COFFEE WITH THE POETS Hayesville, August gathering

Once again we had a full house for Coffee with the Poets at Cafe Touche' in Hayesville.
Joan Howard of Hiawassee and Athens, GA was one of the featured readers.

From Brevard, NC, Susan Lefler, author of a new poetry book, Rendering the Bones,
was also featured.

Bob Groves agreed to be photographer for the day and the following are some photos he made of those who enjoyed the social aspect of the morning.

Joan Howard and Glenda Barrett

Brenda Kay Ledford and Maren Mitchell

                       Bob Grove reading at open mic. He gave me the camera while he read.

OLD TIME MOUNTAIN MUSIC

Tom Davis, editor and publisher of Old Mountain Press, has just released an anthology. OLD TIME MOUNTAIN MUSIC sets your feet tapping with poetry and prose.

The rustic cover of a sculpture by Stefan Bonitz, represents mountain musicians. The unique cover bids you to celebrate old time mountain music with 53 authors who contributed to this collection.

J.C. Walkup in her story, "It's Not Fair," captures the chords of this anthology:
"I'm living with hope
I'm living for a dream
I see with my heart
I hear, I hear...
Music of the mountains."

You can almost hear the fiddle sawing old-time mountain music in James Gibson's story, "Grandpa's Fiddle." Phil Richardson also tells about a special relationship with Grandpa Ollie and his "tucking the fiddle under his chin and sawing away."

Al Manning's, "A Mountain Virtuoso," writes about a marvelous improvisation, constructed by some musical genius: "It is well known that mountain mocking birds are very precocious."

You'll also hear a blind woman with red hair and cornflower blue eyes, strumming the dulcimer in Barbara Ledford Wright's story, "Marine's Mountain Dulcimer."

Another mountain woman, Ester Arledge," and her long life are described in Celia Miles' poem, "1848-1931."

Shape-note music and singing in a country church are addressed in Blanche L. Ledford's story, "Mt. Pisgah Church."

Notes swoosh-sway over cliff rocks, streams crackle, songs spurt over pebbles, and create a roaring waterfall musical in Patsy Kennedy Lain's lovely verse, "Mountain Melodies."

Beautiful images of nature fill Jerry L. Bradley's poem, "Mountain Music Memory":

"Cool autumn breeze carries
Pine smoke, Lilac and music
Across rolling hills...
Music memory is forever."

Finally, Tom Davis' poem, "Summer in the Smokies," best summarizes this anthology:

"Thunder
Rumbles
Like an old man's hungry stomach
Through the green capped Smokies
Soon
Rain will come
To cool a Summer's lazy afternoon."

To order copies of OLD TIME MOUNTAIN MUSIC, go to: www.OldMountainPress.com.


Brenda Kay Ledford plays a mountain dulcimer. Gordon Parris of Hayesville, NC made the instrument. Ledford's essay, "Mountain Craftsman," profiles Parris in this anthology.

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: Guest Blogger: ELIJAH MORGAN

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: Guest Blogger: ELIJAH MORGAN: Today's guest blogger is Elijah Morgan , son of Sara and "Tater" Morgan. Elijah was in kindergarten at Cullowhee Valley School when he ...

FOLK SCHOOL READINGS

Glenda Barrett and Bob Grove read their work at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC on Thursday, August 18. This event was sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network-West.

These two terrific writers deighted the audience with poetry and prose. A lot of their work was humorous and held everyone's attention. It was an enjoyable literary event.

Glenda is a native of Hiawassee, Georgia. Her artwork is displayed at "Fine Art America." Her poetry chapbook, WHEN THE SAP RISES, was published by Finishing Line Press and available at: www.Amazon.com. Her writing has appeared in many publications including: "Woman's World," "Farm and Ranch Living," "Chicken Soup for the Soul," "Journal of Kentucky Studies," "Mary Ann's Farm Magazine," "Kaleidoscope," and many other journals.

Bob received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University and his Master of Science in Teaching degree from Florida Atlantic University. He has taught courses in English, journalism, and creative writing. He was formerly at TV program host in West Palm Beach and is a popular guest speaker and reader.

Bob is founder and publisher of "Monitoring Times" magazine, and has published seven books and hundreds of magazine articles. Most recently, he has written a mystery novel, his memoir, a collection of children's stories, and some award-winning poetry.

Both Glenda and Bob gave wonderful readings last evening at the John C. Campbell Folk School. This event is held the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Keith House at the Folk School. It is free and open for the public to attend.

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: OUR OWN WILD LIVES

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: OUR OWN WILD LIVES

MARY RICKETSON: SINGING THE POETRY OF PLACE

Few poems speak to our love of place and the way it can enrich and enlarge our spirits as well as Mary Ricketson's Lost in the Roar of Big Santeetlah.   When we fall in love with a place, as Mary  reveals in this poem, we want to carry that love with us, giving it away generously to the world at large.  This is how we will save our places from degradation, this is the legacy we will leave to our children.  

