Pensters Writing Group

06/02/2026

Opportunity for high school and college students - but note the short deadline (June 10):

https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250/american-experiment-your-words?fbclid=IwdGRleASLu_JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR7Dgp8-vBBkhr7zNFmf9zEBDOM_2LeFAt8RSqWp18lfpZ2Mcl2usUqAJR1ajg_aem_TegTEoSdi3HG2UKLMqiSvA

Located on the campus of Stanford University and in Washington, DC, the Hoover Institution is the nation’s preeminent research center dedicated to generating policy ideas that promote economic prosperity, national security, and democratic governance.

06/02/2026

Mike Turner, Pensters President here - I normally wouldn’t use this page for personal promotion, but since the word is starting to get around I want you to hear this news directly from me: this past Saturday, I was elected president of the Alabama State Poetry Society, at the ASPS Spring Meeting in Birmingham. I’ll serve a 2-year term of office beginning at the ASPS Fall meeting (date and location TBD; it will be in the October/November timeframe).

I don’t anticipate any issues arising from my wearing both hats, except perhaps if an ASPS event falls on the same Saturday as one of our Pensters meetings (and VP Dana Maloney always has done a great job of taking over running the Pensters meetings when needed!).

So, just thought you’d all want to know!

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

PAGES & PLACES CRAWL ANNOUNCED
A new literary-themed event is planned for downtown and midtown Mobile this fall, bringing together bookstores, coffee shops, breweries and other local businesses for a citywide “bookish crawl.”

“Pages & Places: A Mobile Bookish Crawl” is scheduled for Sept. 19 and is being organized as a daylong event encouraging participants to visit a variety of local businesses around Mobile with a literary focus.

According to organizers, the crawl will feature participating bookstores, coffee shops, bakeries, breweries and other locally owned businesses offering themed experiences, specials and activities tied to reading and book culture.

Several businesses have already signed on to participate, including Reney's Honey Butter, The Haunted Book Shop, Oyster City Mobile, Mobile Bookseller and Love and Adventure Studios LLC.

Organizers said additional participating locations, giveaways, exclusive specials and event details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Businesses interested in joining the crawl are still being sought. Organizers said coffee shops, bakeries, bookstores and other “bookish businesses” are encouraged to participate.

More information is available by contacting [email protected].

05/25/2026

Note the creative writing class being offered by University of South Alabama in Fairhope:

https://continuinged.southalabama.edu/southalabama/course/course.aspx?catId=88&fbclid=IwdGRleASA89tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR4VY_Y_7Wtlf6t9YT0LPUiMXhrxsq8PiEjnM2_nwxH0mzWjs1xn1p9DREF5mA_aem_5iWXMlGSDxYpZP_NOswdvQ