Jessy tells it like it is

I want to introduce you to a brave, spunky, and lively young woman. Her name is Jessy and she writes a column for a local newspaper and also publishes these columns on her blog.
Please click on and leave her a comment. I think you will find her an unbelieveable twenty something who just won't quit.
http://canswercolumn.blogspot.com/

Ed Southern, Exe. Director for NCWN, readings

This is what our Exe. Director, Ed Southern is up to these days:

Feb 26,

Quail Ridge Books, 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh NCWN Executive Director Ed Southern will read from his new book, Voices of the American Revolution in the Carolinas. This story of the American Revolution, told by those who fought it, gives the reader some idea of what it was like to be part of a war when two states were ripped apart, but a nation was made.
Fri., Mar. 6, 5:00 p.m.Waldenbooks, 120 Market Street, Charleston, SC
Fri., Mar. 13, 7:00 p.m.Barnes & Noble, 1925 Hampton Inn Court, Winston-Salem
Sat., Mar. 14, 12:00-2:00 p.m.Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 2332 New Garden St., Greensboro

Nâzım Hikmet Poetry Festival

I've just received word of this new poetry festival and competition, after being invited to serve as one of the judges. I hope some of you in Netwest territory will submit work. Kathryn Byer

**************************************
NAZIM HIKMET POETRY FESTIVAL

“To live! Like a tree alone and free, Like a forest in brotherhood”

Nâzım Hikmet Ran
Greatest Modern Turkish Poet



CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Named in honor of the distinguished Turkish poet, the Nâzım Hikmet Poetry Festival will be held for the first time
on Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina. This event will include Nâzım’s poetry, a look at his life,
and readings of poems by the area poets.

As we bring together poets and poetry lovers, participation of the area poets will be an essential part of this
Festival. Interested poets are invited to submit their poems to the Festival Committee by Wednesday, April 1,
2009. Selected poems will be published on-line at the Festival web site as well as in the Festival Booklet, and the
poets will be invited to read their poems at the Festival.

More information is available at the Festival website: www.nazimhikmetpoetryfestival.org


ABOUT NÂZIM HIKMET:

Nâzım Hikmet Ran (1902 –1963), commonly known as Nâzım Hikmet, was a Turkish poet, playwright, and novelist.
He was recognized as the first and foremost modern Turkish poet, and regarded throughout the world as one of the
greatest poets of the twentieth century for the "lyrical flow of his statements”. Described as a "romantic
revolutionary", his humanistic views are universal.

His poetry has been translated into more than fifty languages. UNESCO declared 2002 the "Year of Nâzım Hikmet"
on the occasion of what would have been his 100th birthday. He received the World Peace Prize (the USSR's
equivalent of the Nobel) in 1950. Even though he faced many challenges in his life, he always remained optimistic
about the future.

His poetry reflects his undiminishing hope for social justice, his love of life, and longing for his homeland.


ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS:

This event is organized by
American Turkish Association of North Carolina ( www.ata-nc.org ) and
Gregg Museum of Art & Design, North Carolina State University ( http://gad.ncsu.edu/ ).

Organizing committee:
Buket Aydemir, Pelin Balı, Mehmet Öztürk, and Birgül Tuzlalı

Contact: contact@nazimhikmetpoetryfestival.org

Event Location: The Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Talley Student Center, NCSU




GENERAL RULES
Deadline
Entries received by Wednesday, April 1, 2009 will be considered for selection.

Submission Requirements

 All entries MUST be submitted via www.nazimhikmetpoetryfestival.org
 All poems submitted to the Festival must be unpublished, original works.
 Each poet can submit up to three poems.
 The poems should be written in English.
 The selected poems will be published on-line at the Festival web site as well as in the Festival Booklet which
will be distributed during the Festival.
 The poets will retain the copyright of their poems.

Selection & Notification

 Submitted poems will be evaluated anonymously and the names of the poets or their contact information will
not be disclosed to the members of the Selection Committee.
 The contact listed on the entry form will be notified of their poem’s status via e-mail by April 12, 2009.

