Writers' Retreat held at HPMEC

Those taking part in the creative writer's retreat at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center included, from left: Front--instructor Roland Mann of Oxford, Miss., Ethan Baker of Piggott and Bob Jones of North Little Rock. Second row--Linda Wyss of Piggott and Faye Williams (Wanda) Jones of North Little Rock. Third row--Monica Moore of Piggott, Christine Henderson of Searcy, Carol Griffin of Bernie, Mo., Rita Dortch of Rector, Joseph Hargrave of Rector and Pat Lester of Benton. Back--Phyllis Rhodes of Everton, Mo. and Elizabeth Foster of Hot Springs Village. Not pictured--Deanna Dismukes, education coordinator for HPMEC.
(photo provided)

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"The Works Writers Create" is a collection of stories and poems by the 12 writers who attended the retreat.

When 15 year-old retreat participant Joseph Hargrave of Rector was asked what he hoped to accomplish as a writer, he said, "When I read I get really immersed in the book. I want to be able to do that for someone else someday."

Roland Mann, B.S. in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Mississippi, M.A. in English from the University of North Alabama and currently pursuing an M.F.A. from Spaulding University, Louisville, Ky., was the instructor/mentor for the retreat. Deanna Dismukes, the center's education coordinator, served as director.

The first annual Creative Writers' Retreat was held in June 2002. In 2008 the schedule expanded to include retreats in June and November.

Writers attending were: Bob and Wanda Jones, North Little Rock; Elizabeth Foster, Hot Springs Village; Ethan Baker, Monica Moore and Linda Wyss, Piggott; Joseph Hargrave and Rita Dortch, Rector; Pat Laster, Benton; Christine Henderson, Searcy; Phyllis Rhodes, Everton, Mo., and Carol Griffin, Bernie, Mo.