Our Community Involvement
Ninebark Press believes deeply in reading globally and acting locally. To that end, in addition to its work in publishing innovative and compelling literature with international resonance, Ninebark has supported its hometown One Book/Many Voices community-read since its inception. One Book/Many Voices seeks to foster literacy, promote discussion, and build community through a powerful, shared reading experience. The editors of Ninebark Press have served as judges for the student essay contests (from grade school to college level) held in conjunction with One Book/Many Voices each year since 2007. Authors who have visited Rome, Georgia to read from their work selected for the program and to meet with the student essay winners have included, among others, Maya Angelou, Sherman Alexie, and Clyde Edgerton.
One Book/Many Voices Authors and Writing Contest Winners
One Book/Many Voices Authors
2007 Maya Angelou -- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
2008 Sherman Alexie -- The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian
2009 Paul Rusesabagina -- An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography
2010 Jay Asher -- 13 Reasons Why: A Novel
2011 Kristin Kimball -- The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food and Love
2012 Kelsey Timmerman -- Where Am I Wearing?
2013 Clyde Edgerton -- The Night Train: A Novel
2014 Ruta Sepetys -- Between Shades of Grey
2015 George Ella Lyon — Voices from the March on Washington
2007 Maya Angelou -- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
2008 Sherman Alexie -- The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian
2009 Paul Rusesabagina -- An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography
2010 Jay Asher -- 13 Reasons Why: A Novel
2011 Kristin Kimball -- The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food and Love
2012 Kelsey Timmerman -- Where Am I Wearing?
2013 Clyde Edgerton -- The Night Train: A Novel
2014 Ruta Sepetys -- Between Shades of Grey
2015 George Ella Lyon — Voices from the March on Washington
One Book/Many Voices Writing Contest Winners
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Winners of 2007 Contest
Brett Adams -- Model High School Katie Miller -- Pepperell High School Shymeria Madden -- Rome High School Ashley Garner -- Armuchee High School Amy Tyler -- Coosa High School Matthew Stapleton — Floyd County Educational Center Brandy Kincaid -- Rome Community Diana Lynn Davis West -- Rome Community Winners of 2008 Contest Erin Carroll — Model High School Amanda Holliday — Model High School Grant Cochran — Armuchee High School David Slinkard — Armuchee High School Cole Daniel — Darlington School Chelsea Winfrey — Darlington School Jegnasha Patel — Pepperell High School Andrew Pressley — Pepperell High School Marley Earwood — Coosa High School Diana West — Rome Community Winners of 2009 Contest Jordan Eaker -- Pepperell High School Alexandria Murray -- Darlington School Dane Logan Hackman -- Berry College Diana Lynn Davis -- Rome Community Lucy Lansing -- Rome Community Kerem Trolander -- Rome High School Katharine Clonts -- Armuchee High School Amanda Holliday -- Model High School Toby Armellino -- Coosa High School Winners of 2010 Contest Chelsea Griffin -- Pepperell High School Rachel Jochimsen -- Rome Middle School Johnnyne Sampson-Sharp -- Kaplan University Keri Gresham -- Model High School Will Warren -- Darlington School Sarah Lane -- Coosa High School Rebecca Whitney -- Rome High School |
Winners of 2011 Contest
Chandler Johnson — Darlington School Austin Musselwhite — Rome High School Graeme Bettler — Armuchee High School William Moraga — Coosa High School Pearle Martin — Model High School Ashtyn Johnston — Pepperell High School Kristian Kelley — Floyd County Executive Internship Program (Model High) Winners of 2012 Contest Charlynn Andrews — Rome High School Marlin Wright — Pepperell High School Laura Graben — Model High School Megan Landers — Floyd County Executive Internship Program Elisa Montanaro — Darlington School Maggie Stansell — Armuchee High School Winners of 2013 Contest Rachael Minard — Armuchee High Alena Holmes — Coosa High Sam Harton — Darlington School Katy Parsons — Model High Sachi Askew — Pepperell High Elizabeth Clonts -—Floyd County Executive Internship Program Winners of 2014 Contest Abby Blackmon — Armuchee High School Allie Early — Model High School Ethan Pender — Darlington School Barrett Irmscher — Unity Christian School Winners of 2015 Contest Abigail Gurley — Armuchee High School Hunter Hays — Model High School Bre Lieberman — Rome High School Tya Shakira Moore — Rome Phoenix Performance Learning Center Erica Alamia — Anna K. Davie Elementary School Matthias Jamar Vance — Main Elementary School Carson Claire Walker — West End Elementary School |
Sandra Meek at the University of Namibia, 2009
In the summer of 2009, Sandra Meek, the editor of Deep Travel (Ninebark Press 2007), traveled to the University of Namibia to give a poetry reading from the collection and lead a poetry workshop. In the process, Meek donated a copy of Deep Travel to the library at the University.
Meek recalled that though poets and students in Namibia were well-versed in British and some European poetry, American poetry remained largely unfamiliar to them. "For some of the students," Meek recalled, "this was their introduction to American poetry."
Since the University does not offer a creative writing major, students who attended the workshop and reading had a great interest in poetry, though they may not have been to a workshop previously. Not only did students attend the events, but professors and writers as well. Though Meek was the only poet giving a reading, she had the opportunity to speak with a diverse group of poets. Not only did English-writing poets attend, but also poets writing in Afrikaans, German, Portuguese, and Namibian. Overall, Meek felt very welcomed by those at the University.
During her visit, Meek also donated a copy of Deep Travel to the University's library, adding to their American poetry collection. Noting as well that books are particularly expensive in Namibia, Meek purchased a subscription to Tupelo Press, publisher of Meek's Biogeography (2008), for the University's library and has renewed the subscription yearly since her visit. Through the subscription, the University of Namibia receives copies of every title published by Tupelo, thus adding not only to their American poetry collection but to their American literary fiction collection as well.
Meek recalled that though poets and students in Namibia were well-versed in British and some European poetry, American poetry remained largely unfamiliar to them. "For some of the students," Meek recalled, "this was their introduction to American poetry."
Since the University does not offer a creative writing major, students who attended the workshop and reading had a great interest in poetry, though they may not have been to a workshop previously. Not only did students attend the events, but professors and writers as well. Though Meek was the only poet giving a reading, she had the opportunity to speak with a diverse group of poets. Not only did English-writing poets attend, but also poets writing in Afrikaans, German, Portuguese, and Namibian. Overall, Meek felt very welcomed by those at the University.
During her visit, Meek also donated a copy of Deep Travel to the University's library, adding to their American poetry collection. Noting as well that books are particularly expensive in Namibia, Meek purchased a subscription to Tupelo Press, publisher of Meek's Biogeography (2008), for the University's library and has renewed the subscription yearly since her visit. Through the subscription, the University of Namibia receives copies of every title published by Tupelo, thus adding not only to their American poetry collection but to their American literary fiction collection as well.