It is simply impossible to list all the amazing things that AWC writers have accomplished this year—it would take a paid staff member in order to do the value, breadth, and diversity of these marvels justice. What follows is just a tiny snapshot that we hope you share and celebrate and encourage as part of Alabama’s growing writing community that seeks to both include and represent the diversity of this state.

AWC doesn’t believe that prizes or reviews determine the value of a writer’s work. We believe, instead, that the writing itself seeks to find an audience for whom it is both meaningful and significant. We support Alabama writers at all ages and stages of their development. As a result, we make an attempt to provide space for the writers who aren’t getting covered by local newspapers, the writers who lack publicists, the writers who are truly outside an academic community or a network of gatekeepers. There is no one-size-fits-all here—and most writers would be horrified to live in a world where one size diminished beauty by narrowing it.

Poet Jacqueline Trimble speaking to Don Noble on Alabama Public Television.

A snapshot of happenings

After growing beneath the wing of AWC, the MAGIC CITY POETRY FESTIVAL stretched into its own and became a 501c3 nonprofit this year. We are thrilled that this celebration of Birmingham poets has become a permanent fixture of Alabama’s literary landscape thanks to the vision and persistence of its Executive Director, Ashley M. Jones.

SUE BRANNAN WALKER’S fascinating poetry collection, Let Us Imagine Her Name, earns a thoughtful review from Frederick W. Bassett.

Two of MYSTI MILWEE’s English poems "Waiting for a Lovely Soul" and "The Path of Life" were translated into Hindi and published in the newspaper News Folder in New Delhi, India.

The first recipient of AWC’s Jane Rascoe Honorary Membership Fellow (sponsored by her spouse Wayne Rascoe) was awarded to Birmingham poet, JESSICA SMITH. Soon after this award, Jessica Smith went on to win the 2019 Betty Jane Abrahams Memorial Prize from the Academy of American Poets for her poem, “Daybooks May 3 2013”. We are so proud of this poet.

BOB MCCOUGH’S “Books, Beards, Booze” podcast is available for free streaming online. A great source for Alabama’s steampunk literature community.

Poet JACQUELINE TRIMBLE is writing for the first South African online soap opera in Afrikaans. Theshow, Die Testament, airs on September 2, and American Happiness, Jackie’s collection of poetry, is as poignant as it is lyrical.

ADAM DAVIS continues to combine faith and hope in his devotionals, this time partnering with the one and only Lt. Colonel David Grossman to make Bulletproof Marriage, a devotional for the times.

In the works

Next week, the newly-formed AWC Committee for Education will be meeting at Claire Datnow’s home in Hoover to begin planning a series of free writing workshops that enable local writers to share their skills with the community.

As for what’s coming….. is it too much to say everything? Not to mention the availability of the Awarded Writers Collection in print and ready for online purchase.

Take a peek at the Calendar or visit the AWC Facebook Page to catch up on what’s coming soon.