Author: Nicole Phelon

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In The Media News

Poetry Workshop with Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey & The Langston Hughes Project

Reading a poem to the group.

During the month of January, Central Iowa Youth were invited to attend three FREE poetry workshops held at the Ames Public Library. Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey taught the workshops, which built upon each other to prepare the young poets for a poetry contest. 15 youth attended the workshops and 12 submitted to a “blind read” contest. Ages ranged from 10 to 16 years old. Four poems were chosen and have been submitted to Dr. Ron McCurdy, the composer of the “Langston Hughes Project” for scoring. Rainey will perform the poems accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music to kick off the Stephens Auditorium performance on February 8th at 7 PM.

I have a question.
Noodling a poem idea with Caleb.

“It was truly amazing watching the youth poets interact with Rainey,” said Ana McCracken, founder of the Ames Writers Collective. “In a short time, he inspired the writers to write about topics and life circumstances that touched the core of their beings. The caliber of poems the poets wrote was beyond their years. I am so grateful to Tammy Koolbeck and Stephens Auditorium for offering this opportunity to the Ames Writers Collective, and to the grantors who funded this project and made it possible for youth writers to attend free of charge.”

Oh, where to begin?
Youth poets wrote poems inspired by issues close to their hearts and top of mind. Topics included: animal rights, global warming, being short in stature and of mixed races. After each participant read their poem to the group, they received positive, kind, insight and respectful feedback from their peers and Caleb Rainey.

“The quality of the poetry was quite high, especially given the limited time the poets must have had to work on them…all the poets showed promise. Thank you for organizing what must have been such an amazing experience for all those involved. It was also a wonderful experience for the judges,” said Marc Drexler. Maggie Westvold and Marc Drexler from the Third Stanza poets judged the youth poetry.

For more information about Ron McCurdy’s Langston Hughes Project A Multimedia Concert Performance of Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods of Jazz, Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 7 PM, Stephens Auditorium, Ames, IA, click here.

THE AMES WRITERS COLLECTIVE
thanks the following organizations for their support:

ARTIST BIOS

Dr. Ron McCurdy,  is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.

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Congratulations Youth Poet Contest Winners

Youth Poetry Contest Winner's Poems will be performed on Feb 8th at 7 PM

CONGRATULATIONS POETS

Four Swift Youth Writers poets were chosen from a “blind read” contest after attending three poetry writing workshops led by Caleb “The Negro” Poet Rainey in January. The poetry contest winner’s poems will have original score written to them by Dr. Ron McCurdy, who is the composer of the Langston Hughes Project. To kick off the performance at Stephens Auditorium on February 8th at 7 PM, Rainey will perform the selected poems, accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music.

1st Place
“Demon Tongue” by Adela Solana Osmundson

2nd Place
“What Is It Like To Be Mixed” by Vienna Rossmanith

Honorable Mention
“Memories” by Sophia Driest

Honorable Mention
“You Can’t Fly on Borrowed Wings” by Nora Nabushawo

THE AMES WRITERS COLLECTIVE
thanks the following organizations for their support:

ARTIST BIOS

Dr. Ron McCurdy,  is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.

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Ames Writers Collective Awarded ACAC Arts in Education Grant

The Ames Community Arts Council has awarded the Ames Writers Collective an Arts in Education Grant to help fund teen-poetry workshops taught by poet, performer and producer, Caleb Rainey.

During the month of January at the Ames Public Library, Rainey will lead three generative poetry workshops for Central Iowa Youth. Following the workshops, youth are eligible and encouraged to submit a poem for a “blind read” contest. Two winning poems will be scored by the “Langston Hughes Project” composer, Dr. Ron McCurdy. Caleb Rainey will perform the poems accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music on February 8th to open the “Langston Hughes Project Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz” at Stephens Auditorium on February 8, 2024.

“We are thrilled to support a youth poetry program that will be set to music and performed on stage at Stephens Auditorium,” said Jennifer Brockpahler, Director of the Ames Community Arts Council.

The Ames Writers Collective is grateful to the Ames Community Arts Council for their generous support, and for Stephens Auditorium for bringing the “Langston Hughes Project” to Ames, Iowa.

ARTIST BIOS

Dr. Ron McCurdy,  is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.

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Exciting Opportunity for Young Writers!

