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Showing posts with label Brenda Kay Ledford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brenda Kay Ledford. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Literary Hour Returns to J.C. Campbell School
Ledford, a Clay County, NC, native, will read from her poetry which draws on her love for the beauty, heritage, and history of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her poetry collection, “Blanche, Poems of a Blue Ridge Woman,” published by Redhawk Publishing, won the Paul Green Multimedia Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians in 2022.
In addition to her award-winning poetry, she is the recipient of the Children’s Book Award for her picture book “The Singing Convention” and writes the Blue Ridge Poet blog which is dedicated to preserving the culture of Southern Appalachia through poetry, storytelling and writing.
Plunkett, who lives in Young Harris, GA, is the author of the espionage thrillers “Chessboard” and “Poisoned Pawn” published by Kindle Direct Publishing. Readers have called “Chessboard” “intriguing and captivating,” and a well-researched book about “the shadow workings of our government.” He will read selections from both novels and talk about his process for writing them.
The Literary Hour is sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West and will continue every third Thursday of the month through November 16 at 7 p.m.
The March meeting will be hosted by Murphy, NC, poet Mary Ricketson, who is president of the Ridgeline Literary Alliance and the 2011 winner of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest national poetry contest.
Ledford, Plunkett and Ricketson are members of the North Carolina Writer's Network-West. The Literary Hour meets in the Living Room of the Keith House on the J.C. Campbell Folk School campus. For more information you can contact Glenda Beall at glendabeall@msn.com.
The J.C. Campbell Folk School is located in Brasstown, NC, and 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/. Students and faculty of the school are welcome to attend the readings.
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Literary Hour Returns to John C. Campbell Folk School
The North Carolina Writers’ Network-West’s Literary Hour returns to the John C.Campbell Folk School on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at 7 p.m., after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. The event will be held in the Open House. The Literary Hour is free and open to the public.
The
featured writers for August are Brenda Kay Ledford and Glenda Beall.
Brenda Kay Ledford, a seventh-generational native of Clay County,
North Carolina, is an award-winning author, blogger, and retired educator. Her
work has appeared in many journals including Asheville Poetry Review, Our
State, Appalachian Heritage, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Guidepost
Magazine, 49 Old Mountain Press anthologies, and many other publications.
She writes about nature and wants to help preserve the culture of this region.
She's received the Paul Green Multimedia Award from North Carolina Society of
Historians thirteen times for her books. Ledford will read poetry from her
latest book, Blanche, Poetry of a Blue Ridge Woman, which was released
by Redhawk Publishing in 2021.
Brenda Kay Ledford
Glenda Council Beall
Glenda Beall serves as program coordinator for the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West. Her essays, poetry, and short stories have been published in magazines and literary journals as well as online. Her poetry chapbook, Now Might as Well be Then, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2009. She has co-authored a collection of stories, poems, and essays Paws, Claws, Hooves, Feathers and Fins, Family Pets and God’s Other Creatures.
Much of
her writing is filled with stories about horses, dogs, and cats that have been
a part of her family. Her love of genealogy led her to compile stories of her
grandfather and his ten children in Profiles and Pedigrees, The Descendants
of Thomas Charles Council (1858 – 1911). Beall’s online classes, Writers
Circle around the Table, and classes for the Institute of Continuing Learning
reach people from all over the country. She will read her creative non-fiction as well as short stories.
The Literary Hour will be held on the third Thursday of the month through November at John C. Campbell Folk School in the roofed and open pavilion of the Open House. From Clays Corner in Brasstown turn onto Brasstown Road, then turn left on Scoggins Road then left again to pass Davidson Hall. Or coming from Marsh Creek, turn right onto Davidson Road and follow around to Open House. Parking is in front near the vegetable gardens.
Anyone with a love of the written word will be transported by the talent of each month’s featured writers. Contact Patricia Zick at pczick23@gmail.com for further information.
Patricia Zick
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Celebrating Writers in Hiawassee, GA with the Appalachian Mural Trail
Library Mural Unveiling
"Storybook Lane," a new outdoor Postage Stamp Mural produced by the Appalachian Mural Trail, is scheduled for unveiling at 2:00 in the afternoon on Friday, September 24, 2021. The public is invited. The event takes place outside the Towns County Library, at 99 South Berrong Street Hiawassee, Georgia, telephone: 706-896-6169.