POETRY SELECTION COMMITTEE:

Kathryn Stripling Byer, NC Poet Laureate
Jon Thompson, Professor, Department of English, NC State University
Greg Dawes, Professor, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, NC State University
Erdag Göknar, Assistant Professor of Turkish Studies, Slavic & Eurasian Studies Dept., Duke University
Joseph Donahue, Senior Lecturing Fellow, Department of English, Duke University
Hatice Örün Öztürk (ATA-NC Representative), Associate Professor, Department of ECE, NC State University

TENTATIVE FESTIVAL PROGRAM:

Opening Remarks
Greg Dawes, Professor, Department of Foreign Languages And Literatures, NC State University

Talks on Nâzım Hikmet's life and poetry:
Erdag Göknar, Assistant Professor of Turkish Studies, Slavic & Eurasian Studies Dept., Duke University
Güven Güzeldere, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, Duke University

Nâzım reading his poetry – a recording of his voice: In Turkish with English translations available

Fazil Say’s Nâzım: An oratorical composition of one of Nâzım’s poems in Turkish with English subtitles

Poetry Reading: Nâzım Hikmet’s poetry in English

Poetry Reading: Selected poems from the entries

Refreshments

A documentary on Nâzım Hikmet's life – In Turkish with English subtitles
Blue Eyed Giant / Mavi Gözlü Dev, directed by Biket Ilhan (2007)

Blue Ridge Book and Author Showcase in Black Rock, NC May 8-9

Don't miss this huge event for authors and anyone who loves to read and write. Robert Morgan, Kathryn Stripling Byer, Sharyn McCrumb, Vicki Lane, Joan Medlicott, Gary Carter, Sheila Kay Adams, Keith Flynn and many other writers and poets will be in Hendersonville NC on May 9 to speak, read, and sign thier books.

Below is a partial listing of events. Check out the website to get all information including directions, lodging, etc. Tables are available for authors to sign and sell their books.

A great opportunity for writers in the western area of North Carolina to network with authors, poets and many people in the literary community.

9:00-9:10 AM Robert Morgan -- Welcome & Keynote Introduction Conference Hall/Gala
9:10-9:50 AM
Sharyn McCrumb -- Keynote Address: Finding truth in fiction -- Conference Hall/Gala
10:00-11:00 AM
(Concurrent Sessions) Louise Bailey -- The historical and cultural dimensions of Henderson County -- Conference Hall/Gala
10:00-11:00 AM Vickie Lane -- Appalachian mysteries
Conference Hall/Cortland
10:00-11:00 AM
Rose Senehi -- Romantic thrillers threaded with environmental themes Conference Hall/Macintosh
10:00-11:15 AM Student Presentations School-age writing talent to the
microphone -- Classroom 213
11:00-11:30 AM
Author display tables open. Book sales signings, author/public interaction.
Perimeter corridors.**
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Sheila Kay Adams -- Historical novels; mountain culture in storytelling and ballad style Conference Hall/Gala
11:30 AM-12:30 PM Keith Flynn - Inside the poetry genre
Conference Hall/Cortland
11:30 AM-12:30 PM Charles F. Price - Historical fiction
Conference Hall/Macintosh
11:30 AM-12:30 PM Student Presentations -- School-age writing talent to the microphone Classroom 213
12:30-1:45 PM Lunch Break ORDER YOUR BOX LUNCH! See website for ordering information.
1:45-2:15 PM Author display tables open. Book sales signings, author/public interaction.
Perimeter corridors.**
2:15-3:15 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Kathryn Stripling Byer -- Poet Laureate of North Carolina Conference Hall/Gala
2:15-3:15 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Joan Medlicott -- Never too late to become a published author-- Conference Hall/Cortland
2:15-3:15 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Gary Carden -- Western North Carolina storytelling and folklore -- Conference Hall/Macintosh
2:15-3:15 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Marvin Cole -- Character portrayal of Mark Twain Room 213
3:15-3:45 PM Author display tables open. Book sales signings, author/public interaction.
Perimeter corridors.**
3:45-4:45 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Robert Morgan -- Boone’s Legacy Reaches to the
Pacific -- Conference Hall/Gala
3:45-4:45 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Peggy Collins -- “The Self-Sufficiency Syndrome”—Learning to accept help -- Conference Hall/Cortland
3:45-4:45 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Jeff Biggers -- The Appalachian character and other memoirs -- Conference Hall/Macintosh
3:45-4:45 PM
(Concurrent Sessions) Steve Kirk -- Navigating the publishing labyrinth Room 213
4:45-5:30 PM Author display tables open. Book sales signings, author/public interaction.
Perimeter corridors.**
**Note: At the discretion of exhibiting authors, many display tables will be open to visitors throughout the program hours
in order to accommodate intermittent patron arrivals and departures and to allow for optional attendance at scheduled
program sessions.