Mary's poem recently won the poetry contest sponsored by the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, itself a legacy of what remains of the old growth forests that once flourished in our mountains.  Only a few stands remain now.  Big Santeetlah Creek runs through this beloved landscape.  Mary's poem is a fine and appropriate way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Kilmer Memorial Forest.  

Mary lives in Murphy and has been an active member of the Writers Network West for years.  She published a chapbook, I Hear the River Call My Name, with Finishing Line Press in 2008, which I featured on my North Carolina Laureate's Writers & Books site.  You will find out more about Mary there.

Lost in the Roar of Big Santeetlah

I cross a wooden bridge.

A stand of dark red trillium

waits for my attention.

White violets and crested dwarf iris

sit quietly at trail’s edge.  Birdsong begins.

Butterflies dance. Jack in the Pulpit presides.

River birch, pine and poplar stand tall.

Rippling water stills my thoughts.

I can taste the wind.

Soon pink lady slipper will bloom,

then purple rhododendron.

I know every season at this forest.

I fell in love here long ago,

found comfort on this path,

met parts of me I did not know,

told secrets never spoken.

Trees made promises

then asked for mine.

I fill myself with peace and hope when I am here

then give it all away when I am gone.

=

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: Late Bloomers

I will be interviewing (and featuring work by)  some of our mountain writers over the next several months. Drop by, when you have a hankering for some company.

Late bloomers struggling for a last glimpse of sun, my zinnias make do with not quite enough sunlight and not quite enough space at the edge of the garden.  Our lush spring greens --mustard, lettuce, collards, chard--are long gone, and I haven't yet seeded my  fall garden.  This time of year leaves me looking at bare garden soil and tomato plants that have once again disappointed us.  But the cucumbers are coming on strong.  Pickles!  Oh yes.....

Hearts a'Busting open their seedfire, their audacity giving me hope for busting out of my own late summer lethargy.

A lone butterfly clinging to ironweed makes an apt metaphor when I feel time, and summer, slipping away.  Hang on, golden wings!  Soon you will turn into golden leaf hanging onto the branches atop our ridge, then lingering awhile in flight before settling like golden and russet wings to the leafmeal below.

Time's arch, a swish of leaves presaging fall, makes me stop to catch one nano-second of late summer light with a shutter click.

Ironweed, I love you more than Joe Pye Weed, though both of you stand tall against the coming  autumnal transformations, determined to come back again when the timing's right, late bloomers

who never give up, sturdy homesteaders staking your claim to the places you've sunk your  roots into,

your stubborn roots.  May my roots hold fast, as stubborn as yours.   

Submissions - Send it out

Main Street Rag has updated its submission guidelines for poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction and reviews. Please review these changes before submitting your work, especially fiction.


Main Street Rag has announced three themes for next year’s anthologies –
1) The List
2) Just Tattoos
3) Secrets.
Click here for more information and updates on submission.



MoonShine Review accepts prose and photography submissions year round but only read after the Spring (deadline March 1) and Fall (deadline September 1) deadlines., click moonshinereview.com
 
 
(from WordPlay Newsletter by Maureen Ryan Griffin)

Netwest Member, Michelle Keller, will teach genealogy/writing class

Netwest member, Michelle Keller, writer, poet, painter and genealogist, will once again teach a class at Writers Circle  in Hayesville, NC. Mary Mike, as she is best known to us, served as publicity chair for Netwest for several years. She co-hosted Coffee with the Poets and supports NCWN West in many ways.

Her genealogy/writing class was filled to capacity last year and is expected to fill up quickly again.

Writing Your Ancestors' Stories

Michelle Keller, a seasoned genealogist and published writer, will teach a class on finding your ancestors and how to write their stories.
Bones to Flesh, 
Genealogy and Writing Class
Wednesdays, August 31, September 7, and September 14.
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM. - Writers Circle, Hayesville, NC (home studio of Glenda Beall)
$40.00 for all three classes plus free handouts.
Register: Send check made to Writers Circle, 581 Chatuge Ln, Hayesville, NC 28904

Click Here for more information  -

http://glendacouncilbeall.blogspot.com/2011/08/upcoming-classes-at-writers-circle.html

Future Cycle Press

Brenda Kay Ledford's poem, "Progress," appeared on Future Cycle Press. You may view her poem at: http://www.futurecycle.org/FutureCyclePoetry/LedfordBio.aspx

Kudos to Glenda Beall

Check out this blog, where our own poet, Glenda Beall, has had her poem "Woman in the Mirror" linked to a myraid of gorgeous paintings which flesh out the poem in a visual way. Congrats, Glenda!

