For our next Monthly Meeting we are excited to announce we will have TWO presenters. Poets Marsha Mills and Kelly Hanwright will discuss self-publishing and self-promotion. Marsha will focus on her journey in publishing and promoting a group anthology project. Kelly will focus on her personal journey with publishing and promoting her own book.
Marsha Mills is a Chattanooga native who goes by “The Poetic Diva” because of her style of mixing poetic verse with a lyrical hook. She is a mother, grandmother, poet, singer, actress, and most of all, an encourager and cheerleader of others.
She is the executive director of the nonprofit Rhyme N Chatt Interactive Poetry Organization and has shared her poetry and hosted open mic sessions and shows since 2004. In her professional life, she is the Corporate Digital Communication Administrator at McKee Foods Corporation, where she has worked for more than 35 years. She is a Black Excellence Chattanooga (BEC) 2022 Best Literary Arts nominee, a 2023 Holmberg Institute graduate, and the recipient of the 2022 Literary Excellence Award from the Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas.
Her poetry is inspired by gains and losses in love and life. Her greatest joy is seeing others come into knowing and owning their own voice, power, gift and purpose. Her greatest accomplishment is being the mother of fellow creatives, Swayyvo Morton and Jada Mills.
FB: Poetic Diva
IG: ThePoeticDiva
Kelly Hanwright has learned to believe in Regeneration as a force. That is what the art of poetry represents for her. She creates to understand her Self and Life. She shares so she can pass on the understanding she’s found, and hopefully help someone else on their own journey.
She is the author of “The Locust Years,” a survival memoir in poetry about growing up with a parent who had undiagnosed schizophrenia. She is also a Best-of-the-Net and two-time Pushcart Prize nominee.
You can find her work in Birmingham Arts Journal, SoulLit, Heart of Flesh Literary Journal, American Diversity Report, and more.
Our meetings are held at the Edney Innovation Center downtown at 11th and Market on the 5th floor in the large conference room. We start at 6:00 PM Eastern with introductions, news, and accolades, and our presentation starts at 6:30. Street parking is free after 6:00, and there is also a free parking lot behind the Bessie Smith Center just a couple blocks away. The doors to the Edney lock at 6:30, so please do not be late! You may also join us virtually via Google Meet at this link: meet.google.com/sft-oyia-qsk
These meetings are always free and open to the public. We hope you can join us!
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