Are Writers Anonymous and the Alabama State Poetry Society going international? 

This month, members of the Pell City writing group, Writers Anonymous (WA) enjoyed the launch of a collaborative effort between WA’s own James Matthew Byers and Eileen T. O’Neil, who is a poet from the United Kingdom.  

Byers, who is a former reading teacher at Ragland High School, came to the meeting in full regalia as the “Darque Bard,” (complete with hooded robe and sword), and O’Neil, dressed as the “Priestess of Psalm” joined us from the UK via Skype. They shared poetry from their co-written book of poems, “Perpetual Emotion.” O’Neil, who is originally from Belfast, Ireland, now lives in Macclesfield, UK, with her husband. 

Byers and O’Neil will be traveling on their “Myth and Emotion Tour” both here in the United States and also in Europe. Artist and award-winning poet Byers will be traveling to the United Kingdom in March, where he and O’Neil will begin their “Myth and Emotion Tour.” In June, O’Neil will be traveling to the United States, where they will continue the tour.  

Pell City’s Writers Anonymous is proud to be a part of this collaborative effort between one of our Pell City poets and a poet from “across the pond.” We’re excited to see where it goes, and we predict a charming and delightful tour and a warm reception wherever that tour takes them. 

Writers Anonymous is a group of poets and writers from all genres, who meet once a month in Pell City. The meeting is the first Thursday of each month from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Pell City Recreation Hall, 411 19th Street South. Meetings are open to the public, and WA is famous for their refreshments. There’s no charge to attend. 

If you’d like to know more about the “Myth and Emotion Tour” with the “Darque Bard” and the “Priestess of Psalm,” you can follow or friend them on Facebook.