Conference on Writing and Publishing

November 10-11, 2011
Dahlonega, Georgia

Publishers have projected that 2011 will be the year when the volume of digital publishing will become greater than that of print publishing. Further, it has been predicted that more money will be made in 2011 in digital publishing than in print publishing. The New Directions conference will explore issues arising from this significant transition.

The New Directions Conference will be held in conjunction with the Dahlonega Literary Festival in historical Dahlonega, with venues on the campus of North Georgia College & State University and on the Dahlonega picturesque square. For more information, go here.

NC Writers Network West Writers Sell Their Books at Sidewalk Cafe

BOOK LOVER NEWS:

Author/ Members of North Carolina Writers Network West celebrated writing and sold copies of their books at a sidewalk cafe in Hayesville, NC on July 9th, 2011. It was the big day for the annual festival on the square but writers, not even professional, published authors, are allowed to participate in this  N.C. Arts Council annual event. Wanting to be a part of the sesquicentennial celebration of Clay County, a few writers set up their own booth in front of Cafe Touche in town, the same shop that welcomes them there for a monthly reading of poems with open mic, Coffee With the Poets.

( photo)Author and publisher Robert S. King and poet Janice Townley Moore author of Teaching the Robins and Like a Summer Peach.

(Photo) Poet Nancy Simpson with her book LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE, SELECTED AND NEW POEMS  (Carolina Wren Press 2010)   and  Poet Publisher Robert S, King  author of

The Hunted River and  The Grave Digger's Roots.  

Nancy Simpson's book LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE NEW AND SELECTED POEMS

is for sale at Phillip and Lloyd's Book Shop on the square or it can be ordered from the press and at Amazon.com.  Or, click below to order from the press 

http://carolinawrenpress.org/books-and-merchandise/poetry/living-above-the-frost-line

(below) THE HUNTED RIVER AND THE GRAVEDIGGER'S ROOTS

by Robert S. King -  Order copies at:

http://www.sharedroads.net/HuntedRiver.aspx  

http://www.sharedroads.net/GravediggersRoots.aspx

Click here to buy poetry books by Mary Ricketson and by Glenda Beall

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1599242141/ref=dp_olp_3/103-1642903-7363836

Echoes Across the Blue Ridge

Stories, Poems and Essays by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Edited by Nancy Simpson with an Introduction by Robert Morgan

Get your copy: Click below.

http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-across-Blue-Ridge-Stories/dp/1450701523/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

Opportunity to Study with Janisse Ray

Jill Gottesman,the Southern Appalachian Outreach Coordinator, has asked that our Network-West know about a unique workshop that The Wilderness Society is hosting in fall 2011. The Society is assembling a small (18 or so) group of writers to work with author Janisse Ray at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center in Highlands, NC, a spectacular setting in the Southern Appalachians. This would be a wonderful opportunity for writers everywhere to experience autumn in western North Carolina with one of the South's most gifted storytellers and facilitators. The workshop is September 29 - October 2, and you may find the details and registration form here. If you are interested, I encourage you to act soon! I'm sure this will fill up quickly.

Poetry Council recognizes Nancy Simpson

Netwest co-founder, Nancy Simpson, wins high acclaim from the NC Poetry Council. Read this article in the Citzen-Times newspaper. Nancy has been mentor ot many of us and we are happy to see the Poetry Counxcil recognize this noted poet.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110715/NEWS/307150057/Hayesville-poet-Nancy-Simpson-honored-by-Poetry-Council-NC?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp

Netwest Members at Work, photos of past events

I have a number of photos in my files taken at Netwest events over the years. I thought our viewers would enjoy putting faces and names together and I am sharing them here. Please leave your comments about these writers, their work, their influence on writing in the mountains or whatever you think is pertinent.

Nancy Simpson read from her book, Above the Frost Line, New and Collected Poems, published by Carolina Wren Press at Coffee With the Poets and Writers in Hayesville, NC

Carole Thompson and Karen Holmes read at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Poets and Writers Reading Poems and Stories.Karen Holmes, poet, edits and publishes our info packed Netwest News that should come to you online if you are on our membership list.

Linda Smith gets ready to read at Coffee with the Poets, at Phillips and Lloyd Books, in Hayesville. Linda served as Netwest P.R. person until recently. She also scheduled the Folk School Readings for this year.

Gary Carden, storyteller, writer, and playwright. His Liars Bench has become a popular event in western NC.Gary says he is taking the show on the road and will be in various cities in towns in the coming months.

Glenda Barrett, poet and writer, shows off her poetry chapbook pubished by Finishing Line Press.

When the Sap Rises is a lovely book of poems by this native of Appalachian.

