Verbatim
LSUA and CENLA Celebrate National Poetry Month
LSUA and the College of Liberal Arts are celebrating National Poetry Month by hosting a website called “Verbatim” that promotes writers from Central Louisiana.
Every two days, the site will feature a local writer’s poetry, bio, and photo (if available).
All printed material and photographs on the website are subject to copyright and may not be used without the permission of the writer.
Anyone interested in submitting poems should email verbatim@lsua.edu or bernardg@lsua.edu.
2026
Marian Nevill is a native of Alexandria, La., has participated in several writers’ groups sponsored by the Rapides Parish Library, is a member of the Cenla Authors’ Club, and is involved with Spectral Sisters’ 10-minute play productions.
She was Rapides Parish Library’s Author of the Month in October 2023 and has been featured in Alexandria’s Town Talk newspaper and Cenla Focus Magazine. She placed 3rd in LSUA’s 2024 Flash Fiction Contest, and her work was published in the Writer’s Guild of Acadia’s Louisiana Treasury of Louisiana Authors, Vol. 2. Additionally, two of her poems were selected for publication in LSUA’s 2025 Verbatim booklet.
Marian has written three novels: “Do You Believe In Magic?, Land Of The Giants,” and “Leo’s War,” as well as a novella, “Heart Of A Lion,” which also includes a few short stories.
Poems:
Kate Hodnett is a proud LSUA alumnus and has had her poems published five separate times in the National Bestselling book series Chicken Soup for the Soul. She also enjoys playwriting and has had six separate plays produced/staged through Spectral Sisters theatrical company. She was voted as one of Louisiana's Best Emerging Poets for two consecutive years in 2019&2020 through NationalPublishingHouseAnthology. In her free time, she likes to use her wit to conquer the world, or at the very least, irritate everyone within earshot with her unceasing existential queries.
Poem:
Griffin Jones is an aspiring author located in the New Orleans area. Currently finishing their bachelor's degree in English, they hope to be able to self-publish in the future! Writing has always been an escape when life becomes overwhelming, and hopefully people can find the same comfort from their works.
Poem:
David Atwood, a native New Orleanian, poet, and voice actor living in Alexandria, LA with his wife, writer Christee Gabour Atwood, began his education at LSUA before eventually earning a Bachelor of Architecture degree from LSU. He has worked in radio in Baton Rouge, Atlanta, and now in Alexandria. His first chapbook of poetry Find Your Way Home was released in 2010, his second, Catfish Bones and Cajun Ghosts in 2016, Instamatic in 2022 and recently released his newest poetry collection called Mud Boy. Atwood, a Pushcart Nominee and National Baseball Poetry Festival On Deck winner, has been published in The Louisiana Review, The Raven Review, Delta Poetry Review, Louisiana Literature, The Aquila Review, Belle Journal, Verbatim, MockingHeart Review, The Stillwater Review, Grey Sparrow Journal, Stanza Cannon, Brave Voices, Fresh Words Magazine and others.
Poem:
Alecia Lewis is a poet who has worked her magic on stage and behind the scenes for various local theater groups. She has participated in open mic nights both in person and virtually. Her works have been published in MockingHeart Review, Verbatim, Mythulu Magazine, The Underland Review, The Ladybugzine, The Bayou Blues, and Red Clay Poetry Anthology from Local Gems Press, SALT in the Wound Anthology from the Underland Press, and Roots and Ruin anthology from Arcana Poetry Press. She was January 2025’s featured poet in 318 Central digital magazine and crowned Poet Laureate in Poetry AEX’s 2025 scavenger hunt.
Poems:
Jeanni Ritchie is a community journalist and travel writer from Central Louisiana. In March 2026, she won a humor writing award and was recognized at the Erma Bombeck conference in Dayton, Ohio. She is currently penning her memoir while traveling across the country for semi-quincentennial events.
Poems:
Cox is a graduate of Louisiana State University at Alexandria, holding a Bachelor of Arts in English. He is currently studying English and writing online at Western New Mexico University.