The colorful 7 feet high "Storybook Lane" mural creates a fantasy world of children's book characters from local children's book authors Marcia Hawley Barnes, Brenda Kay Ledford, Amy Ammons Garza and Carroll S. Taylor. The mural is designed to 'save the books.'
"Created to encourage children to actually pick up a book and read, the mural will help return children's interest towards books," says Artist & Appalachian Mural Trail Director, Doreyl Ammons Cain. "The mural should last for decades."
Cain painted the mural and also illustrated the four children's books included in the mural. The mural is painted on MDO art board using mural paint that will last for decades with a protective clear coat that ensures longevity.
The Towns County Library is hosting the outside mural unveiling, which includes outside storytelling, refreshments and meet & greet the Artist & Authors. Both the artist and the authors are displaying books and art to view and purchase safely.
The Towns County Library is scheduled to be featured on the Appalachian Mural Trail where the mural is showcased so that folks can read about and find directions to the mural. Check out muraltrail.com where over 125 murals are featured for people to visit and view 24 hours a day.
Image Attached, a small detail of "Storybook Lane" art by Doreyl Ammons Cain Director, Appalachian Mural Trail.
Sunday, July 11, 2021
FESTIVAL ON THE SQUARE 2021
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| Carroll S. Taylor and Hugh Taylor |
In spite of a rainy day Friday, Carroll and Hugh Taylor and I put up our tent, tables and chairs to create a booth at the annual Festival on the Square.
This delightful event is sponsored by the Clay County Historical and Arts Council in Clay County North Carolina. Over 70 artists and crafters set up their booths around and on the historic square that surrounds the old Courthouse which has been renovated and is now a convention center with the name, The Beal Center.
NCWN-West has been a part of this festival for years and this year has been one of the most successful for our authors and for Netwest. We gave away brochures and sold lots of books on both days.
Carroll Taylor was kept busy talking to those interested in her young adult novels and Feannag, the Crow, her picture book. Echoes Across the Blue Ridge was popular with the out of state visitors. Tourists wanted to take home this book from the mountains. Brenda Kay Ledford found visitors interested in her new picture book, The Singing Convention.
The small town of Hayesville, NC hosts thousands of guests as the folks from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and surrounding states vacation here in this scenic area. A young couple from California dropped by, extremely interested in our booth.
People signed up for our giveaways every two hours and asked to be put on our mailing lists.
Appreciation goes out to Bob Grove, Brenda Kay Ledford, Jim Davis, and Anne Wheeler for staffing the booth along with Glenda Beall and Carroll on Saturday.
On Sunday, a new member, Raven Chiong enjoyed meeting fellow members and talking with anyone interested in writing. She also used this opportunity to purchase books.
Joan Howard was another member who worked in the booth and was there when the big rain came. Joan is a supportive member of Netwest and volunteers to help when she is needed. She is a poet whose poems I recommend.
Caesar Campana, a member for only a year, helped with taking down the booth. His wife, Monica, sat at a book table. Check out his Amazon page to learn more about this novelist.
In spite of the on again and off again showers both days, the writers did not fold their tent and leave. When table cloths were soaked, they were removed and books were put back on the bare tables.
This event is wonderful for networking with others. We met the new owners of Curiosity Books in Murphy, NC. They want writers to come by and talk with them. They are interested in books by local writers.
All booths were directed to stay open until 4:00 PM Sunday. When the time came to break it all down, Hugh and Caesar made short order of folding the tent and chairs and loading it all in Hugh's truck.
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| Carroll and Hugh endured rain showers but saved the books and brochures. |
This event would not have happened without Carroll Taylor and the support of her husband Hugh. Carroll's novels sold well and her bright display drew attention to our booth. She is very good at meeting people and discussing NCWN-West.
This event serves several purposes for writers. It shows we are a strong active part of the community and we welcome new people. Because we are open to the public, beginning writers and those who are a little hesitant to join a writers' group find they are comfortable with our members. That is very important when speaking to novice writers. I am sure we will have new members after this weekend.
Often out of state visitors discover NCWN at this festival and find that they can join even if they don't live in North Carolina. Our brochures, designed by Meagan Lucas, are filled with information, and they were in the hands of everyone who stopped to speak at our booth.
See photos of the booth and the people who managed it this weekend.
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| Brenda Kay Ledford and Carroll Taylor ready to meet festival-goers |
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| Our poster, Books by Local Authors, drew attention from the passersby |
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| Caesar Campana and Raven Chiong work the Sunday afternoon shift |
Photos by Glenda Beall, Carroll Taylor and Raven Chiong.
