EVENTS
All events are FREE and take place at the Carnegie Center, unless otherwise noted.
Flash Fiction Contest
SUBMISSION WINDOW: May 1–July 16, 2023, 11:59pm
PRIZES: $150 for First Place; $100 for Second Place
Writers have been producing very short fiction for hundreds of years. From Aesop to Hemingway, they’ve written stories with a protagonist, plot, and resolution–all in 500 words or fewer. Now it’s your chance to say it in 500 words. Winners and finalists will be invited to read their work at the public reading over the summer, alongside winners and finalists of the spring Next Great Writers Contest.
Kentucky Great Writers
Tuesday, May 23, 6:30–8:30pm
Join us for readings by Silas House, Chris Begley, and Christopher Rowe. Sponsored by Reitzel Cook Foundation, Nate's Coffee, and 91.3 WUKY.
Books In Progress Conference
June 1–3
• Conference Registration: $215; Student Registration: $60
Grow your writing in sessions and panels led by top authors, editors, and writing professionals. The 2023 keynote speaker is award-winning writer, poet and playwright Angela Jackson-Brown. Visit our website for the most up-to-date information. Limited space available. Register now! Sponsored by Reitzel Cook Foundation, WUKY, Spalding University, and Alex & Jayne Waldrop.
LexArts Gallery Hop
Friday, May 19, 5–8pm: Digging Deep by LaVon Williams
Friday, July 21, 5–8pm: Resonance by Craig Stein and Ethan Portwood
Young Writers Project Reading
Wednesday, June 7, 5:30pm
Join on us Wednesday, June 7 at 5:30pm for a public reading by Young Writers Project participants. Come celebrate these students as they showcase their writing talents. Light refreshments will be served.
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Burn The Mic
June 15, July 20, & August 17, 7:00pm
The KBWC invites poets of all ages and levels to share their poems at this monthly event hosted by Jude C. McPherson. Sponsored by LexArts, Kentucky Arts Council, SouthArts, and WUKY.
AisforAffrilachia: A Book Launch
Thursday, June 22, 6:00pm
A is for Affrilachia is a new children’s alphabet book written by award-winning author Frank X Walker and illustrated by Ronald W. Davis a.k.a. upfromsumdirt. This book recognizes and exalts the voices and accomplishments of African Americans in the Appalachia region. A is for Affrilachia is an exuberant celebration of the people, physical spaces, and historical events that may not be as well known in mainstream educational structures.
Black & Lit Book Club
ONLINE: Monday, July 10, 6:00–7pm with Amelia Zachry
Black & Lit Book Club features new books by Black Kentucky writers. This book club is open to KBWC members and anyone who wishes to attend. When possible, we will meet with the featured author. The first 25 registrants receive a free copy of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood
Back to School Bash
Saturday, July 29, 1:00-3:00pm
Gratz Park (behind the Carnegie Center)
Join us for a celebration of going back to school! Free backpacks and school supplies with be distributed to pre-registered youth in grades K-12. Enjoy carnival performers, face painting, hotdogs, and more! This event is free, but supplies are limited. Registration is required.
Contest Winners Reading
Tuesday, August 22, 6:00pm
In celebration of their achievement in writing, winners and finalists of the Next Great Writers Contest and the Flash Fiction Contest will read their work at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning.
Author Academy Reading
ONLINE: Tuesday, August 15, 7:00pm
Join us for an online reading featuring Author Academy students and alumni.
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FICTION
Crafting Authentic Characters with Ashley Blooms
Saturday, June 10, 10:30am–12:30pm • $35
Character creation can be both the most fun and most frustrating part of writing a story. This class will focus on crafting an authentic, coherent character by answering five key questions for character development that illustrate how your character’s past can influence their present choices and how these choices can create tension and stakes within your story. Ashley Blooms is the author of two novels and several short stories that explore Appalachian Kentucky with a speculative twist. [ALL LEVELS]
Writing for Kids – Class Package
ONLINE: Saturdays, June 24, July 1, July 8, 10:30am–12:30pm • $90
Three classes to jump start your career as a Children’s Lit author. Writing for Kids – Class Package includes Intro to Writing Kids’ Books with Laurie Calkhoven; Writing Picture Books with Marcia Thornton Jones; and Creating Dummy Picture Books with Erin McGuire-Thompson. [BEGINNER]
Intro to Writing Kids’ Books with Laurie Calkhoven
ONLINE: Saturday, June 24, 10:30am–12:30pm • $35
Picture Books? Early Readers? Chapter Books? YA? What's the difference? We'll look at the subgenres in children's literature and help you determine where your stories fit in the marketplace. Laurie Calkhoven is an author and book coach with more than 50 published books, ranging from beginning readers to young adult.
