This week and next, we’re introducing those exhibitors who’ll be joining us at our 2017 Spring Conference on Saturday, April 22, at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
To read Part 1 of this series, click here.
Here are five more vendors who look forward to talking to you at Spring Conference:
Minerva Rising Press, an independent literary press, celebrates the creativity and wisdom in every woman by giving them space to tell their stories and to tell them well. They publish thought-provoking and insightful fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry through chapboks and a literary journal. They pride ourselves on building a supportive community of women, because they believe that when women come together, they flourish. They are committed to working with both established and emerging women writers to hone and develop their craft in the direction of growth—both personally and professionally. Minerva Rising Press publishes poetry chapbooks, novellas, and memoirs. They also offer the annual Owl of Minerva Award: a $500 scholarship established by Minerva Rising to provide one woman writer with financial support to further her writing endeavors.
The mission of the North Carolina Literary Map is to highlight the literary heritage of the state by connecting the lives and creative work of authors to real (and imaginary) geographic locations. Through the development of a searchable and browseable data-driven online map, users are able to access a database, learning tools, and cultural resources, to deepen their understanding of specific authors as well as the cultural space that shaped these literary works. The NC Literary Map also offers apps for literary tours of Asheville, Charlotte, and Greensboro, with more in the works!
Since 1932, the North Carolina Poetry Society has existed as an all-volunteer organization especially for poets and friends of poetry. They now have approximately 350 members from North Carolina—and numerous locations beyond. The Poetry Society holds regular meetings three times a year. Other programs include annual contests for adults and students, which offer cash prizes and award certificates; the annual Poet Laureate Award, judged by the state’s poet laureate; workshops across the state, offering poets an opportunity to gather for instruction, camaraderie, and networking; and the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series, where three distinguished North Carolina poets are selected annually to mentor student poets in the eastern, central, and western regions of the state.
Press 53 was founded in October 2005 by Kevin Morgan Watson and quickly began earning a reputation as a quality publishing house of short fiction and poetry collections. Located in Winston-Salem, they publish up to to eight poetry collections each year, including one collection by the winner of the Press 53 Award for Poetry (now open for submissions, through July 31). They publish up to five short fiction collections each year, including the winner of the Press 53 Award for Short Fiction. In July 2010, Press 53 launched Prime Number Magazine, a free online quarterly publication of distinctive poetry and prose. The Prime Number Magazine Awards are open through April 15. Their authors include former NC poet laureates Joseph Bathanti and Kathryn Stripling Byer and current NC poet laureate Shelby Stephenson; poets Gabrielle Freeman and Joseph Mills; and fiction writers Quinn Dalton and Dennis McFadden.
Prospective Press is an avid independent publisher, connecting readers to great stories by great authors. They produce books in the traditional way, a commitment to quality and a keen interest for compelling content. However, they also keep an eye to the future, watching for ways to make the reading experiences even more enjoyable and satisfying. From the Piedmont region of North Carolina, they bring a world of quality genre fiction and select nonfiction. Their nonfiction imprint connects readers with a nascent collection of enjoyable and informative books on select topics involving the body, mind, and spirit. Fiction includes High Fantasy and Urban Fantasy; Young Adult and Mythological; Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction; Paranormal and PNR; Women’s Fiction; and more. One of their newest titles is Draigon Weather by Paige L. Christie. Paige pitched the manuscript to Prospective Press after last year’s Slush Pile Live! Editor Jason T. Graves will again serve as a panlist for this year’s third annual Slush Pile Live!
Pre-registration for the North Carolina Writers’ Network 2017 Spring Conference ends Sunday, April 16. Register now!