CURRENT BIO: EDUCATION: EDUCATION: Currently enrolled in Gotham City’s Advanced Fiction Writing Certificate Program Completed Gotham City's Playwriting Course Graduated three Institute of Children’s Literature courses: Writing for Children and Teenagers, Novel Writing Course, and Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles, an Advanced Writing Program Completed Margaret Shauers Writing For Children Online Course Completed Scott Wiggerman's Poetry Online Course Completed Anastasia Suen's Rhyming Picture Book Online Course Graduated Advanced Writing Program of Open College for the Arts, an affiliate of The Open University, University of Glamorgan in England Graduate of Writer’s Digest School Novel Writing Course Completed Poetry Kit of Liverpool England’s Advanced Poetry Course 2007 and the Nature Poetry Course 2007 Completed Spring 2007 Gotham City’s Advanced Poetry Writing Program Attended 2004 Thinking/Writing Project, Harris High, Meridian, MS Attended 2006 Yoknapatawpha Writing Workshop, Oxford, MS Accepted into and attended the 2007 Mississippi Alliance for Arts “Arts in Education: Planning Effective Workshops for Teachers” Seminar held at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS Attends annual Southern Breeze Society Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators writer’s conferences and many others EXPERIENCE: Judge for the children’s division of the “Dream Realm Awards”, 2000, 2001, and 2002 Guest speaker for Mystic-Ink’s website chat on the topic “Assessing and Winning Writing Competitions" Featured guest and winning entry, "Coming Home," on Writer's Review A featured writer on Para Normal Photos website A featured writer on The Book Reviewers Site A featured writer on Real Scary Stories website Facilitated writer workshops on characterization, writing for children, and memoir writing at Meridian Public Library in 2001 Spoke to Meridian literary club on characterization, February 21, 2002 October 4, 2001, speaker at Meridian Community College's Victorian Christmas Luncheon regarding how Victorians celebrated Christmas and what made the Victorian Era memorable Closing guest speaker at Poplar Springs School, Meridian, MS, 2005 Writer's Day A Scribum Online author for online stories and articles Judge for 2002-03 and 2003-04 Meridian Community College's Writing Competition, High School Division Judge for 2004-05 Cultural Arts, Literary Division of Magnolia Middle School, Meridian, MS Judge 2005-06 Cultural Arts Fair, Literary Division of Northwest Junior High School Judge 2007 Gulf Coast Writers Association Writing Competition – Fiction Division Facilitator 2006 Mississippi Writers Guild (MWG)/Meridian Museum of Art People Choice Writing Competition Facilitated 10 week Journaling Sessions with Trustees of Lauderdale County Detention Center Facilitated Journaling Sessions in conjunction with the Milken Youth Festival Community Service Grant with fourth grade gifted students of Clarkdale, Southeast, Northeast, and West Lauderdale Elementary Schools and special needs students at Northeast Elementary School October 2006, I initiated and taught free writing workshops at Eudora Welty Library, Jackson, Mississippi November 2006, Judge for EPIC New Voices Contest, Poetry Category Online teacher of "Creating Memorable Characters" through Coursebridge.com Staff Writer, Kid’s Page News, All Headline News, a major Internet news source Facilitates workshops on writing and publishing at private and public schools, home-schoolers, libraries, and through various arts programs. Teaches private creative writing lessons to children and adults An online mentor to children and teen writers Started and facilitated writer's groups at Northeast High School and Lamar School in Lauderdale County Speaker for the Reading and Writing Celebration at Vestavia Hills Elementary School, Birmingham, Alabama Teaches creative writing at College for Kids, held each year at Meridian Community College Teaches creative writing through Meridian Community College’s Continuing Ed Program Founder and President of Mississippi Writer’s Guild Creator and facilitator of Literary Artists on Stage Former Children’s and Young Adult Genre Editor for “Gotta Write Network”, which has been in business since 1988 Former Staff Writer for Novel Advice, an online writer ezine Former first reader for Net Author's E2K's Literary Journal, fiction category Former first reader for Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine Former feature article freelance writer for Meridian Plus, www.meridianplusonline. com Literary Artist on the Artist Roster for the State of Mississippi SCBWI/Southern Breeze Contact Person for the State of Mississippi A Mississippi Regional Facilitator for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Competition Selected in 2007 as one of five authors in the state for Mississippi’s All-Write Initiative Co-writer of A Mother’s Son, a historical play produced by Newton Theatre Company and which premiered on November 29, 2007. Co-Writer and performer of the soundtrack, A Mother’s Son, consisting of eight songs co-written with Ralph Gordon 2008 Southern-Breeze/SCBWI Fall Conference Coodinator PUBLISHING CREDITS The Institute of Children's Literature; What Is Character The Institute of Children's Literature; Dialogue Without Skipping a Beat The Institute of Children's Literature: Developing Character Emotion" (Children's Version) The Institute of Children's Literature: Dialogue: A Fine Art The Institute of Children's Literature; The Ins and Outs of Conflict, Writer's Korner's, What is Character? Sunday Magazine, Our Search for Perfection National Association of Women's Writer's (NAWW), Gourmet Writing The Writing Parent Print Newsletter, Gourmet Writing, The Writing Parent Website, Knocking the Block off of Writer's Block Beginnings Magazine January 2001 issue; Obsession Beginnings Magazine January 2001 issue; Coming Home World Wide Writers, Truth and Mercy Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Daughters, The Power of a Mother’s Love Net Author’s website, For the Love of the Game Orchard Press Mysteries, Betraying Scents Lovewords November 2001, The Ficus Prophecy Press-Tige Publishing Company, March 2001, Fallout Suite 101’s Real People, Real Stories anthology, Finalist out of 600 entries, a Reader's Choice Forum Pick, and published with the three winning entries in the, which included 17 essays short-listed by Suite101.com's Editors as well as 10 essays selected by the Members of Suite101.com in the Readers' Choice Forum (Read Essays) as both an ebook and print-on-demand trade paperback. The anthology featured an introduction by George Anders, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and Silicon Valley Bureau Chief for Fast Company magazine, The Incredible Miracle of the Internet Novel Advice, Developing Character Emotions Novel Advice; Conflict: The Ins and Outs Wee Ones June 2002, non-fiction What Am I? E2K Literary Journal May 2002 issue, Perfect Peace Fiction Fix, Contests: One Foot in the Door National Association of Women's Writers (NAWW) Writer’s Guide, Greener Pastures Novel Advice's May 2002 Cyber Journal, Dialogue: A Fine Art Boy's Quest December 2003, non-fiction article, Mystery Booms Hopscotch Magazine for Girls August 2006 issue, Butterflies in the City Hopscotch Magazine for Girls August 2006 issue; A Butterfly Lesson Cayuse Press’s Book of Remembrance, Volume 2, Circle of Love The Copperfield Review, summer 2002, historical fiction My Friend Anita NAWW’S Feminine Writes Anthology, Gourmet Writing NAWW’S Feminine Writes Anthology; What is Character Obadiah Press Living by Faith Anthology, Starting Over Romancing the Soul Anthology, The Quintessence of Romance Writers Journal, This Old Man Meridian Community College Literary Review, Perfect Peace Novel Advice January 2003 issue, The Road to Success Net Author April 2003, Conflicts: The Ins and Outs Novel Advice's Cyber Journal April 2003 issue, Writing Poetic Language Appleseeds January 2004 Issue, Spinning Ideas and Weaving a New World Net Author, Character? What's That? A Tribute to Mothers Anthology, Paperdoll Publishing, publisher, The poem, Who Can Know a Mother's Love MeridianPlus June 16-30 2006 issue; An Afternoon with Greg Cartmell MeridianPlus July 1-15 2006 issue; The Casserole Patrol MeridianPlus July 1-15 2006 issue; Wanted: Cold-Blooded Creatures (Must have