[BEGINNER]
Writing Picture Books with Marcia Thornton Jones
ONLINE: Saturday, July 1, 10:30am–12:30pm • $35
Find focus, gain confidence, and learn about writing fiction for kids through discussion, peer sharing, and writing exercises. Come with a work in progress or an idea for a story you would like to develop. Marcia Thornton Jones is an award-winning author who has published more than 135 books for children with sales totaling more than 48 million copies worldwide. Marcia also serves as the Carnegie Center's Author Services Coordinator and a writing mentor. [BEGINNER]
Creating Dummy Picture Books with Erin McGuire-Thompson
ONLINE: Saturday, July 8, 10:30am–12:30pm • $35
Are you looking for the next steps to polish your children's book manuscript? Are you ready to add visuals to your process but not sure where to start? This one-day workshop will give writers the tools to develop a basic book dummy to work on things like pacing, page-turners, and word choice - no art skills necessary! Erin is an
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author/illustrator of picture books, early chapter books, and early graphic novels and she is a member of the 2022/2023 class of the Carnegie Center Author Academy. [BEGINNER]
Write Like You Stole It: Influence and Creativity with Sean Corbin
Saturday, July 8, 11:30am–1:30pm • $35
Together, through examples as well as generating our own short works, we will explore the nature of influences, and the paradox that is literary stealing as an incredibly individual, unique art form in and of itself. Sean Corbin holds degrees in creative writing and English from Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky. Sean has taught at the Carnegie Center for several years (including a previous form of this class). [ALL LEVELS]
Magical Realism and Fabulism Workshop with Ashley Blooms
ONLINE: Tuesdays, July 11–August 15, 6–7:30pm • $84
A workshop course for fiction writers whose work doesn’t fit neatly into a singular category, but instead blends, blurs, and bends genre conventions. We’ll define what makes these genres unique, dissect popular examples to learn more about the craft, and then workshop excerpts or finished pieces to receive thoughtful feedback. Ashley Blooms is the author of two novels and several short stories that blend realism, fantasy, and horror elements. [ALL LEVELS]
Autofiction with Sarah Combs
Saturday, July 29, 10:30am–12:30pm • $35
At the intersection between autobiography and fiction is a writerly sweet spot that we'll navigate through hands-on writing exercises and consideration of the genre-bending work of such luminaries as Ayad Akhtar, James Baldwin, Elizabeth Hardwick, Sheila Heti, and Ocean Vuong. Sarah Combs is the author of the YA novels Breakfast Served Anytime and The Light Fantastic, both published by Candlewick Press. [ALL LEVELS]
Setting for Character & Idea Generation with Elizabeth Kilcoyne
ONLINE: Saturday, August 26, 10:30am–12:30pm • $35
Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, setting is vital to story. Rather than a static playing board on which your characters act, how your characters interact with the world they're in brings stories to life. Using creative methods, we'll explore the world of your story, and find its voice. All stories start somewhere. Using creative and unconventional methods we'll generate new ideas for writing projects, tackling the blank page with confidence, and finding the spark of inspiration you need to write your next great work. Elizabeth Kilcoyne is a YA Horror author from Lexington. Her novel, Wake the Bones, was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award. [ALL LEVELS]
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NONFICTION
Nonfiction Writing Techniques with Liz Carey
Tuesdays, June 6–July 18 (No Class July 4), 5:30–7pm • $84
Have you ever read a piece in a magazine or newspaper that you just can’t put down? How do writers for magazines and newspapers pull readers in? We’ll learn and practice the skills to craft a piece that really grabs your readers and takes them on a journey. We’ll explore elements and methods you can incorporate into your writing, including nut graphs, slalom storytelling, humanizing nonfiction narratives, and descriptive details. Liz Carey has been a freelance writer for nearly a decade, after a 20-plus-year career as a reporter. She’s won more than 30 national, statewide, and regional awards for her writing and reporting.
[BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE]
Writing Sensory Memoir & Personal Narrative with Kimberly Crum
ONLINE: Mondays, July 10–24, 5:30–7pm • $45
As with fiction writers, memoirists build worlds for our readers. Of course, our re-creations must resemble those worlds in which we've lived the experiences we want to share. Participants will receive a prompt before the start of the workshop, improving the short manuscript with sensory details, as we proceed collaboratively. The instructor will provide examples from primary source material, such as Mary Karr's "Sacred Carnality". Each participant will leave with a multi-sensory manuscript and a toolbox of techniques! Kimberly Crum is a published writer, an editor, a memoir teacher, and a co-editor of an anthology of prose and poetry, The Boom Project: Voices of a Generation (Butler Books, 2019). [ALL LEVELS]
Starting Your Freelance Career with Liz Carey
Thursdays, July 27–Aug 31, 5:30–7pm • $84
Getting started as a freelance writer is more than watching a few YouTube videos and hooking up your laptop. In this class, you'll learn how to pitch stories, how to write a pitch letter and how to manage the business of writing. At the end of the class, you'll have not only a pitch letter to use as a template, but also a portfolio, a cover letter, a sample story, and an idea of where to pitch Liz Carey has been a freelance writer for nearly a decade, after a 20-plus-year career as a reporter. She’s won more than 30 national, statewide, and regional awards for her writing and reporting. [ALL LEVELS]
Tools for Writing about Trauma & Loss with B. Elizabeth Beck & Amelia Zachry
Saturday, August 26, 11:30am–1:30pm • $35
Are you worried about writing painful experiences? This one-day workshop will provide a self-care guide and framework to support your writing process. Tools, skills, and models will be shared to empower your courage to
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heal through writing This workshop is led by Amelia Zachry, author of Enough, A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood and B. Elizabeth Beck, author of Under the Elm Tree, Mama Tried, and Interiors. [ALL LEVELS]