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| Glenda Beall and Raven Chiong |
Saturday, April 13, 2019
April is Poetry Month and We Celebrate at Moss Memorial Library
We will celebrate in Hayesville, NC at the Moss Memorial Library with award-winning poet, Brenda Kay Ledford reading from her new book, Red Plank House.
A seventh-generational native of Clay County, Ledford grew up in a red-plank house eating apple butter, wearing homemade clothes, playing hopscotch, and singing shape-note music in country churches. Later she took piano lessons and played hymns for worship services.
Ledford was an honor graduate of Hayesville High School. She rode a bus over the winding dirt roads. It was a long route and she observed the mountains changing colors with seasons. That’s when she grew to appreciate the beauty of our region.
Her favorite teachers were Leslie Carter, media specialist, and Josephine Thurman, senior-year English instructor. Both educators instilled within Ledford the magic of books.
After Ledford was graduated from HHS, she worked as a clerk-typist with the FBI in Washington, DC. It was cultural shock. Ledford returned to her beloved roots in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
She worked as a secretary at Hinton Rural Life Center. She also taught Sunday school and directed Bible School. Ledford loved children and wanted to become an educator. She earned a MA in Early Childhood Education from Western Carolina University and taught the fourth grade at Murphy Elementary School.
While she was teaching, Ledford’s father got Hodgkin’s disease. She obtained an emergency medical technician certification to help care for him. She worked in the emergency room at Towns County Hospital part-time and with the Clay County EMS.
Ledford also took a Creative Writing class at Tri-County Community College under Nancy Simpson to renew her teacher’s license. Nancy was her mentor and encouraged Ledford to submit her work for publication. Her poetry has appeared in Pembroke Magazine, Asheville Poetry Review, Our State, Angels on Earth, Chicken Soup for the Soul, 39 Old Mountain Press anthologies, and many other journals. Ledford’s latest poetry book, Red Plank House, was released by Kelsay Books, available at Amazon.com.
Ledford is presently working on a collection of poetry for children. Many poems are about her great-niece, Reagan Blanche. Ledford’s favorite pastime is reading to her little niece and viewing the world through the joyful eyes of kids.
Each month Coffee with the Poets and Writers meets at the library on the third Wednesday of the month, 10:30 AM. We feature a member of NCWN-West, sponsoring organization, and we hold Open Mic to allow our guests to read an original poem or two.
This month we will celebrate two poets who were special to us in this region, the late Nancy Simpson and Kathryn Stripling Byer. Everyone is invited to bring a poem by one of them to read at open mic along with an original poem.
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| Brenda Kay Ledford |
Ledford was an honor graduate of Hayesville High School. She rode a bus over the winding dirt roads. It was a long route and she observed the mountains changing colors with seasons. That’s when she grew to appreciate the beauty of our region.
Her favorite teachers were Leslie Carter, media specialist, and Josephine Thurman, senior-year English instructor. Both educators instilled within Ledford the magic of books.
After Ledford was graduated from HHS, she worked as a clerk-typist with the FBI in Washington, DC. It was cultural shock. Ledford returned to her beloved roots in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
She worked as a secretary at Hinton Rural Life Center. She also taught Sunday school and directed Bible School. Ledford loved children and wanted to become an educator. She earned a MA in Early Childhood Education from Western Carolina University and taught the fourth grade at Murphy Elementary School.
While she was teaching, Ledford’s father got Hodgkin’s disease. She obtained an emergency medical technician certification to help care for him. She worked in the emergency room at Towns County Hospital part-time and with the Clay County EMS.
Ledford also took a Creative Writing class at Tri-County Community College under Nancy Simpson to renew her teacher’s license. Nancy was her mentor and encouraged Ledford to submit her work for publication. Her poetry has appeared in Pembroke Magazine, Asheville Poetry Review, Our State, Angels on Earth, Chicken Soup for the Soul, 39 Old Mountain Press anthologies, and many other journals. Ledford’s latest poetry book, Red Plank House, was released by Kelsay Books, available at Amazon.com.
Ledford is presently working on a collection of poetry for children. Many poems are about her great-niece, Reagan Blanche. Ledford’s favorite pastime is reading to her little niece and viewing the world through the joyful eyes of kids.