Poem:
Hollis says that poetry is cheaper than therapy. "If I work myself up into an emotional frenzy, I can slap down a line or two." She was born and raised in North Louisiana, then moved to the Alexandria/Pineville area in 1974. She is a graduate of NSU and has taught school, been a civil servant, and worked for Job Corps. Her book, entitled “A Louisiana Woman,” is available now on Amazon. She is currently working on a book of short stories and essays. Eventually, she plans on finishing a novel.
Poems:
Bob Bussey was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago. He grew up on a dead-end street that lay nestled among apple, pear, and cherry trees. After high school, Bussey left Illinois for Texas to attend college at the University of Texas in Austin, where he resided from 1970 to 1980. He and his wife, Phyllis, now live in central Louisiana.
Bussey confesses that when he was growing up, he thought poetry was pointless. He has no formal training in writing poetry, and his poems run the gamut, ranging from silly to romantic to personal. Sometimes they will even employ a persona.
Poem:
Mary F. Striegel is a retired National Park Service researcher, poet, and artist. From an early age, she has pursued answers to the question "why?" through observation in science, poetry, and art. Her poems frequently explore physical, spiritual, or political themes. Over her career, Mary contributed significantly to the preservation and understanding of cultural and historical sites. Also, her artistic works reflect her deep connection with nature and her quest for knowledge and meaning. In the 1990s, Mary’s writing career included stints with the Los Angeles Poetry Ensemble, where she performed her poems in coffee houses, bookstores, and venues throughout Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, Albuquerque, and Taos. She has published in Hard Row To Hoe and Verbatim. Additionally, she produced a poetry video entitled Under the Surface of Childhood, which competed in poetry video competitions in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
Poems:
Billy K. Craig was born in 1951 and is a lifelong resident of Rapides Parish, living between Pineville and Kolin. He started writing poetry and songs at around 15. He also dabbled in art, painting, and drawing, and ended up detailing steel (drafting structural steel for commercial buildings).
He attended LSUA, but didn't graduate.
When asked why he writes poetry, Billy answered with, "I have been doing this a long time, and still I wonder why. It’s something you do when your older sister writes poetry, and you think it's cool. She quit at a fairly young age, but I continued."
Poems:
Archived Poets/Poems
Tom Smith Dr. Smith is a retired educator who served 33 years in Avoyelles Parish as a teacher of English and social studies, assistant principal at three schools, principal at two schools, and in the district office as a grant writer and English/social studies resource teacher. He was an adjunct for Northwestern State University, Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Macomb Community College, University of Phoenix, and Baker College. He worked as a full-time faculty member at Baker College of Auburn Hills (MI). In retirement he is the independent author of 13 books and is a grant writing consultant. He holds a BA from ULM, a MEd from LSU, a MA from LSU, and a PhD from UNO. |
Marian Nevill Marian Nevill, a native Alexandrian, started writing after retirement and has authored three books: Do You Believe In Magic?, Land Of The Giants, and Leo’s War. She belongs to two writing groups and is just now trying her hand at playwriting and poetry. She is also a member of the Cenla Authors' Club, and was named Author of the Month at the Rapides Parish Library in October 2023. Marian and her husband, Robert (also known as Sonny), reside in the Prospect Community of Grant Parish and have two living children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. |
Sallie K. Hollis Sallie K. Hollis, who was born in Monroe, Louisiana and lived there for eighteen years, moved to Alexandria, Louisiana in 1974, and currently resides there. She was a student at LSUA from 1979 to1980 and is a 1983 graduate of Northwestern State University where she earned a degree in Secondary Education and specialized in social studies and English. Sallie spent her career advocating for minors and is now the proud author of “A Louisiana Woman”, a compilation of her best poems, which is now available in electronic and paperback form from Amazon. |
Chester Mealer Chester is a people watcher, and he sometimes dabbles in the art of writing. He is currently working on a book of really bad short stories, volume I. He hopes to complete his work sometime before his demise. It is his belief, at least for the moment, that you should never fight to write; it is either there or it is not. Trust me on this; write to please yourself; not those who give you kudos or those who shoot your story out of the sky so only small burnt pieces are left. Keep driving forward by putting pen to paper. |
