Local Writers Extras
Meet the 2023 Writers Conference Presenter: Dawn Downey
Have you ever read something and wondered, how did this author know my story so well? Dawn Downey is such an author. Her love of people and love of writing go hand-in-hand. It comes as no surprise when Dawn explains in one of her blog posts, “I write to spread kindness.” Her compassion for her readers and her love of craft both shine in her work.
In addition to an active online presence on her blog, Dawn has published four books of essays: Stumbling Toward the Buddha: Stories about Tripping over My Principles on the Road to Transformation, From Dawn to Daylight, Searching For My Heart: essays about love, and Blindsided: Essays from the Only Black Woman in the Room, a 2022 Book of the Year Finalist from Independent Author Network.
Dawn’s passion for writing is deeply intertwined with a passion for mindfulness and spirituality. She practices yoga every morning before pen hits paper. Dawn spends most of her time participating in craft workshops that aim to amplify marginalized voices, something she is deeply passionate about. She currently lives in Kansas City with her husband.
We are pleased to announce that Dawn Downey will be presenting a lecture with her editing partner and Writers Conference veteran, Jessica Conoley, on developmental editing.
We look forward to seeing you Nov. 2-4 to write, network, and talk books with us! You can register to attend the Nov. 2 Kickoff here and you can register for both days of the Writers Conference here. For the Conference, your RSVP is for both days and sessions will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
You can catch up with Dawn on her blog here, and you can also keep up with her on her Youtube channel here.
We asked Dawn a few questions inspired by this year’s conference book, By the Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life from The New York Times Book Review, to get to know her better:
- What's in your TBR pile?
Abaddon's Gate by James Corey; Hunger by Roxane Gay; The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
- What are you reading right now?
Soil by Camille T. Dungy; Women, Race, and Class by Angela Davis
- Do you have a favorite book you love to recommend?
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow
- Do you have a favorite bookstore?
- Answer the question you wish we had asked.
What do you want to tell other writers? Be kind to yourself.
Meet the 2023 Writers Conference Presenter: Traci Brimhall
Traci Brimhall is a Kansas Poet Laureate (2023-2026) and professor at Kansas State University where she manages the creative writing program. She earned a BA at Florida State University, an MFA at Sarah Lawrence College, and a PhD at Western Michigan University. She has published four books of poetry, Come the Slumberless to the Land of Nod (2020), Saudade (2017), Our Lady of Ruins (2012), and Rookery (2010). Her passion for poetry ignited when she read a Sharon Olds poem for the first time in high school and instantly felt less alone.
Traci’s generative poetry workshops include thoroughly engaging discussions and attendees walk away with a greater appreciation for poetry and community. Brimhall has such a thoughtful way of running a workshop. She conveys how the ordinary or “everyday” object or scenario can be transformed by perspective, and thus our understanding of everyday life can also be transformed.
Recently, Traci collaborated with visual artist Kelly Yarbrough to create a Poetry Walk for November 2023 to coincide with the Johnson County Library Writer’s Conference. Make sure to take a stroll through Strang Park, just behind the Central Resource Library, during the conference or during your Library visit this upcoming November.
Traci and Kelly will do a panel at the conference on the fascinating dynamics of their collaboration, and Traci will teach several poetry workshops during the conference. We look forward to seeing you Nov. 2-4 to write, network, and talk books with us! You can register to attend the Nov. 2 Kickoff here and you can register for both days of the Writers Conference here. For the Conference, your RSVP is for both days and sessions will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you’d like to catch up with Traci online, you can find her on her website.
Meet the 2023 Writers Conference Presenter: Jessica Conoley
Jessica Conoley has been on the faculty of our Writers Conference for years for a reason: attendees love her. They relate to her, respect her, and consistently tell us that her sessions are full of information, interesting, and engaging.
And that’s no surprise to anyone who’s spent any time with Jessica. She’s not only an accomplished writer and creative careers coach; she’s curious about others and genuinely interested in seeing people live their dream.
Jessica founded and leads The Creative’s Apprentice, where she provides step-by-step, easily implementable mindset and educational guidance so creatives can stop worrying about all of the “business stuff they’re supposed to do” and focus on the creative work they love to do.
We are pleased to announce that this year Jessica will be partnering with her editing partner, Dawn Downey, to teach a class on developmental editing.
We look forward to seeing you Nov. 2-4 to write, network, and talk books with us! You can register to attend the Nov. 2 Kickoff here and you can register for both days of the Writers Conference here. For the Conference, your RSVP is for both days and sessions will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
You can keep up with Jessica by visiting her website (linked above) or on Instagram and Twitter at @thecreativesapp.
We asked Jessica a few questions inspired by this year’s conference book, By the Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life from The New York Times Book Review, to get to know her better:
1. What's in your TBR pile?
Dirty Laundry: Why Adults w/ADHD are so ashamed & what we can do to help by Roxanne Emery & Richard Pink; Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
2. What are you reading right now?
The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind & Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van der Kolk; Exhalation by Ted Chiang
3. Do you have a favorite book you love to recommend?
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
4. Do you have a favorite bookstore?
5. Answer the question you wish we had asked.
My favorite word is EGG
Volume is an annual publication; part anthology and part journal that showcases the work of local writers and artists.
Call for Submissions to Volume 6
The Local Writers Committee is calling for submissions of writing and art for Volume 6. Volume is an annual publication; part anthology and part journal that showcases the work of local writers and artists. This printed, spiral bound, easy-to-carry publication aims to both celebrate KC writers and artists in and around Johnson County while also inspiring others to create, submit, and celebrate their own work.
Enter your writing or art to be included in our Volume 6 Notebook, which will be distributed at our 8th annual Writers Conference.