POETRY
Animal as Muse with Linda Bryant Davis
Tuesdays, June 20 & 27, 5:30–7pm • $56
Since the dawn of civilization, animals have played an integral role in human life, as well as in writing and art. We will examine poems inspired by animals – from woolly mammoth to baby tortoise, not to mention bat, snake, armadillo, and goldfish. We will discuss what draws us to animals as inspiration, explore writing strategies and compose our own animal-inspired poems. Linda Bryant Davis is a poet who has learned many important life lessons from animals. Chronicling our relationships with them is not only deep and meaningful work, but it can also be a lot of fun. [ALL LEVELS]
Turning Life Experience into Poetry with Ellen Birkett Morris
ONLINE: Saturday, June 24, 12:30–2:30pm • $35
Whether it is Robert Frost’s walk through the woods on a snowy evening or Billy Collins’ creation of a lanyard at camp, specific events often serve as an anchor for poems that capture the mystery, majesty and humor of life. We’ll examine several poems that use specific experiences to bring the reader to universal conclusions, and help you create your own. Ellen Birkett Morris is the author of Lost Girls: Short Stories, stories about female strength and resilience, winner of the Pencraft Award and finalist for the Clara Johnson, IAN, and Best Book awards. Her novel Beware the Tall Grass is a finalist for the Donald L. Jordan Award for Literary Excellence. Morris is also the author of Abide and Surrender, poetry chapbooks. [ALL LEVELS]
Writing a Poetry Sequence with Quinn Lewis
ONLINE: Mondays, July 24–August 28, 5:30–7pm • $84
Many poets work from a place of obsession, writing a series of poems on a single subject or threading together poems that address a prevailing narrative, a pivotal figure, a particular time period, or even an image. What stories linger with you? What images dwell in your memory? In this workshop, we will read various poetry sequences by poets like Jean Valentine, Claudia Emerson, Thomas Hardy, and others. Over this six-week class, you will write your own poetry sequence writing towards your obsessions and receive feedback on your poems in a fun and supportive environment. By the end of this class, you will have written and revised a 5-6 poem sequence of your own. Quinn Lewis is a poet, educator, and editor, whose work has been featured in nationally recognized literary magazine including The Southern Review, Ecotone, and The Cincinnati Review. Her work has received support from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and the Elizabeth George Foundation, among other grants and prizes. [ALL LEVELS]
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Next-Level Poetry with Sean L. Corbin
Thursdays, July 27–August 31, 5:30–7pm • $84
Want to take your poetry to the next level? Want to join a dedicated group of writers to polish and strengthen your work? This revision workshop is the course for you. Sean L. Corbin is a long-time poetry instructor with the Carnegie Center among other venues and has published his work widely. [INTERMEDIATE]
PUBLISHING / MARKETING
Opening Pages with Alice Speilburg
Saturday, July 22, 10:30am–12:30pm • $35
The opening pages of a manuscript often determine whether an agent or editor will read two paragraphs, two chapters, or the full manuscript before making a decision on an author’s work. Literary Agent Alice Speilburg will offer insight to the way she and other industry professionals read sample chapters what they look for, what makes them cringe, and what makes them jump up with excitement and she will review attendees' first pages for potential snags and missed opportunities. Perfect for those who are abou t to send out their work for the first time, and for those who would like some feedback on what they might improve, attendees will leave the workshop with a better understanding of common pitfalls and opening scenes to avoid, the keys to a compelling hook, and a strong start on an irresistible opening page. Alice Speilburg is the founding agent of Speilburg Literary and has worked in publishing for more than a decade. She represents commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. [BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE]
EDITING / REVISION
Re-visioning: Learning to Love the Revision Process with Kimberly Crum
Saturdays, July 29 & August 5, 10:30am–12:30pm • $56
Too many writers see revision as a burden, not part of the creative process. Yet, revision is easily 50% of writing for publication. And revision gives the writer an opportunity to re-vision, often in community with other writers a creative collaborative process. Participants in this workshop will learn the differences between developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading. They will choose one manuscript to revise, moving through these three stages of revision collaboratively. Kimberly Crum is a published writer, an editor, a memoir teacher, and co-editor of an anthology of prose and poetry, The Boom Project: Voices of a Generation (Butler Books, 2019). [ALL LEVELS]
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Writing with Scrivener with Tracee de Hahn
ONLINE: Saturday, August 12, 1–3pm • $35
Plan, organize, and edit with confidence using special software features. Scrivener Software is a flexible program created to assist writers at all stages of their project. While it won't tell you how to write, it will provide everything you need to start and keep writing. This workshop will introduce you to the functions available in Scrivener and lay out a way to use it that will allow immediate productivity, with the potential to add tools as you need them. Appropriate for all levels and types of w ritten projects (fiction and non-fiction). Participants do not need access to Scrivener to benefit from the course. Tracee de Hahn teaches writing workshops across the country. Her mysteries are published by St. Martin's Press. [ALL LEVELS]
WRITING GROUPS
Free Writing Practice with Melissa Bell-Pitts
Mondays, June 12–August 14 (no class June 19), 5:30–7pm • FREE
Join us at the community table in the beautiful, light-filled reference room where we’ll be inspired to write from rotating prompts. We’ll do a few short-timed writing sessions designed to get your pen moving and to shut down the inner critic. After each timed session, writers will read their new work aloud to nonjudgmental listeners who respond by recalling words or images that resonated. This zen-like practice originated in Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones. Melissa Bell-Pitts’s work has been selected as finalists in the Next Great Writer Contest and the Kentucky Women Writers Conference’s Betty Gabehart Prize. [ALL LEVELS]