Gene Sterling F. E. Sterling (FES) was drawn to archeology because studies in that field were able to link our current age to some bygone historical era about which we have imperfect knowledge. Even though only tattered remnants of The Dead Sea Scrolls remain, Sterling was impressed by how scholars were able to extrapolate from those scraps and supporting resources the “most probable” words that were in the original text. Sterling likes poems that do the same, and he hopes they will tell or imply a story that provides the “most probable” text for the personal voids in the greater story of a reader’s life. |
Sudha Pillarisetti Sudha Pillarisetti is a retired pathologist with 45 years of experience in a variety medical settings, including academic institutions and community hospitals and VA. He trained at PGIMER Chandigarh, earning accolades for his research and merit. In the USA he pursued training and teaching at Cleveland Clinic, University of Champagne Urbana and University of South Florida. Sudha and his wife of 46 years reside in Alexandria, Louisiana. Sudha has a passion for teaching and has contributed greatly to patient care and laboratory quality control, leading to multiple accreditations. Sudha developed software applications for lab management. After retirement, he pursued writing, fiction and non-fiction. His fiction includes ‘Tiger Wallah & River Wallah’, a third ‘Bus Wallah’ is in prep. Sudha’s non-fiction ‘Me? Biopsy? OMG!!!’ is for non-medical individuals faced with a biopsy or just curious. ‘Non Fiction is an expression of knowledge, fiction of imagination, and poetry of the heart. |
Shelly Jinks Johnson Shelley Jinks Johnson is a poet, author, and performer from Alexandria, Louisiana. Founder of Poetry AEX, co-founder of the Bad Gnus Poets writing group, and a 2022 Bread Loaf Writer's Conference contributor she has committed herself to building community through poetry. Her writing grapples with themes of death, acceptance, self-discovery, and how to find meaning in life after loss. Her first collection of poetry Pretty Little Widow was published May 2023 and her chapbook Our Lady of Perpetual Loss, to be released by Finishing Line Press May 2025. Shelleyjinksjohnson.com |
Kate Adams Kate Adams is an LSUA alumni. She has had nonfiction short stories and poetry collections published 4 separate times in the National Best-Selling Book Series "Chicken Soup for the Soul." She was voted as one of Louisiana's Best Emerging Poets for 2 consecutive years through ZPublishing House. She has now written and produced 5 different theatrical One-Act Plays, through Spectral Sisters play-writing competition for 3 years in a row now, and tends to enjoy both drama and comedy in equal measures. |
Allison Powell Allison Powell is a married student with double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Louisiana Christian University. She has often wondered about writing a biography but for now she wants to stick to writing poetry, which she has loved doing since early childhood.. She uses rhyme in her poems because the challenge of rhyming and making sense are a part of her writing process. |
Faith Tupper Faith Tupper, who has been a teacher in Rapides Parish for eleven years, attended Louisiana State University at Alexandria where she earned her Bachelors of Arts in English with a minor in Secondary Education. She was also a member of student government as well as Sigma Tau Delta. In 2014, she was awarded the Belfer Award for Educators given by the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. In 2015, she was named the Alexandria Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year. In 2016, she was a recipient of the Golden Apple Award and named Teacher of the Year for Rapides High School. She earned her Masters in Educational Leadership from Northwestern State University in 2017 and was a member of the Louisiana Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi. In 2019, she began teaching at her alma mater Pineville High School, where she currently teaches. She was a top 5 finalist for Teacher of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and she serves as a Task Force Team Member for Rapides Parish School Board. Faith spends her spare time taking trips, attending kids' ball games or finding adventure in the backyard with her family. |
Lee Ann Price Lee Ann Price was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana and raised in Winnfield. She currently lives in Daejeon, South Korea. Her poetry explores themes of grief, decay, liminal spaces, and the natural landscapes of Louisiana. She is an MFA candidate in poetry at Western Colorado University, where her thesis is directed by Dr. Julie Kane. |