Shirley Uphouse and Glenda Beall meet the public and sign books in Hayesville a couple of years ago.
Shirley's book is My Dogs, My Friends. My book is A Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers and includes an essay about my husband and a special horse.

Ladies of the Candy Fund came to visit. From left are Netwest members, Mary Ricketson, Mary Jo Dyer, Glenda Beall, Gwendie Camp and Cheryl Dietrich.

Estelle Rice, long time member of Netwest, reads at Moss Library.

Dorothea Spiegel reading at the Moss Library. For a number of years, Netwest held a Christmas Reading with two featured writers or poets followed by an open mic. Dorothea has moved away now, but comes to visit when she can. Her daughter is Linda Smith.

Christmas past. Carole Thompson, Nancy Gadsby and Estelle Rice brought Christmas cheer to the audience that evening. Carole is our Georgia Representative. Nancy was leading a writing for children's group. Estelle teaches fiction writing at Writers Circle.

Clarence Newton is one of our best and most favorite poets. Here he is reading at CWP at Phillips and Lloyd. His humor and his wise take on the issues of today, enrich  his work whether essay, poem or newspaper article.

Lana Hendershott at a book table selling Echoes across the Blue Ridge. Lana is Netwest Rep from Hendersonville, NC. Read her stories in Echoes.

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer and Kathryn Stripling Byer meet at the Bookfest in Hendersonville. Both are poets, but target different markets. Jayne is the author of several books of poems based on her experience of raising sons. She is a widely sought speaker for women's organizations.

Kay Byer is past Poet Laureate of North Carolina and was Netwest Program Coordinator in 2010.

We will continue with more photos of Netwest members in the future. We hope this will help us get better acquainted and put names with faces. Look for writing publications by our members.

The Read's Review of Women's Spaces Women's Places

Celia Miles and Nancy Dillingham's new anthology includes the work of many Netwest writers and poets.
Read what Rob Neufield has to say about this book and the work inside.

http://thereadonwnc.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=1972559%3ATopic%3A39229

MOUNTAIN WOMAN: My New Blog

Just wanted to announce that I have a new blog, one devoted to mountain culture, conservation, politics, cooking, poetry, stories--anything that's important to me and my readers. Take a look and leave a comment, suggestion, story. Just go to The Mountain Woman.

July Writers' Night Out

Published authors Glenda Barrett and Brenda Kay Ledford will read their work on Friday, July 8 at 7 p.m. at Mountain Perk Coffee House in Hiawassee. Those who’d like to share their own poetry or prose can participate in the open microphone portion of the program following the featured readers. The evening also features local musicians.

Glenda Barrett, a native of Hiawassee, Georgia is an artist, poet and writer. Her writing has been published in Journal of Kentucky Studies, Farm & Ranch Living, Country Woman, Woman's World, Rural Heritage, Chicken Soup for the Soul and many others. Barrett’s poetry chapbook, When the Sap Rises, was published by Finishing Line Press. Her Appalachian Art is for sale on Fine Art America.

Hayesville’s Brenda Kay Ledford has had work in many publications including Yesterday’s Magazette, Our State, Pembroke Magazine, Appalachian Heritage, Broad River Review (Gardner-Webb University), Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, The Reach of Song, and other journals and anthologies. She’s listed with A Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers. Ledford received the Paul Green Award from North Carolina Society of Historians for her three poetry chapbooks. Recently, Ledford co-authored the book, Simplicity, with her mother, Blanche L. Ledford.

Writers’ Night Out takes place on the second Friday of each month at Mountain Perk Coffee House, 1390 Highway 76 East in Chatuge Harbor Plaza across from Towns County High School. The evening is free and open to the public. Food, gourmet coffees and other refreshments are available for purchase. Those interested in reading at the open microphone may sign up at the event. Each writer can read for up to two minutes.

Writers’ Night Out began in April 2011 and has steadily grown in popularity, drawing audiences from four counties. It’s a relaxed atmosphere for anyone who loves the written word.

COMMON CUP TV PROGRAM

Brenda Kay Ledford (pictured above) and Mrs. Doris Roberson will appear on Windstream Communications' Channel 4 cable TV. The "Common Cup" will air at 9:30AM, 4:00 PM, and 7:30 PM on Friday, June 24, 2011.

Mrs. Roberson will tell about the Truett Baptist Camp at Hayesville, NC. She and husband, Richard Roberson, are the directors of the camp.

Brenda will present her research paper about Dr. George W. Truett who was born in the 1800's where the Truett Camp is presently located. Dr. Truett was a world-renown Baptist minister during the early 1900's. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX for 47 years.

Jim Geer, host of the Common Cup, interviewed Mrs. Roberson and Brenda on this program. Mark Mote produced the program and inserted many photos of Truett Camp and Dr. Truett on the show.