Two well-known and respected local writers, Judy DiGregorio and Art Stewart, will be joining together in a unique presentation at the Thursday, January 6 meeting of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild. DiGregorio and Stewart have each been enjoying success with their recently-issued literary works, distributed by Celtic Cat Publishing. For their upcoming Guild appearance, the writers plan to share their perspectives on the science of humor and the humor of science.
The meeting, which will be open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Laurel Theater, at the corner of Laurel Avenue and 16th Streets (in FortSanders). A $1 donation is requested at the door. The building is handicapped accessible.  
The multi-talented Judy DiGregorio has made a name for herself as a quipster. Full of verve, the Texas-born DiGregorio has called Oak Ridge her home since 1969. The city has proven itself a creative spawning ground for Judy, her vivacious personality shining through amusingly in print, on stage and at readings near and wide.
DiGregorio pens humor columns for The Oak Ridger and writes press releases for the Oak Ridge Playhouse. Playhouse audiences have become quite familiar with Judy, for she acts there frequently. Most of her work time, though, is devoted to her own witty words about life’s everyday adventures. Many have been the publications in which DiGregorio’s delightful essays have appeared.  Among them: the Knoxville News-Sentinel, New Millennium Writings, CityView and Army-Navy Times. The author of more than 300 columns and essays, Judy’s work can also be found in the Chicken Soup books and numerous anthologies.
Poet-scientist Art Stewart has also been a KWG stalwart for some time. He will no doubt strike a most responsive chord at the Guild’s January meeting, blending natural science and verse into a potent, affecting mix. This uncommon creative combination is reflective of Stewart’s strongly-held belief that young scientists can enhance their communication skills through the understanding and use of poetry.
Art’s science background is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Indiana, his early pursuits in the field found him studying biology and chemistry at Northern Arizona University. Stewart earned his PhD in aquatic ecology at Michigan State University. Oak Ridge National Laboratory was where he later did his postdoctoral research. He went on to teach stream ecology at the University of Oklahoma, then returned to ORNL as an ecotoxicologist and senior scientist. Along the way Stewart earned an MS Ed at the University of Tennessee. He is presently a project manager for Oak Ridge Associated Universities, dedicating himself to science education projects.  
Turning to the humor of science and a lighter side of life, Art Stewart will be coming together with Judy DiGregorio in a most winning way at the January Writers’ Guild meeting.  

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