NEW EVENT - OPEN TO ALL

RIGHT HERE IN STEPHEN FOSTER PARK for four (4) Thursday evenings in February and one (1) in March, I'll be teaching a class in Poetic Technique called WRITE FROM THE HEART in which we'll explore ways of getting what we feel into words and onto the page. The class promises to be pure pleasure. For further information, email me at sac4196@earthlink.net or call the sponsor, Stephen Foster Park, at 386 397 1920. The class is limited to five poets.

Perhaps I should say I've taught creative writing, poetry, and fiction techniques in POETERY-IN-THE-SCHOOLS, at The University of Central Florida, The Art Center at Maitland, etc.

Personally, I'm looking forward to writing poetry myself; haven't given it much time lately.

scauthen
sac4196@earthlink.net
386 397 1284

2009: January, February, March

In January, Master of Ceremonies Will Irby and Gussie Lee's Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir will join me for an appearance at Gainesville's Oak Hammock. Will will talk, Gussie's choir will sing, and I will read from SOUTHERN COMFORTS. We are all looking forward to being there at the invitation of Nikki Taylor who contributed so much to the Alachua Portrait Forums of 1983.

In February I'll visit Janet Moses & Co. in Madison, FL, for a Valentine's Day Tea at which I'll read my own poetry and, if Janet will let me, suggest a few from other poets I think crucial when we go to write about love.

In March there are two events: On March 6 Columbia County's Downtown Library will host a reading from the Bronze Medal Winner, SOUTHERN COMFORTS, and on March 8 Alachua County's High Springs Library will host another at which I have sworn that, in addition to dedicating a copy of SOUTHERN COMFORTS in honor of my great and unforgettable mentor, Elbridge G. Cann of the High Springs Herald I'll either bring copies of the new book with me or, if it hasn't yet arrived, read from it; we're now in the process of getting it off to a printer.

For the book's suggested titles, cast of characters, and an excerpt from its Prologue, go to JOIN US by simply clicking on the JOIN US tab at www.sudyecauthen.com; I'd love to have your comments at the JOIN US blog site or write to me by email at cauthen4196@earthlink.net or call 386 397 1284. Many thanks to those of you who've participated in getting the new book out. If anyone would like to weigh in on the its suggested titles, there's a window of time in which to do that. JOIN US is at http://eventsupdatesnorthfloridacenter.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for meeting up here.

scauthen
www.sudyecauthen.com
cauthen4196@earthlink.net


WRITE FROM THE HEART

Starting just before Valentine's I'm leading a class called WRITE FROM THE HEART, a five-session course in the tricks of the poetry trade which begins, I believe, on 3 February; for details and/or to sign up, call 386-397-1920. This course is for those who love words and people, for those who want to put their heart's truths down on paper, and for poets in hiding. Come on out! I expect to have a good time and so will you; write me with any questions.

scauthen
www.sudyecauthen.com
cauthen4196@earthlink.net

25 OCTOBER 2008 - STEPHEN FOSTER STATE FOLKLIFE CENTER

SEE HERE WHAT'S MEANT BY "ILLUMINATION OF THE COMMONPLACE."This photo comes from my neighbor Robert Baxter who has a good camera and an excellent eye; here, rain on the leaves of the mimosa, Albizia julibrissin.

Here in White Springs, on 25 October 2008, our state park will celebrate its Second Annual Healing Arts Festival at which I've been invited to speak. See details at

http://www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/Events.cfm

and join us if you can. The First Annual Healing Arts Festival drew 300 people. When you see what's offered, you'll know why.

For my part, I'm working on something tentatively titled, "The Idea of Sacred Space at White Springs." Where this might go I'm not yet certain (which is what makes the work interesting), but this is a topic I explore from time to time and now am tailoring to this particular audience.

Would love to see you there - Saturday, 25 October 2008, just a few days after I go to Valdosta State University on Tuesday, 21 October. In the meantime, look for me at my blog, “MORE SOUTHERN COMFORTS: Off Road in North Florida.” (sudyecauthen.blogspot.com)

EVENTS/UPDATES

UPDATES: Here you will find times/places of exhibitions and readings from The North Florida Center for Documentary Studies, Inc.

EVENT: VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY - 21 October 2008

I'm looking forward to meeting faculty, students, and townspeople when I visit Valdosta State on October 21, 2008. The evening reading is open to the public; it starts at 7:00 p.m. More about this later.

scauthen
www.sudyecauthen.com

ILLUMINATING THE COMMONPLACE

UPDATE: Alachua, FLorida - 13 September 2008

Gussie Lee and her Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir rocked the entire Alachua Branch Library on Saturday afternoon and our Master of Ceremonies, native son and writer, Will Irby (now of Chiefland), deftly wove together a commentary that only he could have woven. “I’m Will Irby,” he said, “a character in Sudye’s book, page 110,” charming his audience with his understanding of Alachua, SOUTHERN COMFORTS, “the illumination of the commonplace,” and southern culture, its music, its literature, and what it might mean to an audience of 90 souls who gathered to sing along, visit over refreshments, admire the photographs of Barbara B. Gibbs, and hear bits from the book itself.

What any one of us sees as ordinary or "commonplace" may very well enchant someone who stumbles upon it for the first time. We take the day, the lights and sounds it brings, and our hours within it too much for granted; I did it today, myself, but when we situate ourselves firmly inside the moment, the commonplace turns sacred because we,by our exquisite attention to detail, have made it so.

Letha Wright DeCoursey, showing me sensitive briar, a small plant many ignore, that was such a moment, and they are still available to us. I get to write about some of those moments in my blog, “MORE SOUTHERN COMFORTS: Off Road in North Florida.” See for yourself at sudyecauthen.blogspot.com

sudyecauthen
www.sudyecauthen.com

EVENTS/UPDATES: Here you will find times/places of exhibitions and readings from The North Florida Center for Documentary Studies, Inc.