Saturday, February 26, 2011

Jay Trisolino Poetry Contest

Put on by the Utica Writers Club.

Deadline: March 4, 2011

1) Seasoned Poets (18 years and older)/$5/poem
2) Student Poets (17 years and under)/$2/poem
(No more than 2 entries per person in either category)

Poems are to be 1000 words or less

First Prize Winners: $100 plus free membership to UWC for 2011-2012
Second Prize Winners: $75 plus free membership to UWC for 2011-2012
Most Original Poem Topic: $25 plus 50% off 2011-2012 UWC membership
Two Honorable Mentions per category plus 50% off 2011-2012 UWC mem bership

Mail Entries and Fees to:
Jay Trisolino Poetry Contest
9562 Roberts Rd.
Sauquoit, NY 13456

An open public reception will be held May 18, 2011 to celebrate all writers and winners at the Kirkland Town Library.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

CURIOSITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR

I received a copy of CURIOSITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR: STRANGE STORIES, INFAMOLUS CHARACTERS, AND BIZARRE EVENTS by Webb Garrison from Thomas Nelson. The book has been reprinted as a combination of two Webb Garrison texts, CIVIL WAR CURIOSITIES and MORE CIVIL WAR CURIOSITIES, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. I was sad to read on the back flap of the book that Webb Garrison passed away in 2000.

The book does include strange stories – such as what medical ailments inflicted whom; infamous characters – women joining their husbands on the battlefield; bizarre events – discovering secret messages. I enjoyed reading through the facts. I am the type of person who sprouts random tidbits at odd moments, so this is great fuel. My mom also looked at the book. Her opinion varied. She thought the tidbits were ridiculous and random. I am definitely going to keep this book in case I need to do research. I will also keep it on my coffee table for guests to browse. Each little tidbit is only one page to half a page in length, so it makes for a quick, intellectual read. The book is also broken into parts, in case you want to read for a longer amount of time, but still want a designated stopping point.