Excerpts from Col. Don Long reading at CWTPW, Wed. August 17, 2016

In case you missed Col. Don Long reading at Coffee with the Poets and Writers, on Wed., August 17th, at Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC, you can hear him, here:

Donald E. Long, MS, ISASI, CSE,  was born and raised in Sebring, Florida. After two years of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. In 1980 he retired as a Lt. Colonel. He began a second career with the U.S. Federal Government as a Safety Professional, retiring a second time in 2000. During his two careers, he lived in, or visited, over 20 countries.

Starting in his teen years and all throughout his adult life he has written poems, mostly for his consumption, but occasionally on request, for personnel at special occasions during his careers. For a short while after retiring from the Army he had a business called “People Poems” writing poems for others for a fee after they provided him with pertinent information. Although the business was doing well, his second career necessitated that he close it.

He writes poems for personal reasons, prefers for them to rhyme, and says of himself, “I guess I missed the revolution”. One of his poems, “I’m Glad It’s Mine” has been used during citizenship swearing-in ceremonies in central Florida and for central Florida Flag Day ceremonies. Another poem about being a Vietnam Veteran was featured at the 2013 Florida “Convention” for Vietnam Helicopter Pilots. One story about his Vietnam Experience has been published in two different military related anthologies, The Harsh and The Heart and Vietnam Helicopter Crew Member Stories, Volume 2.

Since his second retirement, he has split his time between Winter Park, Florida and Murphy, North Carolina. He has been married for 37 years to Marti, has six children, and ten grandchildren living in central Florida and north Georgia. In addition to writing, his other hobby is genealogy.

NCWN-West Poets Dr. Linda G. Jones and Marcia Hawley Barnes to read at the Literary Hour at John C. Campbell Folk School, Aug. 17, 2016, 7:00 PM

On Wednesday evening, August 17, 2016 at 7:00 PM, John Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, NC, and the North Carolina Writers' Network-West are sponsoring The Literary Hour, an hour of poetry and prose reading. The reading is free of charge and open to the public. Normally scheduled for the third Thursday of the month, this month the event will be on Wednesday. Poets Dr. Linda Jones and Marcia Hawley Barnes will be the featured readers, both of which are accomplished poets. This should be an excellent program and greatly anticipated by writers and poets in our area.

Dr. Linda G. Jones joined the faculty of Young Harris College in 2009 and is currently an Associate Professor of Biology and Dean of the Division of Mathematics and Science. She teaches courses in human anatomy and physiology, animal physiology, developmental biology, comparative anatomy, parasitology and neuropharmacology. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Stetson University, an M.A. in Biology and Ph.D. in Pathology from Vanderbilt University and completed postdoctoral studies in pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego. Most of her career was spent in biomedical research, primarily in the area of cell signaling of the cardiovascular system and more recently in neuroscience. She is now happy to be teaching students in the classroom and serving as a mentor for student research. One current research model is the Zebrafish embryo used for developmental and toxicological studies. She has a number of interests outside of the science classroom which include reading and writing poetry. She is a member of the North Carolina Writers' Network-West and a participant in the their poetry critique group.


Marcia Hawley Barnes is a Georgia writer and poet. She is a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, and Ridgeline Literary Alliance. Ms. Barnes celebrated the American family and cuisine in 2008, when she researched, illustrated, and published The Little Book of Secret Family Recipes. A heritage cookbook, the collection contains favorite recipes found in the archives of her family. In 2016, her first children’s book, Tobijah, illustrated by Doreyl Ammons Cain, was published by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia. Her poetry has been published in Stone, River, Sky, An Anthology of Georgia Poems. The author also writes a monthly book review for a local newspaper, Clay County Progress.

Dr. Linda G. Jones

Marcia Hawley Barnes

NCWN-West's Coffee with the Poets and Writers will feature poet Don Long, on Wed., August 17, 2016 at the Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC

Coffee with the Poets and Writers meets monthly at the Moss Memorial Library, 26 Anderson Street, Hayesville, NC. On Wednesday, August 17, 2016, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Don Long of Cherokee County will be the featured North Carolina Writers' Network-West member who will read his poetry.

Long was born and raised in Sebring, Florida even though his Mother’s family hails from West North Carolina, East Tennessee, and North Georgia. After two years of college, Don enlisted in the army as a private. He was later commissioned and earned the chance to fly helicopters in Vietnam for two one-year tours.

He was the recipient of numerous awards including the Silver Star, Meritorious Service Medal, three awards of the Bronze star, the Purple Heart, two awards of the Valorous Unit Award, three awards of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/palm, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and Master Army Aviator Wings.

While work situations prevented participation, based on his aviation expertise, he was invited by the state department (People to People program) to go to China (1987) and later, Czechoslovakia (1988), to help those countries improve their air traffic control system.

After retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1988, Don worked with the Federal Government as a Safety Professional. He retired again in 2000 and began splitting his time between Winter Park, FL and Murphy, NC.

Starting in his teen years and all throughout his entire adult life Donald Long has written poems, mostly for his own enjoyment, but on request he sometimes wrote poems for special occasions. For a short while after retiring from the Army he had a business called “People Poems.” He wrote poems for others for a fee after they provided him pertinent information. The business was doing well, but he obtained a time-consuming position with the Government which necessitated closing the business.

Publication has not been his goal and he has made little effort to publish his poetry except in local newspapers. He writes poems for personal reasons and enjoys the challenge of using rhyme. One of his poems, “I’m Glad It’s Mine” has been used during citizenship swearing-in ceremonies in central Florida and for central Florida Flag Day ceremonies. Also, one of his combat stories was published in a compilation called “The Harsh and the Heart” and “Vietnam Helicopter Crew Member Stories, Volume 2”.

