Author Archives: editor@rockfordwritersguild.org

About editor@rockfordwritersguild.org

Welcome to the literary blog for Rockford Writers' Guild.

Connie’s Interview With Ann Rundall

As with all of Connie’s extraordinary interviews, her interview with Ann Rundall is chockfull of witty quotes, lessons to be learned, and a wealth of inspiration. You go, girl! And know we miss you! Thanks to Connie for sharing this one.

“This year’s theme is ‘Dream.’ I think too often children get told what their dreams should be. We are trying to draw the dreams out of the children, and encourage them to dream for themselves.” And another: “It (Ann’s car license plate) spells RT ATAK, because I believe that we can attack the problems of the world through the arts,” said Ann.

https://www.northernpublicradio.org/post/state-artist-here-go-make-some-stuff

Doris Kampfe

To all who knew Doris Kampfe: Doris Kampfe passed away on July 20, which explains why she didn’t make it to the Un-Gala. She was 93 and a longtime member of the Guild. She was featured on the last podcast with her poem, Bounce Back. Her daughter Lisa died a few months ago. Our deepest sympathy to Doris’s family and friends. She will be missed and forever cherished

.

 

Calling Rockford Writers’ Guild Poets: Winter Poetry Contest

Open to RWG Members: Winter “Smooth as Ice”  Poetry Contest.  Submit up to three new poems, each up to 50 lines. Theme is Smooth as Ice. The deadline is August 15, 2019. Cash prizes up to $100. Winning entries published in The Rockford Review, Winter-Spring Edition, 2020. Winners announced in the October 2019 newsletter.

Send your three poems to sally@rockfordwritersguild.org

Don’t delay — the August 15 deadline is quickly approaching!

In The Mail

Dear Guild Members,

Your copy or copies of the 2019 summer-fall “members only” edition of The Rockford Review are in the mail. You should receive your package in the next couple of days.

The exceptions are as follows:

Those who emailed their Un-Gala RSVP to me will receive their books at the Un-Gala.

Those who live out of the country. I will be taking care of our international mailing this week when I am at the Post Office.

Now…If you receive your book in the mail and decide, “Hey, I want to come to the Un-Gala!” then shoot me an email and RSVP. This will help ensure that I order enough cake. Also, if you come, don’t forget to bring your book with you to the Un-Gala.

If you want to order extra copies of the book, you can purchase them online for $12 or send a check or money order to our PO Box. That way also costs $12. If you want to save a couple bucks, you can buy extra copies at the Un-Gala for $10. Bring exact cash or a check.

Furthermore, every mailing is fraught with drama. Not *drama* per se, but usually there are three or four books that get damaged or go missing. If you don’t receive your book by Friday, July 19, email me. Ditto if you receive a damaged book.

Thank you for reading. No…go write! -Connie Kuntz

P.S. The Un-Gala is Sunday, July 21, 2019 from 1-3 p.m. at the Burpee Museum of Natural History; 737 N. Main Street in Rockford. Email me to RSVP at editor@rockfordwritersguild.org

 

Congratulations and Celebrations

Congratulations to Cindy Guentherman. Her haiku was selected out of more than 4000 entries in the NPR summer haiku challenge. Her poem was read on the air by Dan Klefstad and you can read the full story here.

Since we are on the topic of haiku, please enjoy a link to Guild member Charlotte Digregorio’s haiku/writing blog here. Charlotte has a solo haiku exhibit the month of July at Northfield Public Library in Northfield, IL. The haiku is illustrated with art.

Congratulations are in order for Wilda Morris. The National Federation of State Poetry Societies Annual Convention in Santa Fe awarded her the NFSPS Founders Award for her poem, “On the Local Train from Orvieto to Florence.” The prize is $1,000.

And my new series State of the Artist has successfully launched on 89.5 and WNIJ.org. I follow artists to the places that inspire them and interview them. Learn more here. Maybe you will be my next artist!

State of the Artist is a new series hosted by Connie Kuntz on 89.5 and WNIJ.org

Don’t forget our Un-Gala  is on Sunday, July 21 from 1-3 at the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Come meet incoming president and editor Sally Hewitt! Email editor@rockfordwritersguild.org to RSVP. Walk-ins are invited, too, but your RSVP will help me know how much cake to buy and how many chairs to set up.

Thank you for reading. Now…go write! Connie Kuntz