Local Writers Dyer and Stevenson to Read at Campbell School

The September Literary Hour at the J.C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, will feature author MaryJo Dyre and poet Eugene Stevenson.  Literary Hour is Thursday, September 18, at 7 p.m. in the Keith House.  Literary Hour is free and open to everyone.

MaryJo Dyer

Murphy’s MaryJo Dyer is the author the well-received novel “Springheads” and the sister of the late novelist Arnold Dyer.  She began writing by finishing her brother’s last novel “Dark Spot” following his death.  Her next novel, currently in the works, will be a sequel to “Springheads.”  An educator by training, she now works as Marketing Director for Steven Aft State Farm Insurance, and is a Community Advocate for Go the Extra Mile Today, Inc.  Dyer also hosts the Literary Hour.

“Mary Jo Dyre is a master of story who weaves truth and tweaks it with what might be, ingrained with vibrant characters set in a world where all returns to two springheads. Take this book to bed with you, but don’t expect to sleep,” says author and poet Mary Ricketson.  The story merges multiple genres of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure and fantasy into the intriguing journey of Sarah Baker Bryant.

Eugene Stevenson

Eugene Stevenson is author of “Heart’s Code” and “The Population of Dreams.”  Critics call his work “simultaneously plain and artful,” “draws us into dislocated people finding their way,” and “captures the places of great joy and the places of great pain.”

Stevenson’s poems have appeared in Appalachian Journal, Atlanta Review, The Brussels Review, The Hudson Review, Red Ogre Review, Slipstream Magazine, Washington Square Review, among others, and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.  Stevenson lives Brasstown, North Carolina.

The Literary Hour at the folk school is sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West on every third Thursday of the month through October.  It brings local writers to the campus to share their work with the community.  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/.

John C. Campbell Folk School co-sponsors the NCWN-West monthly Readings

 On March 20, The NCWN-West monthly readings by two members of NCWN, Lorraine Bennett and Glenda Beall, will begin on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Keith House at JCCFS. The community is welcome and the students at the folk school are urged to drop in. No charge.

The program is hosted by author, MaryJo Dyre. She will introduce the two guests who will share their original work, poetry or prose, fiction or nonfiction. You might laugh, you might tear up, but you will be glad you came. Everyone gets the opportunity to ask a question or make a comment about writing, the guests, or ask how to join NC Writers Network and NC Writers Network-West.

Anyone who lives within the area of nine counties in North Carolina, Cherokee, Clay, Swain, Graham, Jackson, Haywood, Transylvania, Macon, Henderson, or in the bordering counties of Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee and joins NCWN will automatically become members of NCWN -West, North Carolina Writers' Network. 

The writing community in far western NC grew from a small number who did not know each other to a thriving membership after the mountain branch was formed in the early nineties. Before the Internet, holding meetings for writers in the mountains was almost impossible. Due to terrain and distance, the program was fashioned in a way for each county to have a representative from NCWN-West who brought local people together once a month for a meeting about writing where authors, poets, journalists, and anyone who likes to write, could find kindred souls, where they could share ideas, give helpful advice and receive encouragement from others like them. 

Today NCWN-West sponsors a group for writers throughout each month. A poetry critique group, Room for Poets, meets at the  Young Harris Library, 698 Miller St., Young Harris, GA On the second Thursday of Each Month from 1 to 3 p.m.  Maren Mitchel or Michael Wright facilitate 706-379-3732

Coffee with the Poets and Writers meets monthly at the Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville. This group began in 2007 and is the most popular gathering where a guest gives a presentation and then the floor is open to anyone who wants to share a poem or read a short prose piece. Joan Howard and Marcia Barnes, both published writers and poets, facilitate this group.

During the Pandemic, groups could not safely meet as usual, so Carroll Taylor, poet and author from Hiawassee, Georgia, began hosting an online group that is enjoyed by writers across the country as well as those who are local. Mountain Wordsmiths features outstanding writers from far and near. An Open Mic time follows the guest and those present may share an original poem or short prose piece. Anyone can join in by contacting Carroll Taylor who will send the link for entering the event held at 10:30 AM on the fourth Thursday. No one is expected to read or share unless they want to. Carroll says anyone interested in listening is welcome to attend.

In Henderson County, NCWN West holds meetings in which writers from several counties attend. The Representative for Henderson County is Kathleen Calby. Please contact: kathleencalby@gmail.com  for more information.

Visit www.netwestwriters.blogspot.com to learn more.