Writers' Night Out Features Two Poets

On Friday, September 9 at 7 p.m., come hear Karen Paul Holmes and Clarence Newton read their entertaining poetry. Mountain Perk Coffee House in Hiawassee hosts the free event, which also includes an open microphone. Those who’d like to share their own poetry or prose can sign up at the door to read for two minutes each, following the featured readers. Music will be provided by a local musician.

Karen Paul Holmes was scheduled to read at Writers’ Night Out in August but had to cancel due to a death in the family. Audiences instead enjoyed Young Harris poet, Maren O. Mitchell.

Holmes originated Writers’ Night Out in the spring of 2010, and she hosts the event on the second Friday of each month. She’s a freelance business writer who has poetry published or forthcoming in journals such as Poetry East, The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, Atlanta Review, Main Street Rag, Caesura and Avocet. She has taught a writing class at Young Harris College’s Institute for Continued Learning and will be teaching at John C. Campbell Folk School next summer. Holmes lives in Atlanta and Hiawassee.

Clarence Newton of Hiawassee puts both humor and wisdom into his writings. Once a guest writer for several newspapers, he has turned his love of writing toward poetry. He studied under former Poet Laureate of Georgia Bettie Sellers and poet Nancy Simpson. His work appears in Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. After a long career in aviation, Clarence now finds inspiration in the things of retirement, such as fishing, gardening, and birding.

Mountain Perk Coffee House is located at 1390 Highway 76 East in Chatuge Harbor Plaza across from Towns County High School. Writers’ Night Out is open to the public. Food, gourmet coffees and other refreshments are available for purchase.

For more information, please contact Karen Holmes at (404) 316-8466 or kpaulholmes@gmail.com, or call Mountain Perk at (706) 896-0504.