Allegany Highlands Writers Workshop Begins Its 16th Year

The Alleghany Highlands Writers Workshop that meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Clifton Forge Public Library had two new writers attend its first meeting of the year on Feb. 9.

Josie Deffinbaugh and Witmer attend the workshop in the Michael Armstrong Room at the CFPL, and Deffinbaugh share with the three regular members who were present a writing project that she has been working on as an evangelist.

Two poems and two prose writings were read and discussed by the five members present.

Guest writers who have attended the workshop and share their work are Judy Light Ayyildiz, a novelist, poet, nonfiction author, and actress; Dr. Parks Lanier, Jr., professor emeritus at Radford University where he served as an English professor and poet; and the late Bob Campbell, a songwriter who performed as one of the four Statler Brothers on tours with Johnny Cash and Tex Ritter.

Some of the workshop members have participated in poetry readings at the library during Poetry Month, and more than 50 have attended the workshop since it began in 2006.

The next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tues. Feb. 22. The workshop is free of charge and open to the public.