"Singing It Forward" With Kathryn Stripling Byer at the Lanier Library Poetry Festival

What: Lanier Library Poetry Festival

Where: 72 Chestnut Street, Tryon, North Carolina 28782

When: April 26, 2014

April in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is a beautiful month, one might even say pure poetry. So please join Kathryn Stripling Byer and other celebrated poets, including Joseph Bathanti, at the Lanier Library on April 26, 2014, for a day of inspiration, education and a sociable gathering of creative minds.

The Lanier Library in Tryon, North Carolina will be hosting a new literary festival celebrating one of the most beloved and advanced forms of literature in the history of the written word: POETRY.

They have invited some of the country’s most respected poets to lead a variety of writing workshops; to discuss poetry’s importance in our lives; to offer publication advice; and to give free public readings of their work and autograph their books.

A highlight of the day is a catered luncheon with honored guest Mark Doty. Doty has published eight collections of his poetry, including Fire to Fire, which won the coveted National Book Award in Poetry in 2008.  The festival concludes with a public reception at the Lanier Library to announce the winners of the sixth annual Sidney Lanier Poetry Competition (open to poets in North and South Carolina and Georgia). 

This year’s judge of the competition is current North Carolina Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti, who will speak at the reception.  In addition, the prize recipients will read their winning poems.  Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served.

Registration deadline is April 15. For a registration form and full details: www.lanierlib.org/poetryfestival2014