Banned Books Week Read Out

Come join us celebrate our freedom to read! The South Jersey Writers’ Group is holding a banned books read out at the Cherry Hill Public Library, 1100 Kings Highway North in Cherry Hill, NJ, on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 2 – 4 pm. We'll be in the tiled area on the lower level under the grand staircase.

“As writers, we have each read a book that inspired us to pursue our craft,” says Mieke Zamora-Mackay, event organizer.  “It’s quite likely that very book has been challenged for removal from a public or school library, summer or school reading list.  Imagine if that book wasn’t available to you then?  We’re encouraging everyone to bring a banned book with them and read it in public!”

Through the years, many titles have been challenged for a myriad of reasons.  Please follow this link to view a list of the most challenged books from 2001 to the present.

 
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read.  Typically held during the last week in September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information.  Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, teachers, journalists, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those considered unorthodox or unpopular.

Begun in 1982, Banned Books Week reminds Americans not to take the freedom to read for granted.  Since 1990, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom has received reports of 9,500 attempts to remove books deemed by some as inappropriate.

2013 Fall Writers' Retreat

Post by Sarah Hawkins Miduski

Last Weekend (November 15th-17th) the South Jersey Writers' Group held their 2013 Fall Writers' Retreat.

The retreat took place at the Weisel Hostel, located in Nockamixon State Park, in Quakertown PA; It was a fantastic venue to hold a writers' retreat, as the one hundred year old farm house and beautiful grounds provided a great amount of scope for the imagination.

The retreat was equal parts productivity and relaxation.  Some attendees worked to boost their NaNoWriMo word counts, while others worked on editing and/or other writing projects.

It was a great chance to let the words flow freely onto the page without the interruptions and distractions of normal everyday life.  Plenty of writing was accomplished and it was estimated that at least 40,200 were written during the course of the weekend.

There was also plenty of coffee/tea, snacks and other food consumed, after all writers need to keep up their strength and stamina. There was also time for a s'mores break.

When a difficult part of a story  needed to be mentally worked out or some fresh air was required, the retreat goers headed outside.  The weather turned out to be pleasant with just the right amount of fall nip in the air.  The hotel's grounds and stone bridge trail offered an excellent opportunity to get some exercise while resting overworked fingers.

The fall retreat was wonderful and all of the attendees were able to make some writing progress while relaxing and having fun.

If you are a current group member, keep an eye out for upcoming retreats. If you are not a member, now is the perfect time to sign up and enjoy all of the activities the group has to offer.