Each month Coffee with the Poets and Writers meets at the library on the third Wednesday of the month, 10:30 AM. We feature a member of NCWN-West, sponsoring organization, and we hold Open Mic to allow our guests to read an original poem or two.
This month we will celebrate two poets who were special to us in this region, the late Nancy Simpson and Kathryn Stripling Byer. Everyone is invited to bring a poem by one of them to read at open mic along with an original poem.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Popular NC poets to read on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at the JCCFS, Brasstown, NC
At 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, the John C. Campbell
Folk School and the NC Writers' Network-West will sponsor The Literary Hour. At
this event, NCWN-West members will read at the Keith House on the JCCFS campus,
in Brasstown, NC. The Literary Hour is usually held on the third Thursday of
the month unless otherwise indicated.
This reading is free of charge and open to the public. This month's featured
readers will be Linda Grayson Jones, Brenda Kay Ledford, and Maura Payne Way.
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| Linda Grayson Jones |
Linda Grayson Jones
has read and written poetry since childhood and recalls reading The Highwayman to her 3rd grade
classmates. She has a B.S. in Biology from Stetson University, an M.A. in
Biology and a Ph.D. in Pathology from Vanderbilt University. Her career path
has been primarily in academic biomedical research, but in 2009 she returned to
her first love—teaching.
Jones is currently an Associate Professor of Biology and
Dean of Math and Science at Young Harris College. She remains a reader and
writer of poetry and is a member of North Carolina Writer’s Network. She credits Nancy Simpson for encouraging her
to use Grayson Jones as her published poet’s name.
 |
| Brenda Kay Ledford |
Brenda Kay Ledford
is a seventh-generational native of Clay County, NC. She was an honor graduate of Hayesville High
School, earned her Master of Arts in Education from Western Carolina
University, and received a diploma of highest honors in Creative Writing from
Stratford Career Institute.
Her work has appeared in many journals. Her latest poetry collection, "Crepe
Roses," won the 2015 Paul Green Multimedia Award from NC Society of
Historians. She's won this award 10
times for her books, blogs, and collecting oral history of Southern Appalachia.
Her life-experience essay, "The Front Porch," won
first place in the 2018 Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games Silver Arts Literary
Contest. She qualified for the State
Finals that will be held this fall in Raleigh.
Maura Payne Way: Originally
from Washington, D.C, Maura now makes her home in Greensboro, NC. Her debut
collection, Another Bungalow, was released by Press 53 in 2017. Her work has
appeared in Beloit Poetry Journal, O. Henry Magazine, Verse, DIAGRAM, and The
Chattahoochee Review.
Payne studied poetry at Mary Washington College and Boise
State University. In addition to her being a poet, Maura teaches 9th and 10th
grade English at New Garden Friends School. She has been a teacher for twenty
years.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Video Links for Nancy Simpson Celebration, held May 5, 2018, at the John C. Campbell Folk School
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| Left to right, Glenda Beall, Jeremy Brantley, Lynn Rutherford, Yan Yang Brantley, and Janice Moore |
Readers included:
Shelby Stephenson, Poet Laureate of NC, Steve Harvey, Debbie McGill, Janice Moore, Brenda Kay Ledford, Karen Paul Holmes, Mary Ricketson, Rosemary Rhodes Royston,Glenda Barrett, Joan Ellen Gage, and Glenda Council Beall.
Glenda Council Beall led the Celebration as Emcee. Here are video links from the Celebration, (taken by Yan Yang Brantley), note, they are not in order:
Video #2: Steve Harvey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfrWt50mo7M&t=34s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfrWt50mo7M&t=34s
Video #3: Debbie McGill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvXs0d_nG0c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvXs0d_nG0c
Video #4: Brenda Kay Ledford
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqKLDIYIZHg&t=11s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqKLDIYIZHg&t=11s
Video #5: Mary Ricketson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cm9BsMSvSw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cm9BsMSvSw
Video #6: Rosemary R. Royston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNVqLYQGmzc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNVqLYQGmzc
Video #7: Glenda Barrett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DplMSmvYRIg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DplMSmvYRIg
Video #8: Joan Ellen Gage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=betjBuWuYYI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=betjBuWuYYI
Video #9: Glenda Beall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-wjt4bP28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-wjt4bP28
Video #10: Shelby Stephenson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ8_GYXPKKw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ8_GYXPKKw
Video #12: Janice Moore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pDR0hXx6hk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pDR0hXx6hk
Photos will follow at a later date.
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