Sheryl Monks

My pledge page is now up at Dzanc Books. Please drop by and sponsor me. I need all the encouragement I can muster to jump back into the fray. Your donation goes to a really great arts program provided by the fine people at Dzanc Books. Ten bucks, twenty? Every dime is much appreciated and will help finance the excellent and much-needed programs offered at Dzanc. If you value the arts, good literature, and small presses, now's your chance to support them. Please help us out.

I'd like to sponsor Sheryl Monks in the Dzanc Books Write-A-Thon

Thank you!

Dzanc Books, a phenomenal small press in Michigan, is sponsoring a fun-raiser targeted at writers. Proceeds will help support Dzanc's Writer in Residence Programs. I'm signing up right now. Register soon -- before Nov. 15 -- and get those pledges in! Simply email info@dzancbooks.org.

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Dzanc Books Write-A-Thon

Read Dennis McFarland's story "The Race Card!"

Susan Woodring, author of Springtime on Mars, will conduct a writing workshop tomorrow night, Oct. 29, 7:00 pm, at the Forsyth County Public Library in Winston-Salem. The event is free and sponsored by the Winston-Salem Writers group.

Publisher Jessie Carty is doing great things at Folded Word Press. Her latest venture is Shape of a Box, a YouTube literary Magazine. Check it out:

I met with Sara Wilson of skirt! magazine Winston-Salem and Chevara Orrin of WhiteSpace Gallery this week to discuss the big party we're planning together.

For the past couple of years, Kevin and I have celebrated the anniversary of Press 53 at beautiful RayLen Vineyards and Winery in Mocksville, just outside Winston-Salem. We've loved holding the party there. Thank you, RayLen! The space is gorgeous and we usually draw a good crowd.

But this year, we were hoping to find a space downtown, where even more of the Winston-Salem community might be able to come out and raise a glass to our authors whose work can never be toasted enough.

I'd been talking with Sara, the new editor at skirt!, about a couple of our books--would she like to review them? Interview our authors? Ahem, ahem. Sara said that what she'd first like to do is partner with us on some kind of event. Did we have anything coming up?

It just so happens...

From there, Sara and I set out searching for the perfect spot. We wanted something large enough to accomodate a big crowd but funky enough to give the party a certain vibe. Boy, did we ever find it.

I remembered meeting an attractive, friendly couple at another event a year earlier at Salem College who said they were planning to open an art gallery. I went looking for their business card and then shot an email off to Chevara, who promptly picked up the phone and called me.

A few days later, Sara, Kevin, and I met Chevara and her husband Marlon Hubbard (the other incredible half of WhiteSpace Gallery) at their gorgeous home in the Piedmont Leaf Lofts, downtown Winston-Salem.

WOW. The three of us were blown away at how beautiful -- and perfect -- the space is.

Here's one photo, but be sure you come and see for yourself!

Here's what we have in mind: (more…)