Two poems by poet Ron Bayes of Laurinburg have been published in the winter edition of the Word Salad Poetry Magazine. A biographical sketch of Bayes as well as his poems can be found on the publication's Web site at www.wsmagazine.net.

Bayes has been the writer-in-residence at St. Andrews Presbyterian College since 1968. The two poems that appear in the publication are titled "A Focus" and "Dear Boy."

Bayes has published 13 books of poetry, two plays, a chapbook of short fiction, and a work of criticism, "John Reed and The Limits of Idealism." He is a recipient of North Carolina's highest civilian award, The North Carolina Award. The North Carolina Writers' Network presented him with its first annual Lifetime Achievement Award -- which is named in his honor.

From St. Andrews, Bayes received an honorary doctor of humane letters in 2005.

Bayes was born and raised in Oregon, served in the military in Iceland, received undergraduate and master's degrees at Eastern Oregon University and later studied at the University of Pennsylvania.

After teaching for the University of Maryland on two occasions and living in Japan, he came to St. Andrews where he teaches creative writing, modern poetry, and Japanese fiction and film.

Limerick Deadline Reminder

Deadline for The Pilot's current limerick contest is Jan. 31, with selections published on Feb. 22. The leading line: "Now that footballs aren't filling the air..." Does this make your life better or worse? An example from Pilot columnist Joe Piper:

Now that footballs aren't filling the air

For my family I'll have time to spare.

Gosh, my children have grown.

Who's the one on the phone?

Hey -- this card says my wife's in Times Square!

E-mail your verses to joelimericks@embarqmail.com. Or mail them to Limericks, The Pilot, PO Box 58, Southern Pines, NC 28388.

Gathering at Given

On Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3:30 p.m., at the Given Memorial Library, the Gathering at Given will feature Ilana Stewart.

Stewart grew up in Russia during the Soviet days and moved to the U. S. at the age of 19. She is a flight attendant and makes many trips to Russia each year. She will speak about her youth in the Soviet Union and what Russia is today and how its people view the United States.

This event is free and open to the public.

Pizza With Pizzazz

The Southern Pines Public Library will host Pizza with Pizzazz from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the library's multipurpose room.

Students from grades 6-8 are invited to enjoy pizza and participate in really wacky sports such as the fruitcake toss or buggy bowling.

Call 692-8235 or visit www.sppl.net for more information.

Doris Betts Fiction Contest

The Doris Betts Fiction Prize awards the first- and second-place winners with prizes of $250 and $100 respectively. Winners and finalists will be considered for publication in the North Carolina Literary Review.

This year's final judge will be Kat Meads, a native of eastern North Carolina now living in California. Meads' books include the short story collections, "Not Waving" and "Little Pockets of Alarm," and the novels, "Sleep" and "The Invented Life of Kitty Duncan Benedict Roberts."

The 2008 Betts Prize and second place stories will appear in NCLR's 2009 issue, forthcoming this summer. For subscription information, go to www.ecu.edu/nclr.

Eligibility and Guidelines

n The competition is open to any writer who is a legal resident of North Carolina or a member of NCWN.

n Entrants should submit two copies of a typed, original, and unpublished story, not to exceed 6,000 words.

n Names should not appear on manuscripts, but on a separate cover sheet with the author's name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail address, and ms. title.

n One entry per writer.

n Entries will not be returned; enclose a SASE or email address for a list of winners.

n An entry fee must accompany manuscript. You may pay the member entry fee if you join NCWN with your submission: $10/NCWN members, $20/non-members.

For more information about the Betts competition see http://www.ncwriters.org/programs/competitions/betts.shtml.

Questions may also be directed to Margaret Bauer, editor of the North Carolina Literary Review, via e-mail at BauerM@ecu.edu.

Send submissions, indicating name of competition to: Margaret Bauer, Editor, N.C. Literary Review, Department of English, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.

Checks should be made payable to the North Carolina Writers' Network The deadline for receipt of materials is Feb. 1.

Readings Set

The N.C. Poetry Society hosts a series of readings the fourth Thursday of each month (except November and December, at 7 p.m. at McIntyre's Fine Books at Fearrington Village, Pittsboro.

The first reading features M. Scott Douglass and Jonathan Rice, editors of Main Street Rag, and is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22.

Upcoming readings feature Dave Manning and Bill Griffin (Feb. 26); Shelby Stephenson (March 26); Michael Beadle (April 23); Mark Smith-Soto (May 28); Pat Riviere-Seel and Carol Peters (June 25); Susan Meyers and Linda Ferguson (July 23); Gail Peck and Barbara Presnell (Aug. 27)

Call (919) 542-3030 for more information or visit www.fearrington.com/village/mcintyres.asp.

Sandhills Writers

Sandhills Writers hosts a creative roundtable, including reading and critiques, every third Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Weymouth Center, and every first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Land Owners Office in Seven Lakes North.

For information, call 400-5060.

Publishing Workshop

Write It & Publish It with Zelda Lockhart will present the workshop, "Write It and Publish It" from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Quail Ridge Books & Music, 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh.

For information, e-mail fifthbornnovel@aol.com.