Many of Johnson County Library’s writing programs have been supported by the Joan Berkely Writers Fund, which is administered by the Johnson County Library Foundation. The Berkley family started the fund to honor Joan Berkeley, who was an avid reader and lover of literature. Bert Berkley has supported the fund since its inception in 2013 and we thought it would be fun to honor Bert along with Joan with a prompt all about his favorite thing: fishing.
Whether it be fishing for compliments, fishers of men, or actual fishing for fish, tell us about the ways you cast your net, what you’re hoping to catch, and the surprises along the way. Need inspiration? Read about Bert’s passion for fly-fishing in Anglers Journal.
Submission deadline is July 15, 2023.
Open Mic Night
Johnson County Library is teaming up with Bear Necessities Coffee Bar to bring you an Open Mic from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the 4th Friday of every month. Bring poems, short stories, essays, and excerpts to share on the stage. Or come just to listen. We’ll feature readings from our contest winners and the rest of the time is for you.
Sign up at the event, 3-minute limit.
And don't forget to save the date!
The 2023 Writers Conference will be Nov. 2-4.
Save the Date!
The 2023 Writers Conference will be Thursday, Nov. 2 – Saturday, Nov. 4.
Our 2022 conference was loads of fun and our conference planners are already busy identifying potential faculty and making big plans.
A Big Writers Conference Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2022 Writers Conference. It was a blast! If you missed it, you can still watch some of the session recordings at Library OnDemand.
We value your feedback and hearing from you helps ensure we offer programming you value.
If you want to share your conference experience with us, please fill out and submit our Attendee Survey.
We would love for you to share your opinion about our Local Writers Programming as well.
Meet the Presenter: Polly McCann
The lyrical poetry of Polly Alice McCann paints a beautiful narrative revolving around the internal heartland. With poetry as beautiful as hers, it is no surprise that she is also an artist! This author, artist and dreamer began writing poetry after taking an impactful trip to the desert with a pillow and a book. We can only imagine the beauty she discovered there that would inspire her to start to write — and continue writing — poetry.
Polly received her MFA in Writing from Hamline University. Her poetry has been published both nationally and internationally in journals such as “Naugatuck River Review” and “arc23” in Tel Aviv. Polly is the managing editor of Flying Ketchup Press and an adjunct writing professor. You can find her poetry collections, including her newest collection, “Night Blooming,” along with her memoir, “Pray Like a Woman,” at online stores.
You can learn more about Polly McCann on her website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. You can also learn more from her at this year’s Writers Conference, where she’ll be teaching two sessions: “Chatting About Chapbooks: Five Ways to Share Your Poetry” and “Place & Power in Narrative Poetry.”
We look forward to seeing you there!
-- written by Kathryn “Katt” Cooper, adult services specialist
Our Writers Conference Planners! Clockwise from top left: Helen Hokanson, Jesseca Bear, Lisa Allen, Kathryn "Katt" Cooper, Joseph Keehn, Diane Haner and Cindy Frazer.
Meet the Conference Planners!
Now that we’ve introduced you to our Writers Conference authors and presenters, it’s time to introduce ourselves!
The core team that plans the Writers Conference is small, but mighty!
Helen Hokanson has worked at the Library for 25 years. She found her niche as the Local Writers Librarian in 2014 and leads our committee not just in planning the Writers Conference, but in visioning and planning year-round programming, readings, and writing contests.
Joseph Keehn is the Events & Programs Coordinator for the Johnson County Library, where he plans, develops, implements, evaluates and manages programs and events that meet the diverse needs of all patrons. He has been with the Writers Conference since its beginning.
Cindy Frazer has been at Johnson County Library since 1985 and has been on the Writers Conference committee for 7 years. Thanks to Cindy, we have signage and schedules and all those didn’t-think-of-that essentials that make the conference successful.
Lisa Allen started at the Library in 2019 and joined the Local Writers Committee that same year. She is an Adult Services Specialist.
Jesseca Bear started at the Library in 2012 and joined the Local Writers Committee earlier this year. She is an Adult Services Specialist.
Kathryn “Katt” Cooper started at the Library in 2018 and has been part of the Local Writers Committee since 2019. She is an Adult Services Specialist.
Diane Haner has worked at the Library since 2001 and joined the Local Writers Committee in 2016. She is an Adult Services Specialist.
-- written by Lisa Allen, adult services specialist
An Evening with Anne-Marie Oomen
When we talked with Writers Conference faculty member Anne-Marie Oomen about the possibility of an event to celebrate her newest, award-winning memoir, As Long as I Know You: The Mom Book, the conversation quickly turned to what Oomen calls “book good.”
We learned, then, that as much as Oomen loves to read her work in front of a crowd, she also has bigger goals for this book. Specifically, she wants to share what she and her family learned as they navigated her mother’s deteriorating health and transition into assisted living with others who are currently facing—or will soon face—this stressful time of life.
To bring this vision to life, we planned this evening to be both a literary event and a community conversation. Local author Virginia Brackett will moderate the event and will be in conversation with Oomen about the book itself and the craft elements that make it unique.
In addition, Tim Wholf, Johnson County’s new Director of Aging and Human Services, will join Oomen and Brackett to discuss the realities of navigating the system when a parent or loved one is aging and needs assistance.
In addition to discussions with Brackett and Wholf, Oomen will read from the memoir, which was awarded the 2021 Association of Writers and Writing Programs Sue William Silverman Prize for Creative Nonfiction and will take questions from the audience. Books will be available for purchase from local business The Green Door Book Store & Gift Shoppe.
-- written by Lisa Allen, adult services specialist