Judy Light Ayyildiz





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Events, Forthcoming Publications, Presentations

Nov. 1 and Nov. 19 2008: Judy conducts all-day memoir writing workshops at Greenhouse Bookstore in Kadikoy, Istanbul.

October 11-14 Appalfolks Writers Conference in conjunction with "Appaldays" at Doughat State Park, VA. Judy will be leading workshop and speaking on memoir and poetry.

June 2007: Short story "Pears" and poem from MUD RIVER, "Youth" published in international women's anthology, EARTH, AIR, FIRE and WATER and translated into Italian, Rubitorre Press, Italy.

April 2007: Judy fiction finalist in Summer Literary Seminars program in St. Petersburg, Russia with option of a tuition scholarship.

Spring 2007 Judy Roanoke, VA YWCA Nominee for Outstanding Woman of the Year in the Arts.

Forthcoming:essay, "Spinning and Weaving This Woman's Life, a Reflection," in international anthology,WOMEN in DIAGLOGUE, published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, United Kingdom

Judy will be the speaker for the Roanoke AAUW on International Women's Day, Saturday, March 3, 2007

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS
Sat. Mar. 24-07,Writing Memoir, 20 Church Street , 2nd floor Lecture Hall of the Art Museum of Western Virginia, downtown Roanoke, VA
Sponsored by Blue Ridge Pens

Sat. Oct. 14-06 10-4:Intricacies of writing fiction, non-fiction, and memoir,Rke City Main Library,Sponsored by Blue Ridge Pens and the city library.


2006 Istanbul with Judy, Gunes, Jerlene

Forthcoming: new short story and poem from MUD RIVER translated into Italian in international anthology

April 8, 2006, Judy-5 Hr. writing from your life workshop. Greenhouse Bookstore, Kadikoy, Istanbul

April 10, Kultur 2000 International School, Judy-writing wkshop.

April 14,2006, Judy-5-Hr. writing from your life workshop. Ege Uni Women's Studies, Izmir, Turkey

May 2006, ICIS International School, Writing Workshops

May 2006, Eastern Mediterranean Univ., Cyprus, Judy presents paper on her female heroine in new novel.

June 20-21, Judy-presentation on creating a novel at Ege Univ. Women's Studies Cultural Conference, Izmir

Judy-interview Dec. 22,2005 WVTF National Public Radio (89.1 FM), and at 1pm on Radio IQ 89.7FM).

4-06 Presentation (Women in Historical Literature) from Judy's novel,WIFE OF THE REVOLUTION,2nd Int. Conf. Women's Studies "Breaking the Glass Ceiling" E. Med. Uni. Famagusta, Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus

12-7, 05 Judy reading from her story "Lost" in the newly-published anthology HEAL by CliqueCalmBooks, Community Book Store, Brooklyn, NY www.cliquecalm.com

"Judy,Your inclusion in the 25th Silver Anniversary Edition of Who's Who of American Women distinguishes you as one of the leading achievers from around the country." 11-'05 MARQUIZ WHO'S WHO


12-05 Interview: Blue Ridge Public Radio on NOTHING but TIME/SOME of MY ANCESTORS are OTTOMANS AND TURKS.


PUBLISHED: short story, "Lost," that takes place in Istanbul published in HEAL, Between the Pages We Seek a Panacea, an international anthology published by Clique Calm Books of NYC, http://www.cliquecalm.com

Published: '05: by Ataturk Society of America Online article "Turkish Women's Contribution to the Modernization of Turkey." Translated into Turkish by Prof. Dr. Gunseli Sonmez Isci, Head English/Women's Studies Ege Uni, Izmir, Turkey, and is on file there as well as with Anadolu University, Kirklareli branch.

Fall '05, Richmond Arts and Humanities Center and VA Commission of the Arts, Judy conducts two (2-week each) masters writing workshops for elementary students and middle school students with teachers' seminars. Schools will be guided through the writing process to produce poetry to which they will set melody and sound accompaniment. Public performances

8-'05, Franklin Cty Lib. Book Fair NOTHING BUT TIME, memoir panel.

3-'05 Presentation "The Women's Movement in Turkey and the US, Striking Parallels" ATA-NC INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION. GTCC High Point,CAMPUS, NC

3-4 '05, "Writing the Memoir," weekly 21/2 hr. class 8 wks. Jefferson Center, Blue Ridge Writing Center, Inc.

5-'05, Ege Uni Symposium Izmir, Turkey "Advantages-Obstacles of Cross-Cultural Marriage."

5-6 '05, Istanbul: Greenhouse Books launches SOME of MY ANCESTORS are OTTOMANS AND TURKS; 12 readings, workshops.





Selected Works

Fiction and Nonfiction, Children Ages 6-12
Some of My Ancestors Are Ottomans and Turks
An American grandson of a Turkish immigrant learns about his Turkish and Ottoman heritage.
Memoir
Nothing but Time
Spiritual strength from moving, insightful, yet humorous stories of the people and experiences in Judy's life.
Poetry
Mud River
“Unforced and authentic, which is pretty rare today.”
–-William Packard, NYQ Review