Youth writers, listen up! You are invited to join poet Caleb Rainey for three poetry workshops designed especially for Central Iowa Youth. These workshops are completely free and will be held in-person and as a hybrid option at the Ames Public Library on January 7th, 14th, and 21st from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

The workshops will build upon each other to prepare you for a contest where you can submit your best poem. After the workshops, a panel of poets will conduct a “blind read” contest, with two poems being chosen for scoring by Dr. Ron McCurdy, the composer of the “Langston Hughes Project.” To kick off the performance at Stephens Auditorium on February 8th, Caleb Rainey will perform the selected poems, accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music.

POETRY WORKSHOP DETAILS
Location: Ames Public Library / Hybrid
2 to 4 PM on all Dates

Jan 7—Generative poetry workshop
Jan 14—Poetry Revision Workshop
Jan 21—Revised Poetry Workshop
Jan 21—Submit your poem to the contest

This one-of-a-kind opportunity is funded in part by an Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA) Special Project Grant and a Discover Ames Community Grant. Don’t miss your chance to develop your poetry skills and showcase your talent!

Registration is required. Click Here!

ARTIST BIOS

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.

Dr. McCurdy,  is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

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Langston Hughes Project Receives 2024 Discover Ames Community Grant

On November 21st, Discover Ames awarded the Ames Writers Collective a 2024 Discover Ames Community Grant for the “Langston Hughes Project.”

“We are looking forward to 2024, the eighteenth year of the Discover Ames Community Grant Program. Discover Ames is excited to support and promote your event to Ames and area residents as well as our hotel guests,” wrote Kevin Bourke, President/CEO, Discover Ames.

In January, poet Caleb Rainey will lead three generative poetry workshops for Central Iowa Youth. These workshops are FREE for teen writers and will be held in-person (and hybrid) at the Ames Public Library on January 7, 14, and 21st from 2 to 4 PM. Following the workshops, youth will be eligible and encouraged to submit a poem for a “blind read.” Two poems will be chosen for score by the “Langston Hughes Project” composer, Dr. Ron McCurdy. Caleb Rainey will read the poems accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music on February 8th.

The Ames Writers Collective is grateful to Discover Ames for their generous support.

ARTIST BIOS

Dr. McCurdy,  is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.

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Ames Writers Collective Receives COTA Grant

The Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA) has awarded the Ames Writers Collective a Special Project Grant for 2024. Money awarded will help fund a teen-poetry master class in conjunction with the “Langston Hughes Project Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz” at Stephens Auditorium on February 8, 2024.

In January, poet Caleb Rainey will lead three generative poetry workshops for Central Iowa Youth. These workshops are FREE for teen writers and will be held in-person (and hybrid) at the Ames Public Library on January 7, 14, and 21st from 2 to 4 PM. Following the workshops, youth will be eligible and encouraged to submit a poem for a “blind read.” Two poems will be chosen for score by the “Langston Hughes Project” composer, Dr. Ron McCurdy. Caleb Rainey will read the poems accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music on February 8th.

The Ames Writers Collective is grateful to the Ames Commission on the Arts for their generous support.

ARTIST BIOS

Dr. McCurdy,  is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.

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Author

Ana McCracken

What’s your genre?
Creative nonfiction

Are you published?
Anthologies, literary reviews, and magazines.

What inspired you to become a writer?
Perhaps the impetus to become a writer began when my mother taught me to write thank you notes? Maybe it was the 20-years of writing letters to my pen-pal, Lisa? Or writing soul-searching stories in my English classes, and my stint as an editor for The Opinion, the Peoria High School newspaper? Much later during the two years that I searched for my birthmother, I wrote annual holiday missives that caused my friends to encouraged me to write my memoir. The inspiration to become a writer is a culmination of life events.

What author do you admire and how have they inspired you?
Dani Shapiro! All of her memoirs in my possession are dog-eared and the pages are filled with marginalia. I have learned dialog, scene-setting and exposition from Dani. She is my go-to author when I need inspiration.

Name three of your favorite books and their authors
Let’s Take the Long Walk Home: A Memoir of Friendship by Gail Caldwell
Heating and Cooling 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly
Slow Motion, Devotion, Still Writing, Hourglass, and Inheritance by Dani Shapiro

What’s one thing readers should know about you?
In February 2022 anticipating the death of HRH Queen Elizabeth, I wrote her a letter of condolence on Smythson stationery, and sent her a photograph taken at Hewlett-Packard of HRH and Dave Packard, and Prince Philip and my husband, Ed. (Circa 1983.) Her Lady in Waiting read it to her, and they wrote me back. It is one of my greatest pride and joys!

