One thing to love about the Jacksonville writing community is the way its members step up to serve the community when needed.  Life happens, and recently Brooks Decker (after working hard to make sure the applications for the 2024 JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival were solicited, received, and in the hands of capable anonymous judges, plus coordinating the venue location plans) has made the difficult decision to pass the torch to another young, energetic Jacksonville writer – Kathleen Shelton-Gilmore.

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Kathleen Shelton Gilmore began hosting and organizing poetry open mics in the spring of 2017. She has been an active member of the literary community, hosting events at venues such as Chamblin’s Uptown Books and Rain Dogs. She is the founder of the spoken word poetry open mic What’s in a Verse (formerly Kes Poetry Night) and the creator of Blue Monday Literary Zine. She worked for Hope at Hand facilitating workshops for teens, and assisted in the 2019 Jax Poetry Festival. Kathleen studied English and Creative Writing at the University of North Florida. She is an avid reader of poetry, inspired by Anne Sexton, bell hooks, and Denise Levertov. She is happiest rummaging thrift stores, estate sales, and hanging out with her family. Kathleen just completed her first chapbook titled Sticks, Stones, and Charlatans, which is set to release at the beginning of October 2024 by local independent publisher, City Bus Print.

 

With many thanks to prior directors Tim Gilmore, Jo Carlisle, Brad Kuhn, Darlyn Kuhn, Erica Saffer, and Brooks Decker, Kathleen Shelton is eager to make the 11th annual festival fresh and exciting for writers, readers, and lovers of literature alike.  Stay tuned for updates as they happen.

Kathleen can be reached via email at jaxbyjax@yahoo.com