What do you think about the Good Old Days?

Many of our local poets are published in the latest anthology by Old Mountain Press, The Good Old Days. This book includes 69 poets and prose writers with the theme of anything about memories/events from the past good, bad, sad, or a funny take on the good old days, or of Summertime.

Cover photo by Carolyn York

Available in Kindle Format  for $2.99

FREE if you participate in the Kindle Unlimited and/or the Kindle Owners' Lending Library: NOTE Amazon Prime members who own a Kindle can choose one book from each month with no due dates.

One of my poems, If, is in this edition along with poems by some of my students, Donna Beal (with one L) and Alan Frutchey. This is Alan's first publication although he has been writing poetry for a long time. I am happy for both of them.  

When I send a poem to an anthology, I usually submit something I have already published in a literary magazine or a publication with a larger readership. But Tom Davis, publisher of Old Mountain Press, has a very wide audience. 

"The OMP Anthology Series consists of 55 volumes with contributions from 287 writers and poets from North America, Europe, and Africa and has sold 6812 copies. I assume that someone has read all or parts of the 6812 copies as the contributors read and gift copies to individuals who read at least parts of the anthologies. Gotta be some kind of a record," Tom tells me.

"Of note is that one person (me:-) does ALL the work (cover design---front, back, spine, interior formatting, author corrections, website design, advertising, sales, distribution of copies, I'm sure I've forgotten something...) except the printing." Tom adds, "Only those who have taken part in putting together an anthology project will appreciate this." :-)

I do appreciate this. A massive job well done by Tom Davis. I helped publish Echoes Across the Blue Ridge an anthology of work by mountain writers, with many NCWN-West members, but I did not do the technical parts as Tom does. My job was organizing sales, creating a marketing plan, and distributing the books to all Netwest county representatives and to retail outlets that sold books in my area. 

Some of our best NC poets publish in OMP anthologies, including former poet laureate, Shelby Stephenson. I know it is likely their way to support Old Mountain Press and many beginning poets, but Brenda Kay Ledford of Clay County, NC is widely published in poetry and other genres. Her work is included in every anthology Tom has published. If you like to read poetry, you will love poems by Carroll S. Taylor, YA novelist, and author of two children's books. She recently published her first poetry book, Facing Toward the East. 

I also enjoy the short prose pieces both fiction and nonfiction such as those by Celia Miles prolific mystery novelist from Asheville, NC.  Sandy Benson journalist is also the author of a memoir My Mother’s Keeper: One Family’s Journey Through Dementia. She submitted a short piece that I liked. 

Poetry by NCWN-West members, Mary Ricketson and David Plunkett, grace the pages of The Good Old Days. Many other excellent writers from our western North Carolina and north Georgia region can be found between the covers of this book. 

Only past contributors or someone recommended by a past contributor will be published in the Old Mountain Press. Beware, your work is not edited before it is published. Be sure you have had it edited or have had several pairs of eyes, knowledgeable eyes, on it before you send it to Tom. That is another reason to send something that was accepted elsewhere.

Be generous: If you read a poem or short prose piece that you think is extra good, that you relate to, or feel deserves recognition, take a minute and email or better, write a note to the author. 

It will make their day. We can do so much with so little effort. 

Call for Submissions from Old Mountain Press

 Old Mountain Press (OMP) is accepting submissions for Holiday Cheer PREVIOUS CONTRIBUTORS ONLY OR SOMEONE RECOMMENDED BY A PREVIOUS CONTRIBUTOR. Previously published okay. Each contributor whose work will appear in this anthology can recommend TWO writers to submit to this anthology. Someone whose work you would like included with yours–maybe right beside yours:-).

See http://www.oldmp.com/anthology/holiday-cheer.htm here you will also find guidelines and the link to an online submission form.

To indicate text to be put in italics use <your text>. To indicate bold use [your text]

View camera-ready copy of all submissions accepted so far at: http://www.oldmp.com/anthology/review/holiday-cheer.pdf


Holiday Cheer’s THEME: Anything relating to the holidays:  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, Valentine's Day or fall/autumn or winter.

I will accept submissions until noon on 15 October or when I have 70 contributors.

There is no reading fee, no entry fee, and no requirement for a contributor to purchase this anthology. As always, contributors will be able to purchase copies at a reduced rate. Previously published okay if you have retained rights.

Of interest to writers:
The Punctuation Guide. An excellent reference site! When to use em and en dashes and more!
https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/

ALL past OMP Anthologies are now available as Kindle and/or Nook. See http://www.oldmp.com/e-book/#anthologies  Feel free to pass the link to your friends and family!

Tom Davis
Publisher
Old Mountain Press
910-476-2542

View OMP eBooks for Kindle and NOOK at http://www.oldmp.com/e-book

Old Mountain Press (OMP) is accepting submissions for, "Wish You Were Here: A Poetry and Prose Anthology", Deadline for submissions March 6, 2016

Old Mountain Press will publish a collection of poetry by a number of poets. Their goal is to gather enough quality poems and flash fiction for an estimated 50 to 90 page book with the theme being anything travel related to places you have been or would like to go: the place, the people, the food, etc.