Fiction Writing Group with Gavin Colton
Tuesdays, June 13–August 8 (no class July 4), 5:30–7pm • $112
Please join us for this workshop dedicated to generative writing exercises and helpful critique on works in progress. Gavin Colton's recent short stories have appeared in the Appalachian Review, The Honest Ulsterman, Hippocampus Magazine, The Wax Paper, and La Picolette Barca. He is the recipient of the William Hugh Jansen Award for distinguished writing based on oral traditions, the art of storytelling, or folklore elements. [ALL LEVELS]
Q-Munity Writing Group with Jay McCoy
Wednesdays, June 14–August 2, 5:30–7pm • FREE
Writing may be a solitary endeavor, but writers grow in their craft when they find someone for feedback and support. Contoured to the LGBTQIA+ community, this group will allow you to explore your authentic voice and expression while discovering the rich history and current landscape of LGBTQ+ writing. Welcoming of all genres, writing levels, and identities, it will be a generative workshop with in-class free writing and directed exercises. New and returning students are welcome. Jay McCoy has served the local writing community for years through mentoring, teaching classes, and co-hosting open mic series. [ALL LEVELS]
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Seniors Writing Group with Sarah Combs
Fridays, June 16–August 18, 10:30am–Noon • FREE
Registration is required. Takes place at the Lexington Senior Center. If you’re interested in writing and have reached that golden age, this is the group for you! Participants can expect cross-genre writing prompts; feedback for family stories, memoirs, poems, and fiction; tips for reading and publishing your work; and lively conversation and fellowship. Led by Sarah Combs, author of the YA novels Breakfast Served Anytime and The Light Fantastic, both published by Candlewick Press. This class is open to Fayette County residents 60 years of age and over. [ALL LEVELS]
Free Writing Practice with Leslie Dodd
ONLINE: Fridays, June 23–August 25, Noon–1:30pm • FREE
This writing experience offers attendees the opportunity to engage in a creative and communicative loop without judgment. We write from a variety of prompts designed to release the inner censor and simply get words on a page. After each timed session, writers read aloud their new work to participating attendees. Listeners respond by recalling words or images that resonated. This zen-like practice originated from Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones. Leslie Dodd is a painter, poet, songwriter, and aspiring folk opera writer who has enthusiastically attended Free Writing Practice for many years. [ALL LEVELS]
Gothic Writing Group with Cassie E. Brown
ONLINE: Saturdays, July 1–August 12 (no class July 29), 10:30am–Noon • $84
Gothic fiction is a vibrant, exciting genre encompassing authors as diverse as Shelley, Faulkner, and MorenoGarcia. This group will dive into the world of gothic fiction through writing exercises, exploration of the breadth of the Gothic through readings, as well as sharing writing. It will pay close attention to elements such as theme, mood, setting, and voice prominent in the gothic. Cassie E. Brown is a published author of fiction, poetry, and essays, a passionate educator, and a graduate of the Carnegie Center Author Academy. [ALL LEVELS]
Screenwriting Group with Mitch Smith
ONLINE: Thursdays, July 13–August 31, 7:30–9:00pm • $112
Come join screenwriters from around the world in an exclusive screenwriting group where writers can share their work, ask questions, and learn how to pitch their scripts so that they can succeed in today’s competitive film industry! The group will be a fun, relaxed way to share your screenplay, learn from other screenwriters, get great notes on your piece, and brainstorm ideas for your next blockbuster! Mitch Smith has won or placed in screenwriting competitions through Fade In, Writer’s Digest, Stage 32, and Sreencraft.org (among others), produced the feature film Ghost in the Family (available on Amazon Video), wrote and produced a comedy television pilot that is being taken around the industry, optioned a feature horror script as part of his contest
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win at YourScriptProduced, and has years of screenwriting experience through his time as both a screenwriter and a script reader/reviewer for companies like SimplyScripts and Write to Reel. [ALL LEVELS]
MULTIGENRE
So You Want to Write? Let's Start! with Eugenia Johnson-Smith
ONLINE: Thursdays, June 15 - 29, 6:00–7:30PM • FREE
This class will assist you with learning to let go of your fear and embrace the writer within. The class will utilize creative writing exercises and writing techniques. As a result of this class, participants should feel more confident about writing. Eugenia Johnson-Smith author, coach, inspirational and motivational speaker, and CEO of Positive Power LLC Training and Development empowers her clients to be a positive influence in the home, the community, and the world. She is a member of the Carnegie Center Board and serves as an ambassador of both the Carnegie Center and the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative. [BEGINNER]
Words: How They Work and How to Write Them with Tony Crunk
ONLINE: Wednesdays, June 21–August 9, 7:00 - 8:00pm • $96
This class is an invitation for participants to explore, understand, and reinvigorate their writing process – and their creative process in general – by way of exploring how written language actually functions, how it does what it does for the writer and to the experiencer. Through directed exercises and workshop discussion of participants’ work, we’ll draw on concepts and insights from a range of disciplines to discover new ways of thinking about – and playing with! – written language, in service of literary intents. Writers working in any genre, at any level of experience or inexperience, are warmly invited. Tony Crunk’s first collection of poetry, Living in the Resurrection, was a selection in the Yale Series of Younger Poets; he has published numerous subsequent works, in a variety of genres, and has taught at the Universities of Virginia, Montana, and Alabama/Birmingham as well as in a number of community education programs across the country.
