OPA Ambassadors Report: SE Ohio with Bonnie Proudfoot

SE Ohio Open Mics, Workshops, Festivals, Bookfairs, and Open Readings:

“Words on Wednesdays,” open mic from 6:30 – 8:30 pm for authors, including poetry, fiction, memoirists, and singer-songwriters, hosted by former Athens Poet Laureate, Stephanie Kendrick, the second Wed. of every month at the SideBar. Sign-up at 6pm

“Designated Space” poetry, fiction, memoir, spoken word at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, every Tuesday evening from 9:00pm – 11:30 pm.

Athens Poetry Group meets every second Tuesday at the Athens County Public Library

The Landing in Portsmouth, OH: Open Mic for spoken word, poetry, etc. on the third Thurs. of each month.  Upcoming features include Daniel Lasalle (July 23) and Damian Russel (August). Contact Kevin LeMaster on Facebook for more info.

ALAS (Appalachian Literary Arts and Storytelling Festival) in Nelsonville, OH, on October 3 & 4, 2026. For information check this link 

Call for Work:

Sheila-Na-Gig editions is currently open for submissions for their Autumn 26 issue.

SNG also has a chapbook competition that is currently open until July 31^st – check the website for more information. 

SE Ohio Poet Achievements (a brief selection):

Kate Fox

                Publication

·         Poetry acceptance to New Ohio Review, issue forthcoming

Kari Gunter-Seymour

                Commissioned Work

·         Poem for Licking County Foundation in honor of their many non-profit partners. Reading will be on August 14 at their National Non-Profit Day Celebration

·         Two poems for “Plays Well With Others” a collaborative exhibit of art and poetry at the Ohio Arts Center’s Riffe Center Gallery in Columbus from April 26-July 3, 2027, Curated by Stephen Takacs

Book Publication

·         All That Teethes Within, a new book of poems, on University of Kentucky Press (forthcoming)

Readings:

·         Poetry at the Table co-featured with Bonnie Proudfoot on August 5^th, at Kenwick Table, Owsley Ave. Lexington, KY, 6-8pm (open mic sign up at 5:30)

·         Book Launch for All That Teethes Within at Mercantile Library on Sept. 14, 2026 at 6pm

·         Conversation and Book Launch at New Dominion Bookstore, Charlottesville, VA for All That Teethes Within on Sept. 26, 2026 from 7-9pm

·         Reading at West Liberty College, Wheeling, WV, Oct 5^th, 7-9pm

·         Word of Mouth, MOTR Pub, Cincinnati, October 25^th, 6-8pm

Sean Kelbley

                Publication

·         Sean’s poem “Emotional Self-Regulation with Birds and Gifted Child” will be reprinted and published in the Rattle chapbook, The Best of Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge which went out to subscribers in June of 2026 and is available through Rattle as well. 

Becca J.R. Lachman (Athens Poet Laureate)

                Workshops

·         Generative Workshop (Free  + Snacks) at Arts West on Sunday 8/16 from 2-4pm,

theme: Poetry and the Body/Inheritance

·         Moving toward Myself: A Writing and Movement Retreat combining yoga, meditation, and writing on Sat. Sept.12 at Serenity Roots (Sliding Scale)

Wendy McVicker

                Poet Interviews

·         River of Words, an online poetry interview series conducted by Wendy McVicker, and hosted by WOUB-AM, has added several poet interviews, including JA Rosser, Kristine Williams, Bonnie Proudfoot

Collaboration

·         Poetry reading along with musician Emily Prince at the Tecumseh Theater in Shawnee OH on September 5^th as part of a variety show.

Publication

·         Poetry accepted for publication in Sheila-Na-Gig, summer 2026 issue

Book Publication (forthcoming)

·         Meanderlines, a new book of poems, forthcoming on Sheila-Na-Gig editions 

Jean Mikhail

                Publication

·         Poetry accepted for publication in One Art, Anti-Heroin Chic and in Sheila-Na-Gig, summer 2026 issue

Deni Naffziger

                Publication

·         Poetry appearing in Sheila-Na-Gig Summer 2026 issue

Workshops

·         Generative workshop about collaborative art making (in collaboration with Mark Hackworth, visual artist), at the Parkersburg Art Center on Sept. 18^th 

·         Generative workshop about collaborative art making (in collaboration with Mark Hackworth, visual artist), at Berea College on Nov. 1

Reading

·         Poetry reading with poets Roy Bentley and Kari Gunter-Seymour at Whispering Trees Nature Sanctuary as part of an Athens County Studio Tour, at Martha G Michael’s studio, July 25^th, 3-5 pm

Bonnie Proudfoot

                Readings

·         Poetry at the Table co-featured with Kari Gunter-Seymour on August 5^th, at Kenwick Table, Owsley Ave. Lexington, KY, 6-8pm (open mic sign up at 5:30)

·         Writers Can Read open mic at Heritage Station in Huntington, WV on August 27th^th

·         Word of Mouth poetry series featured reader at the MOTR Pub in Cincinnati on Sept. 27^th

Publication

·         Poetry accepted for publication in One Art, Anti-Heroin Chic and in Sheila-Na-Gig, summer 2026 issue

·         Two poems written for a collaboration with printmaker Daniel King for “Plays Well With Others” a collaborative exhibit of art and poetry at the Riffe Center Gallery in Columbus from April 26-July 3, 2027 

Shei Sanchez

                Book Publication

·         Waiting for the Lotus (Manuscript of poetry) forthcoming on Kelsay Books.         

Kristine Williams

                Book Publication and Launch

·         Frost Warning, a full-length poetry collection on Sheila-Na-Gig Editions

·         Book launch and reading at The Bowen House, 196 N. Market St. Logan, Ohio, on July 19, 2026 from 1pm. Readers include Stephanie Kendrick, co-reader, and invited guests Jane Ann Fuller, Jean Mikhail, Deni Naffziger, Bonnie Proudfoot, Molly Schoenhoff, and Renee Williams 

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This update provided by Bonnie Proudfoot