tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327770929317819999.post447834258250675582..comments2024-03-16T22:07:42.383-04:00Comments on North Carolina Writers' Network-West's Mountain Writers & Poets: Gary Carden's play, Birdell, a smashing success for NetwestKaren Paul Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438801590321008266noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327770929317819999.post-81051344829875109182008-09-23T09:54:00.000-04:002008-09-23T09:54:00.000-04:00Each time that I post something on this blog, I wa...Each time that I post something on this blog, I wait... hopefully, for a response from Netwest members. There are always the stalwart, dependable few who respond because they understand that for those of us who create,a response is treasured. However, for the majority of members, there is no response. I find it disheartening. I would actually prefer a blog that REQUIRED a minimal amount of posting for membership. Thank you, Nancy and Richard and Glenda. At least, there are three brave voices echoing out there in the void.<BR/>GaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327770929317819999.post-75171818423907862462008-09-21T13:18:00.000-04:002008-09-21T13:18:00.000-04:00What a pleasure! What a treasure!Richard ArgoWhat a pleasure! What a treasure!<BR/><BR/>Richard ArgoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327770929317819999.post-21970978156573712972008-09-21T11:21:00.000-04:002008-09-21T11:21:00.000-04:00Thank you, Gary Carden. The play was exceptional....Thank you, Gary Carden. The play was exceptional.<BR/>Another exceptional thing is your generosity. Thank you for offering the play as a fundraiser for NCWN West. We will be saying thank you for a long time to come.<BR/><BR/>I shall never forget the play, the writing of it, the performance and Bobbie Curtis on stage, alive as Birdell.<BR/><BR/>Nancy SimpsonNancy Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03495539723660135212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327770929317819999.post-59599265272472086022008-09-21T08:44:00.000-04:002008-09-21T08:44:00.000-04:00I got the idea for writing "Birdell" some 30 years...I got the idea for writing "Birdell" some 30 years ago when I read the famous interview with "Aunt Arie" that was conducted by Eliot Wiggington down at Foxfire. "Aunt Arie" later became the play/movie "Foxfire." Later, I heard an old lady living on Land's Creek in Swain County tell about how she refused to move when TVA flooded Hazel Creek, and how she woke one night to see a snake swim through her front door and out of her back door. I had read Duane Oliver's books on Hazel Creek and from there, it was just a process of putting it all together. Westley's "tall tales" were easy to come by since I had been telling them for years myself...especially the whip snake, hoop snake and milk snake. The "Swinett" tale is a reworking of an old dirty joke, and can be found in Georgann Eubanks' wonderful book, "Literary Trails of Western North Carolina."<BR/>Gary CardenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com