[ALL LEVELS]
The Write Voice with Claudia Love Mair
ONLINE: Saturday, July 8, 1–3pm • $35
A writer’s voice is an artistic projection of who they are, but many writers are afraid to use their unique literary voice in any genre. The Write Voice is a 2-hour generative class that illuminates the obstacles to writers finding and using their most authentic voice and offers guidance on how to craft their most engaging writing. Claudia Love Mair is the author of 13 books, including Mourning Pages, available in the Spring of 2024. She holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University and is the Coordinator for the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative. [ALL LEVELS]
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Your Writing GPS: How to Avoid Detours with Eugenia Johnson-Smith
ONLINE: Wednesdays, July 26–August 30, 6:00–7:30pm • $84
Are you ready to set off on a new writing journey in the new year? Or do you feel lost as a writer and need to reprogram your writing GPS? Let us help you on your way to your writing destination. Learn how to lay out a road map, overcome common setbacks, and even kickstart new ideas as we create a writing plan for success. With our new GPS plans in hand, we will expand upon skills learned. We will troubleshoot, build momentum, and work to take our writing projects to the next level. Eugenia Johnson -Smith author, coach, inspirational and motivational speaker, and CEO of Positive Power LLC Training and Development— empowers her clients to be a positive influence in the home, the community, and the world. She is a member of the Carnegie Center Board and serves as an ambassador of both the Carnegie Center and the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative. [ALL LEVELS]
Q-MUNITY
Queertooning: Finding & Expressing Yourself Through Comics with Erin Fitzgerald
ONLINE: Saturday, June 10, 1–3pm • FREE
Whether you already dabble in comics or are a self-proclaimed “person who can’t draw,” you are welcome here! In this cartooning workshop, we will look at different examples of self-discovery and self-expression through comics. We will do some quick drawing and writing exercises to get warmed up and generate ideas. In the second half of the class, we will explore and share possible project ideas and applications for moving forward with the comics medium. The goal is to leave with a plan for how to put your ideas into action. Erin Fitzgerald (a.k.a. “A Girl Named Earl”) is a multi-directional artist and arts enthusiast. She draws a cartoon series called SPECTRUM, which is (mostly) about Neurodivergence and Queerness. [ALL LEVELS]
SPECIAL INTEREST
Monthly Book Discussion with Alan Church
ONLINE: Last Tuesday of each month, January–November, 5:30–7pm
Join us for a monthly discussion of contemporary and classic novels as well as nonfiction chosen by the group. This group has been meeting since 1993 and always welcomes new members! To join or for information about current selections, contact Alan at church11@webtv.net or (859) 252-7041 or Erin O’Donnell at erin.m.o.donnell333@gmail.com. Alan Church, Ph.D. is a retired clinical psychologist who has recently taken graduate courses in literature. This class has a rolling registration period. Join anytime!
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Brain Power for Seniors with Elise Mandel
ONLINE: Wednesdays, May 31–August 30, 11:00am–Noon • FREE
Keep your brain sharp this year! In this fun class, we will do word games, number games, logic puzzles, and all kinds of challenges to keep your brain moving. Elise Mandel holds a master's degree in education from UMass Amherst. She teaches classes and works with private students in many subjects.
Brown Bag Book Discussion with Jan Isenhour
Thursdays, July 6–August 24, Noon–1pm • FREE
An informal discussion group focusing on literature by and about women. Be prepared to buy the selected works or borrow them from the library. Contact the Carnegie Center for the updated book list. Jan Isenhour, former Executive Director of the Carnegie Center, has facilitated the Brown Bag group since it began in 1995. She has an M.A. in literature and taught at the University of Kentucky.
