A seventh-generational
native of Clay County, NC, Brenda Kay Ledford is a retired educator. She received her Master of Arts in Education
from Western Carolina University and studied Journalism at the University of Tennessee. Ledford holds a Creative Writing diploma of
highest honors from Stratford Career Institute.
She’s listed with A Directory of American Poets and Fiction
Writers, North Carolina Literary Map,
and Who’s Who in America. Ledford
belongs to North Carolina Writer’s Network, North Carolina Poetry Society,
Georgia Poetry Society, and is a charter member of Byron Herbert Reece Society.
Her work has appeared in
many journals including Our State,
Pembroke Magazine, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Asheville Poetry Review, Town
Creek Poetry, Charlotte Poetry Review, Wild Goose Poetry Review, The Broad
River Review, and 30 Old Mountain Press anthologies.
Finishing Line Press
published her three poetry chapbooks: Sacred Fire, Shewbird Mountain, and Beckoning. Aldrich Press printed her poetry book, Crepe Roses, that won the 2015 Paul
Green Award from North Carolina Society of Historians. Ledford has won the Paul Green Award nine
times for her poetry books, collecting oral history on the Southern Appalachian
history, and her blogs.
We urge those who plan to read at Open Mic, bring a poem by one of our co-founders, Nancy Simpson or Kathryn Stripling Byer if you can. We are honoring them this month, as it is National Poetry Month.
To participate in the Open Mic session, we request readings be limited to one or two poems or no more than three pages, double-spaced, prose writing. NCWN-West is a program of the North Carolina Writers’ Network, one of the largest state literary organizations in the country.
Contact Glenda C. Beall, glendabeall@msn.com for more information or phone: 828-389-4441.
