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Since the last issue of The Loyalhanna Review, the Ligonier Valley Writers have all been busy with a number of events. Our 2010 Ligonier Valley Writers’ Conference at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center featured Iranian fiction writer Anahita Firouz; Christine O’Toole, telling us about magazine and feature writing; Jan Beatty, award-winning poet and leader of Carlow’s Madwomen in the Attic; and Greg Joseph of the popular band The Clarks, who taught songwriting. Local authors presented, sold their books, and made connections at the successful Authors and Artists’ Book Fair at Ligonier Valley Library in August. In September members enjoyed our picnic and readings at St. Michael’s of the Valley. October was doubly busy. LVW sponsored a workshop by San Francisco poet Maya Stein, who was spending two months on her Tour de Word trip around the country. The Flash Fiction Contest theme “Witches and Warlocks” garnered many entrants vying for cash prizes. Winners read their stories at Barnes & Noble to celebrate Halloween. Our Christmas gathering featured readings by some of our members and lots of wonderful food and conversation. In February 2011, Barb Miller and Mary Ann Mogus taught a workshop on how to write a paranormal mystery/romance crossover novel. More than 20 writers turned out to learn their secrets and jumpstart their own novels. This year more than 350 poems were entered in the Student Poetry
Contest. In April, winning students celebrated National Poetry Month by reading their poems to an audience of more than 65 people. They received cash prizes and a booklet containing all of the winning poems. The year 2011 is our 25th Anniversary for Ligonier Valley Writers and the 20th for The Loyalhanna Review. Both totals are milestones for a small community-based literary arts organization. We may not have enough silver in the treasury to celebrate in grand style, but we are proud to continue the vision of our founders: to enhance the cultural life of the Ligonier Valley and beyond.
—Ruth McDonald, Editor in Chief, Loyalhanna Review
Special Thanks to all the dedicated, hard-working members of Ligonier Valley Writers whose continued efforts allow us to bring you this issue free of charge as a literary and cultural service to the community of southwestern Pennsylvania. To all the talented authors and artists who sent in their work, thank you for choosing The Loyalhanna Review. The high quality of the submissions made selection extremely difficult. Additional Recognition goes to J M Abstract, Linda Ciletti, Judith Gallagher, Barb Miller, Donald Miller, Ruth McDonald, Paul Nickoloff and the staff at Fotorecord Print Center, and Gabi Nastuck at the Latrobe Art Center.
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