After nearly a year's absence from this blog space because of preoccupation with the Common Ground Symposium and Surprise Valley Writers' Conference -- both great successes and covered by the S.F. Chronicle among others -- I would like to let all poets know that the Modoc Forum, a 501c3 non-profit, is holding the Annual Surprise Valley Poetry Prize. Final judge is Julia  Connor, Sacramento poet laureate. For full details regarding fees, deadlines, submissions and awards please check out www.modocforum.org.