Write The Business Plan of You with Swati Singh
ONLINE: Mondays, July 24–August 21, 6–7:30pm • $70
In the new economy, opportunities abound for people of all ages to tap into their unique set of skills to offer something of value to others. What sets people apart as they embark on entrepreneurial endeavors, navigate work and life transitions, and publicly explore hobbies and passions is a strong and clear personal narrative. Through a thoughtful sequence of coaching-style discussions and exercises, aspiring career changers, consultants, freelancers, and side hustlers of all stripes will develop the words and chutzpah to make their presence known – and unforgettable. Swati Singh is a successful public-school consultant, entrepreneurial coach, business school professor, and creative nonfiction writer who works at the convergence of her interests to empower others to build the life and career of their dreams. [ALL LEVELS]
Photography: Building a Narrative with Tatiana Aristizabal
ONLINE: Saturdays, August 12 & 19, 10:30am–12:30pm • $56
A two-day workshop that focuses on ongoing projects that participants want to edit, giving strength to a series of photos. We'll use the narrative as a starting point, but we’ll focus on the perspective and point of view of the body of work to build a sequenced narrative. Tatiana is a Colombian artist and photographer with a degree in visual arts from the University of Kentucky. She has a Masters in Contemporary Photography from the EFTI School in Madrid. Her work has been exhibited in many galleries, including The Carnegie Center, The Lyric Theatre, and Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, Fondazione Luciana Matalon, and Museo di Roma. Her photos have been published in Medium, Aesthetica, Art in America, Smiley Pete Publishing, La Voz de Kentucky, Tops in Lexington, Sophisticated Living, and Lexington Herald-Leader. [ALL LEVELS]
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Club del Libro with Tatianna Verswyvel
ONLINE: Last Saturday of each month, August– October, 10:30am-Noon • FREE
Join us for a monthly discussion group of contemporary Latin American, Latinx, and Hispanic fiction conducted in Spanish. The group welcomes members who are comfortable reading adult Spanish-language books and talking about them. Books will be selected based on group member interests. For information about current selections, contact Tatianna at tverswyvel@gmail.com. Tatianna Verswyvel is a native Spanish speaker with a B.A. in International Affairs from Transylvania University. She is a writer and translator from Caracas, Venezuela.
En línea: Último sábado de cada mes, Agosto– Octubre, 10:30am-Mediodía • GRATIS
Acompáñanos a hablar de libros escritos por autores contemporáneos de origen latinoamericano, Latinx, e hispanohablante. Este grupo invita miembros que buscan leer libros en español y discutirlos en el mismo idioma. Los libros se seleccionarán acorde a los intereses de los miembros. Para unirse o para más información, contacte a Tatianna: tverswyvel@gmail.com. Tatianna Verswyvel habla español como primer idioma y estudió Relaciones Internacionales en Transylvania University. Ella es escritora y traductora, originalmente de Caracas, Venezuela.
WORLD LANGUAGES
Conversational French with Erica House
Mondays, June 5 & 12, 11:30am–1:30pm • $56
Bring your lunch, your cafe, or just yourself for two hours of informal French dialogue. This class is all in French and you are welcome to participate or simply listen. All levels welcome. No preparation required. Just show up (with a pen and paper optional). In-person only. A bientot!
French Level 3 with Erica House
Mondays, July 17–August 28, 10:30am–12pm • $98
We will review and build from previous levels and apply our knowledge through creative mediums. We will gain more access to vocabulary, verbs, and grammar. A basic knowledge of the passé composé and imparfait is required.
Required Text: The Complete French Vocabulary Course by Dylane Moreau. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
French Level 5 with Erica House
Mondays, July 17–August 28, 12–1:30pm • $98
An adequate understanding of written and spoken French is required. This course is challenging and accessible.
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Required Text: Grammaire Progressive du Français (perfectionnement), 4th ed. by Maïa Grégoire and Odile
Thiévenaz. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Optional Text: Grammaire Progressive du Français-Corrigés by Maïa Grégoire.
French Level 2 with Erica House
Mondays, July 17–August 28, 5:30–7pm • $98
We will continue to add verbs, vocabulary, and expressions to our repertoire. We will practice pronunciation and reading comprehension by reading aloud.
Required Text: Le Pendentif: Three Easy Short Stories by Sylvie Laine.
Optional Text: Easy French Step-by-Step by Myrna Bell Rochester, Ph.D. Please purchase your own copy of the texts.
French Level 4 with Erica House
Tuesdays, July 18–August 29, 5:30–7pm • $98
We now have gained enough tools from the previous levels to delve more deeply into reading, listening, and discussing comprehension through conversation. We will revisit certain grammar sections and apply them to the season’s lessons.
Required Text: Grammaire Progressive du Français (Intermédiare), 4th ed. by Maïa Grégoire and Odile
Thiévenaz. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Optional Text: Grammaire Progressive du Français-Corrigés by Maïa Grégoire.
French Level 1 with Erica House
Wednesdays, July 19–August 30, 5:30–7pm • $98
This very introductory-level class is designed for the ultra-beginner. We will introduce salutations, pronouns, vocabulary, some prepositions, and some verb conjugations. We will work on pronunciation, personal interests, and question-asking. Expect role-playing and repetition. By the end of the season, you will be able to present yourself to the class!
