THE SPARTANBURG WRITING PROJECT WILL PRESENT PRE-CONFERENCE TEACHER WORKSHOP AHEAD OF MOUNTAIN HERITAGE LITERARY FESTIVAL

June 14, 2011 - Harrogate, Tennessee — Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) will partner with The Spartanburg Writing Project to present a pre-conference workshop for teachers ahead of the sixth annual Mountain Heritage Literary Festival (MHLF). The workshop is designed for teachers and will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 24, in room 124 of the Business Education Building on LMU’s main campus in Harrogate, Tenn.

Spartanburg Writing Project instructors Tasha Thomas and Dawn Mitchell will present a program entitled, Native Soil: Discovering Place with Appalachian Writers. Having studied and used the works of Appalachian poet Ron Rash for nearly 10 years, the Spartanburg Writing Project instructors have come to know and understand his passion for place, especially the foothills of Western North and South Carolina. In crafting his vision of the South he creates for all readers a sense of what it means to hail from this magical place. Featuring selections from his poetry, this session will explore techniques Appalachian authors employ to capture an authentic sense of place in their writing. Examples will also be drawn from the work of Silas House, Rick Bragg and Lee Smith.

The methods and tests used in the workshop are appropriate for all teachers and students in grades 6-university level. Cost to attend the workshop is $15 for students, $35 for instructors or teachers and $25 for registered attendees of the MHLF. The pre-conference workshop fee is in addition to festival registration. Festival attendance is not required to attend the workshop.

The Spartanburg Writing Project is a professional development organization committed to the mission of improving writing and the teaching of writing by providing services and resources to teachers, students, schools and school districts. For more information or to register for the pre-conference workshop, call 423.869.6253 or email sue.england@lmunet.edu.

The MHLF celebrates Appalachian tradition, storytelling and the legacy of LMU’s rich literary heritage. Among the iconic writers who have lived and been inspired at LMU are James Still, Jesse Stewart, Don West, Emma Bell Miles and more recently MHLF founding director Silas House. The MHLF also features classes and sessions with some of the best fiction and nonfiction writers, poets, playwrights and songwriters from the region. Darnell Arnoult, LMU writer-in-residence and author of the novel Sufficient Grace, will co-direct the 2011 MHLF along with co-director Denton Loving. Registration for the MHLF remains open. Visit www.lmunet.edu/MHLF for more information.

Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or e-mail at admissions@lmunet.edu.

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