Jaria Gordon, of Lexington, was one of 13 readers during the latest of the Treehouse Poets Series held Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 at Treehouse Cafe and Bakery in downtown Hazard. She is scheduled to appear again on Feb. 2. (photo by Cris Ritchie | Hazard Herald)

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HAZARD — Two Kentucky poets chosen as part of a promising group of writers in 2012 will be the featured readers this weekend at a local poets series.

Jaria Gordon and Joy Priest are both members of The Twenty, a group of young Kentucky writers selected from a pool of applicants to participate in the Hindman Settlement School’s annual writers conference in Knott County. The organizing committee for The Twenty includes poets Nikki Finney and Frank X Walker. The group’s website describes The Twenty as “young writers to watch.”

Both are scheduled to read their work at the Treehouse Poets Series in February, held at the Treehouse Cafe on Main Street in Hazard.

A third member of the group, Travis Stidham, a resident of Leslie County, has read his poetry and served as the host of the monthly series, and will appear again on Saturday. Gordon read previously during December’s event, while Priest will be making her first appearance. Both are residents of Lexington.

February’s reading will be held at the cafe on Saturday, Feb. 2 beginning at 6 p.m. Anyone wishing to participate will also be able to sign up to read prior to the first reader taking the microphone. Admission is free of charge.