OMP are accepting submissions February 6th to March 6, 2016.
Here are the guidelines and the link to an online submission form:

• Author must have rights to the poem (previously published OK, but not in an OMP anthology).

• Poem may not exceed 36 lines (including title, author's name and blank lines). Poetry lines that exceed 55 letters and spaces will wrap and count as two lines.

• Flash fiction may not exceed 325 words (bottom line is that it must fit on a 8.5"x5.5" page).

• Only one poem/flash fiction per writer, so give it your best shot:-)

• Submissions accepted from a former contributor or someone recommended by a former contributor

http://www.oldmp.com/anthology/wishyouwerehere.htm

Writers and poets seem to have one question these days. NCWN-West will answer on December 12, 2015 at a Panel Discussion in Hayesville, NC.

Wally Avett

Deanna Klingel

“How do I get my writing published?” And then they have another question. “How do I sell my book?”

We hope to have some answers for them on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 1 – 3 p.m. at Moss Memorial Library, 26 Anderson Street, Hayesville, NC.  No charge to attend.

We will have a panel of three novelists and me, Glenda Beall. Cherokee County resident, Wally Avett, journalist and author of four novels, Deanna Klingel, of Sapphire, NC, author of nine books for young and young at heart readers, and Tom Davis, who lives in western NC, an author who also owns Old Mountain Press. Each of these writers will have a story to tell about their publishing experiences and the way they promote their writing careers.

Glenda Beall, moderator of the panel discussion

Recently I asked Scott Owens, well-published poet and teacher from Hickory, NC to share his publishing experiences and his ideas on marketing and publishing. He publishes a new book of poems about every two years. His latest is from Main Street Rag Press. 

Scott Douglas, owner of Main Street Rag Press, was generous with his answers to questions I posed to him on these topics. He has built his small press into a well-established business with some of the best poets on his author list. He once told me that he publishes books for people he is confident are good readers who can promote their books. That is one thing a writer will not get from a small press – book promotion. They don’t have the staff or time to do that. It is up to the author to build a readership and promote his work.

Kevin Watson, founder of Press 53, in Winston-Salem, NC  answered my questions as well and gave me great insight into what it takes for a small press to accept your manuscript and publish your book. 

Press 53, which opened in 2005, quickly began earning a reputation as a quality publishing house of short fiction and poetry collections.

With all the information from Scott Owens, Main Street Rag and Press 53, I will be able to speak to those who want to publish poetry books as well as short fiction.

Today, writers are often in a hurry to get their first book out to the public. They can do this by paying for the publishing or printing themselves. Tom Davis helps people self-publish, and his website fully explains what a writer needs to know about that process.

We ask that everyone hold their questions until the end when we will have a question and answer session. Nothing is more irritating to the audience than people who interrupt the speakers with personal questions.

We will have a short break when audience members can talk with the panelists.

We hope all local writers will mark December 12, 2015 on their calendar. Our speakers will have their books for sale and will be happy to sign them for you.

This event is sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network—West, a program of the state literary organization, the North Carolina Writers’ Network.

Polly and Tom Davis to read from their memoirs at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville, NC, On Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, at 3:00 PM

Polly and Tom Davis will read a He Said She Said from their memoirs at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville, NC on Sunday, November 15, 2015, at 3:00 PM. Polly’s memoir is a companion book to Tom's memoir and covers the same time frame, so now you can hear what happened back on the home front while he traipsed the world having the most fun he ever had with my clothes on. According to Polly, it wasn’t a picnic.  

Read about both memoirs at: http://www.oldmp.com/davismemoirs/

View Old Mountain Press eBooks for Kindle and NOOK at http://www.oldmp.com/e-book

Available to Order: Tom Davis' Memoir, The Most Fun I Ever Had With My Clothes On: A March from Private to Colonel. http://www.oldmp.com/davismemoirs

Polly Davis did something she thought she never would do. Marry a soldier. A Green Beret even. Polly started out as a military wife with a BS Degree from the University of Georgia and over the next thirty years raised two children, numerous dogs and cats, attained a Masters and a Doctorate. All while tramping the world with her soldier husband. Often alone in strange and uncertain circumstances, she not only rose to the occasion, she excelled in everything she ever did. She has taught at every level from pre-school to college, served as the head of the English Department and Director of Research and Planning for Fayetteville Technical Community College, and served in numerous leadership positions within the various communities in which she has lived.

Tom Davis is a writer and the publisher of Old Mountain Press, a company that assists authors in self-publishing their work. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from the University of Southern California. Tom entered the Army as a private and retired a full colonel. His short stories, articles, and poetry have been published in Poets Forum, Winston-Salem Writers’ POETRY IN PLAIN SIGHT program for May 2013 (poetry month), The Carolina Runner, Triathlon Today, ByLine, Georgia Athlete, The Saturday Extra (magazine section of the Fayetteville Observer), A Loving Voice Vol. I and II (anthologies of read aloud stories), and Special Warfare (a professional military journal published by the Special Warfare Center). Many of his short stories have received honors in writing contests sponsored by ByLine Magazine. Tom has written and published the following books: What Would You Like on Your Mashed Potatoes, The Long and the Short, The Life and Times of Rip Jackson, The R-complex, The Patrol Order, and a children’s coloring book entitled Pickaberry Pig illustrated by artist Becky Lee.

