Poet Donna Beal and Novelist David Plunkett to Read at Campbell School

                 Local poet Donna Beal and novelist David Plunkett are the featured readers for the final Literary Hour of the 2025 season at the J.C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, Thursday, October 16, at 7 p.m. in the Keith House.  Literary Hour is free and open to everyone who enjoys reading and writing poetry and prose.

Donna Beal

                 Donna Beal lives and writes in Hayesville, NC.  Her poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies including publications by Jacar Press, Chapel Hill Press, The Bluestone Review, Anuran, The Snapdragon Journal For Art And Healing, and is a frequent contributor to Old Mountain Press anthologies.  An active member of The North Carolina Writer’s Network, The North Carolina Poetry Society and SistaWRITE, she is currently working on a book of stories about her mother and will be sharing several poems tracing her mother’s journey through dementia.

David Plunkett

                 David Plunkett of Young Harris, GA, is a novelist and poet best known for his Chessboard Series thrillers, “Chessboard” and “Poisoned Pawn” which follow the adventures of Kathy and Al Sutton as they face intrigue and danger in the Middle East.  He is currently working on the final novel of the series, “End
Game,” which will complete the trilogy.  His plan for Literary Hour, however, is to read not from his novels but from some of his short stories and flash fiction which take listeners from an evening in the quiet Georgia hills to the depths of outer space.

                 The Literary Hour is hosted by well-known Murphy, NC, author Mary Jo Dyre, whose novel “Springheads” combines elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure and fantasy to create a story of self-discovery.

                 The Literary Hour at the folk school brings local writers to the campus to share their work with the community.  It is sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West on every third Thursday of the month through October.  The public, and students and faculty of the school are welcome to attend the readings.

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