Join the Women's National Book Association for the Nashville Chapter's annual members-only* Christmas dinner** at the Woman's Club of Nashville. UPDATE: This year our guest speaker is Sandy Coomer.

The Power and Purpose of Poetry (and why you need it in your life!)

Of all the creative writing genres, poetry is perhaps the most misunderstood, perhaps even a little bit feared. After all, there are confusing line and stanza breaks, and metaphors demanding obscure interpretations which few understand. Sandy would like to dismiss that notion and share a better definition. Poetry is language distilled to its purest essence. Poetry is communication and emotion. In a world that is often fractured and impatient, poetry can teach empathy and tolerance, as well as challenge, enlighten, encourage, and heal. Forget all your previous ideas about poetry and entertain the thought that it’s alive and breathing all around you, waiting for your welcome. To help convince you, Sandy will read some poems, share how they work, and talk about her writing process and giving back to the writing community. The goal is not to turn you into a poet, (although that would be cool!) but to share poetry’s enduring value so that you might consider making room for it in your life.

Sandy Coomer is a poet, artist, Ironman athlete, and social entrepreneur from Nashville, TN. Over 150 pieces of Sandy’s art have been published in literary arts magazines both in print and online, and she’s been featured in exhibits and juried art shows. Her poetry has been published in numerous journals and she is the author of three poetry chapbooks and a full-length collection, Available Light (Iris Press). She is a multiple Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee and her poem, “Calligraphy” was a 2019 Best of the Net finalist. Sandy is a poetry mentor in the AWP Writer to Writer Mentorship Program and the founding editor of the online poetry journal Rockvale Review. She is the founder and director of Rockvale Writers’ Colony in College Grove, Tennessee, a not-for-profit organization that exists to support writers of all genres and backgrounds by providing safe, inspiring writer-in-residence opportunities and themed weekend retreats. Sandy is a teacher, a dreamer, and an explorer. Her favorite word is believe. To learn more, visit sandycoomer.com.

*PLEASE NOTE: This event is for members only. Reservations are required.

Not a member? Check out our website to learn about the benefits of joining our organization and sign up today! We'd love to have you! wnbanashville.org

**IF YOU HAVE DIETARY RESTRICTIONS, please contact Lee Fairbend (lfairbend@comcast.net) to request a special meal (vegeterian, gluten, etc.).

[Photo by Eleonora Albasi on Unsplash]

[Author photo and art courtesy of sandycoomer.com]