Old Mountain Press accepting submissions for anthology

Old Mountain Press (OMP) is accepting submissions for They Stood Alone from
PREVIOUS CONTRIBUTORS ONLY OR SOMEONE RECOMMENDED BY A PREVIOUS CONTRIBUTOR. 

Each contributor whose work will appear in this anthology can recommend ONE person to submit to this anthology. Someone whose work you would like to see included with yours–maybe right beside yours:-).




See http://www.oldmp.com/anthology/theystoodalone.htm here you will also find guidelines and the link to an online submission form.

View camera ready copy of all submissions accepted so far at http://www.oldmp.com/anthology/review/stoodalone.pdf

NOTE: As always this anthology may fill up before the close out date so don’t procrastinate.

They Stood Alone’s  THEME: Nature


OMP willl accept submissions until 12:00 15 November OR when I have at least 90 to 100 pages (includes table of content and authors’ bios 75 words or preferably less please) of quality poems and short shorts WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. 

If you wish to be considered for inclusion in this anthology, do not procrastinate. Get your work in now! Since this is a very wide topic, I expect the anthology to fill up well before the close out date.

There is no reading fee, no entry fee, and no requirement for a contributor to purchase this anthology. As always, contributors will be able to purchase copies at a reduced rate.

Old Mountain Press is owned by Tom Davis, a member of NCWN-West, and a supporter of WNC writers. 

Netwest member published e-book about rescue operation during Viet Nam War

Tom Davis via Old Mountain Press has published an eBook for Amazon Kindle and Nook entitled Operation Ivory Coast AKA The Son Tay Raid: A Short Briefing. This briefing was found over 20 years ago (40 years after the operation) in a classified US portion of the Korean Special Forces Compound near Seoul, Korea. 

In Operation Ivory Coast, a group of 61 Special Forces soldiers conducted a rescue operation to free prisoners-of-war deep inside North Vietnam. Tom has introductory notes followed by the briefing. There are several things in this 1368 word briefing that pique one’s interest. Of particular note are the named Americans who are listed as assets. One in particular you won't believe!http://www.oldmp.com/e-book/#sontay

Davis Short Story Collection For Nook and Kindle

From NCWN/NetWest member Tom Davis comes this information:

"Just posted my collection of short stories about a boy growing up in the south in the 50s for your Kindle and Nook. Check out Growing Up in Vienna, Georgia. Guaranteed make you laugh out three times or you have no sense of humor. And it’s only $2.99."

To see more eBooks published by Old Mountain Press, click here.

Call For Submissions For a New Anthology, "Mountain Writings"

Submissions of poetry and flash fiction for the next anthology, Mountain Writings, part of the Old Mountain Press Anthology Series, will be accepted beginning March 1, 2013. 

The anthology’s theme is anything about the mountains, the people, the places, the activities or other applicable subjects. To submit, writers must have been previously published in an OMP Anthology or be recommended by a writer who has been previously published in an OMP Anthology. Names and bios of contributors can be found on any of the books' web pages which are linked to the OMP Anthology Books in Print web page, found here. 

POETRY COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA CONTEST BEGINS JAN. 15

The Poetry Council of North Carolina announces poetry contests for this year.

Go here for the guidelines


Poetry Council of North Carolina Annual Poetry Contest
Poetry Day will take place October 10, 2009

To read about Poetry Day last year go to:
Poetry Day October 4, 2008, at Catawba College.

Annual Poetry Contest rules

Opening Date: Jan 15, 2009
Closing Date: May 15, 2009.

Open to residents and former residents of North Carolina—persons born in N.C., transients from other states who either attend school or work in this state, and N.C. residents temporarily out of state.


OSCAR ARNOLD YOUNG (book contest)
CHARLES SHULL (traditional poetry)
JAMES LARKIN PEARSON (free verse)
ELLEN T. JOHNSTON-HALE (light verse)
GLADYS OWINGS HUGHES HERITAGE (free verse) CHARLOTTE YOUNG (elementary and middle school students; any subject or form)

SAM RAGAN NORTH CAROLINA CONNECTION (high school and undergraduate)

The Poetry Council of North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit of about 15 volunteers who conduct an annual poetry contest, publish the winning poems in our contest anthology Bay Leaves, and host Poetry Day each fall so that the poets who submitted a winning poem may read and attend a luncheon that includes a guest speaker. Because we do not have a paid membership, we charge a small entry fee of $5 for adult entries by contest category, and there is a modest charge to attend the luncheon so that we may recover those costs. The student contests are supported by donations, and do not have an entry fee as a means to facilitate the ability of school administrators and teachers to encourage students to enter one of the grade-appropriate contests. Questions about the Poetry Council may be directed by e-mail to edcockrell@hotmail.com.
Hosted by Old Mountain Press Poetry and Prose Anthology Series


http://www.oldmp.com/poetrycouncilofnc/