As Founder of Mississippi Writers Guild, a lot of personal goals were gladly put on
hold as the MWG Board traveled to introduce the statewide, non-profit organization to
writers in Mississippi communities. Thus far, MWG has chapters throughout the state,
as well as writing programs, events, and workshops. Mississippi Writers Guild is
proud to serve Mississippi and looks forward to serving you. Click here to visit
Mississippi Writers Guild.
But don't forget to come back and see what I'm up to.
hold as the MWG Board traveled to introduce the statewide, non-profit organization to
writers in Mississippi communities. Thus far, MWG has chapters throughout the state,
as well as writing programs, events, and workshops. Mississippi Writers Guild is
proud to serve Mississippi and looks forward to serving you. Click here to visit
Mississippi Writers Guild.
But don't forget to come back and see what I'm up to.
Though I have written most of my life, I became a self-taught musician and
songwriter in the mid-seventies and joined a wonderful group of musicians to form a
band called The Magnatones. With the awesome talent of Joey Ethridge, Philip
Whaley, Leon Williams, and Lamar McKenzie, The Magnatones couldn't miss. Ah,
youth. Ain't it grand? But with children, PTA meetings, homeroom parties, cub
scouts, and brownies, and, well, need I say more?
I became a single parent with three children and the day-to-day routine of work,
school, home, and the joys and hardships that accompany them. I met my
wonderful husband, Tim, and we have a beautiful daughter, making four awesome
children. It was my husband's encouragement that prodded me to return my past
desires.
In 1999, I seriously began my journey again as a writer, taking accredited writing
courses, writing sunup to sundown, taking the crushing blow of rejection, getting
back up, and starting over...and over...and over...and over again.
But isn't life like that anyway, starting over...and over....and over again?
songwriter in the mid-seventies and joined a wonderful group of musicians to form a
band called The Magnatones. With the awesome talent of Joey Ethridge, Philip
Whaley, Leon Williams, and Lamar McKenzie, The Magnatones couldn't miss. Ah,
youth. Ain't it grand? But with children, PTA meetings, homeroom parties, cub
scouts, and brownies, and, well, need I say more?
I became a single parent with three children and the day-to-day routine of work,
school, home, and the joys and hardships that accompany them. I met my
wonderful husband, Tim, and we have a beautiful daughter, making four awesome
children. It was my husband's encouragement that prodded me to return my past
desires.
In 1999, I seriously began my journey again as a writer, taking accredited writing
courses, writing sunup to sundown, taking the crushing blow of rejection, getting
back up, and starting over...and over...and over...and over again.
But isn't life like that anyway, starting over...and over....and over again?
Richelle Putnam - Writing Instructor,
Author, Poet, Playwright, Songwriter, Musician
Author, Poet, Playwright, Songwriter, Musician
Updated: July 24, 2010
Webmaster Richelle Putnam
Webmaster Richelle Putnam
2007 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Poetry,
Mississippi's own Natasha Tretheway and I
at Yellow Dog Books, Madison, MS
Mississippi's own Natasha Tretheway and I
at Yellow Dog Books, Madison, MS
| MISSISSIPPI KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. CONGRATULATIONS, NATASHA!! READ HER BOOK: Native Guard |
| MySpace Music Site, MySpace Literary Site, American Songspace, and |
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Author/Editor Charlene McCord, Barry
Hannah, and me at the 2008 Brick Street
Writing Competition Awards
Hannah, and me at the 2008 Brick Street
Writing Competition Awards
Literary Agent/Attorney, Charles Tolbert,
Award Winning TV Development Writer,
Barbara Garshman, and I at 2007
Mississippi Writers Guild Conference
Award Winning TV Development Writer,
Barbara Garshman, and I at 2007
Mississippi Writers Guild Conference
Two-time SEBA Award Winner and #1 Book
Sense Author, Joshilyn Jackson and I at the 2007
Mississippi Writers Guild Conference
Sense Author, Joshilyn Jackson and I at the 2007
Mississippi Writers Guild Conference
Book Signing at Lottie Bogan's Home for
Fireflies in Fruit Jars.
Fireflies in Fruit Jars.
