Ned Condini, member of NCWN West, has shared some of his work with us today.

THE FASCINATION WITH GRAY
by Ned Condini


Don’t ask me why but I was set on my way to Alaska. I said good-bye to Father, Mother and Brother (crystal-clear trinity at long last), got slapped by Father and hugged sorrowfully by Mother (later, Dad would have burned his hand in expiation) and with just my knapsack, my shot gun, and a walking stick with a flower blooming on top, began my impossible journey. Why did I ever tackle this inhuman task? Now I’m alone, completely alone, and on the march. I’m already hungry.

I came upon a big, brown moose a couple of days ago. I’ve been following his tracks. Sooner or later we’re going to cross paths. In fact, there he is, I see his wise-looking head, the spacious antlers. I shoot him twice in the neck, and he falls, bleeding. In a couple of minutes he’s dead. I cut him up into savory pieces, bury him under straw and set the straw on fire. Short flames dart up from the straw. It seems that the ceremony is starting the right way: the glorification of fire and the consecration of food. The smell of it makes me think I’m one of the first patriarchs, or an Indian sachem.

The fire goes out. I put my head under the straw cover, smell hard, no celestial incense yet. Did I light the wrong pyre? Is the moose’s blood on my hands? I lift the straw cover, poke the fire again, reset the whole thing. Nothing happens. Let’s face it, the fire is dying. I toss the cover away, and look at the meat. Bees are landing on it; a few seconds, and maggots wriggle out. It’s hard to believe that this seemingly succulent dish is disintegrating so fast. It already stinks, without my tasting it yet.

I watch the dying embers (an emblem of what’s to come? I’m sick of emblems) and squat by them. Minutes go by, then, in a bewildering silence, wolves appear and start tearing at the moose’s flesh. Their howls fill the sky. None of the wolves come close to me. I must still smell like bloodless white carrion.

I resume my journey. A big bear grazes by me, growls at me in acknowledgement, trudges on. I spot a deadly-looking scorpion following my footsteps. Did it make it up here all the way from Mexico? Or have scorpions gotten everywhere?

I decide to switch to fishing, unless I want to starve. I make a rudimentary bow, carve out a couple of arrows, and look like Davy Crockett without his coon hat. But it’s no joke. The cold is getting more intense, and I’d better pick up the pace. I start running, and after a half hour of staggering dizziness, I discover an empty, disabled school bus. I occupy it, and light a fire inside. Just a few windows are broken, so it’s quite safe even if drafty, and truly dismal. I fall asleep, with the remains of a half-fried fish in my churning entrails.

I have been walking (dragging myself) for days now, and the first snow-capped mountains come into sight. The view is stunning, but the terrain harsh and the vegetation sparse: just stunted pines, heather, moss, lichen. The rest is a ubiquitous wild light, whose purpose is apparently to blind me to all the other colors in the universe. I’m feeding on fish dredged from ponds, losing pounds like a Jew in a ghetto, stumbling on like a hippo on roller skates. But one day I’ll reach Alaska, I say to myself--whatever Alaska is meant to be: my preparation for the pithiness of ice, the training for my cool tomb. I am the last of the Eskimos.

Getting rid of all paraphernalia-- that’s what I’m trying to do. I have dumped my T-shirt and I walk now in my shorts and boots. I carry on my shoulders the weight of the sun and the pull of this swirling landscape. It always looks like snow, but it never snows. The sky is a steely light blue, then sheer blue, but no angels yet. I begin to feel the pinch of cold on my bare flesh. I don’t have much energy left to go hunting for meat or fish. I haven’t found one single egg.

I think today I have landed in Alaska. The cold is brutal, but here I am standing in the raw air, half naked, happy to have discarded my ridiculous accoutrements. I thought I needed plenty for graduation. Graduation… It seems so outlandish now, so useless. The only close things are my father’s hand lifted to strike, and Mother’s gentle face. I’ve seen a few flurries but not much. It’s more like my vision is dissolving into stars.

