Arts on the Ridge
Ridgeway, SC
Event Chair 803-239-7238
Phan38@aol.com
The 12th Annual Arts on the Ridge Art Show & Sale in Ridgeway, SC will feature a Literary Festival.
"We are so wealthy," explained event Chair, Phyllis Gutierrez. "Our community is so blessed with a treasure chest of talented painters, sculptors, photographers, and artists that it is easy to overlook the large number of published authors that live here among us. This year we are excited to be including and celebrating the literary side of art with a gallery of 12 published authors who will be available for book signings and one-on-one discussions of their craft."
The 12th Annual Arts on the Ridge Art Show & Sale begins on the evening of May 4th from 6 to 8 p.m. with previews and voting for the People’s Choice art award. Saturday’s events will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. The theme this year is "Opening Doors to the Arts and Beauty of Small Town Life" and will feature the Literary Festival while highlighting juried photography, juried plein air painting and the work of local artists.
Lisa Anne Cullen and Wanda Craig (aka Reagan Teller), both members of the Fairfield County Arts Council, have spearheaded this celebration of the literary side of art.
"We have had an amazing amount of interest from local writers who are interested in participating," Cullen remarked.
"This may even result in doing another literary event later this year," Craig added.
The Literary Festival will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday with authors scheduled to be on hand at the Century House all day. The Gallery includes published authors Johnny Bloodworth, Tim Conroy, Lisa Anne Cullen, Joan Y. Edwards, Mike Long III, James D. McCallister, Beaty Miller, Betty Parker, Tom Poland, Raegan Teller, Marv Ward and Millie West
The authors will also be public speakers for our “Meet Me On The Porch” feature at these scheduled times: Ward 10:30, Edwards 10:45, Conroy 11:00, Teller 11:15, Bloodworth 11:30, Parker 11:45, Long 12:00, Cullen 12:15, West 12:30, McCallister 12:45, Miller 1:00 and Poland 1:15.
Information on the 2018 event is available online at RidgewaySC.org or on facebook at Arts On The Ridge - Ridgeway SC or by emailing Phyllis Gutierrez at phan38@AOL.com.
The bios of the authors and their accomplishments follow.
Author Bios for Arts on the Ridge May 5
The 12th Annual Arts on the Ridge Art Show & Sale in Ridgeway, SC will feature a Literary Festival.
"We are so wealthy," explained event Chair, Phyllis Gutierrez. "Our community is so blessed with a treasure chest of talented painters, sculptors, photographers, and artists that it is easy to overlook the large number of published authors that live here among us. This year we are excited to be including and celebrating the literary side of art with a gallery of 12 published authors who will be available for book signings and one-on-one discussions of their craft."
The 12th Annual Arts on the Ridge Art Show & Sale begins on the evening of May 4th from 6 to 8 p.m. with previews and voting for the People’s Choice art award. Saturday’s events will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. The theme this year is "Opening Doors to the Arts and Beauty of Small Town Life" and will feature the Literary Festival while highlighting juried photography, juried plein air painting and the work of local artists.
Lisa Anne Cullen and Wanda Craig (aka Reagan Teller), both members of the Fairfield County Arts Council, have spearheaded this celebration of the literary side of art.
"We have had an amazing amount of interest from local writers who are interested in participating," Cullen remarked.
"This may even result in doing another literary event later this year," Craig added.
The Literary Festival will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday with authors scheduled to be on hand at the Century House all day. The Gallery includes published authors Johnny Bloodworth, Tim Conroy, Lisa Anne Cullen, Joan Y. Edwards, Mike Long III, James D. McCallister, Beaty Miller, Betty Parker, Tom Poland, Raegan Teller, Marv Ward and Millie West
The authors will also be public speakers for our “Meet Me On The Porch” feature at these scheduled times: Ward 10:30, Edwards 10:45, Conroy 11:00, Teller 11:15, Bloodworth 11:30, Parker 11:45, Long 12:00, Cullen 12:15, West 12:30, McCallister 12:45, Miller 1:00 and Poland 1:15.
Information on the 2018 event is available online at RidgewaySC.org or on facebook at Arts On The Ridge - Ridgeway SC or by emailing Phyllis Gutierrez at phan38@AOL.com.
The bios of the authors and their accomplishments follow.
