Sharyn McCrumb Will Join Us in Workshops

Best-selling novelist Sharyn McCrumb is going to join us for the The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge/Valley Business FRONT writers workshop series on Nov. 17 for the seventh class in the series. Sharyn, who is a cousin--something removed--of mine and a marvelous chronicler of our mountain myths and legends will speak in an area where she's entertaining, knowledgeable and informative.

The title of her class is "Keepers of the Legends: Using History and Folklore in Novels and Short Stories." Sharyn generally fills big classrooms and we're ready for that with Mill Mountain Theatre in reserve as a venue if it looks like we'll overfill.

These are monthly workshops and Melanie Almeder's opener last week was quite a hit. We expect attendence to slowly increase over the months because the topics are some that have been strongly requested by a number of writers. They range from specific writing classes to information on the law and finances.

Here's the schedule and the contact information. The first six classes (counting Melanie's) are free. We'll begin charging $10 per class to cover expenses (and to pay the teacher) beginning with Sharyn's class. Each class runs 7-8:30 and they're tentatively scheduled for the second floor conference at Center in the Square (enter on the Campbell Ave. side).

Here's the schedule:

June 16, 7-8:30 p.m. Kurt Rheinheimer-"Writing Short Fiction"

July 21, 7-8:30 p.m. Cara Modisett-"What Magazine Editors Want from You"

August 18, 7-8:30 p.m. Gene Marrano-"Freelance Writing in This Market"

September 15, 7-8:30 p.m. David Paxton, Lawyer-"Protecting Yourself Legally"

October 15, 7-8:30 p.m. Joe Schaban, CPA-"The Financial Side of Writing"

November 17, 7-8:30 p.m. Sharyn McCrumb, "Keepers of the Legends: Using History and Folklore in Novels and Short Stories."

Admission: FREE, except Sharyn McCrumb's class, which costs $10.

For more information or to register for these free workshops please contact:

Rhonda Hale rhale@theartscouncil.org or 540-224-1205

The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge

20 Church Ave. SE, Roanoke, VA 24011

www.theartscouncil.org