Local Authors Featured at Literary Showcase

The English Department of Savannah Technical College is set to present an exciting Literary Showcase. This dynamic event will be held on October 20, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Eckburg Auditorium. This showcase will feature the literary genius of four authors that hail from Savannah and surrounding areas. Themed: “The Power of the Pen: Empowerment Through Writing”, the event seeks to invoke passion about the creative process of writing. The featured authors will include Natarielle Powell, author of Diamonds in My Own Backyard, Stacy Davis Stanton, author of Fertile Ground and Journey of a Renewed Spirit: A Collection of Motivational Poetry, Dr. Mattie Brown, author of Spencer Spider Spends Spinach over Spaghetti, and Melanie “YeYo” Carter, author of When Light Breaks Through and A Taste of RAW SUGA. Natarielle Powell is a native of Savannah, GA. As a child, she was constantly writing and expressing her creativity. Her love for writing inspired her to study English at Spelman College. Upon graduating from Spelman with a Bachelor’s degree in English, she received her Master’s degree in Education with emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Diamonds in my own Backyard marks Natarielle’s first published work. She currently serves as an English Instructor and Professional Tutor at Savannah Technical College. Stacy Davis Stanton, a native of Savannah, GA, began writing at the age of ten and would pen a poem in less than five minutes on any subject. As she built on her love of writing, she was called upon to write poetry for various occasions. She soon expanded her craft and began writing speeches for herself and others. Stacy’s first published work was Journey of a Renewed Spirit: A Collection of Motivational Poetry, published in 2005. She went on to publish Fertile Ground, a powerful, thought-provoking account of her season of infertility, in 2010. Stacy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Mercer University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Savannah State University. She currently serves as Director of Workforce Development for Step Up Savannah. Stacy is married with one son. Dr. Mattie Torrence Brown was born in Portal, Georgia, the youngest of seven children of sharecroppers. With more than 35 years of experience in education from preschool to college, Dr. Brown has worked as a teacher, curriculum director, principal, and assistant to the superintendent for student learning. She presently holds a Doctor of Education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction. An educator for many years, she has spent time telling stories to different audiences in Southeast Georgia. Mattie lives in Hinesville, Georgia where she shares her imagination, green thumb and sweet potato pies with her children, grandchildren and students. Spencer Spider Spins Spinach Over Spaghetti is about the imaginary day of a garden spider that embarks on a whimsical adventure that leads to a friendship between an unlikely pair - a spider and fly. Spencer is determined to catch his dinner and is amazed by the colorful web he has “accidentally” spun. This is surely his good luck charm for catching the tasty fellow who is flying overhead. Little does Spencer know this is not just any fly- it is Fletcher Fly, who has a plan of his own for bringing the two together. Born in Jesup, GA, Melanie “YeYo” Carter began writing poetry at the tender age of 11 years old. She was published for the very first time, while in the 8th grade, in an edition of An Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans. YeYo spent the next seven years developing a personal relationship with her pen & finding her voice. While in the U.S. Air Force, YeYo joined an online poetry community called The Black Poetry Cafe (BPC) and had her first experience as a spoken word artist in 2006. She has been working with Siah Tichaona of Whirlwind Publishing since 2008. YeYo published her first book, When Light Breaks Through in 2010 and her second book, A Taste of RAW SUGA in 2011. All authors will have books on hand for purchase. You don’t want to miss this awesome event. It is free and open to the public. For more information, please email npowell@savannahtech.edu.

— Savannah Herald