TalkWithME

Scott Silsbe

Scott was born in Detroit. He now lives in Pittsburgh, where he writes, makes music, and works for a used book store. His poems have appeared in numerous literary periodicals including: Third Coast, Lilliput Review, and Nerve Cowboy. He is the author of three books—Unattended Fire (Six Gallery Press, 2012), The River Underneath the City (Low Ghost Press, 2013), and Muskrat Friday Dinner (White Gorilla Press, 2017).

Deesha Philyaw

Deesha is a writer and editor based in Pittsburgh, PA. She is intrinsic to The Bridge Series www.facebook.com/pghbridgeseries started by Kristofer Collins and Jason Baldinger in January 2017. Deesha is the co-author of Co-Parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce, written in collaboration with her ex-husband. Her writing has appeared in numerous outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bitch, Full Grown People, Apogee Journal, brevity, and Dead Housekeeping. Deesha’s work includes a Notable Essay in The Best American Essays 2016. At The Rumpus, Deesha inaugurated and curates a monthly interview column called VISIBLE: Women Writers of Color. She is a fellow of the Kimbilio Center for African American Fiction. She is currently working on a novel as a well as a short story collection called The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.

Follow Deesha Philyaw at https://deeshaphilyaw.contently.com/ on social media & on www.littsburgh.com

Mugabi Byenkya, Poet, Writer & Rapper

Mugabi Augustine Ateenyi Olatokumbo Byenkya was born in Nigeria to Ugandan parents and has spent his life living across Africa, Asia and North America. Mugabi is a writer, poet and rapper who has honed his craft through writing workshops, poetry slams, cyphers and open mics across North America and East Africa. Mugabi was longlisted for the Babishai Niwe Poetry Award in 2015, has been featured on The Good Men Project, The Mighty and his writing is used to teach International High School English reading comprehension. His debut novel, Dear Philomena, was published in 2017, and has already been purchased by readers in six of the seven continents. Attention South American readers, find what you are missing!

Follow Mugabi Byenkya on social media, for his 2017-2018 North America tour dates & more.

The Transformational Jennie Washburn V.2017.09

Each month, Jennie joins Talk With ME host, Marcia Epstein, for real life conversation. Our 9/15 conversation included: Solitude, Community, Boundaries, Communication, & Kindness to Self & Others. Jennie is a Licensed Esthetician & hosts The Goddess Within (women’s circle in Lawrence, KS) www.facebook.com/The-Goddess-Within-252751568549725/ Jennie also enjoys being onstage, including as a two-time contestant in Transformations, a charity gala. Find Jennie on Facebook & at https://skincarebyjennie.net

Rick Stasi, Writer & Artist

Rick is an artist, writer, poet, voice talent, storyteller, and spoken word performer. His work is whimsical at times, but often painfully real. His writing is best described as a li’l bit Steve Allen, Dr. Seuss, Benny Hill and Dory Previn. Topics may be silly (a wee bit “stand-up-y”) morality plays, often done in different voices and dialects. He has performed in the Kansas City area at Children’s Mercy Hospital, the Uptown Arts Bar, The Writer’s Place, and Prospero’s Book Store. He has been featured on THURSDAY’S SHOWCASE a one-man, 2-hour live show, and ARTSPEAK, both on KKFI, KC’s community radio station. His books and CD’s include “Funny You Should Ask!,” “Talking To Myself, (To You!)” and “Long Story Short…”

www.RickStasi.com

Heath Brougher, Poet & Editor

Heath is a native of York, PA and attended Temple University. He is the co-editor of Into the Void Magazine (winner of the 2017 Saboteur Award for Best Magazine) as well as a Best of the Net Nominee. Although he has been writing his entire life, he began submitting his work for publication 3 years ago, at the age of 34. Since then his work has appeared in over 450 journals in 25 countries. His work has also been translated into journals in Albania and Kosovo. Heath edited the anthology “Luminous Echoes” which raised funds for Ireland’s Pieta House, which helps prevent suicide/self-harm. http://www.pieta.ie/ He published 3 chapbooks in 2016. His first full-length book “About Consciousness” was published by Alien Buddha Press in 2017.

Heath lived like a hermit for 12 years, then decided to travel the world, sharing his poetry. He has read in England, Scotland, and many U.S. cities. When not writing, he helps with his local charity Paws Soup Kitchen giving out food for pets in low-income families.

Follow Heath Brougher on Facebook.

Kendall A. Bell, Poet

Kendall lives and writes in Southern New Jersey. His poetry has been recently published in Edison Literary Review and Yellow Chair Review. He was nominated for Sundress Publications’ Best of the Net collection in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. He is the author of twenty one chapbooks. His most recent chapbook is “We Are All Ghosts.” will be followed soon by the collection “Happiness Is A Death Blow” with poetry by Kendall A. Bell and Charles Joseph, published by Indigent Press.

Kendall A. Bell is the founder and co-editor of the online journal Chantarelle’s Notebook www.chantarellesnotebook.com, publisher/editor of Maverick Duck Press and a music and book reviewer with Five2One Magazine. His chapbooks are available through Maverick Duck Press www.maverickduckpress.com Follow Kendall at www.facebook.com/kabpoetry & www.KendallABell.com

Harvest Hope with Poets Annette Billings & Diane Silver

Poets Annette Hope Billings & Diane Silver share and inspire hope through their writing and performances. They also provide “Harvest: A Workshop on Finding and Sustaining Hope” in the Topeka-Lawrence-Kansas City area. Through journaling, discussion, and inspirational readings from their own works, Annette and Diane lead participants through a reconsideration of the concept of hope and the role hope plays in their own lives. The workshop is suitable for people of all writings levels.

Learn more about Annette Hope Billings at Facebook.com/anetfullofhope & http://anetfullofhope.com/

Learn more about Diane Silver and the Harvest workshops at https://hopeandpolitics.wordpress.com/

Scott Thomas Outlar, V.2017.08.31

Scott Thomas Outlar hosts the site 17Numa.wordpress.com where links to his published poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, reviews, and books can be found. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Scott serves as an editor for The Peregrine Muse and Novelmasters. He has been a weekly contributor on the Dissident Voice Sunday Poetry Page for the past three years. His poetry has been translated into Afrikaans, Albanian, Persian, and Italian.

In June 2017 Alien Buddha Press released Poison In Paradise, a collection of poems by Scott Thomas Outlar and photographs by Redd Focks and Jay Miner https://www.createspace.com/7260299