Gloria Williams Hearn Gloria Williams Hearn says, “I like poetry because it’s the essence of truth.” She grew up in Greenwood at the edge of Shreveport, graduated from LA Tech in Ruston, and began teaching the next morning. While living in Waco, Texas, where her husband received his doctorate, she taught first black student to be enrolled in the McLennan County School. She and her students were famous enough to make the six and ten news in Central Texas. Hearn moved to CENLA when her husband joined the faculty of Louisiana College in Pineville after completing his work at Baylor. Hearn, who is a firm believer in the importance of the arts in education, has spent a lifetime writing poetry and directing plays for school children. She has also served in many organizations, including NCATE (National Council for Teacher Education) and the Southern Association for Accreditation of Schools and Colleges. Her commitment to service eventually led to her being invited to the White House as a guest. She has published a book of poetry, written two books for children, and written one book for teacher education. |
Billy K. Craig Billy K. Craig was born in 1951. He is lifelong resident of Rapides Parish living between Pineville and Kolin. He started writing poetry and songs around the age of 15. He dabbled in art, painting, and drawing and ended up detailing steel (drafting structural steel for commercial buildings). He attended LSUA, but didn’t graduate. His current influences are Billy Collins, Kay Ryan, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Charles Butkowski and The Night Heron Barks online poetry journal. His older influences are Emily Bronte, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Percy Bysshe Shelly, and Robert Frost. |
Bonnie White Bonnie White is an aspiring poet with a passion for weaving words into emotion. Inspired by everyday moments, nature, and personal experiences, she explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Bonnie enjoys experimenting with different poetic forms and sharing her work to connect with others. When not writing, she can be found in the kitchen or in the classroom, always seeking new inspiration. |
Bob Bussey Bob Bussey: Husband, father, grandfather, cyclist, semi-retired attorney, yoga novice, TRX addict, hurricane survivor, poet. Searching for truths. Nature observer. Gardener. Deer feeder. I have been practicing law in Alexandria since 1986. While I am semi-retired, it seems that my clients just will not leave me alone. I like to get up to watch the sun rise with a warm cup of coffee, and no distractions. Just me, my coffee, and the sunrise. That to me is the best way to start most every day. |
Alecia Lewis Alecia Lewis has worked her magic on stage, and behind the scenes, for various local theater groups including City Park Players, The Unusual Suspects, Spectral Sisters, and LSUA’s Empty Space Players. She has participated in open mic nights throughout Louisiana. She is also a published poet with her works being featured online on LSUA’s 2023 Verbatim website and in print on the pages of Mythulu Magazine, Jongleur (in the 90’s) and the Bayou Blues and Red Clay Poetry Anthology. She was January 2025’s featured poet in 318 Central digital magazine. She is grateful and blessed for all the inspiration, guidance, and support that she receives. |
Jeanni Ritchie Jeanni Ritchie is an inspirational blogger and speaker from Central Louisiana. She is a travel writer and community journalist.
|
Spring Wester Spring Wester, a veteran English teacher, seeks more joy through noticing and listening. Her faith, family, curious students, and two good pups provide all that’s meaningful. She would never refuse a good cup of coffee. |
Abby Taylor Abby Taylor is a passionate poet and storyteller, known for her evocative and deeply personal writings. Her work explores the raw, emotional dimensions of the human experience, often centered around themes of vulnerability, connection, and introspection. With a natural ability to turn pain into art, Abby’s poetry resonates with readers seeking authenticity and truth. Drawing inspiration from life's complexities, she crafts pieces that reflect both the beauty and harshness of reality. Abby's voice is one of sincerity, offering a profound sense of relatability and emotional depth in every line she writes. |
