Sassafras Literary was founded almost 50 years ago to promote literacy in Pickens County and to support and encourage local writers.
Last November, the torch was passed to a younger generation when members elected Jessica Bowers as president to continue on the work of outgoing president and charter member William Young.
Jessica is a neophyte to the group, a member for only a little more than a year. She has roots to Pickens County that spans generations, and because of her youthful vigor and determination she has ambitious new plans for Sassafras.
Although she says her main focus is “to grow the group,” several new initiatives have already been started.
Among those is a $500 scholarship for Pickens High students in honor of Maria Boling, a longtime Sassafras member who recently passed away. Applications will be accepted beginning on April 10th.
Known for their decades-long youth writing contests, this year will see the establishment of an adult writing contest.
Although there have been sporadic adult competitions in the past, Bowers hopes to make these contests annual affairs and aspiring Pickens County writers may begin offering submissions on March 1st in three categories – fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners including, $100 for first place, $50 for second, and $25 for third.
Other goals include starting a youth group and Jessica has already begun reaching out to local teachers in that effort. She also hopes that Sassafras will soon begin caretaking duties for the Keep Pickens Beautiful Garden at the Pickens County Library.
She also teased that in the future, Sassafras chapters may be established in neighboring counties.
A Kennesaw State University alumnus and a 2002 graduate of Pickens High School, Jessica married Justin Bowers the September after they both graduated high school.
They have one daughter, Aislynn, who will turn fifteen in May. Jessica was active in the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce for many years serving as Vice President of both the Chamber Ambassadors and the Professional Women of Pickens County.
She has previously worked in corporate sales and marketing in various aspects including being a corporate writer, and she also has been a “ghost writer” for others.
Jessica has recently decided to become a writer “in her own right” and is in the process of finishing a southern gothic novel titled Where the Roots Tangle which she hopes will be published later this year under the penname of Odessa Blaine. In addition to that book, Jessica has written several “performance stories” on folklore and those works are the basis for a short film that is currently under production.
Sassafras Literacy meets on the third Thursday of every month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pickens County Library. The new president enthusiastically invites everyone to attend.
The Sassafras Literary board includes: Jessica Bowers, president; William Young, VP; Lora Bunch, secretary/treasurer; and Angela Reinhardt.
Visit Sassafras Literary online at www.sassafrasliterary.org and on Facebook.