I’m getting cold. I do want to get cold. I want to compose myself in the anonymity of ice. I retrace my steps towards the school bus, as deserted as before, and as I rest, seated, I realize a black scorpion is scuttling away. Have I been stung? Yes, I have, I say as I start vomiting my soul, thinking of my friends, my lost riches, hermits, animals digging for my heart. But my heart is not for grabs. Shuddering, I put on my windbreaker and the only long pants I still own, lay down and make the sign of the cross over my body. I’m slowly freezing to death, motionless in my gray mummification.

The shadow of the big bear is also close to me: has he come to keep me company in this solitude? He stretches by me, nudging me with his wet fur. I see Mom’s ever forgiving face, Dad slowly burning his right hand over the fire. How moving this all is. How full of light, and silence, and cold. Only a ghost could live here—the Holy One? Death does not exist. I close my tired eyes, smile a frozen smile, and stretch out my numbing limbs for the eternal rest. This is my first absence of speech. No words needed, only crossed bones that look as if they were singing.

(second part of this story will be published tomorrow)

HERE, WHERE I AM: SOLACES

HERE, WHERE I AM: SOLACES

Blue Ridge Bookfest May 18 - 19 Flat Rock,NC

Bill Ramsey wants to remind you all that the Blue Ridge Bookfest will have lots of authors, books and interesting presentations for the two day event.

The 2012 Honoree, Elizabeth Kostova will be feted at 6:30 on Friday evening, May 18th, immediately after the Bookfest's opening reception. Rob Neufeld will emcee a discussion with Kostova about her novels and experiences as a writer at that time.
I really enjoyed Rob's interview with the honored author at last year's bookfest. He does a great job and he even went out into the audience to get questions from those who raised their hands.

Readers who can't make it to these events on Friday are encouraged to attend a second talk by Ms. Kostova on Saturday, May 19th, afternoon at 1:00 PM. Both her vivid prose and her ties to the area make this a do not miss event.


During the two day event, over forty authors will be making presentations, meeting attendees, and autographing books. Mark your calendars and come join us for this wonderful weekend devoted to the art of writing and the joy of reading.

If you can make to to Flat Rock Community College near Hendersonville, NC, be sure to take advantage of this event.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Workshops starting at 1:30 PM

Honoree's Address by Elizabeth Kostova at 6:30 PM

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Doors open at 8:00 AM

Author Presentations (8:45 AM - 3:00 PM)

Blue Ridge Conference Hall

Blue Ridge Community College Campus

Flat Rock, NC

Visit the website for driving directions.

http://www.blueridgebookfest.org/

Contact Bill Ramsey with questions.l


Bill Ramsey
2012 Bookfest Chair
http://www.blueridgebookfest.org/

828-698-1022

SHORT STORY CONTEST ENDS MAY 31

Glimmer Train has new short story contest. 

Upcoming deadline:

The Short Story Award for New Writers (yes, 1st place now wins $1,500 and publication!) closes May 31. See Writing Guidelines. Open only to writers whose fiction has not appeared (nor is scheduled to appear) in any print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Submissions must not have appeared in any print publication. Word count: most submissions run 1,500 to 6,000 words but can go up to 12,000.

Key West Literary Seminar

What a lovely place to attend a literary seminar -- Key West,  January 17-20, 2013.  For details, see their webpage.  Writers such as Mark Doty, Jane Hirschfield, and many, many more!  Check it out.
Thanks to NCWN member Ruth Keally for spreading the word on this.

SCOTT OWENS TEACHES IN HAYESVILLE

Scott Owens

Saturday, May 12, 10 AM - 1:00 PM

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing and More

Poet, editor, critic, and teacher, Scott Owens, will lead students through an exploration of a variety of topics and issues regarding the writing process including strategies for invention, revision, and publication. Participants are asked to submit a poem to asowens1@yahoo.com by May 4 for possible use in the revision workshop.

