English department to host writer’s workshop March 23

The York College English Department will host a writer’s workshop for poets, playwrights, songwriters, novelists, bloggers, and writers of all kinds of fiction and nonfiction. The event will be held on March 23 in the Mackey Center.

Writers of all styles and skill levels are invited to participate in this networking and development event.  The cost is $15.

Register now for this event

Space is limited for critique sessions
Each presenter will offer six spots for individual critique sessions with participants. The cost for these sessions is an additional $10. Participants will submit a writing sample prior to the workshop for the presenter to review, then sit down with them one-on-one for feedback.

Presenters

Poetry—Scott Simpson

Dr. Scott Simpson is a poet, songwriter, composer and teacher, and is the editor of Prairie Winds. He has published more than 42 poems including selections from his dissertation, Compelled to Ascend (1997), and the poem Americo (2000), which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He has indie-produced more than 15 albums of original music—well over 200 individual songs—since 2000. He has written, directed, edited and/or  composed music for four films, Breaking Shells (2008), Digital Citizenship (2009), Tasunke Witko (2010) and Teaching From Within (2012). Links to most of his work are on his wiki: http://dsimpson.tie.wikispaces.net/.

Nonfiction—Tim McNeese

Tim McNeese is associate professor of history and department chair at York College.  Professor McNeese is a graduate of York College, Harding University, and Missouri State University.  He has published more than 110 books and educational materials over the past 25 years. 

McNeese has served as content editor of several dozen books by other authors.  His writing has earned him a citation in the library reference work, Contemporary Authors and multiple citations in Best Books for Young Teen Readers.  In 2006, Tim appeared on the History Channel program, Risk Takers, History Makers: John Wesley Powell and the Grand Canyon.  He was a faculty member at the Tony Hillerman Writers Conference in Albuquerque.  In 2010, Tim’s 12-volume, comprehensive American history series, “Discovering U.S. History,” was published by Chelsea House Publishers.  His most recent article, "'I Must Have Some Relief or It Will Kill Me': Abraham Lincoln's Reliance on Shakespeare," was published in 2012 by Southern Utah University Press. 

Fiction—Lorna Seilstad

Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her AA from York College and a B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching and became a professional wiper. "I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby's bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote." Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor. She has published three novels and her fourth, When Love Calls, releases in April. Lorna is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers.

Drama—John Baker

John I. Baker III founded the York College Traveling Children’s Theatre in 1998 and the Yorkshire Playhouse Children’s Theatre in 2000. He has directed youth and adults in children’s theatre productions for more than 20 years. Mr. Baker is an Associate Professor of Theatre and Communications at York College in York, NE. His first play The Patchwork Girl of Oz, was published in 2012. He is currently seeking publication for his second play, The Wizard of Oz.