and rock movement. He hopes to someday go into fulltime music performance. In the fall he will be attending the Liberty University Music Performance College on full tuition scholarship.  



Paul Stansbury
is a retired city manager who lives in Danville, Kentucky.  Nowadays he enjoys the time he can devote to writing.   He frequently reads his work for the public, has published poetry in Kentucky Monthly, and written for the Advocate Messenger.  Most recently, two of his short stories were selected to appear in an upcoming horror anthology to be published by the Apocryphile Press.
 

"The greatest gift of my life was when David brought me back to the land of my ancestors and introduced me to the best-kept secret in the universe – the uniqueness of Kentucky,” so says Eulalie C. ('Lalie) Dick, author, grandmother, farmer, and only two-legged resident of Plum Lick Farms in Bourbon County.       For 14 years as a writer for Kentucky Farm Bureau’s All Around Kentucky, 'Lalie sought out Kentucky women and penned their exceptional stories, and during this time assisted her husband, David, author, retired CBS News correspondent, educator and newspaper publisher, in forming Plum Lick Publishing, Inc. In 1992, the couple launched David’s first book, The View from Plum Lick, now an evergreen in Kentucky literature. After this came 12 more books, all of which were lauded in extraordinary reviews and embellished with illustrations by talented Kentucky artist, Jackie Larkins. Rivers of Kentucky, Kentucky: A State of Mind, and Home Sweet Kentucky were co-authored by the couple, and David wrote and 'Lalie produced Outhouse Blues, The Quiet Kentuckians, A Conversation with Peter P. Pence, Follow the Storm: A Long Way Home, A Journal for Lalie: Living Through Prostate Cancer, The Scourges of Heaven, Peace at the Center, Let There be Light: The Story of Rural Elictrification in Kentucky, and  Jesse Stuart: The Heritage. Since David’s death in 2010, 'Lalie has remained on the farm and at the helm of Plum Lick Publishing which continues to provide Kentuckians (and those who wish they were) with the couple’s unique style of works that celebrate the beauty of Kentucky and her people. www.plumlickpublishing.com


Carolyn Crabtree
is a former mathematics and English teacher who now spends her spare time doing history and genealogy research.  Over the last 30 years she has written many Bible Studies and devotionals and has helped compile history books for the Forkland Community Center. 
Ruth Ann Johnson Fogle is a native of Marion County, Kentucky.  She was born in Riley and raised in Lebanon.  She now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Ruth Ann is a Conference lecturer, motivational speaker, Dramatist, Christian Comedian and a new author.  She writes for the Lebanon Enterprise's "Faith Page", lectures and performs for the Marion County School System.  She travels throughout the United States, performing her solo performances inspiring, lifting spirits with her comedy and teaching Black History in an unforgettable manner.  She recently performed for the Marion County Annual Women of Color Black History Event, with a play she wrote, "No Slaves at the Table."   Her venues consist of Churches, schools, theatres, AARP, Retirement/Nursing Homes, hospitals and prisons.  Where ever she goes smiles and an uplifted heart follows.  She states it all started with the book, about an old Kentucky woman who says she is 115 years old, who is stubborn, outspoken, sanctified and has lived long enough to "know how it was, now she is telling it like it is." The book entitled "I Ain't Changing My Clothes", other works include inspirational CD's, "Seven Past Midnight:,  "Just Talking About Jesus", "Can You Be A Sister, If it's not your night in the tent" and last but not least the DVD, "The Storm Is Coming" filmed in Lebanon, Riley and Gravel Switch, KY.  To reach her, view her web site http://www.ruthannfogle.com.

Paula Sparrow
will once again be bringing her "Creature Comforts" to Kentucky Writers Day. She recently published her first book, Kentucky Living's Creature Comforts, a compilation of her columns on animal rescue. The first book of its kind, Creature Comforts covers the state of Kentucky, visiting animal rescues, shelters, and sanctuaries, reporting on the people of Kentucky who have devoted their lives to saving animals: dogs, cats, wildlife, primates, and even elephants. The book was nominated for the 2010 Media Advocacy Award from Pet Groups United. This year, Paula will be discussing the intended-as well as unintended-results of "the power of the written word."  Paula, as usual, will be bringing stories she's written on animal rescue.  When she published an essay about adopting a pet instead of buying one, she was surprised at the reaction her words got. Her topic this year will be "The Intended-and Unintended-Effects of a Writer's Words. 

Eric “Rick” Lee is a native of Chicago, Illinois. A second generation soldier, Rick was commissioned as an officer after completing Army ROTC at the University of Alabama. He subsequently served eight years with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and the 3rd Armored Division in Germany. Rick’s awards include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Southwest Asia and National Defense Medals as well as the Parachutist and Air Assault Badges.  A veteran of the Gulf War, he is an affiliate of the 761st Tank Battalion & Allied Veteran’s Association as well as a member of the Central Kentucky World War II Roundtable. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a Masters degree from Murray State University. Rick’s father served in both World War II and the Korean War.  Rick has worked in the civilian arena in various management and technical positions. He is privileged to be the father of four children and has been married to his wife Mary for 28 years.   He is author of the book Tribute to Valor and Courage. The nonfiction work chronicles the lives of several veterans of World War II and the former last known living American veteran from World War I.

Michael J Denis of Parksville, KY, originally from Westbrook, Maine, graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1968 with a B.S. in Education with a concentration in history, and did advanced graduate work at USM and the University of Maine campuses at Farmington and Orono, and is currently taking two courses at Western Kentucky University (Kentucky History and The African American Experience).  He taught middle school history for 39 years in Oakland, Maine, as well as numerous adult education courses for 25 years.  He retired in 2007, selling the snow blower and moving to Kentucky.  He is one of the charter members, current vice president, and webmaster of the Oakland (Maine) Area Historical Society, and is the current president of the Boyle County Genealogical Association.  He has been a genealogist since 1966, and has a deep interest in family and  local history, both in Maine and Kentucky.  He is also a member of the Kentucky Historical Society, and a contributing member of the African-American Genealogy Group of Kentucky.  He also maintains a website, Salt River Genealogy and History, at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kyboyle2/Index.htm.  His daughter, Maureen, lives in his father's former home in Westbrook, Maine, with her husband and two children, Gannon and Garnet.

Promotional Materials paid for by the
Harrodsburg/Mercer County Tourist Commission

Karen Hackett, Executive Director



Bright Leaf Golf Resort will give a 10% discount for anyone attending the Penn's Store Kentucky Writers Day Event.

Click here for their web site link

Site of the 2013 KWD songwriters "SHOWCASE"
Friday and Saturday Evenings
Eddie Montgomery's Steakhouse
180 Lucky Man Way
Harrodsburg, Kentucky 40330
859-734-3400

http://www.eddiemontgomerysteakhouse.com


Site of the 2013 KWD Saturday and Sunday Events
All Day Saturday and Sunday

Historic Penn's Store
Gravel Switch, Kentucky


************************************

View the 2012 Kentucky Writers Day Performers list here.

For more information contact Jeanne Penn Lane at
Penn's Store (859) 332-7706 or (859) 332-7715, or
e-mail PennsStore@aol.com

It is best to call ahead to check times and cancellations.
Penn's Store
257 Penn's Store Road
Gravel Switch, Kentucky 40328
859-332-7715 or 859-332-7706
GPS Coordinates: N37.549912; W085.028191

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This page last updated 04/27/2013