What one piece of advice would you give a budding writer?
Just one? When you are sitting in a workshop group and fellow writers are giving you feedback, don’t justify what you’ve done and written and banter back and forth. People have taken the time to read your writing, and it’s annoying. Just LISTEN! You don’t have to take their advice, but often times it might be good advice. And… edit, edit, edit! Your first draft isn’t even close to the draft you send off to an agent.

Author Bio
Ana’s stories have appeared in the California Writers Club’s Literary Review, the anthologies Nothing But The Truth So Help Me God—51 Women Reveal the Power of Positive Female Connection, and Chicken Soup for the Soul—The Joy of Adoption, and poetry at Telepoem Booth®Iowa. At one time Ana was a columnist and editor for Maui Vision Magazine, and her essays and articles have appeared in various publications around the San Francisco Bay Area. Additionally, she is the founder of the Ames Writers Collective based in Ames, Iowa, and she serves on the Willa Cather Foundation Board of Governors, and served as a board of director for Litquake in San Francisco.

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Rachel Aukes

What’s your genre?
Speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, and horror)

Are you published?
Indie press publisher

What inspired you to become a writer?
Like most writers, I’ve always loved reading. Couple that with a brain that’s constantly daydreaming, the desire to create stories is an intrinsic part of my spirit. From the age I could spell, I wrote. But a “normal” life took over for some time (had to pay the bills) until I inevitably picked up a pen… I’ve thankfully never lived a normal life since.

What author to you admire and how have they inspired your writing?
Jonathan Maberry is a fascinating writer who’s not afraid to write multiple genres. He’s also a prolific anthology editor—and one of the first to give a newbie writer a shot (he’s given a lot of newbie writers a shot!). He’s been an inspiration, a mentor, and an all-around admirable guy.

Name three of your favorite books and their authors
Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman = inspirational bliss.
Murderbot by Martha Wells = a fun modern classic.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy = an old classic introducing the first masked hero.

What’s one thing readers should know about you?
I acquired my private pilot’s license 16 years ago, and I’m still infatuated with flying. Stop by the Ames airport, and you just might bump into me.

What one piece of advice would you give to a budding writer?
Be the writer of your dreams. Envision what you want to be and make it happen. Don’t try to fit into other people’s opinions of what a writer should be and how a writer should write. Define who you want to be as a writer and make it happen.

Author Bio
Rachel Aukes is the bestselling author of nearly forty books, including 100 Days in Deadland, which made Suspense Magazine’s Best of the Year list. She’s published through traditional houses, independent houses, and her own publishing company. Her novels have repeatedly been Amazon Top 100 bestsellers, and she was one of the first Wattpad Stars, with her stories having over eight million reads. She writes in several genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller, romance, and more. When not writing, Rachel can be found flying old airplanes with her husband and an incredibly spoiled dog over the central Iowa countryside. Click here to visit Rachel.

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Writers Inspired by Tom Montgomery Fate

On Wednesday, September 27th, 30 writers filled the Dan Foss Room at the Ames Public Library to capacity to write and listen to author, Tom Montgomery Fate. Tom led a workshop titled, Writing a Life Into Memoir—An introductory workshop on craft.

If you aren’t familiar with Tom, he is a professor emeritus at College of DuPage in suburban Chicago where he taught creative writing. His Most recent book is, The Long Way Home Detours and Discoveries, and his essays have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Orion, The Iowa Review, among others.

A big thank you to Tom, the writers who attended, and the Ames Public Library, who partnered with the Ames Writers Collective to offer this FREE workshop to local writers.

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Swift Literary Festival 2023

On Sunday, September 24th, the Ames Writers Collective hosted the 2nd Annual Swift Literary Festival—a pop-up event held annually at the Octagon Art Festival.

At the event, festival-goers visited with and purchased books from local Iowa authors.

2023 Swift Literary Festival Authors

Bi Ayers | Hallie Baur | Paul Brooke | Joe Geha | Tom Geraty | Jackie Haley | Stephanie Hansen | Pattie and Kevin Kimle | Deb Kline | Dennis Maulsby | Clara McKenna | Pamela Riney-Kehrberg | Moriah Rose.

Information about all these authors can be found here.

Additionally, we hosted two Community Stories where passerby’s contributed a story-thread to both of our stories. Below is an example of one:

Thank you to our authors who participated, the Ames Community and visitors to Ames, and the Octagon Art Festival for hosting us at their annual event.