Mary F. Striegel Mary F. Striegel is a retired National Park Service researcher, poet, and artist. From an early age, she has pursued answers to the question "why?" through observation in science, poetry, and art. Her poems frequently explore physical, spiritual, or political themes. Over her career, Mary contributed significantly to the preservation and understanding of cultural and historical sites. Also, her artistic works reflect her deep connection with nature and her quest for knowledge and meaning. In the 1990s, Mary’s writing career included stints as part of the Los Angeles Poetry Ensemble where she performed her poems in coffee houses, bookstores, and venues throughout Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Franciso, Albuquerque, and Taos. She has published in Hard Row To Hoe, and Verbatim. Additionally, she produced a poetry video entitled Under the Surface of Childhood, which competed in poetry video competitions in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. |
Faith Tupper Faith Tupper has been a teacher in Rapides Parish for ten years. She attended Louisiana State University at Alexandria, where she earned her Bachelors of Arts in English with a minor in Secondary Education and was a member of student government as well as Sigma Tau Delta. Upon graduating, she began her teaching career at Rapides High in Lecompte, Louisiana, where she filled many roles in addition to being an English teacher. In 2014, she was a recipient of the Belfer Award for Educators given by the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. In 2015, she was named the Alexandria Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year. In 2016, she was a recipient of the Golden Apple Award as well as named Teacher of the Year for Rapides High School. She earned her Masters in Educational Leadership from Northwestern State University in 2017 and was a member of the Louisiana Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi. In 2019, she began teaching at her alma mater Pineville High School, and is where she currently teaches and has been a top 5 finalist for Teacher of the Year for 2022 and 2023. She currently serves as a Task Force Team Member for Rapides Parish School Board. Beyond teaching, Faith spends her time with her husband and their 3 children whether it’s taking trips or attending one of the kids’ ball games or finding adventure in the backyard. |
Jennifer Earnest-King Jennifer Earnest-King is a lifelong resident of Louisiana and is a graduate of LSUA. She has worked for the Rapides Parish Library for fifteen years. She has been published in the Southwestern Review and the Jongleur. Her writing is sporadic at best. |
Thomas S. Smith, Sr., PhD Thomas S. Smith, Sr., PhD, is an independent K-16 educator, grant writer, tutor, speaker, and author, retired after serving 33-years as an educator in Avoyelles Parish Public Schools and 7 years as a full-time education faculty member at Baker College of Auburn Hills in Michigan. Smith earned a BA from UL-Monroe, a MEd and MA from LSU, and a PhD from the University of New Orleans. He has presented at Louisiana and Michigan education conferences, plus regional and national education conferences. Smith has self-published ten books—seven in the JUST A PIECE OF RED STRING novel series, THE O SUILLEABHAIN MANUSCRIPTS, COSMIC VISITANTS, and THE PARAPROSDOKIAN SHOP. He is a Goethe Institut Inter Nationes Trans-Atlantic Outreach Program Fellow, a United States Institute of Peace Summer Institute for Secondary Teachers Fellow, and a Council for Basic Education’s Independent Study in the Humanities Fellow. Smith was selected as the Rapides Parish Library Cenla Author of the month of September in 2023. |
Jeanni Ritchie Jeanni Ritchie is a freelance journalist and author from Alexandria, Louisiana. A former educator, she is a graduate of Bolton High School and LSU. She has four grown children. Her love of teaching and all things juvenile spurred her to get a Master’s Degree in Education while living in Oklahoma. Promoting mental health positivity, heritage preservation, and equal rights for all citizens, she strives to use her voice for change. Writing from the intersection of community, faith, and pop culture, she is also a Tiktok creator and can be found at tiktok.com/@jeanniritchie. She is a lifelong theatre fan, pizza aficionado, arts- in-education supporter, and perennial Peter Pan. If she’s not at her desk writing, she’s likely on a playground swing or crossing something off her bucket list. |
Lafe Jones Lafe Jones is the Vice President of Louisiana Central, the regional economic development organization for the 10-parish central Louisiana region. He brings more than 35 years of business planning, marketing, and management experience to the organization. Lafe Jones grew up in Avoyelles Parish and later attended LSU of Alexandria before transferring to LSU-Baton Rouge where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in mass communication. He earned an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 1997 and was named a Senior Practitioner of the Southern Public Relations Federation in 1998. He also won the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL) state Professional Achievement Award that same year. Jones is an avid country music fan, enjoys great art, theater, literature, and movies, and is married to Evelyn Jones. They live in Alexandria and have two grown children and two granddaughters. |