Recipient of awards from the Academy of American Poets and the Pushcart Prize Anthology, Scott Owens is the author of 10 collections of poetry, including his latest For One Who Knows How to Own Land from FutureCycle Press and over 1000 published poems in journals including Georgia Review, North American Review, Chattahoochee Review, Southern Poetry Review, and Poetry East among others. He is the founder of Poetry Hickory, editor of Wild Goose Poetry Review and 234, and vice president of the Poetry Council of NC. Born and raised in Greenwood, SC, he teaches at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC.
______________________________________________________________________
Complete application  for Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing and More                  Instructor: Scott Owens


Mail to with check for $30.00 to Writers Circle, 581 Chatuge Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904
Contact Glenda Beall, 828-389-4441 or by email: nightwriter0302@yahoo.com
Name:________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________
E-mail address:_________________________________ Telephone:_____________________________________

Flexible and Fun at the Folk School

 by Linda Smith

When Glenda Barrett was not able to read in March at the Folk School, I said "Don't worry, we'll have open mic to fill in her time." J.C. Walkup was the star of the show. She sat down after one short piece. OK, I thought, I guess the rest of us will read and come back to her later. Lucy Cole Gratton, Bob Grove, and I read a poem or short piece of prose and round-robin it was J.C.'s turn again. This way was enjoyed by the readers and the listeners. Nancy Simpson was not able to come to read in April and I must tell you, she wants to celebrate National Poetry Month every day and especially by reading from her inspiring collections. I said, "We will just do what we did in March and the rest of us will gladly read." It was Maren Mitchell's turn to be the featured reader. I suggested to her that she would not have to read the whole 30 minutes at one time, as it can be tiring. We could take turns with her as we did in March. Maren agreed and read a few of her unique and delightful poems. Then boy, girl, boy, girl, went went around the packed room. Clarence Newton read from his hot off the press collection, "Short Glances Forward and a Long Look Back." Mary Ricketson read from her chapbook, "I Hear the River Call My Name." Bob Grove delighted us by reading his piece on Charles Dickens. Ann Cahill read a poem, and Robert King read two. I read a new one and then back to Maren who read a few more to finish the evening. We are flexible and have fun at the Folk school. When Glenda and Nancy are well, they can come back any month and we'll give them time to read some of their poems. We miss them and all those who have not attended lately. Robert King and Jayne Jaudon Ferrer will read on May 17th . We need a full audience, so please come and bring a guest.

EMILEE HINES, AUTHOR REQUESTS HELP

I want to create a blog, but there are no instructions on how.  I am a member of Netwest and a much-published author, traditional (for advance + royalties), print-on-demand, Createspace and the old way of self-publishing (taking copy to the printer, picking up books and selling them).  I have 9 books in print, all listed on Amazon, as well as some out-of-print books (Old Virginia Houses series).

 

I’d like to start a blog based on my latest book, TIL DEATH DO US PART, which has wide appeal for retirees in western NC and elsewhere.  It helps readers prepare for the death of a spouse (or their own death), legally, financially,

medically and emotionally.  I had a workshop here at Carriage Park last Wednesday night for 34 attendees, talking about “your property”.

Tomorrow night’s workshop is on “your body” and will cover medical records, living will, medical directive, medivac insurance,

organ/body donation, cremation vs. burial, and types of funeral services.

 

Deciding what to call the blog is difficult.  People don’t like to think of death, and seldom “go looking” for books on it.

 

I have ads running onscreen and online at Flat Rock Cinema, and sales brochures are displayed in the lobby.

 

Please help me get the blog named, posted and underway.  Thanks.

 