Author R A Nelson, Author Irene
Lathem, and me
Lathem, and me
2007 Tallahatchie Riverfest Awards
| MCC Writer-in-Resident for Mississippi's Write Initiative Program made possible by Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) |
Book Signing at 2008 Mississippi Writers
Guild Conference
Guild Conference
Award Winning Poet, Pulitzer Finalist,
Claude Wilkinson and I at the 2008
Tallahatchie Riverfest Writing Awards
Luncheon
Claude Wilkinson and I at the 2008
Tallahatchie Riverfest Writing Awards
Luncheon
For the best in Indie Music listen to #l Internet
station IRADIO LA - INDIE 104, which has featured
my songs; All About Need, See the Boy, Lost in You,
Forest for a Child, Tired Of Outlaws and
Desperadoes, Baby on My Knee, Ghost Train,
Grierson's Raid, Rebel, Lost In You, Soldier in My
Heart, I Ain't Leavin',The Best of Me if Yet to Come,
Take the Long Way Home for Love, and My Side of
Bad. THANKS! Make friends with iRADIO myspace
station IRADIO LA - INDIE 104, which has featured
my songs; All About Need, See the Boy, Lost in You,
Forest for a Child, Tired Of Outlaws and
Desperadoes, Baby on My Knee, Ghost Train,
Grierson's Raid, Rebel, Lost In You, Soldier in My
Heart, I Ain't Leavin',The Best of Me if Yet to Come,
Take the Long Way Home for Love, and My Side of
Bad. THANKS! Make friends with iRADIO myspace
Best Selling Author and Sweet Potato Queen,
Jill Connor Browne and I at Authorfest, Main
Street Books, Hattiesburg, MS
Jill Connor Browne and I at Authorfest, Main
Street Books, Hattiesburg, MS
Derringer Award Winner, John Floyd and I
at AuthorFest, Main Street Books,
Hattiesburg, MS See Dogwood Press here
at AuthorFest, Main Street Books,
Hattiesburg, MS See Dogwood Press here
Mandessa, my favorite Idol contestant, and I
at the Women's of Faith Conference,
Phoenix, AR, Mandessa autographing her
CD. Simon! What were you thinking?
at the Women's of Faith Conference,
Phoenix, AR, Mandessa autographing her
CD. Simon! What were you thinking?
Newberry Award Winner, Paul Fleischman
and me at the 2008 Southern Breeze WIK08
Conference, Birmingham, AL See Southern
Breeze here
and me at the 2008 Southern Breeze WIK08
Conference, Birmingham, AL See Southern
Breeze here
Author Thomas Larson and I at the Thomas
Larson Memoir Writing Workshop, Main
Street Books, Hattiesburg, MS
Larson Memoir Writing Workshop, Main
Street Books, Hattiesburg, MS
| See The Boy a featured song on Skope Radio January 2009 |
My U. S. Army soldier son, PSC John Aycock, has been in Baghdad, Iraq for the
past year. During the holidays and entertainment for the troops, they played Michael
Jackson’s Thriller and taped John doing the Thriller dance routine. The crowd goes crazy
because he was in fact a backup dancer for a popular Michael Jackson impersonator. You
have to watch it on YouTube. It’s so cool to see our soldiers smiling and hear them
laughing while serving our country overseas. Enjoy!! Click here
past year. During the holidays and entertainment for the troops, they played Michael
Jackson’s Thriller and taped John doing the Thriller dance routine. The crowd goes crazy
because he was in fact a backup dancer for a popular Michael Jackson impersonator. You
have to watch it on YouTube. It’s so cool to see our soldiers smiling and hear them
laughing while serving our country overseas. Enjoy!! Click here
| High Strung Woman and Change My Mind featured songs on Dr. Lou and the House of Blues Hour WNJC 1360 and Midnight Special Blues Internet Radio Live 365 Hear High Strung Woman |
| Banana Peel Radio, Vancouver, Canada chooses Richelle's songs for play in Canada and worldwide. |
Shown from left to right: Glen Allison, Judy Tucker, Richelle
Putnam and Pat Floyd
COLLEGE & BEYOND CATEGORY:
