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Welcome to High Country Writers

Since our founding in 1995, our group has mentored, fostered, guided and seen over 73 of our members become published authors. As a total group, our membership has 542 titles in print, and in terms of sales have put over 6 million books into the hands of readers during this time.

Some members are laboring on their first manuscript. Others now sail the world on $100,000 per month royalties. This is not a prank.

Would you like to know how you can accomplish what we do?    Show More

Our group focuses on fiction and non-fiction prose. If you consider yourself a poet, we have a subgroup of enthusiasts. Each month usually consists of one How To workshop, one critique and one presentation by a guest speaker knowledgeable with the publishing industry. All sessions are open to the public, so please come and check us out.

Our How To Classes

High Country Writers holds workshops the first Thursday of each month at Watauga Arts Center, 377 Shadowline Drive, Boone. We convene at 9:30am and start at 10:00am.

Please click on our schedule below for more specifics.

Our Critiques

As a rule, on the fourth Thursday of the month (See Schedule below), our group critiques a 5,000 word slice of a member's manuscript. These meetings convene at 9:30am at the Watauga County Public Library, and last until lunchtime. After the critique, we have lunch together. Please, come see what we do, and join us for lunch to find out more.

Our Guest Speakers

As a rule, on the second Thursday of each month, our group hosts a prominent speaker. Speakers herald from a diverse range of backgrounds related to the nuts and bolts of publishing success. These meetings convene at 9:30am at the Watauga Public Library, and last until lunchtime. After our guest's presentation, we have lunch together. Please, come see what we do, and join us for lunch to find out more.

Our Special Events

Every close-knit author community relishes special events. We organize these throughout the year. Please click on our monthly schedule below for particulars.

Our Special Awards

Each year we honor those members of our group who have excelled in a particular form of writing with our "Book of the Year Award." There is one award for each category.

Our Meeting Locations

Our meetings usually convene at 9:30am, Thursday mornings. Guest speakers and Critique take place at the Watauga County Public Library, 140 Queen St. Boone (Click for Map). Our workshops are at the Watauga Arts Center, 377 Shadowline Drive, Boone (Click for Map).

Check our schedule below for any variances.

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Our Schedule for 2016.

Printable .doc file (Landscape) (Click Here)

All programs located at Watauga County Library (Boone), unless Arts Council Events (Arts).

Programs on Thursdays (unless noted otherwise)

We socially convene at 9:30 a.m. Start at 10:00 a.m. Public is always welcome.

Date

Event

Presenter

Subject

January 14

Program

Maryrose Carroll

How she got connected

January 28

Critique

Bill Runyan

Best Seller (Short Story)

February 4

Workshop (Arts)

Leslie Anne Perry

Poetry (Part 3)

February 11

Program

Dave Spiceland

Research on the Appalachian Railroads

February 25

Critique

Lissa Brown

Filthy Money

March 3

Workshop (Arts)

Leslie Anne Perry

Poetry (Part 4)

March 10

Program

Chuck Lieberman

Humor

March 24

Critique

Bart Bare

 

April 7

Workshop (Arts)

Bart Bare

To Be Announced

April 14

Program

 

Leave open for makeup until after February program

April 28

Critique

Sharon Howard

 

May 1

Workshop (Arts)

Bart Bare

To Be Announced

May 12

Program

BOY Awards

 

May 26

Critique

Jessie Cook

 

June 5

Workshop (Arts)

 

To Be Announced

June 9

Program

Sharyn McCrumb

new book: Prayers the Devil Answers

June 23

Spring Fling

   

July 3

Workshop (Arts)

 

To Be Announced

July 14

Program

 

To Be Announced

July 28

Critique

Noyes Long

To Be Announced

August 7

Workshop (Arts)

 

To Be Announced

August 11

Program

 

To Be Announced

August 25

Critique

 

To Be Announced

September 4

Workshop (Arts)

 

To Be Announced

September 8

Program

 

To Be Announced

September 22

Critique

 

To Be Announced

October 2

Workshop (Arts)

 

To Be Announced

October 13

Program

 

To Be Announced

October 27

Critique

 

To Be Announced

November 6

Workshop (Arts)

 

To Be Announced

November 10

Program

 

To Be Announced

November 17

Critique

 

To Be Announced

December 4

Workshop (Arts)

 

To Be Announced

December 8

Holiday Luncheon

   

Our Members

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Our Members

Our Members (Click Here)

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Our History

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Our History

Overview (Click Here)

The Year 2015 (Click Here)

1998 -- 2012 (Click Here)

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Journal Archive

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Journal Archive

2016 (Click Here)

2015 (Click Here)

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Administrative/Contact Us

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Administrative/Contact Us

Our Bylaws (Click Here)

Book of the Year Submissions (Click Here)

Email the President: anitalaymon[at]charter[dot]net

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