Recap: April 14 Authors for Literacy, Moriarty Library

Authors for Literacy is a good idea that does not get the advance promotion or attention that it should but still keeps growing. Before you shrug in passing about it not being a Mountainair event, bear in mind that a) it's a Torrance County event, b) supported by local writers, and c) this is something local groups could collaborate to do here, but d) in any case should support. Think about it.

This annual event, sponsored by the Moriarty Community Library (open images in new window for larger version) brings together local readers and area writers, raises literacy program funds and community awareness, and honors winners and honorable mentions in the annual Torrance County Community Writing Contest, who will be published in the annual Muse anthology (alas, no page to link to for event, contest or anthology).



Ben Steinlage, Manzano Mountain Scribes, recaps,

"Biddie McMath got an honorable mention and will appear in the Muse anthology. Either tomorrow or the next I'll post who won. Thank you to both Judy Biggar and Biddie for entering. Yesterday you could have found a number of NM writers at my table discussing Electronical Published books compared to Conventional Publishing. We all agree us writers prefer turning pages rather than pushing a button. Still as I pointed out as writers, our goal is to turn an idea into a story a reader might appreciate. After that we need to face the music and publish the story in whatever manner the buyer wants. So a good number of the writers will be offering their books in digital form.  

For those that made it, I appreciate the effort since the weather could have been better. For those that missed it, I'm sorry, for there were two panels discussing different thoughts from eight writers on the subject of writing." (quoted from April 15 post to Manzano Mountain Scribes open Facebook group) 

2012 Torrance County  winners and honorable mentions who will appear in the Muse anthology are: Youth Division Winner, Mystery of the Litter Bug by Rebekah Page; Honorable Mention, The Case of the Missing Tiger by Maria Ford; Honorable Mention, The Lonely Fairy by Elizabeth Roberts; High School Division Winner, The Necessity of Effrontery by William Morgart; Honorable Mention, Finding Memories by Cooper Larson; Adult Division Winner, Running from Disgrace by Sarah Heckenorn; Honorable Mention, A Teacher’s Dilemma, Biddie McMath; Honorable Mention, Gaston, Jackie and Luigi by Rosalinda Romo.  (information posted April 16 to  Manzano Mountain Scribes open Facebook group) 


MountainView Telegraph: following up on guest author information in Lee Ross' article, April 12, Words, Friends reports,

About 60 people attended the annual authors event for Read "Write" Adult Literacy at the Moriarty Civic Center. One of the literacy program's advisory board members, Tina Ortega, said the authors had a great time. 

"The main reasons the authors return each year is to support … efforts to improving literacy one person at a time in Torrance County, and because they have so much fun," she said.

About 28 authors attended the event and helped bring in about $600 worth of donations and books, she said. They also had three new students sign up for literacy program.

"Each year our attendance goes up as the event gains popularity. We hope for better attendance next year," Ortega said.