Kate Hodnett Kate Hodnett is a Cenla native and an LSUA alumni. She has had nonfiction short stories published 4 separate times in the National Best-Selling Book Series "Chicken Soup for the Soul." She was voted as one of Louisiana's Best Emerging Poets for 2 consecutive years through ZPublishing House. |
F.E. Sterling After 35+ years working in the Mental-Health field, as a MS Behaviorist-Psychologist, F. E. Sterling threw in the towel and retired. During those rewarding years, most every word he put to the page was, by necessity, scientifically based—until another necessity required that he employ a different language to address what Behaviorists rarely talk about the inner workings of the “black box”. Since then, he’s had works published in New Voices In Poetry and Prose, Mobius, The Lyric, The Road Not Taken and Louisiana Review. |
Mary F. Striegel Mary F. Striegel is a retired art conservation scientist from the National Park Service. Since the age of seven, Mary has written and performed poetry. She was part of the Los Angeles Poetry Ensemble from 1989 to 1995 with Ann Braeff, Ellyn Maybe, Gwynne Garfinkle, and Christa Polkinhorn. |
Richard Moriarty Richard Moriarty is 86 years old, still working every day, as a manager for the same employer with whom he has been employed for now going on 65 years. [The oldest tenured employee in the history of the firm. |
Billy K. Craig Billy K. Craig is a lifelong resident of Rapides Parish, living between Pineville and Kolin. He started writing poetry and songs around the age of 15. He also dabbled in art, painting, and drawing and ended up detailing steel (drafting structural steel for commercial buildings). |
Jerry Honigman An Alexandria native, Jerry Honigman moved to Los Angeles in 1977 to pursue a career in music. He formed the band, The Romeos, and by 1979 had secured a recording contract with CBS/Columbia Records. After years of writing and recording, Honigman returned to Louisiana and earned a law degree in his early forties. A recovering attorney, he continues to write and has had many songs placed in television shows and movies. He is now doing freelance content writing and is currently working on a compilation of stories about his days in California. |
Alecia Lewis In addition to creating poetry, Alecia Lewis has worked her magic on stage, behind the scenes, and front of house for various local theater groups. She also serves as a board member and front of house coordinator for City Park Players front of house coordinator and is a board member. She is the production administrator for Safety Management International. |
Dr. Thomas Smith Thomas S. Smith, Sr., Ph. D., an independent K-16 educator, grant writer, tutor, and author, retired from a 33-year career in the Avoyelles Parish Public Schools in central Louisiana and 7 years as full-time faculty at Baker College of Auburn Hills (MI). He was a high school teacher of English and social studies; assistant principal at Hessmer High, Riverside Elementary, and Bunkie High; principal at Lafargue High and Bunkie Middle; and district office English/Social Studies Resource Teacher/Grants Coordinator. He served as an adjunct for Northwestern State University, LSU at Alexandria, Central Texas College, Baker College of Clinton Township (MI), MaComb Community College (MI), University of Phoenix (MI), Madonna University (MI), and Baker College of Auburn Hills (MI). Smith holds a BA in Social Studies/English Education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a MEd in School Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, a MA in American History from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and a PhD in education curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. He has presented at Louisiana education state conferences, Michigan education state conferences, regional education conferences. and national education conferences. Smith has self-published eight books—the JUST A PIECE OF RED STRING historical (Civil War) fiction seven-novel series and THE O’SUILLEABHAIN MANUSCRIPTS, a collection of many genres (including poetry). He has two works on Amazon’s Kindle Vella—COSMIC VISITANTS, a novel about space visitors, and THE PARAPROSDOKIAN SHOP, a Lovecraftian and Serling-ish related story collection still in progress. |
Chester Mealer Chester Mealer has lived in central Louisiana for over thirty years, originally from California. |
