Out & About: Party debuts 28th edition of 'The Loyalhanna Review'

Shirley McMarlin
Monday, July 15, 2019 12:01 a.m. | Monday, July 15, 2019 12:01 a.m.

Janice McLaughlin reads her story "River Dance", during "The Loyalhanna Review" publication party, held at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art-Ligonier Valley on Saturday evening, July 13, 2019.

Patricia Orendorff Smith reads "What If?", during "The Loyalhanna Review" publication party, held at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art-Ligonier Valley on Saturday evening, July 13, 2019.

"The Loyalhanna Review" 2019 contributors, (from left), Alicia Stankay, of Ambridge, Joe Potts, of Unity Township, Nancy Clark, of Export, and Candace Kubinec, of Greensburg, gather for a photo during "The Loyalhanna Review" publication party, held at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art-Ligonier Valley on Saturday evening, July 13, 2019.

(from left), Judith Gallagher, of Stahlstown, publicity director, Jim Busch, of White Oak, president of the Ligonier Valley Writers, and Ruth McDonald, of Greensburg, Editor-in-Chief, gather for a photo during "The Loyalhanna Review" publication party, held at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art-Ligonier Valley on Saturday evening, July 13, 2019.

"The Loyalhanna Review" 2019 contributors, (from left), Stacy DiPasquale, of Mt. Pleasant, Rod Cross, of Bullskin Township, Sarah Russell, of State College, and Keith Neil, of Greensburg, gather for a photo during "The Loyalhanna Review" publication party, held at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art-Ligonier Valley on Saturday evening, July 13, 2019.

Editor Ruth McDonald said she took inspiration from Sen. Bernie Sanders for the 2019 publication of The Loyalhanna Review.

For his presidential campaign, the Vermont Democrat shuns big money in favor of small-dollar donations. So, when funds were short to print the usual 1,500 color copies of the Ligonier Valley Writers’ literary journal, a call went out for similar small donations.

“We had a wonderful response,” McDonald said at the annual publication party held July 13 at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley.

Plenty of those 1,500 copies were available for attendees to take along for themselves and to share with others. Others are distributed free throughout the area.

The party gives featured authors and artists a chance to socialize and to hear some of the submissions read.

McDonald said she likes to vary the list of readers with “some of our veteran authors and some new voices.”

Readings included poems by Patricia Orendorff Smith, Sarah Russell, Candace Kubinec and Stacy DiPasquale; memoir-style pieces by Keith Neill, Janice McLaughlin and Rod Cross; and a story excerpt by Alicia Stankay.

Among attendees were John Kubinec, Glenn Himes, Colleen Wakefield, Rita Wakefield, Joe and Susan Potts, Tamara and Dan DiBartola, Bill and Mary DiBartola, Louise Vrable, Nancy and Tom Clark and LVW members Judith Gallagher and Linda Ciletti.

McDonald said there were more submissions for this year’s review than last year, coming from across Pennsylvania and from Maryland. Memoir tends to be the largest genre, but McDonald said the editorial board is always looking for more fiction and humor.

Keep that in mind if you want to submit to the 2020 journal. For more information, visit lvwonline.org.