First Place ($250) — "The Quilts" by Pat Floyd of Clinton, MS
Second Place ($150) — "They" by Richelle Putnam of
Meridian, MS
Third Place ($75) — "The Christmas Monkey" by Glen
Allison of Tupelo, MS
Honorable Mention — "Skye: The Child of a Flower Child" by
Judy Tucker of Jackson, MS
Honorable Mention — "Baby Dolls" by Lottie Boggan of
Jackson, MS
Putnam and Pat Floyd
COLLEGE & BEYOND CATEGORY:
First Place ($250) — "The Quilts" by Pat Floyd of Clinton, MS
Second Place ($150) — "They" by Richelle Putnam of
Meridian, MS
Third Place ($75) — "The Christmas Monkey" by Glen
Allison of Tupelo, MS
Honorable Mention — "Skye: The Child of a Flower Child" by
Judy Tucker of Jackson, MS
Honorable Mention — "Baby Dolls" by Lottie Boggan of
Jackson, MS
Winners in the College & Beyond Division
of the Brick Streets Press Short Story
Contest include (from left) Richelle
Putnam of Meridian, third place; Judy
Tucker of Jackson, second place; Dorothy
Shawhan of Cleveland, First Place Tie;
and Michael F. Smith of Columbus, First
Place Tie. Not pictured is David McLendon
of Robbins, NC, honorable mention.
of the Brick Streets Press Short Story
Contest include (from left) Richelle
Putnam of Meridian, third place; Judy
Tucker of Jackson, second place; Dorothy
Shawhan of Cleveland, First Place Tie;
and Michael F. Smith of Columbus, First
Place Tie. Not pictured is David McLendon
of Robbins, NC, honorable mention.
| Change My Mind and Grierson's Raid featured on BandRadio, an innovative 24-hour streaming radio station |
| The Ballad of Meridian Written by Richelle Putnam |
| American Songwriter Magazine has awarded the following songs in their Lyric Writing Competitions: All About Need Walk With Me (Take the Long Way Home for Love) Baby on My Knee, Soldier in My Heart Ridin' A Railroad Car |
| Women of Substance Radio featured my song, "Take the Long Way Home for Love." |
Enjoy popular Indie Artists as well
as the new upcoming Indie Artists
on Women of Substance Radio
as the new upcoming Indie Artists
on Women of Substance Radio
Radio Crystal Blue is a
freeform internet radio
program, created, produced
and hosted by Dan Herman,
on the Live365 network. This
program is a live show
where spinning music of
leading indie/underground
artists of several genres
currently performing and
recording worldwide. Radio
Crystal Blue will feature See
The Boy, All About Need,
and High Strung Woman.
freeform internet radio
program, created, produced
and hosted by Dan Herman,
on the Live365 network. This
program is a live show
where spinning music of
leading indie/underground
artists of several genres
currently performing and
recording worldwide. Radio
Crystal Blue will feature See
The Boy, All About Need,
and High Strung Woman.
Acoustic Fuel Radio -
Specializing in Positive Music
a•cous•tic(e-koo stik): Of or relating to
sound, the sense of hearing
fu•el(fyoo'el): Something consumed to
produce energy
Acoustic Fuel promotes a healthy mindset
by way of positive audio.
* Stimulation Station - Music for Feeling Up
Beat (Feel Good Music).
* Creative Commons - Music for Creativity.
* A Calm Place - Music for Relaxation.
* On Top of the World -Music for Motivation
and Empowerment.
* Utopia - Music for Peace and Unity.
Acoustic Fuel will feature Take
the Long Way Home for Love
Specializing in Positive Music
a•cous•tic(e-koo stik): Of or relating to
sound, the sense of hearing
fu•el(fyoo'el): Something consumed to
produce energy
Acoustic Fuel promotes a healthy mindset
by way of positive audio.
* Stimulation Station - Music for Feeling Up
Beat (Feel Good Music).
* Creative Commons - Music for Creativity.
* A Calm Place - Music for Relaxation.
* On Top of the World -Music for Motivation
and Empowerment.
* Utopia - Music for Peace and Unity.
