Update on Storm Country Anthology to benefit Joplin School District Libraries

It's hard to believe it's been more than three months since the killer tornado touched down and destroyed much of the city of Joplin, Missouri. Since then, the Joplin Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, officers of MWG, and members of the regional writing community have been working on ways to help replace books lost because of the tornado. One way the MWG is contributing to the effort, which I blogged about last May, is the publication of the Storm Country Anthology.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Deborah Marshall, President of the Missouri Writers' Guild, informing me that my short story, "Golden Lilacs Under the Worm Moon," has been selected to be included in the Storm Country Anthology .  

I was excited to learn my story will be included, and even more excited after I read the names of the other contributors, which include several writing friends, blogger buddies--and some famous writers and poets.

Claudia Mundell, President of the Joplin Chapter of the MWG--and the person who came up with the idea for an anthology--will have a piece called "Weather Tantrum" included in the anthology.

Other writing friends and blogger buddies whose works will be included are Pat Wahler, Linda O'Connell, and Lynn Obermoeller.

Some of the writers and poets I know or have met whose works are included are: Susan Swartwout from Southeast Missouri University Press; Linda Fisher from Mozark Press; Kelli Allen, editor of Natural Bridge; mystery writer Elaine Viets, and Walter Bargen, Missouri's first poet laureate. 

I'm looking forward to buying copies of the anthology to read and keep in my own library and to give away as gifts to family and friends.  All proceeds from the anthology go toward buying books for the Joplin School District libraries to help replace the books lost by the killer tornado that hit Joplin last May.

You can find a complete list of contributurs at the Storm Country blog. Maybe you'll recognize some names I haven't listed today. Congratulations to everyone whose works will appear in the anthology, which is slated to be published in October.

Special thanks to Claudia and the Joplin Chapter, along with MWG officers Debbie Marshall, Kelli Allen, and Susan Kirkpatrick, and anyone else who worked behind the scenes to make Storm Country: A Tribute to Joplin a reality.

When I find out more details about the release date I will post them here.