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“It’s had a facelift,” said Managing Editor Pam Pooley, who conducts a monthly writing workshop at the Ruth Keeler Library. “The first issue in 2011 was strictly writings from the workshop and it had ads.”
The new format will be around 120 pages, printed in four colors. It will feature the photography, art, fiction, non-fiction and poetry of 40 contributors, whose pieces were selected by a panel of volunteer professional editors. Instead of ads, there will be a list of donors.
Contributors are both professional and emerging artists. They come from Westchester, Fairfield and Putnam counties and include people from the writing workshop, a couple of Somers High School students and some North Salem residents.
“It’s hard to get published these days,” said Library Director Carolyn Reznick, “and we like to give local people an opportunity.”
Pooley initiated the idea of a literary journal when she came across the West Marin Review on a visit to San Francisco. “We could do that,” she thought. Reznick agreed. “As far as I know, we’re the only library in Westchester with a literary review. And Pam has done a heroic job as managing editor.”
“The Chamber of Commerce supports local community groups and makes a yearly donation to a worthy one,” said the chamber's financial organizer Christine Renda. “This year, we decided to support the library and its literary journal.”
“And we support you,” replied Reznick. “We’ve launched lots of programs together.”
Watch for The Balanced Rock at North Salem’s Ruth Keeler Memorial Library when it is published in the spring. Copies will sell for about $15.
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