Author Bios for Arts on the Ridge May 5 – revised 4/10/18
JOHNNY BLOODWORTH says, “We Southerners are more a product of our place and time than other aspects of our being. I am a storyteller, and when I tell a story, I need to connect to place and time. My roots are Georgia, but South Carolina is home. My places are Columbia where I grew up and worked, and the Cedar Creek community near Blythewood where my wife Sandra and I have lived for forty-five years. Before writing Gift, my story telling consisted of turning an incident or a joke into a tale about friends or family. Gift added discipline to the creative process.” www.deedspublishing.com/bloodworth/
TIM CONROY is a former special education teacher, school administrator, and vice president of the South Carolina Autism Society. His poetry, essays, and fiction have been published in literary journals, magazines, and compilations, including Fall Lines, University of Georgia Press, Auntie Bellum, Jasper, Blue Mountain Review, and Marked by Water. In 2017, Muddy Ford Press published his first book of poetry, Theologies of Terrain, edited by Ed Madden, poet laureate of the City of Columbia. A founding board member of the Pat Conroy Literary Center established in his brother’s honor, Conroy lives and writes in Columbia. www.southerncollectiveexperience.com/tim-conroy/
LISA ANNE CULLEN is the author or editor of eight children’s books and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing for children and pairs this passion with her love of illustration, art, photography, and screenwriting. Cullen has won awards for her artistic and written works and finds pure joy in connecting with the natural world. Her author-illustrated, picture book folktales Little Orange Honey Hood and Three Wild Pigs are being released through the University of South Carolina Press/Young Palmetto Books spring and fall of 2018. www.lisaannecullen.com/
JOAN Y. EDWARDS is the author/illustrator of folktale Flip Flap Floodle, a happy little duck who never gives up on his song even in the Mr. Fox's belly. She is author of 4RV Publishing's Joan's Elder Care Guide. It is full of practical hints and resources to promote healing and make care-giving easier. She has a Master of Arts in Education and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the Charlotte Writers Club. She and her husband, Carl watch humorous mysteries, like Columbo and Monk. They relax at the beach and in the mountains. Dream! Love! Laugh! Never Give Up! www.joanyedwards.com/
MCKENDREE R. (Mike) LONG III is a retired soldier with two combat tours and the author of several Western novels: Brodie, Higher Ground, Dog Soldier Moon, and No Good Like It Is. His awards include the Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He and his wife Mary have two married daughters, four grandchildren, and four great-grands. He holds a BS in Business Administration and is also a retired financial consultant. He’s a member of Western Writers of America, South Carolina Writers Association, and SERTOMA. www.mckendreelong.com/
JAMES D. McCALLISTER, besides working as a media archivist, newspaper columnist, small business owner and educator, is the author of numerous academic and magazine publications. His fiction efforts are highlighted by a short story collection and four novels including his latest, Dogs of Parsons Hollow (Mind Harvest Press, 2018). Along with a number of awards for short fiction, McCallister’s upcoming novel Dixiana (2019) was a finalist for the Faulkner-Wisdom award. A lifelong South Carolinian, McCallister resides in West Columbia, SC, with his wife Jenn and their beloved brood of cats, muses all. www.jamesdmccallister.com/
BEATY MILLER broke the Mennonite tradition of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and continued her education past eighth grade and graduated from high school—the first to do so in her family. At nineteen years of age, she accepted the position to teach at a parochial school. Later, she resumed a full-time job as a secretary. After a promotion to the office manager, Miller started classes at Reading Area Community College and earned an Associate Degree to become a registered nurse. She began a twenty-year geriatrics career, ending as a Personal Care Home Administrator. After Miller and her husband relocated to Rock Hill, she wrote her memoir, My Last Name is Grace. www.waterfallsofgrace.org/
BETTY PARKER is a professional speaker, author, and trainer. In 2006, she started Sharper Development Solutions, Inc., a training and development company specializing in leadership skills training and coaching. Betty is a regular guest host on WLXC-FM’s “N Touch” community affairs program and is often sought out as a speaker for conferences and events. She is at work on her next book, Defeating Goliath: A Lesson in Solving People Problems. Parker is a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) through the Association for Talent Development and a Certified Professional Coach. www.thesharpersolution.com/
TOM POLAND, a Southern writer, has works appearing in magazines throughout the South. Among his recent books are Classic Carolina Road Trips From Columbia, Georgialina, A Southland, As We Knew It, and Reflections of South Carolina, Vol. II. Swamp Gravy, Georgia’s Official Folk Life Drama, staged his play, Solid Ground. Poland writes a weekly column for newspapers and journals about the South, its people, traditions, lifestyle, and changing culture and speaks to groups across South Carolina and Georgia. He’s the editor of “Shrimp, Collards & Grits,” a Lowcountry lifestyle magazine. His new book, South Carolina Country Roads, will be released April 16, 2018. Tom lives in Columbia, South Carolina. www.tompoland.net/
RAEGAN TELLER is the award-winning author of the Enid Blackwell series. Murder in Madden (Pondhawk Press, 2016) was her debut novel, followed by The Last Sale (2018). Both mystery novels were inspired by real-life cold cases in Columbia, where she lives with her husband and two cats. Teller writes about small town intrigue, family secrets, and tales of murder, and uses fiction to bring closure where there was none in real-life. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Queens University, Charlotte, and a member of Sisters in Crime, South Carolina Writers Association, and Charlotte Writers Club. More info at www.RaeganTeller.com
MARV WARD, "Reverend," a blues and Americana singer, songwriter, and guitarist, has performed throughout the United States with some of the most well-known musical artists. Listed in An Encyclopedia of South Carolina Jazz and Blues Musicians, Ward writes poetry with the same passion with which he composes his songs. His latest collection "One Lone Minstrel," represents some earlier work, as well as recent efforts. A native of Lorton, Virginia, Ward lives in Columbia, South Carolina, and has two sons. He previously served in the United States Naval Reserve and has worked in broadcast and educational television throughout North and South Carolina. www.marvward.com/index.html
MILLIE WEST is a South Carolina history buff who has spent countless hours exploring the rich historical vestiges of her home state. She is the author of two novels, The Cast Net and Catherine’s Cross. In 2018, a second novel in The Cast Net trilogy, Of Sun and Rain will be released. Millie has also written three screenplays, an adaptation of her novel Catherine’s Cross, and Amelia Was Here! Her third screenplay, Dr. Portia, chronicles the life of Dr. Portia Lubchenco, the first female graduate of the NC Medical College. West is an University of South Carolina graduate and resides with her family near Columbia. More info at www.milliewestauthor.com
Posted on May 5th, 2018.
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