Literary Hour to Feature Poet Ledford and Novelist Lucas Thursday, June 13

The Literary Hour will feature readings from two award winning authors in June, poet and storyteller Brenda Kay Ledford, and crime and mystery novelist Meagan Lucas.  The readings will start at 7 p.m. in the Kieth House on the J.C. Campbell Folk School campus Thursday, June 13.  The Literary Hour is sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West and is free and open to everyone.

Brenda Ledford

Well known author, poet, storyteller, and blogger Brenda Kay Ledford has won the Award of Excellence 13 times from North Carolina Society of Historians for her books, blogs, and collection of oral histories on Southern Appalachia.  She received the 2019 Marquis Who’s Who in America Lifetime Achievement Award for writing and received silver medals for her essay and short story writing, and a bronze medal for her poetry in this year’s Clay/Cherokee Senior Games Silver Arts Literary division.
Ledford’s work has appeared in many journals including “Asheville Poetry Review,” “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” “Guidepost Magazine,” and “Women’s World Magazine.”  Her new children’s picture book, “Christmas in the Matheson Cove,” was published this year by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia and is available at sharingspokenstories.com.

Meagan Lucas

Meagan Lucas is the author of the Anthony nominated collection, “Here in the Dark,” and has published over 40 short stories and been nominated for the Pushcart, Best of the Net, Derringer, and Canadian Crime Writer’s Award of Excellence multiple times.  Her short story “The Monster Beneath” was listed as Distinguished in “The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2023.”

Her novel “Songbirds and Stray Dogs” was chosen to represent North Carolina in the Library of Congress 2022 Route 1 Reads program and won Best Debut at the 2020 Indie Book Awards.  A creative writing teacher at Robert Morris University and the Great Smokies Writing Program at UNC Asheville, she is also editor in chief of Reckon Review.

Local novelist Mary Jo Dyre, author of “Springheads,” published in 2023 by Redhawk Publications, will host the event.

The Literary Hour features local writers each month who share their work with the community.

The John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, offers classes in folk arts and crafts and storytelling.  For information about the school, you can find its webpage and contact information at www.folkschool.org.