Emilee Hines Cantieri

www.emileehines.com

828-693-140

Richard Krawiec and Sharon McDermott at City Lights

An Evening of Poetry and Music     Visit City Lights Bookstore on Saturday, April 21st at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of music and poetry.  Poets Richard Krawiec (She Hands Me the Razor), and Sharon McDermott (Bitter Acoustic) will read from their collections.  McDermott, also a musician, will sing and play guitar.   Of She Hands Me a Razor, Kay Byer says, "She Hands Me the Razor is an edgy and satisfying marriage of tenderness and well-honed attentiveness to the connections, often fraying, among people and the various places in which they find themselves, both physically and emotionally...The poems in She Hands Me the Razor ferry us through dangerous waters, leaving us finally upon the shore of grace, that infusion of morning light on a loved face. W.H. Auden wrote, In Memory of W. B. Yeats: "In the prison of his days/ Teach the free man how to praise." Krawiec's new collection of poems culminates in praise, which has always been the goal and gift of poetry." Of Bitter Acoustic National Book Award winner Jean Valentine says,  "Sharon McDermott has an acute musical ear, and the life of sound, and how it intensifies feeling, is everywhere in Bitter Acoustic. 'Then drizzle blew the night to pins' is an instance early in these pages. The book, for me, begins in blues, rueful, not self-pitying; wise, but caught. Then in the second part of the book, the ground begins to shift: the poetry itself seems happy to be joyful, and gains life from it. A hard-earned, beautiful book." In late-breaking news, we'll also be treated to a sampling from Jacar Press's latest anthology titled ...and love... which features the poetry of Kay Byer, doris davenport, Susan Lefler, Ron Rash, Marge Piercy, Sam Hamill, Fred Chappell, Bedtty Adcock, Nancy Simpson, Holly Iglesias and over 100 other poets.

City Lights Bookstore 3 East Jackson Street Sylva, NC 28779 828-586-9499 more@citylightsnc.com always open on the web at: www.citylightsnc.com Store Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 am - 9 pm Sunday 10 am - 3 pm Additional parking catty-corner to the store, courtesy of First United Methodist Church

Netwest Was Represented at Poetry Day

Netwest members, Barbara Gabriel and Robert S. King, accompanied me to Hickory NC where the Poetry Council of North Carolina held their annual Poetry Day.
Scott Owens, Vice President of PCNC, teacher at Catawba Valley Community College brought the event to Hickory where the college served as venue Saturday. In years past, Poetry Day was held too far away from those of us who live in the western part of the state to attend without spending the night. We had a pleasant three-hour drive over and came home the same day.

The winners of the Poetry Council’s poetry contests are published in Bay Leaves, the annual anthology published by Main Street Rag. Bay Leaves is dedicated to an outstanding poet each year. David Manning received this honor today. Last year our own Nancy Simpson was honoree.

Susan Lefler from Brevard, NC

Susan Lefler’s book, Rendering the Bones, won Honorable Mention in the Poetry Book contest. Susan is from Brevard. As usual she gave a lovely reading. Those who attend Coffee with the Poets in Hayesville will remember Susan reading here last year.

Katherine Soniat was named winner of this year’s Oscar Arnold Young Award for The Swing Girl, judged the best book of poetry from NC in the previous year.

Katherine Soniat, first prize for book published in 2011

Another winner from our area is Peg Russell who placed in the Traditional Poetry contest. Peg hails from Murphy, North Carolina. She was not present for the reading today.

Congratulations, Peg and Susan. The far-west region overflows with poets. So why don’t we see more writers and poets from Netwest submitting poems to the wide variety of contests held by the Poetry Council of North Carolina for next year? The contests are for adults and children. Few children enter, it seems, and our talented young writers would have a great chance to win a prize.

Submissions for 2013 will be called for in August of 2012. Plan now to go to the 

website for for more information. Ask local teachers to help the children participate.

Scott Owens at podium

Scott will be in our area May 11 and 12 to read at Writers Night Out and to hold a workshop at Writers Circle.

               Winner of the Poetry Slam, from Winston-Salem, Bob Moyer 

COFFEE WITH THE POETS

Brenda Kay Ledford was the featured writer at "Coffee With the Poets," held Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at Cafe Touche in Hayesville, NC.

Mike Keller introduced writers and guests at the event. She also read her lovely work.

Barbara Ledford Wright read her heart-warming story about "Marean's Mountain Dulcimer."

Bob Grove shared two excellent essays with the audience.

Dot James read a wonderful story about "It's a Granny Thing."

Lorraine Newton and daughter, Julie, attended Coffee With the Poets.

