Featured Writers: May 1, 2014 to November 7, 2014

We'll be posting pictures etc. when we have a featured writer perform for us.  We usually have one or two a month, followed by an open mic.  It has been exciting to hear from our local talent!  Here's a quick round up of the writers who so graciously joined us in our first 7 months:

May 1, 2014: RJ Walker

RJ is a slam poet from Salt Lake City who was instrumental in getting SFYS off the ground.  He very kindly agreed to be our first feature on our very first night.  Silly me, I neglected to get good pictures!  But we do have one from a subsequent SFYS.

http://rjwalker.bandcamp.com/
http://www.rjwalkerspokenword.com/

May 8, 2014: Courtney Hammond

Courtney is a slam poet from Salt Lake City who competed on the Salt City Slam Team in 2014.

https://twitter.com/agirlcalledface

May 15, 2014: Benjamin Barker

Ben is another great slam poet from Salt Lake City (the SLC poets have been really supportive!). Ben has competed nationally and is a well known and popular poet.

http://buttonpoetry.tumblr.com/post/59060811072/benjamin-barker-rubiks-cube-she-was-there

June 19: Willy Palomo

Willy is another Salt Lake City poet, who has represented SLC in the national slam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNR5IqHOSPI

July 17, 2014: Eric Samuelsen

Eric is a local playwright, former BYU theatre professor, and a great supporter of developing writers.

http://www.mormoniconoclast.com/

August 7, 2014: Kyle Nelson

Kyle is the teacher who inspired and encouraged his student writers at Lone Peak High School by creating a poetry night called Speak For Yourself.  His students are among the founders and writers of SFYS Open Mic.

August 28, 2014: Writers from the Utah Reflections Anthology: Phyllis Barber, Lance Larsen, Kace Johnstun, and Chadd VanZanten

Four writers from this new and beautiful anthology came to SFYS and shared selections from the book.

https://www.facebook.com/WasatchFrontReflections

Phyllis Barber

Lance Larsen (Utah's Poet Laureate)

Kace Johnstun

Chadd VanZanten

October 2, 2014: Rob Carney

Rob is a professor from UVU who is also a published author and accomplished poet.

http://www.escapeintolife.com/poetry/rob-carney/comment-page-1/

October 23, 2014: Darren Edwards

Darren is the founder of Storm the Mic (creative writing open mic) in St. George, Utah and the Wham Bam Slam.  He is also Editor in Chief for the Southern Utah arts magazine The Creative.

https://www.facebook.com/southernutahcreative
https://whambamthankyouslam.wordpress.com/

October 31, 2014: Edgar Allen Poe

Halloween drew this famous (and dead) American poet to our open mic.

http://www.poemuseum.org/

November 7, 2014: Gray Brian Thomas

Gray is a prolific writer and performer who co-founded Wasatch Wordsmiths and the University of Utah Slam Team.

http://tiredhearts.storenvy.com/products/1041982-a-small-city-of-the-mind-poems-by-gray-brian-thomas-2nd-printing