On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 7:00 PM, the John C.
Campbell Folk School and NC Writers' Network-West (NCWN-West) will sponsor The
Literary Hour. At this event, NCWN-West members will read at the Keith House on
the JCCFS campus, in Brasstown, NC. The Literary Hour is held on the third
Thursday of the month unless otherwise indicated. This reading is free of
charge and open to the public. This month's featured readers will be, poet and
author Natalie Grant, poet Joan M. Howard, and poet Mary A. Ricketson.
Natalie Grant has
spent much of her life in Western North Carolina and most of her career as the
only high school language arts teacher at a rural k-12 school. She writes both
fiction and poetry and is inspired by the landscape of her mountain home, its
people, and the many storytellers in her family.
Currently, Grant is writing short stories and a volume of
poetry entitled The Language of Bones.
Her educational background includes an MFA in creative writing from the
University of the South's School of Letters, an MA in English from Western
Carolina University, and a BA in History and English from Berea College. Grant
is also a Rep for NCWN-West.
Joan M. Howard,
whose poetry has been published in POEM,
The Road Not Taken: The Journal of Formal Poetry, the Aurorean, Lucid Rhythms, Victorian
Violet, the Wayfarer and other
literary journals. She published the book Death
and Empathy: My Sister Web, in 2017.
Her latest book is: Jack, Love and
the Daily Grail, from Kelsay Publications.
Howard is a former teacher with an MA in German and English
literature and is a member of the North Carolina Writers' Network. She enjoys birding and kayaking on the
beautiful waters of Lake Chatuge near Hiawassee,
Mary A. Ricketson,
Murphy NC, inspired by nature and her work as a mental health counselor, has
poetry published in Wild Goose Poetry
Review, Future Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Lights in the
Mountains, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Red Fox Run, It’s All Relative, Old
Mountain Press, Whispers, and Voices.
Her chapbook is, I Hear the River Call my
Name, and she has two full length collections, Hanging Dog Creek, and Shade
and Shelter. Her new book, Mississippi: The Story of Luke and Marian,
is forthcoming, 2019, from Kelsay Books.
Currently Mary is using her own poetry to present
empowerment workshops, combining roles as writer and her helping role as a
therapist. Ricketson’s poems and activities relate with nature, facilitate talk
about a personal path, and focus on growth in ordinary and unusual times. She
writes a monthly column, Women to Women, for The Cherokee Scout, is a Certified
Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a Rep for NCWN-West, and an organic blueberry
farmer.
For more information about this event, contact Mary
Ricketson at: maryricketson311@hotmail.com.