Required Text: Easy French Step-by-Step by Myrna Bell Rochester, Ph.D. Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Not sure which French level is right for you? Email Erica House at yogainfrancaise@gmail.com.
Spanish Level 3 with Jordan Yeagar
Wednesdays, June 14–August 2, 3:30–5pm • $112
Spanish 3 is an intermediate-level course designed for students who have already gained a solid foundation in Spanish grammar and vocabulary. The course aims to further develop students' proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Spanish, with a focus on more advanced grammar structures, idiomatic expressions, and cultural context. By the end of the course, students will be able to express themselves with
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greater accuracy and fluency in Spanish. Jordan Yeager currently teaches Spanish at Lafayette High School. He has his B.A. in Spanish from Georgetown College, and his M.A. in Teaching of Languages from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Required Text: Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar by Gilsa Nissenberg (Publisher: McGraw Hill).
Spanish Level 1 with Jordan Yeagar
Wednesdays, June 14–August 2, 5:30–7pm • $112
Students will learn basic Spanish grammar, vocabulary, common expressions, greetings, and survival phrases, and discuss some cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries. Open to beginners and students who would like to refresh their knowledge of basic Spanish. The goal is to complete the first five units from the textbook during class. Jordan Yeager currently teaches Spanish at Lafayette High School. He has his B.A. in Spanish from Georgetown College, and his M.A. in Teaching of Languages from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Required Text: Spanish Now! Level 1, 8th ed. by Ruth J. Silverstein (Publisher: Barron). Please purchase your own copy of the text.
Conversational Spanish with Jordan Yeagar
Saturday, June 24th, 10:30–12:30pm • $35
This Spanish conversation course is designed to help individuals improve their ability to speak and understand Spanish through interactive practice sessions. The course includes lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, and provides opportunities for students to engage in conversational exercises with their peers or instructors. A beginning knowledge of Spanish is recommended but not required.
Spanish Level 2 with Jordan Yeagar
Mondays, June 26–August 21 (no class July 10), 5:30–7pm • $112
We will continue to add vocabulary, verbs, and verb tenses. Students will apply skills learned in Spanish Level 1 and will engage in more active conversation, expressions, and general scenarios related to work, travel, business, health, ect. Jordan Yeager currently teaches Spanish at Lafayette High School. He has his B.A. in Spanish from Georgetown College, and his M.A. in Teaching of Languages from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Required Text: Spanish Now! Level 1, 8th ed. by Ruth J. Silverstein (Publisher: Barron). Please purchase your own copy of the text.
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PRERECORDED WEBINARS
Perfect your craft and grow your skills year -round with our Prerecorded Webinars! All webinars are $35 unless stated otherwise below.
• Writing Workshop Basics with Ashley Blooms • FREE
• Don’t Take No for an Answer: How to Submit to Literary Magazines and Independent Presses with Whitney Collins
• Writing & Publishing While Black with Claudia Love Mair, Crystal Wilkinson, makalani bandele, and Angela Jackson-Brown
• Building Your Brand: Author Platforms & More with Julia Royston
• Grant Writing Basics with Jennifer Hester Mattox
• Querying Agents: Novels with Jennifer Hester Mattox
• How to Write a Novel in 30 Days with Jennifer Hester Mattox
EARLY LEARNERS
All classes for early learners, kids, and teens are FREE and take place at the Carnegie Center, unless otherwise noted.
Early Learner Book Club with Glenna Holloway
IN-PERSON: Saturdays, June 17, July 15, August 19, 10:15–11:15am
ONLINE: Saturdays, June 17, July 15, August 19, 11:30am–12:30pm
Join us for story time, free books, and hands-on activities designed to encourage early excitement for reading. This laid-back atmosphere is friendly to preschoolers and is a great first introduction to a story time setting. With experience in both performing and teaching, Glenna Holloway brings with her a love for children and books! Her goal is to teach practical skills while instilling a joy for learning. A free book is included for the first 15 registered families in attendance! Funded by PNC Foundation. Please register for each session you wish to attend. [AGES 2-5]
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Literacy for Little Ones with Diane Mason
Tuesdays, July 11-August 1, 10:15-11AM
Join us for a story and playtime that uses seasonally themed books and activities to promote the development of early language skills. We will also provide strategies and share ideas to enable parents to foster a love of reading, writing, speaking, and all things literacy. A free book is included for the first 10 registered families in attendance! Funded by PNC Foundation. [BABY TO 3-YEAR-OLDS AND THEIR GROWN-UPS]
KIDS
OWLets (Outstanding Writers League for Grades 2 -3) with Sonya Pavona
Wednesdays, May 31–June 28, 3–4pm
Improve your writing skills in a creative, hands-on environment! Together, we’ll explore how fun writing can be as we play writing games and write stories, poems, and more. Sonya Pavona is a recent graduate of SCAPA Literary Arts at Lafayette High School and attends Georgetown College for Creative Writing.