Carole Thompson, words on love

From the Window of Our Georgia Mountain Home -

Our Georgia Netwest Rep offers thoughts on mature marriage and love.

Check out this writer's work.

CWP, March 11, is for the Birds

Are you a bird watcher? A Lover of the natural world? Nancy Simpson and Janice Townley Moore are two of the NC poets who had poems included in the new bird anthology titled THE POETS GUIDE TO THE BIRDS. Both of these poets live and write in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The anthology contains only bird poems, some of them by the most noted poets writing in America today. It was edited by Judith Kitchen and Ted Kooser and published at Anhinga Press, Tallahassee, Florida, 2009.

Janice Townley Moore's poem is "Teaching the Robins." This is the title poem of her chapbook Teaching the Robins published at Finishing Line Press, 2005.

Nancy Simpson's poem is a previously unpublished poem titled "Carolina Bluebirds."
The Poets Guide to th Birds is available at http://www.anhingapress.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, and at Phillips and Lloyd bookstore on the square in Hayesville, NC.

Both Simpson and Moore are featured readers of their poetry at Coffee with the Poets in Hayesville, NC at Phillips and Lloyd bookstore on March 11, 10:30 AM.

Poets reading at open mic are invited to bring their poems about birds. Everyone is invited to come and listen or read while munching on delicacies from Crumpets Dessertery.

NORTH CAROLINA WRITERS NETWORK WEST ANTHOLOGY
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
North Carolina Writers Network West is seeking the best short stories, essays, and poems by writers in the Netwest region. Our Goal is to collect the best writing and to introduce our writers to readers in the mountains and beyond.
Eligible Writers: Must live in and have a mailing address in· N.C. Counties: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Swain, or Transylvania.· Georgia Counties: Fannin, Rabun, Towns, or Union.· South Carolina Counties: Greenville or Pickens.· Tennessee Counties: Blount or Polk.

Submission is open to NCWN members and non-members in these counties.
Theme: Stories, Essays, and Poems by Writers Living in or Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains. While we hope the work submitted will give a feeling and flavor of the mountains, please submit your best work regardless of the subject matter.
GUIDELINES: Submission can be an excerpt from your previously published book. It can have been published in a print or web magazine, if you own the copyright. It can not have been previously published in an anthology. ·
Enter one category only.
Mark your envelope: Fiction, Non-Fiction, or Poetry.· Identify your work. This is not a contest, therefore, no blind judging.·
To help with record keeping, please send a cover sheet with your contact info, and a 50 word bio.

