Local poets Joan Ellen Gage and Mary A. Ricketson to read at The Literary Hour at John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC, on Thursday, September 21, 2017, at 7:00 PM

The Literary Hour AT JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL

 On Thursday, September 21^st, 2017 at 7:00 PM, John C. Campbell Folk School and NC Writers Network-West are sponsoring The Literary Hour, an hour of poetry and prose reading held at Keith House on the JCCFS campus. This is usually held on the third Thursday of the month.  The reading is free of charge and open to the public.  Poet Mary A. Ricketson and writer/poet Joan Ellen Gage will be the featured readers. Both of these authors are residents of the area and published extensively.  It should be an entertaining evening.

Mary A. Ricketson

Mary A. Ricketson, Murphy NC, has been writing poetry 20 years.  She is inspired by nature and her work as a mental health counselor.  Her poetry has been published in Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Lights in the Mountains, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Red Fox Run, It’s All Relative, Old Mountain Press, Whispers. Additionally, Ricketson has published a  chapbook, I Hear the River Call my Name, and a full length collection of poetry, Hanging Dog Creek, published by Future Cycle Press, both books are available on Amazon.com..  

 Currently Mary is using her own poetry to present empowerment workshops, combining roles as writer with her helping role as a therapist. Mary Ricketson’s poems and activities relate with nature, facilitate talk about a personal path and focus on growth in ordinary and unusual times.

Ricketson is Cherokee County representative to North Carolina Writers Network West, and president of Ridgeline Literary Alliance. She won first place in the 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 75th Anniversary National Poetry Contest. This year she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who. 

Mary A. Ricketson  writes a monthly column, Women to Women, for The Cherokee Scout.  She is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and an organic blueberry farmer.

  

Joan Ellen Gage

Joan Ellen Gage is an author of humor and inspiration written from her own unique perspective. Her recipe for her writing focuses on staying upbeat and laughing at her own foibles. Joan’s photos are the spice in the mix that serve to punctuate the writing and add that special garnish to her creations.

Joan has written and published five books, Water Running Downhill!, Embracing Your Inner Cheerleader!, A Redhead Looks At 60, Trinity's Adventures in Imagination, and a special edition of Water Running Downhill! the Rose Edition as a tribute to her friend Rose Helena Macedo Kull. All her books are available on Amazon.com as regular books, and as ebooks. 

Gage has given several author talks, and had several radio interviews. She is a member of her area’s writing group, NC Writers’ Network-West, serving as an administrator for their blog. 

Additionally, Ms. Gage has two blogs, Traveling at the Speed of Now, www.joanellengage.com,and A Redhead Blogs at 60!, https://joanszoneblogalicious @wordpress.com.

Joan Ellen Gage lives in Western North Carolina with her husband and their Belgian Tervuren dog, Magnolia.

Local Poet Mary Ricketson to be featured at two Western North Carolina Events, April 14th and May 5th, 2017

Poet Mary Ricketson

On April 14, 2017, local poet Mary Ricketson will be one of two featured authors at the Andrews Art Museum's 50/50 art sale. It will be a free event from 5-7 PM, and will feature art, food, and music at Valleytown Cultural Arts Center, 125 Chestnut Street, Andrews NC.
Original art by local and regional artists will be available for $50., music by Heidi Holton, and samples of pizza and beer by Hoppy Trout Brewing Co., Andrews, NC. Mary will talk about poetry and display her books.
On May 5, 2017, poet Mary Ricketson will be the featured author at the Curiosity Shop Bookstore, Valley River Ave, Murphy NC, during the first Friday art walk of the year, the Murphy Art Walk, held from 5-8 PM.

Mary Ricketson of Murphy NC, has been writing poetry for 20 years; to satisfy a hunger, to taste life down to the very last drop. She is inspired by nature and her work as a mental health counselor. Her poetry has been published in Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Lights in the Mountains, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Freeing Jonah,  her chapbook I Hear the River Call my Name, and her poetry book Hanging Dog Creek. She is the Cherokee County Representative for the North Carolina Writers Network-West, and is the president of Ridgeline Literary Alliance.

She won the gold medal for poetry in the 2011 Cherokee County Senior Games/Silver Arts and silver medal for 2012 and 2013, and first place in the 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 75th anniversary national poetry contest.

She writes a monthly column, "Women to Women", for The Cherokee Scout, Murphy's newspaper. She is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, an organic blueberry farmer, and is currently working on a new collection of poetry.