2010 Texas State Poet Laureate Karla K. Morton Announces Little Town, Texas Tour

Denton, TX (PRWEB) June 19, 2009 -- 2010 Texas State Poet Laureate Karla K. Morton (www.kkmorton.com) is hitting the road in September, 2009, embarking on a tour across the state to serve as an ambassador of poetry with the creation of her Little Town, Texas Tour.

The tour's main mission is to bring poetry to teens across Texas, making poetry more accessible and relevant to students, especially in towns that may be underserved in the arts. Morton will visit schools, where she will host a "Day of Poetry" in different cities, partnering with schools, community centers and other venues across the state.

Each "Day of Poetry" will include a Little Town, Texas Poetry and Art Contest, readings by Ms. Morton from her selected collection of works, readings from the top three poetry contest winners, a question and answer session with Ms. Morton, and the incorporation of other art forms into the day's festivities.

Morton's long-term goal as part of the Little Town, Texas Tour is to create and publish a book to include her own poems about the towns she visits and the first place student poem or artwork winners from each town on the tour.

Morton also plans to visit oncology and cancer centers across the state, where she will share from Redefining Beauty, a poetry collection she wrote during her own diagnosis, treatment and survival of breast cancer in 2008. Redefining Beauty will be released in September 2009 by Dos Gatos Press.

"My childhood dream was to someday become a Texas State Poet Laureate," said Morton. "As a mother of two teenagers, I know the importance of inspiring dreams and encouraging achievements, no matter how difficult they may seem. I'm so honored to be selected as 2010 Texas State Poet Laureate and to serve as an ambassador of poetry to the youth in our state."

Morton is the first woman named as Texas State Poet Laureate in more than fifteen years. Described as a "celebrated poet" in the bill presented to the Texas State Legislature, she has been widely published in literary journals and serves as a board member of the Greater Denton Arts Council and a founding member and officer of the Denton Poets' Assembly (part of the Poetry Society of Texas). She loves to promote poetry, and has read her work across Texas, performing at such venues as schools, universities, bookstores and festivals. Morton is also author of the book/CD titled Wee Cowrin' Timorous Beastie, a North Texas Book Festival Awards Finalist, and has two books of poetry that will be released soon - Redefining Beauty by Dos Gatos Press in 2009 and a collection of her works as part of the Poet Laureate series by the Texas Christian University Press in 2010. She has a journalism degree from Texas A&M University and is currently featured on a nationally-aired episode of The Art of Living Gallery for her promotion of poetry as a healing tool for the soul.

To learn about more about Karla K. Morton, her work and upcoming events where she will perform, speak and/or sign books, please visit www.kkmorton.com.

If you are interested in having Karla K. Morton come to your town or school during her upcoming Little Town, Texas Tour, please contact Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer at 817.236.6075. Along the way, Morton plans to also stop at universities, bookstores, military bases, festivals, poetry gatherings, oncology/cancer centers and writing workshops.

About Karla K. Morton

Karla K. Morton, the 2010 Texas State Poet Laureate, is a board member of the Greater Denton Arts Council and a founding member and board member of the Denton Poets' Assembly (part of the Poetry Society of Texas). Ms. Morton's poetry, which spans many subjects and forms, has been published in a variety of literary journals, including descant, AmarilloBay, the Concho River Review, the Southwestern American Literature, Oak Bend Review, Wichita Falls Literary and Art Review, The Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas, the Texas Poetry Calendar, Illya's Honey, Austin International Poetry Anthology, New Texas, Denton Writer's League Anthology, and ARDENT. Morton, a member of the esteemed Western Writers of America, the Writer's League of Texas and the Academy of American Poets, is also author of the book/CD titled Wee Cowrin' Timorous Beastie (a North Texas Book Festival Awards Finalist), which is a unique blend of poetry, story and the original Celtic music of award-winning Canadian composer Howard Baer. Morton has two books of poetry that will be released soon - Redefining Beauty by Dos Gatos Press in 2009 and a collection of her works as part of the Poet Laureate series by the Texas Christian University Press in 2010. She has been featured on the Art of Living Gallery national television show (episode titled "Commemorating Life") and loves to promote poetry, logging hundreds of miles across Texas, reading her work at such venues as schools, universities, bookstores, the Langdon Weekend, the Salado Highland Games and the North Texas Irish Festival. Morton was born in Fort Worth, graduated from Mansfield High School, holds a Journalism degree from Texas A&M University and currently resides in Denton, Texas, with her two children and husband. For more information, please visit www.kkmorton.com or www.facebook.com/pages/Karla-K-Morton/84970557709.

Media Contact:

Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer

Shafer Communications

817.236.6075

High-resolution photos are available.

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