April Folk School Readings

April Folk School Readings

On Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7:00 PM, John C. Campbell Folk School
and the NC Writers Network West are sponsoring a reading of poetry at Keith
House. The reading is free of charge and open to the public. Poets Nancy
Simpson and Maren Mitchell, both of Hayesville will be the featured readers.

Nancy Simpson

Nancy Simpson is the author of three poetry collections: Across Water, Night Student and most recently Living Above the Frost Line, New and Selected Poems (Carolina Wren Press, 2010). She also edited Echoes Across the Blue Ridge (anthology 2010). She holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College and a BS in Education from Western Carolina University. She received a NC Arts Fellowship and cofounded NC Writers Network West, a nonprofit, professional writing organization serving writers from the mountains west of Asheville and the Georgia mountains.

For more than 30 years, young writers have known her as “beloved teacher.” Simpson’s poems have been published in The Georgia Review, Southern Poetry Review, Seneca Review, New Virginia Review, Prairie Schooner and others. Her poems have been included in anthologies, Word and Wisdom, 100 Years of N.C. Poetry and Literary Trails of N.C. (2008). Her poems have also been featured in Southern Appalachian Poetry, a textbook anthology published at McFarland Press.

Nancy lives in Hayesville, NC. Through 2010 she served as Resident Writer at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Presently she teaches Poetry Writing at the Institute for Continued Learning at Young Harris College.

Maren Mitchell

Maren O Mitchell’s poems have appeared in Southern Humanities Review, The Classical
Outlook, The Journal of Kentucky Studies, Appalachian Journal, Red Clay Reader, Volume 4, The Richmond Broom, The Arts Journal, and the anthologies Sunrise from Blue Thunder, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, and Nurturing Paws.

Poems are currently online and archived in Wild Goose Poetry Review and Pirene’s Fountain, and forthcoming in The Southern Poetry Anthology, Volume V: Georgia.
Maren has taught poetry at Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC, and catalogued at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.
For over twenty years she has taught origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. A North Carolina native, she now lives in Young Harris, Georgia, with her husband and two cats.

LEDFORD FEATURED AT COFFEE WITH THE POETS

Brenda Kay Ledford will read at "Coffee With the Poets," on Wednesday, April 11, 10:30 a.m.; The Cafe Touche, Main Street, Hayesville, NC.

Brenda won the 2012 Royce Ray Poetry Award from "Aries: A Journal of Art and Literature," at Southeastern Community College; Whiteville, NC.

A native of Clay County, NC, Brenda started writing poetry in 1996. Her first poem, "Patchwork Memories," won The Cameo Award and was published in "The Lyricist," at Campbell University.

Brenda was an honor graduate of Hayesville High School. Her English teacher, Mrs. Josephine Thurman, introduced Brenda to literature and was her creative writing mentor. Brenda received a MA in Education from Western Carolina University. She studied Journalism at the University of Tennessee and Tri-County Community College.

Dr. Carl Dockery was Brenda's mentor in Journalism at Tri-County Community College. She was Creative Writing Editor of "Tri-County Communicator" at the college. Brenda won the Journalism Award for Feature Writing in 2000 from North Carolina Press Association.

Her work has appeared in "Our State Magazine," "Asheville Poetry Review," "Main Street Rag," "Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel," "Appalachian Heritage," "Pembroke Magazine," "Journal of Kentucky Studies," "Echoes Across the Blue Ridge," "Pirenes Fountain," "Women's Spaces/Women's Places," "Fresh Magazine," "Moonshine Literary Magazine," "The Reach of Song," "Old Mountain Press" anthologies, "Naugatuck River Review," "The Broad River Review" (Gardner-Webb University), and other publications.

Her poetry chapbooks, SHEW BIRD MOUNTAIN and SACRED FIRE, were published by Finishing Line Press.

Brenda received the Paul Green Award from North Carolina Society of Historians for these poetry chapbooks. She also won the 2011 Paul Green Award for her book, SIMPLICITY, co-authored with Blanche L. Ledford.

