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February 28, 2010 Newton resident Jean LeBlanc’s third collection of poetry, “At Any Moment,” has been released by Backwaters Press. LeBlanc’s poetry reflects her love of the natural world, her teaching experience, her New England childhood and her Newton back yard. Her work has appeared in numerous journals and collections. Her first book, “Just Passing Through”, was published by the Paulinskill Poetry Project of Andover Township; “The Stream Singing Your Name” was published by Modern English Tanka Press in 2009. A new collection, “Where We Go”, is forthcoming. LeBlanc is a member of the English Department at Sussex County Community College. She is also executive editor of the Paulinskill Poetry Project and edited an anthology of local poets, “Voices From Here.” Some of her work can be viewed at jeanleblancpoetry.com. “At Any Moment” is available from major booksellers online and at Sussex County bookstores. April 7, 2009 January 30, 2009 May, 2008 After spending a semester as interim director of the Betty June Silconas Poetry Center, I am now the official director. Priscilla Orr is still working closely with the Center, hoping to do some grant writing and start a poetry journal. I would not have agreed to become director without Priscilla's help and guidance. Here's our schedule of readings for Fall, 2008: Friday, September 5, 2008: Friday, October 3, 2008: Friday, November 7: These readings are held in the Library of Sussex County Community College, located at 1 College Hill Road in Newton, New Jersey. The readings are free and open to the public. We begin at 7:00 P.M. and end at 9:00. Time permitting, an open mic follows the featured readers; we encourage members of our poetry community to bring a poem to share. Poetry Workshop: The Short Forms Join me on Saturday, April 19, from 9:30 A.M. until 1:30 P.M., when the Betty June Silconas Poetry Center at Sussex County Community College will offer a poetry workshop called The Short Forms: Exploring Haiku, Tanka, Renga, Senryu, Sijo, Haibun, Haiga, and whatever else we have time to cover! We'll discuss the American expression of these (traditionally Eastern) short forms; we will look at examples of each form and discuss how contemporary American poets are bringing their own voice and style to what may seem like highly structured forms. We'll then try some exercises in writing haiku and tanka, and as many of the others as time permits. The intent of this workshop is to foster each participant's original voice within these proscribed forms, thereby opening new paths to freedom and creativity. These short forms lend themselves to daily practice and to the cultivation of seeing that leads naturally into all forms of poetic expression. The workshop will be held in room B103 of Sussex County Community College. The "B" Building is the main building on campus, with a flagpole out front. The receptionist inside the main entrance will direct you to the room. Registration fee: $10.00 payable to SCCC Foundation (with "Poetry Workshop" on the memo line). Send checks to Jean LeBlanc, Interim Director, Silconas Poetry Center, Sussex County Community College, One College Hill, Newton NJ 07860. For more information, e-mail Jeannie at jleblanc@sussex.edu or leblanc01@yahoo.com. |
