Distinguished poet Anthony Abbott has spent the past few months serving as a poetry mentor to Kalyn Sisco, of Asheboro, Leigh Price of Randleman, Liz Monish, of Laurinburg, and Jo Barbara Taylor of Raleigh.

On Thursday evening, he will have the opportunity to read with them at the Fortner Writers' Forum at St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

The event is the culmination of the 2008-2009 Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series for the central region. Started five years ago by the North Carolina Poetry Society to allow young poets to be formally mentored by an established member of the poetry community in North Carolina, it is named after the late Marie Gilbert and Fred Chappell.

Abbott, professor emeritus of English at Davidson, continues to teach in his fields of interest, including modern drama, creative writing with an emphasis of poetry and religion and literature. He has two books of modern drama to his credit, "Shaw and Christianity" and "The Vital Lie: Reality and Illusion in Modern Drama."

His poetry books include "The Girl in the Yellow Raincoat," "A Small Thing Like Breath" and "The Search for Wonder in the Cradle of the World." His first novel, "Leaving Maggie Hope," was published in 2003 and won the Novello Prize at the Novello Festival of Charlotte.

The Fortner Writers' Forum is free and open to the public. Anyone needing more information can call (910) 277-5258.