A small gathering of authors, artists and leaders fittingly convened in the shadow of the bell hooks Memorial at Hopkinsville Community College’s Round Table Park Wednesday afternoon, breathing life into the 57th Annual Round Table Literary Journal.
Caitlin Chester, HCC faculty and its editor, noted this is a proud collection of works from the campus, whose staff yearly invites, compiles and designs a publication showcasing an unpublished work from local and regional talents of all ages within the mediums of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and visual art.
Three such contributors — Joseph Largé, Temperance Graves and Esther Ebbay — shared their efforts publicly.
A 73-year-old short-story writer, actor and musician, Largé read a clip from “Menagerie,” which describes he and his wife’s relationship with their four cats, three dogs, two horses and a parakeet.
Graves is an author, artist and humanitarian, who noted she wrote the poem “A Hold of Me” when she was going through some anxiety and PTSD symptoms.
Ebbay is on the editorial staff, and is a heavily-decorated recent graduate of HCC. She penned “Her Story,” describing an immigrant’s path to Christian County and success in Hopkinsville.
Dr. Chris Boyett, chief academic officer for HCC, was honored for the publication’s cover — in what was a unique image from the Hopkinsville city limits.
Awards went to Deborah Serra and “Gift” for Best Fiction, Addie Piatt and “Jewels” for Best Artwork, Harvey Silverman and “Frosted” for Best Creative Non-fiction, Isabella Dickerson and “The Fall Wonderland” for Next Generation Artwork, and Velda Garvin’s “I Cried” for Best Poetry.
Chester said submissions for the 58th publication will open October 2023 and run through February 2024. More than 60 contributed to this last effort, many coming from the Christian County Public School system, University Heights Academy and HCC.
With COVID-19 finally ebbing, Chester said there’s a lot of energy to get even more outreach in local classrooms.
The HCC Foundation remains a major sponsor for its creation.
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