Senior Citizens
COMMERCE — Senior writers are invited to attend the next meeting of the Silver Leos Writers Guild on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m in the Texas A&M-Commerce Alumni Center (corner of Stonewall and Campbell streets). The speaker for this month’s session is Larry Upshaw, executive director of Ageless Authors.
Ageless Authors highlights the craft of writers and artists 65 years of age and older, as well as recognizing their vitality and strength. The brainchild of two highly experienced writers/ editors — Larry Upshaw and the late Ginnie Bivona — who launched a crusade on behalf of senior creativity in 2015.
Along with assisting in the writing and publishing needs of seniors, Ageless Authors conducts an annual writing contest exclusively for writers age 65 and older, attracting submissions from across the country and beyond. Contest winners are rewarded with cash prizes, certificates and publication in the group’s anthology.
Their latest book, Dang, I Wish I Hadn’t Done That and Other Senior Moments from the Ageless Authors Writing Contest,is a collection of 34 stories and poetry from the 2018 contest. Categories were Military Memories; Parents, for Better or Worse; and Dang, I Wish I Hadn’t Done That (Regrets). The 2018 anthology features a wide array of works from highly experienced professional writers and those who forged careers in education, law, medicine, sales and many other careers before returning to or taking up writing in retirement.
“We are so proud to have received more than 400 submissions from senior writers throughout the English-speaking world,” said Upshaw. “The competition in this contest was fierce.”
Upshaw became a professional writer in his teens when he contributed feature articles to the rotogravure magazine of the Dallas Times Herald. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, he wrote for Texas Highways, Houston City, TIME, Rocky Mountain Magazine, and the Christian Science Monitor. He wrote a sports column that was syndicated in many southern and southwestern newspapers, including theDallas Morning News. Upshaw also wrote for a number of corporate publications, as well as creating and publishing a magazine for senior programs of 28 hospitals nationwide. As creative director and CEO of Texas Law Marketing, he published a dozen books on law, health and business.
More information about Ageless Authors can be found at www.ageless-authors.com. For a limited time, readers who purchase the 2018 anthology of award-winning entries through the website will receive a free copy of the group’s first book — Ageless Authors Anthology (2017) while supplies last.
Silver Leos Writers Guild, a chapter of the Texas A&M-Commerce Alumni Association, meets the second Wednesday of the month, January-November. Members wanting one-on-one assistance are invited to attend the Peer Review Group, beginning at 11:30 a.m. SLWG membership is open to those interested in all genres of writing and are 21 years of age or older. Dues are $20 per year. For additional information contact Sharon Feldt, president, at 903-335-8502.