An online promotional and news source for all Oklahoma writers, authors, artists, publishers, or creatives who work with Oklahoma related materials. We are especially supportive of independent authors and small presses.

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9/29/14

Limited Author Space at November Event

6th Annual Ruth Haddon Arts Festival @ Wesley UMC

 6th Annual Ruth Haddon Fine Arts Festival – Nov. 1 – 2, 2014

 

The Arts Festival Committee is accepting applications now from artists wishing to secure a display booth at the festival.  

Contact Gay Abarr at 405.229.6625; 405.745.7799 or Susan Howard at rshoward@aol.com  for information. To download an artist application follow link below.

Non-refundable $40/booth.

Application deadline is October 15.

Festival dates/times:

Sat. Nov. 1, 10:00 a.m. –  5:00 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 2, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 Download a copy of the artist application on the websiteWesley_2014_Arts_Festival-4

 

9/26/14

BOOK WITH KIDS AND ELEPHANT A FUN READ

September 26, 2014
Press Release
Immediate Release


Norman, OK-- Whorl Books announces the release of a new edition of the children's book by Marilyn A. Hudson, Elephant Hips Are Expensive.  The book features the whimsical black and white drawings of Mustang resident and well-known storyteller and author, Molly Lemmons.  
 
In 1949, children across Oklahoma raced to see who could donate the most money to bring a new elephant to the Lincoln Park Zoo. In this fictional work nine-year-old David, seven-year-old sister Molly and their friends are determined to help make it happen despite a troublesome bully.  It includes bonus section with activities and coloring sheets.
 
This delightful fiction book will be of note to children as they explore what a group of children did in 1949 or for adults who fondly remember the "good old days".  Bullies, obstacles, teamwork and just plain hard work emphasize how these kids of "The Greatest Generation" faced problems to realize a dream.
 
Marilyn A. Hudson  has been a library professional in public, school, and academic libraries.   She started writing by authoring essays, articles, and editorials in a number of periodicals, serving as a contributing editor for two and as a newspaper stringer in Enid, Oklahoma.  Hudson is also author of The Bones of Summer, The Mound, When Death Rode the Rails, Madame Delaine, Noel Brooks, The Windows of Wesley, Stories Stage Center: A History of Storytelling in Oklahoma, and others.  She received a B.A. in History and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Oklahoma.

Her first introduction to the story of “Judy” was in taking her children to the zoo and then meeting people who had been part of the fundraising activities bringing the young elephant to Oklahoma in 1949.
 
Molly Lemmons, illustrator, is a storyteller, author, and artist, and has been listening to stories all of her life. She continues that family tradition by sharing stories and adding her own unique perspective with humor and heart.

Many of the stories she tells are taken from her book, Kind of Heart released in 2000. The book is filled with nostalgic tales about growing up during the 1940's and 1950's.  Her other published works include The Passing of Paradise, As Bright and as Pure as the Driven Snow, Seize the Flashbacks!, We are Invisible, and Hold my Hand, my Precious Child.

 Molly was herself one of those spunky Oklahoma children who were known as “Judy’s Kids.” Their drive, passion and vision leave an important legacy about what working together to achieve a common goal can mean.
 
"I remember sitting in the audience at the Municipal Auditorium (Aka Civic Center Music Hall) while at a school wide concert, and the emcee announcing: "Boys and Girls, you have bought an elephant for the Oklahoma City Zoo." The entire audience of elementary school children jumped to their feet and screamed and hollered to the top of their lungs. I was one of these children."
 
The book is available currently on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats.
 
The authors are planning to tour libraries and schools in the state in early 2015. 
 
 

9/18/14

Two-Time Pulitzer Nominated Oklahoma Poet Book Signings

 
Two-time Pulitzer nominated Oklahoma poet Ed Roberts will be visiting Yukon and Norman in October.
 
Oct. 11th  - Hastings Bookstore  1-3 PM /1105 Garth Brooks Blvd, Yukon, OK 73099
Oct.18th - Hastings Bookstore  1-3 PM / 2300 W Main St, Norman, OK 73069
 
 
Ed Roberts works include:
  • A Poet’s Last Stand
  • I’m Still Standing
  • And
  • Everything Must Have a Beginning, a Middle, and an End
  • Whispers, Tears, Prayers, and Hope
And his latest -
  • When Words Escape You, You Can Use Mine
(He has received a Pulitzer nomination for both of these)
 
For more information
Please visit
 

9/17/14

Oklahoma Writer Wins National Poetry Awards

George Rhoades of Duncan, Oklahoma, author of "Along the Chisholm Trail and Other Poems". has won several national poetry book awards, including the Will Rogers Medallion Award and the Benjamin Franklin Award.
 
He was presented the Franklin Award recently at a ceremony in new York City. The prize was given by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for the best book of poetry published by independent, university presses or self-published.
 
The Will Rogers Award, presented at an awards dinner July 28 in Fort Worth, Texas recognizes excellence in Western literature and media. The winning books were judged on literary quality and reflection of Western Americana, cowboy and ranch life.
 
"This was quite an honor and totally unexpected," Rhoades said.
 
Rhoades also won second place in the annual Reader Views Literary contest.  Reader Views is a national book reviewer company. In addition, his book was named a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Book Award, which recognizes books published by independent presses.
 
Also, the book was nominated for a CIPA Award present by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association.
 
One poem from the book, "Old Men at the Coffee Shop," received an honorable mention award in the 2013 Writers-Editors Network International Writing Competition.
 
The book contains poems about the Chisholm Trail, cowboys, tall tales, farm life, reflections and observations.  It was published by Outskirts Press.
Rhoades is a former journalist who worked for UPI and newspapers in Oklahoma.  He taught journalism for many years at the University of Texas at Arlington. After retirement, he moved to the Duncan area where he owned a hay farm.