For Fiction and Nonfiction send one or two stories or essays in 12 point type, double spaced. Combined limit total 3,000 words. On first page of manuscript write your name and contact information and the Word Count. On last page of manuscript, write name of publication if previously published.
For Poetry send one - three poems in 12 point type, single spaced. 40 line limit including title and stanza breaks. Put your name and the number of lines at the top of each page.
At the bottom of each poem, please write name of publication if previously published.
You will be notified if your work has been accepted. Send a SASE for the editor’s decision.Do not send your only copy. Manuscripts will not be returned. If accepted, manuscripts must be submitted on a CD as a Word Document in Times New Roman.
Everyone who submits will receive a copy of the anthology
DEADLINE: Your submission must be postmarked during December 2008, January or February, 2009. Enclose Reading Fee: $10.00 Members. $18.00 non members.
Make check payable to NCWN West. Mail to Nancy Simpson, Editor,472 Old Cherry Mtn. Trail, Hayesville, NC 28904

Editors of Christmas Presence offer new opportunity

We are soliciting
Material from women writers in western North Carolina
For a second book project

Celia Miles and Nancy Dillingham want your stories, memoirs, essays/reflections, poems for an anthology about the garments we wear—metaphorically, symbolically, literally---from hair bow to bra to Birkenstocks, from christening gown to prom dress, from waitress uniform to nine-to-five stiletto heels.

We expect an October 2009 publication date, in time to market the book alongside the 2008 Christmas Presence.

General Guidelines

i Submit no more than 2000 words
i Previously published material is fine–as long as you provide acknowledgments
i You retain all rights to your material
i Send in an email attachment (or contact us)–in Ms Word or RTF
i Formatting for submissions:

Double space with one-inch margins
Left justify only
Center or left justify title

Use 12-point font (Times New Roman preferred) for body and title

i Editing is a “given,” but we will try to ask about changes
i DEADLINE: MAY 2, 2009
i In return for your effort and creativity, you will receive

A complimentary copy of the book
An opportunity to buy additional copies at reduced cost
A publication party and potential readings/signings

i Contact Information:
Celia Miles (277-6910)> celiamiles@fastmail.fm
Nancy Dillingham (254-3143)> nandilly@earthlink.net

We are excited about compiling an interesting and entertaining collection of theme-related work from women writers in this region. We know you’re out there! So, we invite you to look into your clothes closet (past or present), and if you have a story to tell, a memory to share, a point of view to espouse, send it along. We promise to treat it with care.

Mountain Voices meets in Sylva

Mountain Voices,

a writers' group for writers/poets/playwrights/storytellers in Macon, Jackson and Swain counties in NC will meet Thursday at 7:00 PM at Soul Infusion Bistro in Sylva. Members wll eat at 7:00 and readings will begin at 7:30. Writers interested in attending, should contact Gary Carden at: GCarden498@aol.com -Telephone: 828-631-5438

Some Valentin Thoughts

For me, Valentines day is a celebration of LOVE in all its manifestations-----finally (guess it's my age), I have crossed the great chasm of limiting the boundaries of love's need and expectation to having one special other. The shift wasn't easy and seemed to take forever but poetry and dreams and dear friends and seeing lovers glow feeds my soul and verifies connection and the ALL of love and loving.

A lot of times we just reach out
& expect nothing in return—& that...
that is so much more than enough.

