We turned right on Spring Street and drove to the top of the hill. City Lights Book Store in Sylva, NC. Believe me, the place was surrounded by cars and people. The party was hosted by Kathryn Stripling Byer, NCWN West's Program Coordinator, City Light Book Store and Spring Street Cafe.
Glenda Beall, NCWN West Marketing Manager.
Kathryn Stripling Byer welcomed Linda M. Smith from Hayesville, NC and Mary Michelle Keller from Young Harris, Georgia.
Delicious Food was spread and a champaign toast was made to the editor and contributors.
Chances are you were there, for I recall standing room only, one hundred or more writers paying their respects to one another for a job completed, a job well done.
And so once again, I felt "out of my body", beside myself with joy, with echoes across City Lights Book Store and Spring Street Cafe on the evening of August 8, 2010.
Most of these photos were taken by Peri Gordon Flohr. I'm sharing them with NCWN West Program Coordinator, Kathryn Stripling Byer, so you may see even more of them on the Netwest site.
Peri Gordon Flohr, writer (took most of these pictures, except for a few stolen by N.S. )
Janice Townley Moore of Hayesville, NC, Tipper Pressley of Brasstown, NC, William V. Reynolds of Murphy, NC, Rose Mary Royston of Blairsville, Georgia, Truman McKillip of Marble, NC and Joyce Reynolds of Murphy NC.
Poet Rose Mary Royston had three poems chosen for ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE:
"Dogwood Winter", "Neighbor Lady" and "The Possibliity of Snow". She read two poems in the open mic reading at the party.
Poet Clarence Lee Newton from Young Harris, Georgia, had two poems included: "Walking on Chatuge Dam at Dawn" and "Glad Hands at Lake Burton."
Glenda Beall's essay " The Trillium" found on page 31 of the anthology.
Poet Jayne Jaudon Ferrer had two poems in the anthology: "Street Scene" and "Homage."
Gary Carden is the author of an essay, " Listen to the Mockingbird" included in the anthology and also a short story: "Quincy and Rush."
Thomas Rain Crowe is the author of "Triple Negatives: Losing A Langauge" included in
Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. The essay contained two poems: "Here With Who Shot John" and"Crack Light".
Poet, Ellen Andrews authored two poems included the anthology: "Homing" and "Contradance in Brasstown".
Jennifer McGaha's essay "Looking Glass" was chosen for the anthology.
Fiction Writer, George Ivey wrote "Creekside Conspiracies".
Poet Rachel Bronnum had two poems included in the anthology: "The Goat Man" and "Emma". (here with Echoes Across the Blue Ridge editor Nancy Simpson)
Poet from Cherokee, Deborah Kinsland Foerst, authored two poems: " Corn Dance" and
"a gi li si."
Poet Joyce Foster, authored "A Taste of a Ripe Peach at Midnight."
Mary Michelle Keller recited her poem "As the Deer".
Linda M. Smith read "The Lapadry Artist", one of her poems in ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE.
Carole Richard Thompson recited her poem, " Returning", about twin falls returning after a long drought in the north Georgia Mountains. p 140. "I hear again/the liquid music of the mountains, spilling over ledges,/ and there, across a divide, stand two triumphant waterfalls."
Laughter. Carl Iobst read "Aunt Lucille Whups the Bear."
More Laughter: Mary Lou McKillip, story teller and writer read her anthology story, "If You Can't Run With the Big Dogs, Stay on the Porch."
Arnie Nielson read his story that made me warm all over, and made a tear roll out of my eye - "Sadie Underwood."
Robert Edward Fahey read "Mountain Journal" an excerpt from The Mourning After, a novel in progress.
Dick Michener had two short stories in the anthology: "Jesus Freak" and "The Final Gathering"
Janice Townley Moore read " Photos From Another State." She also had a second poem published in the anthology, "In September."
William V. Reynolds read "The Man on the Doorsteps." He is the author of many novels and the owner of Double Eagle Enterprises - BOOKS FOR THE COMMON MAN
Last but not least to read her story "The Spirit Tree" was Susan Lefler from Brevard, North Carolina.
In Memory of Richard Argo,( Feb. 21, 1944 - July 8, 2010) NCWN West's Monthly Prose Critique Group Leader for 15 years, the author of "The Apple Man" and " Turtle" . It seemed to me he was there with us at City Lights, reading his stories to us.
Where can I buy a copy of ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE?
City Lights Books, Sylva
and other book stores in the western Carolina mountains.
It is is available for purchase at only $16.00.
N.C. Poet Laureate Cathy Smith Bowers will be our special guest reader and an open mic will follow. Limit your reading to 5 minutes so that we can hear everyone who wants to share their writing.
