Richard Taylor’s Pictures from a Journal

BWC member Richard Taylor, a former Kentucky Poet Laureate (1999–2001) and sixth-generation Kentuckian, is celebrated not only for his poetry but also for his evocative sketchbook journals, which blend visual art with literary expression. These journals are showcased at Yes Arts in Frankfort. The exhibit, “Pictures from a Journal,”  capture Taylor’s reflections on Kentucky’s landscapes and history through intricate drawings …

What Separates Successful Writers from Non-Successful

Do you know the one thing that separates a successful writer from a non-successful? Okay, drum roll, here it is: the successful writer finishes. First drafts don’t have to be perfect, far from it. If you can’t write the second sentence of your story until the first sentence is perfect, you’re playing a losing game. You can spend days (weeks?) …

Jan Schiffer’s Book Celebration for FINDING THE REST OF ME

Two weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to launch my book, Finding the Rest of Me, in the Quaker unwed mother’s home where I was born. I gave a presentation about my personal adoption journey as well as the history of that particular unwed mother’s home. Joining me were family, friends, individuals from the neighborhood, and those representing the …

Vicki Reed’s Book Launch for SLEIGHT OF HAND

On March 27 BWC member Vicki Reed celebrated the launch of her new book, Sleight of Hand with an enthusiastic crowd at the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) office in Lexington, Kentucky. A CASA volunteer plays a prominent role in Reed’s story about a teenager who has grown up in foster care and is now in trouble with the law. The …

The 2025 Kentucky Visions Short Story Finalists and Winners

Congratulations to the finalists in the 2025 Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest! This year’s contest received seventy-nine submissions from across the United States and Europe. From those submissions our esteemed panel of judges selected fourteen stories that represent the best in this year’s Kentucky short fiction. After much deliberation the judges identified the top three finalists to be awarded first, …

Conference of Writers – Exciting Updates

The Conference is just FORTY-NINE DAYS Away! The 2025 Conference of Writers is a dynamic one-day writers’ conference for storytellers of all levels and genres—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and beyond. The highly-regarded event features hands-on writing workshops led by acclaimed authors and industry leaders, as well as exclusive one-on-one appointments with an established editor or literary agent. Whether you’re polishing a …

Register for the 2025 Conference of Writers

Registration is now open for the 2025 Conference of Writers! We’re excited to welcome attendees to a new venue – Kentucky State University’s beautiful and spacious Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm – and to introduce our fabulous lineup of guests! Visit the conference page for more information, and to register for the conference!

Deadline Approaching for the 2025 KY Visions Short Story Contest

The second annual Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest is in full swing. Submissions are pouring in to this prestigious and keeping our judges busy! The deadline is swiftly approaching to submit your story. But you need to hurry. Submissions must be received by midnight on January 31, 2025. For more information, visit this page of our website.

2025 Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest Open for Submissions

Bluegrass Writers Coalition, Inc. P.O. Box 4563 Frankfort KY 40604-4563 Email: info@BuegrassWritersCoalition.com www.BluegrassWritersCoalition.com     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest Open for Submissions Frankfort, Kentucky, November 11, 2024 – The Bluegrass Writers Coalition Inc. is pleased to announce the judges for the 2025 Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest. Judges for this year’s contest will be: Virginia Underwood …

2025 Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest Judges

Bluegrass Writers Coalition is pleased to introduce the judges for the 2025 Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest     Debra Ison Multi-published author of mystery/thriller and illustrated children’s books https://www.debraison.com/   Paul Stansbury   Speculative fiction author and owner of Sheppard Press https://www.facebook.com/paulstansbury/         Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor Author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry https://carnegiecenterlex.org/kwhf-2023-richard-taylor/   …