Timberly Deville Timberly Deville is a lifelong educator (and performer at family get togethers), and is ecstatic to be a part of Cenla's written and performing arts communities. She's performed theater both for the Play On Theatre Company and City Park Players, and as an undergraduate English major at LSUA, she also had her work chosen to be read at the National Undergraduate Literary Conference. Timberly now oversees a state program for at-risk youth, is a STAND Educator Fellow, Vice President of the Alpha Pi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a member of the Young Professionals Group of Cenla, and is currently working on her doctorate in Education Administration. She would like to thank her spouse, wild teenager, and all of you for supporting the local arts. |
Greg Hall Greg Hall aka GH (Go Home) is a 60-year-old Black Male with seven years of poetry under his belt. He was a lyrist for some time, his first love! The police should book him for having so many books of poems. A bit stage shy like, time to die, can’t read or write, but some |
Shelley Jinks Johnson Shelley Jinks Johnson is a poet, entrepreneur, and performer from Alexandria, LA. A 2022 Bread Loaf Writer's Conference contributor, her background is in business start-ups and brand building while juggling various creative pursuits. Her work grapples with themes of death, acceptance, self-discovery, and how to find meaning in life after loss. She has discovered that living a life of creativity is the best way of building a life of value rooted in joy and gratitude. |
Muse Watson Alexandria, Louisiana native Muse Watson is an established stage actor and veteran screen performer with a host of widely varying characters to his name, ranging from the hook-wielding killer in "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (1997), to the gentle, cat-loving con in the Fox television suspense drama "Prison Break" (2005). From the good ole boy, Hank, in the Julia Roberts drama "Something to Talk About" to the quick to shoot mentor Mike Franks in "NCIS". Fifty five movies and over fifty five episodes of TV and Muse is going strong. His theater credits include Hamlet in "Hamlet", Stanley in "A Streetcar Named Desire", Pale in "Burn This", Cervantes in "Man of La Mancha", and directing "Ain't MisBehavin". Muse also gave an unforgettable performance with Jennifer Love Hewitt as a special guest on Saturday Night Live. Muse and his wife and daughter now divide their time between their home in Berea, Ky. and their "hide-out" in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. |
James Harmon Clinton James Harmon Clinton is the pen name for an elusive public policy wonk practicing a medieval dark art he refers to as "economic development." His poetry is similarly shady despite weak links in the publishing industry allowing his work to slip through sub-surface cracks and into what might be called "print" (or not). He is the father of four sons (not seven as has been rumored in song), a four-time grandfather, and the spouse of a red-headed woman who knows how to get a dirty job done. Touch him for good luck. |
Beverly Easterling A native of Kansas City, KS, Beverly Easterling is a lyricist and poet living in Alexandria, LA with husband, Gray Easterling. Her collaborations with composers Robert J. Powell, Mark Schweizer, Arlen Clarke are favorites at St. James Music Press. Her work is published in Voices Found, the hymnal for Women’s Ministry in the Episcopal Church. |
David Atwood David Atwood is a native New Orleanian, poet, and voice actor living in Alexandria, LA with his wife, writer Christee Gabour Atwood. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from LSU and has worked in radio in Baton Rouge, Atlanta and currently in Alexandria. His first chapbook of poetry “Find Your Way Home” was released in 2010, his second, “Catfish Bones and Cajun Ghosts,” in 2016 and “Instamatic” in 2022. Atwood has also been published in The Louisiana Review, The Raven Review, Delta Poetry Review, Louisiana Literature, The Aquila Review, Belle Journal, Verbatim, MockingHeart Review, and The Stillwater Review. |
Mary F. Striegel Mary F. Striegel is a retired art conservation scientist from the National Park Service. Since the age of seven, Mary has written and performed poetry. She was part of the Los Angeles Poetry Ensemble from 1989 to 1995 with Ann Braeff, Ellyn Maybe, Gwynne Garfinkle, and Christa Polkinhorn. |
Carolyn Breedlove Carolyn Breedlove edited and annotated A Glorious Day: The Journal of a Central Louisiana Governess, 1853-1854. Her poems have appeared in Comstock Review, Wisconsin Review, New Millennium Writings, and Maple Leaf Rag, among others. Finishing Line Press published a chapbook of her poems, Just Following the River. The critic and author David Ulin selected an excerpt from her unpublished novel set in 1970s Los Angeles as “Best in Show: Literary,” in the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s 2019 Critical Mass competition. |