Own Cage) MeridianPlus July 16-31 2006 issue An Afternoon with The Painted Lady; Lunch With Michael Jackson MeridianPlus August 1-15 2006 issue, Regina Richardson; a Treasured Stone Southern-Hum Literary Journal September 2006 issue, Discarded MeridianPlus November 2-17 issue; Volunteerism: Building Strong Families MeridianPlus November 2-17 issue; Amber Jones, Mentor and Volunteer MeridianPlus November 2-17 issue; Girl Scouts, Volunteers of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow MeridianPlus November 21-December 3 – All I want for Christmas is an Incubator MeridianPlus November 21-December 3 - Deck the “Halls” with the Giving Spirits of Maurice and Cathy Hall MeridianPlus December 1 – 15, 2006 – Project Ballet Meridian - Great Russian Ballet MeridianPlus December 1 – 15, 2006 - Fourth Graders Pass on Spirit of Giving MeridianPlus December 1 – 15, 2006 - At the End of the Rainbow with John Floyd Truth and Mercy – Amazon Shorts, Amazon.com Coming Home – Amazon Shorts, Amazon.com Papa’s Presence – Oxford Towne, Oxford, MS All Headline News www.allheadlinenews.com – over 324 articles The Glass Vase of Clover – Common Ties www.commonties.com Meet Poet Dorothy Holloway – Today’s Mississippi Woman They – Mississippi’s Got Talent Anthology – 2007 The Winners Circle The Remote Control: Reincarnated, USA Deep South, September 2007; Humor Press, December 2007 Song of Melissy – To be published in GCWA’s Short Story Anthology Spirit-Filled – Flashquake’s Dec/Feb issue All About Need – November/December issue American Songwriter You Can’t Go Back – To be published in 2008 Winners’ Circle book by Brick Streets Press I Love You Because – Optioned by Blue Mountain Arts for publication Interviewed children's authors David Davis, Dorothy Thompson, Valerie Hardin, Gail Johnson, Violet Ramos, Laura Backes, Jan Pierson, Jennifer LB Lessee, Peggy Tibbetts, Kathryn Lay, Jan Peck, Diana Kimpton, and Dotti Enderle. WRITING AWARDS: 1999 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition (Over 14,000 entries) – Finalist for “Song of Melissy” 1999 Write Spot Competition – Finalist for “North and South,” January 2000, By-Line Magazine Children’s Story or Picture Book Competition – First Place winner for “Song of Melissy"; Special Honorable Mention for “My Brother Kevin; Honorable Mention for “The Three Gruff Billy Goats 2000 Mystic-Ink “Love That Romance” contest – First place winner for “The Quintessence of Romance”, $500.00 in prizes 2000 Writer’s Arena 48 Hour Mystery Contest – First place winner for “The Chocolate Syrup Caper” 2000 Inscription’s Summer Romance Contest – Honorable Mention for “Beneath the Ruin” By-Line Magazine's September 2002 Genre Fiction Competition - Honorable Mention for "Beneath the Ruin 2000 World Wide Writer’s Competition – Third Place Winner for “Truth and Mercy”, prize money and Publication in World Wide Writer’s Anthology #14 2000 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition (over 19,000 entries) Finalist in Genre Short Story Division for “The Curse”, and finalist in Children’s Division for “My Brother Kevin” August 2000 Byline Magazine Chapter of a Novel contest – Honorable Mention for “You Are My Sunshine” Coffeehouse for Writers Short Fiction Contest: “The Ficus Prophecy” - 2nd Place winner in, prize money and publication on website, a site recognized by Writer’s Digest and Inscriptions Magazine Beginnings Magazine Winter 2001 Writing Competition – First Place Winner for “Coming Home,” prize money, publication in Beginnings print magazine and on website; Fiction Fix’s Vocab-Confab Essay Rant Contest – “Gourmet Writing" First place winner in, prize, published on website, recognized by Writer’s Digest and Inscriptions Magazine ChildAuthor's writing competition - "My Brother Kevin," one of ten finalists 2001 Writer's Digest Writing Competition which had over 18,000 entries – Honorable Mention for “My Grandpa’s Overalls” Honorable Mention in the Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Competition - "Since I Met You," finalist October 2001 WriteSafe Quarterly Competition Finalist and 2nd place winner for North and South WriteSpot's 2002 Spring Writing Competition - Short story entitled "They" selected as finalist in and won first place in WriteSafe's third quarterly competition of 2002 – 1st Place Winner for “They” Writer's Journal July 2001 Romance Writing Competition – first place for "This Old Man," By-Line Magazine's Flash Fiction Writing Competition - "Perfect Peace," Special Honorable Mention Coffeebean Shop's Writer's Competition on Irish Coffee - "The Luck of the Irish," finalist Writer's Unknown 2002 Summer Classic Writing Competition "Song of Melissy," finalist 2002 CNW/FFWA Writing Competition - First chapter of "Sons of Segbert," a historical fiction, honorable mention A Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Daughters, Adams Media Corporation, publisher, Spring 2003 Memoir - "The Power of a Mother's Love" top five finalist in writing competition, prize money and publishing WriteSafe's Quarterly competition -Truth and Mercy finalist 2002 Writer's Digest Writing Competition, which had over 19,000 entries - Honorable Mention for "Lights in the Darkness" Obadiah Press' 2002 "Faith" Writing Competition published in the Obadiah Press "Living by Faith" Anthology - "Starting Over" a finalist published in anthology WriteSafe's Quarterly Competition - "Life After Death" finalist WriteSafe's Quarterly Competition - "You Can't Go Back” a semi-finalist 2005 Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Contest - Honorable Mention for “You Can’t Go Back” in Suspense/Thriller Category CNW/FFWA 2004 Annual Writer's Competition - First Chapter of "You Are My Sunshine" 1st place winner in the Children's Category Fish Publishing's 2005 Fiction Contest - Confessions of a Single Mother, a long list finalist of over 1,700 entries in Writer’s Digest 2005 Annual Fiction Competition, Literary Division “Confessions of a Single Mother” third place winner Writer’s Digest 2005 Annual Fiction Competition - “I Hate You, Mrs. Powell (My End of the World),” Honorable Mention in, Children’s Category; 2006 Tallahatchie Riverfest William Faulkner Award Original Short Fiction Competition - Honorable Mention for “Song of Melissy,” 2006 Ripley Main Street William Faulkner Writing Competition – 2nd place for North and South December 2006 runner-up in Song of the Year Competition in contemporary category for My Wish February 2007 – 2nd place winner, Clinton Art Council Writing Contest, College and Beyond Fiction Writing Category for “They.” February 2007 – Honorable Mention, Song of the Year Competition in Contemporary category for The World Is Much Bigger Than Me April 2007 – Honorable Mention, Song of the Year Competition, Christian Category, for Thank God for All the Little Things September 2007 – Honorable Mention, Tallahatchie Riverfest William Faulkner Poetry Competition for Tallahatchie October 2007 - 2nd Place Winner for All About Need, American Songwriting Magazine's November/December Songwriting Competition October 2007 - 1st Place Winner Mimi Heitzmann Writers Competition for Song of Melissy. December 2007 – Finalist for Remote Control: Reincarnated, Humor Press December Humor Contest January/February 2008 – Honorable Mention – American Songwriter Magazine for Take the Long Way home March 2008 – 3rd Place Winner, Brick Streets Press Short Story Contest for You Can’t Go Back March 2008 – 1st Place Winner, Poetry Division, for Tallahatchie, Meridian Community College Annual Writing Competition. April 2008 – Top five finalist with Ralph Gordon for Grierson’s Raid, Song of the Year Competition, February 2008, Folk Category ORGANIZATIONS: Member in good standing of the National SCBWI, Southern Breeze Division of SCBWI; Cassell Network of Writers (CNW); The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP); Media Bistro; Writer’s Bridge; Meridian Museum of Art; President of Mississippi Writer’s Guild; Board Member of Meridian Council for Arts; Past Board Member of Lauderdale County's Boys and Girls Club; Twentieth Century Literary Club; Mississippi Federated Women’s Club |
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| I want to rock the world |
SONG STORY MUSIC DRAMA LIFE IMAGI NA TION |
| Can't You See Lyrics and Music by Richelle Putnam Copyright 1980 Back-up by Joey Ethridge, Philip Whaley, Leon Williams |