Press Release

Metropolitan Education District 760 Hillsdale Ave San Jose, CA 95136 December 16, 2008

Contact: Michelle Alaimo Communication Specialist (408) 723-6464 malaimo@metroed.net

Creative Writing Class Creates New Published Authors

Looking for a new author? Look no further than Metropolitan Adult Education Program’s (MAEP) 50+ (Older Adult) creative writing class! In the past two years, three students have published books.

Lynn Rogers has been teaching the Creative Writing Class for MAEP since 1997 and in that time has helped many students publish books. The class itself has published anthologies featuring stories and poems.

The latest book, Virble: Sometimes She Gits In Trouble Cuz She Fits Too Soon, by Virble Kathleen Mabry Yeadon was released at the end of October and was written during Ms. Rogers’ class. It is available on Amazon.com. In Yeadon’s acknowledgments, she thanks Rogers and her MAEP class: “You were generous in your reaction and enjoyment of each vignette (now chapters) as I read them aloud in our critiquing sessions.”

Other new authors from Rogers’ class include Katharine Wilson’s poetry book, Talking to the Wall, and Wana Perry’s book, This Much I Remember. Perry is 80+ years young.

Rogers, who recently published her 7th book, A Valley of Ashes, said that while it is difficult to break into the publishing industry, many in her class are able to publish by connecting with independent publishers such as Inkling Press.

Rogers said that she sees “a lot of creative potential from her students.” Many students meet outside of the class in a group called Valley of Hearts Desire and that group has published an anthology. Over the years, her classes have published five anthologies of stories and poetry.

Students take field trips to readings and published authors visit the class to teach students more about the publishing industry. Rogers also teaches students how to edit and illustrate concepts.

The class meets on Thursdays at the Kirk Community Center. Enrollment is ongoing and pre-enrollment is required. To register, call MAEP at 723-6450 or visit www.metroed.net.

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MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 30,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.