~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Valentines Day to you all...........
Pat
~~~

Poetry & Essay Contest Middle School

I would like to thank Jayne and Glenda for volunteering to judge the Cherokee County Poetry and Essay Contest this year. This is a milestone in many of the students lives and appreciated by everyone involved from sponsors, teachers and parents.

I have been asked to extend this contest to the Cherokee County Middle Schools and the "Learning Center." I would like to do this, if, I can get two more volunteers, one for each category. I will make sure to obtain the sponsors, awards, publicity and facilities to present the awards.

If you have an interest to help promote writing for young people, please respond ASAP, as I need to set the dates of submissions and deadlines.

Much Thanks,

Paul Donovan

Poet Laureate, Kathryn Stripling Byer visits CWP in Hayesville, NC

Many thanks to Kathryn Stripling Byer for speaking and reading her poetry at Coffee with the Poets in Hayesville, NC today. The atmosphere was casual and comfortable in Crumpets Dessertery at Phillips and Lloyd Book Store in the historic little mountain town. Netwest members and others from the community filled the room.
Kathryn answered questions, and then said she wanted to hear from the local poets who had brought poems to read at open mic.

Mary Mike Keller hosted the session and gave each person a chance to share a poem with the Poet Laureate of North Carolina. Elizabeth Rybicki, owner of Phillips and Lloyd Books, served a delicious cake and candies all in Valentine's Day colors.

We look forward to another great day of poetry in March, second Wednesday, at Coffee with the Poets when Janice Townley Moore and Nancy Simpson will read. Their poetry is published in a new anthology edited by Judith Kitchen and Ted Kooser. The theme of the book is Birds and Nancy asked everyone to bring poems about birds for open mic.
Look for more details on Kathryn Byer's blog and on Nancy Simpson's site.

A Love Poem for Valentine's Day

THE GARDEN

By Nancy Purcell

Somehow I need to find a way to tell you

of the unfolding of myself since you are with me.

There always was a wellspring of love,

but it had to be hidden: life hurt.

Like a walled garden no one could see,

you found my heart and climbed inside.

I’m not sure how, but by some feat of magic,

you moved away yesterday, showing me tomorrow.

What key were you given no other ever used?

Or was it in the lock and no one ever turned it?

You’ve torn out weeds with simple words and touches,

making me free-flying but vulnerable.

Will you remove the wall and nurture the garden?

Or is the wall the challenge and the space only for leasing?

The last stones to be cleared are buried deep, buried yesterday.

If you clear them, you are honor-bound to stay.

Think carefully, for no chains will hold you fast.

But should you leave this garden,

Please close the door and take the key.

No one should ever walk in here but you.

NANCY PURCELL, North Carolina Writers' Network West Representative for Transylvania County, (828)862-8117; nansea@citcom.net

Nancy studied Creative Writing at Florida Atlantic University, served as a North Carolina Writers Network/Elizabeth Squire Daniels Writer-in-Residence, Peace College, Raleigh, NC, under the guidance of Doris Betts, and she teaches Creative Writing in the Brevard College Community Education program.

Her latest undertaking is Quick Coaching; motivating writers and those who wish to write through the use of prompt and various motivational techniques.
Publications: RiverSedge, The MacGuffin, Pangolin Papers, Troika, LongStoryShort, The Square Table, among others, including two anthologies. Her stories have been read on the "Writers' Radio Show" out of Chattanooga, TN.
Nancy is retired from a career in Marketing and Sales. She spends her days in the office writing and in the garden, relaxing and hoping her writing seeds will germinate. She holds a membership in the North Carolina Writers' Network and in PWA.

Mary Ricketson and her husband Bill Killen

Mary Ricketson, Murphy resident, served Netwest as treasurer for the past year and a half. She did a terrific job in spite of the busy life she leads. Mary is a mental health counselor and also the founder of the REACH program in Murphy NC. She writes a column for the local newspaper. Her poetry chapbook, The River Calls My Name, was published by Finishing Line Press last year.
Although her busy schedule means she had to resign as treasurer , she continues as the Cherokee County Representative for Netwest.
Thanks Mary for the great job you do for NCWN West.
With Mary is her husband, Bill Killen, artist.

Nancy Simpson, editor of the new NCWN West Anthology

Seven poems by Nancy Simpson were reprinted in the textbook, Southern Appalachian Poets, edited by Marita Garin at McFarland Press.

A new poem, "Carolina Blue Birds" was published in the anthology: The Poets Guide to the Birds at Anhinga Press, edited by Judith Kitchen and Ted Kooser.

Nancy Simpson's poem, "Grass" will be reprinted in Southern Poetry Review's 50th Anniversary edition in 2009, and two new poems are forthcoming in Solo Cafe, out of California with guest editor Lenard D. Moore.

More at http://www.nancysimpson.blogspot.com/