Brenda is a member of North Carolina Writer's Network, North Carolina Poetry Society, Georgia Poetry Society, and listed with A DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN POETS AND FICTION WRITERS.

She gives poetry readings across the Southeast. Brenda has been featured on "The Common Cup," over Windstream Communications cable televison/website many times.

Finally, Rosemary Royston, director of North Carolina Writer's Network-West (NETWEST), compared Brenda's poetry in ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE to Ralph Waldo Emerson's work in a thesis that Rosemary presented to Appalachian Writer's Association at East Kentucky University on March 11, 2011.

For more information about Brenda Kay Ledford's writing, go to:

http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com
http://historicalhayesville.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com "Happy Birthday Clay County North Carolina"

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: POETRY MONTH DAY # 3: DAVID HUDDLE

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: POETRY MONTH DAY # 3: DAVID HUDDLE: I've been a David Huddle admirer for years now, and no, that's not David in the photo above.  It's one he emailed me, in honor of the bi...

Netwest Represented at the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference

Writers filling seats for afternoon session

I am taking a break from working on taxes to post about the Blue Ridge Writers Conference in Blue Ridge, GA last weekend. A number of Netwest members were there and one, Robert S. King, presented two sessions on publishing.


I have attended all fifteen years since this event began and have never come away feeling I didn't get my money's worth. This year I went to the Friday night reception and met some writers from Atlanta. Robert Kimsey and Robert S. King were both there and both were speakers on Saturday. Because I was particularly interested in Jessica Handler, having seen write ups about her online, I attended both her sessions and bought her book, Invisible Sisters. I am reading it now and find it fascinating.

Amy Greene, the keynote speaker, held us all spell bound with excerpts from her novel, Bloodroot, a best seller. She writes with a pure Appalachian voice. Maybe that is because she is from East Tennessee. Her characters will grab you, and you can't put the book down. I heard some say they had read all night because they couldn't stop until they finished. Carol Crawford, who heads up this conference each year, warned me to keep the tissues handy.

Nancy Knight from Atlanta was a founder of BelleBooks, a publishing firm that many of us recognize. Kathryn McGendie has published three novels, I believe, with them. Nancy is also an agent and was chock full of valuable information for writers. I was so happy when she went through a list to tell us the recommended word count for most popular genres such as mystery, thrillers, romance, science fiction, westerns and others. That is a question I hear from my students and I simply have never researched to find the answer.

Linda Ray of Curiosity Books in Murphy, with her assistant, Laurie, did a fine job of managing the book sales. How nice she was to let us local writers keep the full sale price of our books. She took no commission for selling them. Thanks so much Linda.

Echoes sold well at conference

The following is from Carole Thompson, Netwest Representative for the Georgia counties. She said, "Of course, seeing fellow writers and friends again was one of the best things about the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference. Our hosts were gracious, and the food was excellent.
Keynote speaker, Amy Greene's, review of her wonderful book, "Bloodroot" almost made me believe in "Haints". What was outstanding, was the wide variety of subjects covered by the speakers.
Quinlan Lee helped me understand the role an Agent plays in getting your manuscript to large publishing houses, plus hints to make any of your writings more dynamic to the reader, especially as it relates to children's books. I attended both her workshops.
Robert King discussed the advantages /disadvantages of self-publishing, and gave all of us a clearer idea of how the world of online publishing works.



Robert Kimsey

 Once again, Robert Kimsey kept us riveted to our seats as he illustrated through his own poetry why we need to make OUR poetry witnesses to events that burn themselves in our memory.
My final conference hour was spent with Stellasue Lee, a brilliant writer and editor, sharing her knowledge, through her own life-changing experience, of how it is possible to "Say the unsayable" in our poetry. I am sure the other speakers made a good impression, also, and I am sorry I couldn't hear them all."

Like Carole, I wish I had been able to attend every presentation, but was limited to four. I couldn't stay for the last hour, but I know it was just as good as the others. I advise all writers, poets and those who want to write, and who live within driving distance, to make plans now to attend the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference next year. It is usually held in March. Find the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association online and check to find the date for next year.