Karla K. Morton, 2010 Texas Poet Lareate

Karla is the 2010 Texas Poet Laureate and her work journals the experience of the breast cancer patient. She is currently embarked upon her little town Texas tour. Morton has made it into a number of literary journals: descant, Amarillo Bay, Concho River Review and Southwestern American Literature. She's been published in the Texas Poetry Calendar and more. The writing she did became "Redefining Beauty," a collection of poetry and photos she hopes will help women in chemotherapy. With a work like Redefining Beauty, Morton said, women in the throes of a scary disease will see that true beauty isn't marred by cancer. She said she's shared some of the poems in readings.

Larry D Thomas

Here's a serious study of Larry D Thomas at the Kelton conference in San Angelo last spring. Forrest Fest will welcome Larry back for his third visit to our family of poets festival in Forrest Park. Larry has been an excellent talented choice for the Texas Poet Laureate of 2008 and a gracious representative of the art of poetry. He is humble, respectful and supportive of all poets and poetry events. Larry is the author of Where Skulls Speak Wind, my personal favorite. A prolific and hard working poet, we are honored to have him with us once again.

John Levacy

John Levacy, Cowboy Poet from Lubbock, Texas, via Lamesa, will present a Cowboy Poetry workshop Saturday afternoon and be a featured poet in the evening venue. Levacy is a musician and member of the group Iron Weed and has been working his lyrical stylings and poetry capturing the life and flavor of the West Texas panorama in authentic cowboy style. With a BA from Texas Tech he has been a volunteer at the National Ranching Heritage Center for 20 years; volunteer at the National Cowboy Symposium for 20 years and a performer there for the last five years. Presenting several programs on Texas History for schools and civic groups as well as solo performances, most of his programs include cowboy poetry.

Ric Williams He received his master’s degree in mythology with an emphasis in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 1998. Ric has edited the Litera listings of The Austin Chronicle since 1988. He wrote the “Poet’s Beat” column (interviews with local poets) for The Austin Light from 1987-1991. He edited for Ed Buffalo’s poetry anthologies Aileron and Vowel Movement in the late 80’s and early 90’s and was the associate editor from 1997-1999 for Alchemy on Sunday, the literary journal of Pacifica Graduate Institute. He has written and/or edited for the Austin Chronicle, Man! Magazine, and the Salt Journal. His interview with Larry  McMurtry is included in Conversations with Texas Writers, published in March 2005 by UT Press. Ric’s first solo collection of poems, is the secret book of god, “I don’t know” is often the wisest thing he has ever said. Yet, he believes the universe is, ultimately, a comedy and wants you to  know that, despite any thing you may have heard to the contrary, “You matter. You will always matter.”

Herman Nelson, Austin, Texas

Songwriter, poet and philosophical master, Herman Nelson is one of the most beloved personalities in the Austin world of poetry.  He has been instrumental in the life of the Austin International Poetry Festival,the Austin Poetry Society, and for his contributions to Sonobeat records as composer adn lyricist..  Nelson's unusual and thought provoking lyrics will bring a skip to your heart and a   glow to your soul.

'Thom Moon Bird

One of the most prolific poets writing today, Thom Moon is an Austinite with a mission, poetry and peace. Author of hundreds of chapbooks and host of Austin's most popular poetry venues such as Expressions and the Hideout, he is known and loved by poets and friends around the world. Thom is on the Board of Directors of Forrest Fest and his yearly sojourn to Lamesa to co-host and MC Forrest Fest is one of the highlights of the festival. Thom will feature at the Austin International Poetry Festival this year and celebrate the annual gathering of International Poets at this venue of which he is a founding member.