[GRADES 2-3]
Dungeons & Dragons for Beginners with Matthew Denny
Mondays, June 5-July 10, 2:30PM–4:30PM (No class June 19)
Join us for an imaginative adventure! This class uses the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons to show kids how fun critical thinking, teamwork, and problem solving can be. Students will learn the fundamentals of roleplaying games, which are a great tool to promote confidence, self-efficacy, collaboration, and creativity. Led by Matthew Denny, who works with Learning Adventures to provide tutoring and academic coaching for students with ADHD and Dyslexia, and has over ten years of experience with D&D.
[GRADES 6-9]
Lower Elementary Reading with Martha Crumbie
Mondays, June 5–July 17, 3:30PM–4:30PM (No class June 19)
This is a fun, hands-on, and interactive class. Students will play games and learn strategies that will help with their reading skills, including vocabulary development, alphabet knowledge, letter-sound correlation, concepts of print, listening and reading comprehension skills. Martha Crumbie has her master’s degree in K-12 special education and over 25 years of teaching experience. [GRADES K-2]
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K-1 Math with Martha Crumbie
Mondays, June 5–July 17, 4:30PM–5:30PM (No class June 19)
This class is structured to provide your child with strategies, skills, and concepts that are the building blocks for higher-level math through an engaging and hands-on approach. Led by Martha Crumbie, who has her master’s degree in K-12 special education and over 25 years of teaching experience. [GRADES K-1]
Upper Elementary Reading with Martha Crumbie
Tuesdays, June 6–July 18, 3:30–4:30pm (No class July 4)
In this fun, hands-on class, we’ll work on reading strategies and comprehension techniques. Students will play games that boost their reading skills and engage in activities that demonstrate their reading comprehension. Led by Martha Crumbie, who has her master’s degree in K-12 special education and over 25 years of teaching experience. Sponsored by the MacAdam Early Childhood & Literacy Fund at Blue Grass Community Foundation. [GRADES 3-5]
Math for 2nd & 3rd Grade with Martha Crumbie
Tuesdays, June 6–July 18, 4:30–5:30pm (No class July 4)
This class is structured to provide your child with strategies, skills, and concepts that are the building blocks for higher-level math through an engaging and hands-on approach. Led by Martha Crumbie, who has her master’s degree in K-12 special education and over 25 years of teaching experience. [GRADES 2-3]
Farmer Brown Tha MC: Grow Harder Master Course with Trevor Claiborn
Mondays, June 12-26, 11AM-12PM (No class June 19)
This is a 3-section class including: Overview of Agriculture, Urban Agriculture & Gardening, and Ag Careers & Entrepreneurship. This is a family friendly course where attendees who complete the class will have gained a more holistic, culturally balanced, modern understanding of agriculture in relation to not only food security but a greater appreciation of how Ag touches just about every part of our lives. [GRADES 3-8]
Scriptwriting with Carole Johnston
Wednesdays, June 14–July 19, 5–6pm
In this class students will create characters, write scripts, and construct puppets made from ordinary household objects. We will learn to write monologues, dialogues, and short skits as well as create sets and sound effects for the puppet shows. Carole Johnston is a poet, former school library media specialist for grades K-8, and former creative writing instructor for the SCAPA literary arts program at Lafayette High School. [GRADES 5-6]
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OWL (Outstanding Writers League) with Carole Johnston
Thursdays, June 15–July 20 (no class June 29), 5–6pm
Hone your writing skills in a creative, hands-on environment! Together, we’ll explore how fun writing can be as we play writing games and write stories, poems, and more. We will focus on using “neon” words and images in fiction and poetry. Carole Johnston is a poet, former school library media specialist for grades K-8, and former creative writing instructor for the SCAPA literary arts program at Lafayette High School. Sponsored by the MacAdam Early Childhood & Literacy Fund at Blue Grass Community Foundation. [GRADES 3-6]
Middle School Book Club with Ashley Sloan
Fridays, June 30–July 28, 3–4pm
Is your middle schooler a reluctant reader? Join our book club where we will read together, learn from one another, discuss how stories can be applied to real life, and do art activities. Led by Ashley Sloan, who has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, a master's degree in Teaching Reading and Writing K-12, and 20 years of teaching experience. [GRADES 6-8]
Stix With It: Drumsticks and Movement with Maranda Brooks
Fridays, July 7–August 4, 3:45–4:45pm
Need a fun way to get moving? Join us for a class that combines music and movement to explore creative expression as well as promote a positive and healthy lifestyle. We will incorporate the use of drumsticks to rhythm, beat and staying active. Each student will receive a free pair of drumsticks to take home. Maranda Brooks is a fitness instructor that works in the non-profit sector, who has a strong passion for serving the community and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. [GRADES 6-8]
Back to School Brain Power with Elise Mandel
Saturdays, August 5–12, 10am–Noon
A new school year is around the corner! Warm up your brain and get in gear before school starts. We will play language games, work with partners to solve puzzles, and review basic math skills through fun activities. Elise Mandel holds a master’s degree in education from UMass Amherst, and she teaches classes and works with private students in many subjects. [GRADES 2-5]
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