Book covers are incredibly important. In fact, they draw many of us to the books we read. We don’t often get to hear the stories of how our favorite books arrive at their respective covers, but in this fascinating conversation with T. K. Thorne, Claire Datnow and Kristina Handler take us behind the scenes and allow us to see the process of developing the perfect cover for Claire’s latest novel Red Flag Warning: An Eco Adventure.

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Claire Datnow was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, which ignited her love for the natural world and for diverse indigenous cultures around the globe. Claire taught creative writing to gifted and talented students in the Birmingham, Alabama Public Schools System. Her published works include a middle grade Eco mystery series, The Adventures of The Sizzling Six. She received numerous scholarships and awards, including, The Blanche Dean Award for Outstanding Nature Educator, the Alabama Writers Cooperative Middle Grade Award, and Monarch Mysteries (Book 6 eco mystery series) long listed for the Green Books Award. During her tenure as a teacher, Claire and her students developed a nature trail, recently named in her honor as the Alabama Audubon-Datnow Forest Preserve

We were devastated to learn that Brian Voice Porter - a prominent Alabama poet, performer, teacher, and community activist who had presented three well-received talks at our recent annual conference - passed away suddenly and unexpectedly earlier this week.

Voice was a gifted artist and an exceptionally warm and gracious spirit who couldn't help but inspire those with whom he came into contact. Here are some links to several articles celebrating Voice's enormous contribution to the literary arts in Alabama:

“Brian Porter Hawkins is an Alabama Bright Light triggering a renaissance through Ensley Alive” by Karim Shamsi-Basha (Alabama News Center)

“5 reasons why Birmingham needs to know Brian Voice Porter Hawkins” (Bhmam Now)

“Brian Voice Porter Reading for Shelter in Magic Reading Series” (Magic City Poetry Festival)

“Brian Voice Porter Hawkins” (Starbucks Stories)

“Birmingham Poet And Activist Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins Dies At 42” (WBMH)

“Brian ‘Voice Porter’ Hawkins, Birmingham artist/poet, dies at 42” (Birmingham Times)

“Birmingham mourning death of poet, activist Brian 'Voice Porter' Hawkins” (WVTM 13)

We will be posting Voice's presentations to our YouTube channel very soon. We were honored by his presence in life, and we count ourselves lucky to have these recordings as reminders of Voice's rich and deep reservoir of creative insight.

And we hold Voice’s words forward as an inspiration for Alabama writing community.

“I think success in the community depends on more community events and people. .. I think success in a community is: community.”

- Brian Voice Porter

For Immediate Release 

The Alabama Writers Cooperative invites all literary enthusiasts and word aficionados to its virtual Annual Conference on August 20th-22nd. The conference aims to strengthen and support the development of writers and poets across Alabama and beyond. Admission to the conference is free to members and non-members alike, though registration is required.

The aim of the conference is to underscore the AWC’s mission, which is to nurture and engage a diverse community of Alabama writers. 

In partnership this year with the Emmet O’Neal Public Library in Mountain Brook and the Birmingham chapter of PEN America, AWC is proud to present keynote speakers Randi Pink and Angela Jackson-Brown. Pink is the author of Into White and Girls like Us. Jackson-Brown wrote When Stars Rain Down, House Repairs, and Drinking from a Bitter Cup. 

Another highlight of this year’s conference is the expanded participation of established publishing industry professionals. Literary agent Erin Clyburn of The Jennifer DiChiara Literary Agency will review pitches by AWC members and offer feedback. There will also be a first-page reading panel, featuring Clyburn and literary agents Jemiscoe Chambers-Black (Andrea Brown Literary Agency) and Kaitlyn Johnson (Belcastro Literary Agency).

Other featured faculty in this year’s conference are Alabama Poet Laureate Jennifer Horn; 2021 Caldecott Honor winner Karim Shamsi-Basha; horror novelist Shaun Hamill; mystery writer Hank Early; screenwriter and novelist Joel Eisenberg; and literary agent Alec Shane (Writers House). 

The conference will also feature presentations by novelist and past AWC board president T. K. Thorne; Birmingham-based journalist Monique Jones, author of The Book of Awesome Black Americans; filmmaker and professor, Katie Boyer; renowned local spoken-word artist, Voice Porter; decorated poet and director of UAB’s Ada Long Creative Writing Workshop, Tina Braziel; and recent NEA Fellowship-winner and director of the Stokes Center for Creative Writing at the University of South Alabama, Charlotte Pence.

 In addition, AWC members will have the opportunity to submit samples of their original works in progress for free manuscript consultations offered by Mobile-based fiction writer Adam Prince; past AWC president and Alabama Poet Laureate emeritus, Sue Brannan Walker; and TJ Beitelman, who serves as current AWC president and chairs the Creative Writing department at the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

AWC is one of the oldest continuing writers’ organizations in the United States. Writers, aspiring writers, publishers, and members of the literary community are welcome to join. Sharing information, developing ideas, honing skills, and receiving practical advice are hallmarks of the annual conference.

Register to attend for free online.

Meet our 2021 faculty.

Questions should be directed to ACW Conference Chair JJ Jones at jjsayspoetryplz@me.com.

You can also download a copy of this press release here.