Don’s long and illustrious career includes earning a BA in Psychology, MS in Personnel Counseling and Human Development, and a Commercial Pilots license for airplanes and helicopters.

Recently, while in Washington, DC, his poem about Vietnam Veterans and the Flag was accepted for the Army Historical Archives. A veteran friend had told some at the Pentagon about the Vietnam Poem and the Pentagon asked for one. While at the Pentagon he also presented a copy of each to the Secretary of the Army.

Don Long has been married for 31 years to his wife Marti, and they have children and grandchildren spread out in Central Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and North Georgia.

Everyone is invited to hear this reading and to participate in the Open Microphone session that follows. A short discussion on publishing poetry will follow.

Writers and readers and those who like to listen to poetry will enjoy this program. Glenda Beall, a Clay County Representative for NCWN-West, facilitates this event each year from March – December. Join us for lunch after the meeting at Angelo’s on the square where we continue to socialize and talk about writing.

NCWN-West appreciates the Moss Library staff providing a room for us. Coffee with the Poets and Writers is sponsored by North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, is a program of the North Carolina Writers’ Network.

For more information contact Glenda Council Beall, 828-389-4441.

Your Daily Poem.com presents its Third Annual Poetry Writing Workshop October 21–23, 2016 Black Mountain, NC

Think poetry is boring? Think again! Come spend an inspiring, relaxing weekend listening to, laughing at, learning from, and loving poetry in a gorgeous mountain setting. Spend time with some of Your Daily Poem’s most charismatic, successful poets as they guide and encourage you in turning poetry into an uplifting and
satisfying part of your life. Space is limited; register now so you don’t miss out at www.YourDailyPoem.com.
 
What is Your Daily Poem? YourDailyPoem.com was born in 2009 as a way to prove that poetry is
not the dull and boring thing too many people (incorrectly!) believe it to be. Today, well over 25,000 people visit YDP each month to enjoy poems about everything from cheeseburgers and cheerleading to activism and
autism. Are you fascinated by the details and nuances of everyday life? Do honesty, wit, and introspection 
make you smile? Could you use a 2-minute infusion of something fresh to perk up your  everyday routines? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, come be a part of the YDP family!
 
Whether you’re someone who wrote off poetry years ago as a waste of time, someone who doesn’t know much  about poetry but wonders how it might enrich your life, an aspiring poet in search of direction, or
a poetry lover eager to share your passion with like-minded folk, there’s a place for you at Your Daily Poem. Learn more at www.YourDailyPoem.com
.
Accommodations for our 2016 event are at the beautiful Blue Ridge retreat and conference center in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Nestled in the heart of Western North Carolina, just 15 minutes from Asheville, you’ll be just 2 miles off I-40, and conveniently located to airports in Asheville, Charlotte, and Greenville, SC. 

Presenters will be Jan Seale, Edwin Romand, Ruth Moose, and Gilbert Allen. Please visit YourDailyPoem.com, for the schedule of events, and information on accomodations, etc. 

Links for this workshop are:

 
http://www.YourDailyPoem.com
http://www.JayneJaudonFerrer.com
http://commagoddess.blogspot.com

Excerpts from NCWN-West's Coffee with the Poets & Writers, July 20, 2016, featuring Joan Ellen Gage, reading from her books for women

Women's book writer, Joan Ellen Gage read at NCWN-West's event, Coffee with the Poets and Writers, Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at the Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC. Gage has written 5 books, including 4 books for women, Water Running Downhill, Embracing Your Inner Cheerleader, A Redhead Looks at 60, and Water Running Downhill, the Rose Edition, dedicated to Rose Helena Macedo Kull.

Here are links to Gage's reading:

You can see some of Joan's other work on her blogs:

www.joanellengage.com/
https://joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com/

Women’s Writer Joan Ellen Gage to read at Coffee with the Poets and Writers, at the Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC, July 20, 2016, 10:30 AM

On July 20th, 2016, at 10:30 AM, North Carolina Writers’ Network-West member, Joan Ellen Gage, will read from her books at the Moss Memorial Library at Coffee with the Poets and Writers. Gage writes specifically for women, her writing is humorous, inspiring, and geared to midlife experiences as a woman. She highlights her writing with her, often comedic, photo-creations.

Joan’s books include Water Running Downhill, Embracing Your Inner Cheerleader, Trinity’s Adventures in Imagination, and A Redhead Looks at 60. All Gage's books are available in paperback and in eBooks. 

For more information on this event, please contact the Moss Memorial Library at 828-389-8401.


Joan's blogs:

www.joanellengage.com
joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com
 

Staci Lynn Bell has poetry published in an Old Mountain Press anthology, won medals for poetry and prose, and has a poem accepted in the Fall issue of Kakalak

Local poet Staci Lynn Bell's poem, "Escape" has been published in Old Mountain Press Anthology, Wish You Were Here. Staci's  poem, "Unanswered Prayers" has been accepted for publication in the fall edition of. Kakalak 2016.
 
Additionally, Bell's poem, "Time," won a bronze medal and her short story, "Cheyenne" won a silver medal in the NC Cherokee and Clay County's Silver Arts 2016. 

Staci Lynn Bell is a Chicago native who attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She relocated to South Florida, gaining popularity as a 25 year radio and television personality. Bell’s poetry and prose have also been published in Wild Goose Poetry, Wolf Warriors Anthology,and 234 Journal. She lives with the loves of her life, her two dogs, in Hayesville, NC.