Acoustic Fuel will feature Take
the Long Way Home for Love
WomensRadio Independent Channel
on Live365 is one of the fastest growing
independently published online radio stations. It
blends the foremost Independent Talk Radio
featuring Authors, Experts, Coaches, Artists,
Musicians, Activists, Law-Makers, Journalists and
More with the finest in Female Musicians the world
has to offer!
WomensRadio featured "All About
Need" and is featuring "Take the
Long Way Home for love
on Live365 is one of the fastest growing
independently published online radio stations. It
blends the foremost Independent Talk Radio
featuring Authors, Experts, Coaches, Artists,
Musicians, Activists, Law-Makers, Journalists and
More with the finest in Female Musicians the world
has to offer!
WomensRadio featured "All About
Need" and is featuring "Take the
Long Way Home for love
Twitter me here
| "Ballad of Meridian" has been entered into City Love Music's "Song About a City" songwriting competition. If you'd like to vote for "Ballad of Meridian," please click here. THANK YOU!! |
MGM Producer, Hudson Hickman and I
at the 2009 Tallahatchie Riverfest
Awards Luncheon.
at the 2009 Tallahatchie Riverfest
Awards Luncheon.
Grammy Award winning songwriter
Jimbeau Hinson and me at the
Historical Newton Train Depot
October 9th
Jimbeau Hinson and me at the
Historical Newton Train Depot
October 9th
Pongid Radio selects
Richelle as featured artist
and debuts "My Side of
Bad."
Richelle as featured artist
and debuts "My Side of
Bad."
At Mississippi Artists Commission (MAC)
Artist Training alongside Artist Rick Anderson
Artist Training alongside Artist Rick Anderson
At Mississippi Artists Commission (MAC) Artist Training
alongside Best Selling Author Dianne de Las Casas
and storyteller, June Davidson
alongside Best Selling Author Dianne de Las Casas
and storyteller, June Davidson
| A Mississippi Arts Commission Roster Artist and Teaching Artist a Mississippi Humanities Speaker and a member of Mississippi Alliance for Arts in Education, advocate for high quality, comprehensive and sequential arts education for all Mississippi students. and a member of and Regional Contact person for The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Southern Breeze District |
Morgan Freeman
and me!!
Delta Blues
Writing Awards
Clarksdale, MS
and me!!
Delta Blues
Writing Awards
Clarksdale, MS
The History Press has commissioned Richelle to write
A Brief History of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. This book
should be available Christmas 2010.
A Brief History of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. This book
should be available Christmas 2010.
WELCOME
 | Library programs | |
| School workshops | |
| Entertainment | |
Richelle is a Poetry Out Loud
facilitator for Lauderdale,
Clarke, Newton, Kemper, and
Neshoba Counties,
along with Anne McKee, and
looks forward to East
Mississippi teachers and
students participating in this
amazing nationwide event.
Ken Bolinsky is Mississippi's
POL Coordinator through
Mississippi Arts Commission.
facilitator for Lauderdale,
Clarke, Newton, Kemper, and
Neshoba Counties,
along with Anne McKee, and
looks forward to East
Mississippi teachers and
students participating in this
amazing nationwide event.
Ken Bolinsky is Mississippi's
POL Coordinator through
Mississippi Arts Commission.
Music To go, Songwriters
Network, Live 365, features "My
Side of Bad," May 22, 2010.
Network, Live 365, features "My
Side of Bad," May 22, 2010.
UK International Showcase
accepts three songs: "My Side of Bad,"
"Take the Long Way Home for Love,"
and "Like I Never Was Gone." Will also
feature six songs in a Christmas
Special, which will include personal
stories about each song and my
journey as an artist. More info to come.
accepts three songs: "My Side of Bad,"
"Take the Long Way Home for Love,"
and "Like I Never Was Gone." Will also
feature six songs in a Christmas
Special, which will include personal
stories about each song and my
journey as an artist. More info to come.
Daughter Bailey, Actress Sela Ward, and me at Walk of Fame
Presentation. Congratulations, Sela, on your Walk of Fame
Star at The Riley Center. You make Mississippi proud and
Meridian even prouder.
Presentation. Congratulations, Sela, on your Walk of Fame
Star at The Riley Center. You make Mississippi proud and
Meridian even prouder.