ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE: Rosemary Royston

For the next couple of weeks, I will be featuring selected authors from ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE on my Here, Where I Am blog.

The first author is Rosemary Royston. Please drop by and enjoy!

Coffee with the Poets at City Lights in Sylva

I appreciate those who came to hear my reading today.

Coffee with the Poets at City Lights Books in Sylva started with a bang. Newt Smith, Treasurer for Netwest, served as MC for the reading. Kathryn Stripling Byer was not able to attend today.

Cynthia Gallinger, William Everett, Pat Montee

Mary Mike Keller and Rosemary Royston from Young Harris, GA made the trip over the mountains. Both shared poetry with the group which included William Everett, author of Red Clay, Blood River,and Pat Montee, wife of the late Ralph Montee, writer and poet. It was especially nice to see Pat again, in pink above.

From right, Newt Smith, Chris Wilcox, Diana Jurss, Rosemary Royston, Mary Mike Keller.

William and I have been communicating by E-mail for two years, and finally met today. I am very disappointed that both times Bill came to Hayesville I had to be out of town and was unable to see his presentation of his book in which he uses music and a professional actress.
Diana Jurss is the featured reader for the next Coffee with the Poets in Sylva. Her book is forthcoming in August. Cynthia Gallinger was also present today. I look forward to next month's CWP at City Lights. Perhaps other poets and writers will come and share their work at Open Mic.

Chris Wilcox, owner of City Lights, could not have been nicer and more accomodating. We bought books and sold books.

The refreshments were delicious, and we had an informal opportunity to discuss our opinions about poetry, line breaks, reading aloud and reading on the page. After the reading, some of us went downstairs to the Spring Street Restaurant were we had excellent service and excellent food.r more information on Coffee with the Poets in Sylva, contact Newt Smith, smithnewton@gmail.com or Chris at more@citylightsnc.com

Rosemary Royston, poet, will read on May 12 at Mountain Perk

Reading with Scott Owens on Wednesday evening, May 12, is Rosemary Royston, poet from Blairsville, Georgia. Her work has been published in The Comstock Review, Main Street Rag, Momwriter’s Literary Magazine, Public Republic, and Dark Sky Magazine. Rosemary has led poetry workshops at the Institute for Continuing Learning at Young Harris College, and has spoken to young adults, on more than one occasion,about the wonders of poetry. She was the 2004 recipient of first and third place in poetry, Porter Fleming Literary Awards, and is currently at work on a poetry collection। She holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University.

Rosemary is a preacher's kid. She often uses this background for her poetry. Although she said she began writing poetry mostly for therapeutic reasons, she has grown far beyond that.

In June, she will teach a class for Writers' Circle.

Space, Time and Tone: The Power of Humor in Contemporary Poetry. This class will examine how humor in poetry allows the poet to go into unexpected territories, allowing for both release and examination of sensitive issues. Contact Glenda Beall at nightwriter0302@yahoo.com for more information on the class.

The evening of poetry at Mountain Perk , 7:00 p.m. on May 12 also includes open mic for anyone who wants to share original poetry or a short selection of original prose. This is an evening writers and those who enjoy good writing don't want to miss. See you there.