Coffee with the Poets and Writers will feature poet Richard M. Cary, and Author and poet Carroll S. Taylor, on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at 10:30 AM at the Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC

On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, 10:30 AM, Coffee with the Poets and Writers (CWPW) will feature poet Richard M. Cary, and author and poet Carroll S. Taylor. This event will be held at the Moss Memorial Library, 26 Anderson Street,  in Hayesville, NC, and is free and open to the public. An open mic will follow the presentation. CWPW is sponsored by North Carolina Writers’ Network West (NCWN-W).

Richard Montford Cary has a MFA with a BFA in Theater Arts from Carnegie Mellon University, and spent six years in regional theaters (Antioch Area Theater Yellow Springs OH, Hartford Stage Company CT, Arena Stage Washington DC, and StageWest Springfield MA) as a master carpenter, technical director, resident designer, and actor. He became Artistic Director of Community Theatre, in Nantucket in 1980, and founded Actors Theatre of Nantucket, serving as Artistic Director for 20 years. 

Richard began writing poetry during high school and continues to this day. Currently, he is completing the editing of almost 60 years of his output. Seeking publication is his next goal. His claim to fame here in Hayesville is that his Great Aunt was Olive Dame Campbell, founder of the John C Campbell Folk School; he took a class there last fall and, using his life-long carpentry skills, built a beautiful yellow pine trestle table. He is also an accomplished harmonica player. He loves reading his poetry out loud.

Carroll S. Taylor holds graduate degrees in English and French as well as an EdS in Educational Leadership. She taught secondary French, English, Journalism, Creative Writing, and ESL. As a journalism advisor for high school students, she assisted in the publication of school newspapers and yearbooks, teaching both writing and layout/design. After retiring as a secondary teacher, she became a part-time instructor at Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia, teaching freshman composition and freshman seminars. Taylor is the author of two young adult novels, Chinaberry Summer and Chinaberry Summer: On the Other Side, published by New Plains Press, Auburn, Alabama. She is currently writing the third novel in the series, Chinaberry Summer: Down by the Water. 

Taylor enjoys writing in all forms, including poetry and novels. She loves reading, gardening, and studying nature, especially reptiles and amphibians. Readers may find her journal blog at chinaberrysummer.com and follow her at facebook/chinaberrysummer.

For more information about this event, please contact Glenda Beall at: glendabeall@msn.com.

Ron Hill presented with Quilt of Valor

A decade ago I met Ron Hill who was a writing student in my class at EAGLE, an adult education program at a church in Sautee Nacoochee, GA. I enjoyed Ron’s stories about his interesting life. I learned that he was from my region of North Carolina and served as  Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School many years ago. We have kept in touch by email all these years. Today I received the following.

Ron Hill, former Director of John C. Campbell Folk School

Presentation of Quilt of Valor to US Army War Veteran Ron Hill

A Quilt of Valor was presented to retired Captain/Sergeant Major Ron Hill of Sautee Nacoochee, GA on October 11, 2018.

The presentation was made by Karen Trombley and Terry Wright, Georgia Quilts of Valor volunteer members. In addition to the presentation, Trombley and Wright told the audience of the Northeast Georgia Veterans Society about the mission of the Quilts of Valor organization which is "to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor."  

They continued by relating the meaning behind the three layers that are used to construct a quilt. "The top of the quilt with its many colors, shapes, and fabrics, represents the communities and the many individuals we are. The batting, the filler, is the center of the quilt, its warmth. It represents our hope that this quilt will bring warmth, comfort, peace, and healing to the individual who receives it. The backing is the strength that supports the other layers. It represents the strength of the recipient, the support of his or her family, our communities, and our nation. Each stitch that holds the layers together represents love, gratitude, and sometimes the tears of the maker."  The presentation concluded with a short biography of Ron’s service in the United States Army, which included his service in the Korean War 1953-54, Vietnam War 1969-70 and Desert Storm 1991.

Karen and Terry displayed the quilt during the presentation and then awarded the quilt to Ron. As the quilt was draped over his shoulders, Ron’s smile made all of our efforts worthwhile. We could tell that he was very pleased with the award and understood its meaning. Every stitch in this quilt was made with thanks to Ron for his service to our country.

Friday, Oct 12 Writers' Night Features Loren Leith

Please join us for the entertaining prose of award-winning local writer, Loren Leith. She is our featured reader along with Atlanta poet Danielle Hanson. As always, open mic follows -- sign up at the door. Union County Community Center map here.

Do You Know about Marsha White Warren? What does she mean to NCWN-West?

We are kept up to date on the literary world by North Carolina Writers' Network. Did you know about the NC Literary Hall of Fame? New inductees this year will include Marsha White Warren who was Executive Director of NCWN in 1987 – 1996. She is responsible for our program, NCWN-West.

This is from Nancy Simpson’s history of NCWN-West:

“When NCWN-West Began

During 1990, NCWN Executive Director Marsha Warren mailed a survey to NCWN members living here in the mountains. At the same time, then NC Arts Council Literature Director in Raleigh, Debbie McGill, also mailed a different survey to writers. Both organizations seemed to want to know about the mountain writers. They asked questions about what we needed. Included was a place for comments. The results of both surveys moved these leaders to reach out and help writers in the mountains.

In 1991, I applied for and received an Artist Fellowship in Poetry at NCAC. Soon after I got a call from NCAC Literary Director Debbie McGill congratulating me and asking me to come have dinner with her in Sylva (a two and a half hour drive for me at the time.) I immediately said, “Yes.”

A few days later, I received a formal letter on NCAC stationery signed by Kathryn Stripling Byer. That letter was sent to all writers in the area, asking us to come to a meeting on the same evening that I was invited to have dinner with Debbie Mc Gill. I rode over the mountains with Bettie Sellers of Young Harris, Georgia (she would become Poet Laureate of Georgia) who had also received a letter.

At dinner before the meeting, Debbie McGill asked me to help form a writing group in the mountains west of Asheville. I said I would. That evening in Jackson County, Rita Rudd, a writer who lived there, volunteered to get organized in Jackson County. I took a copy of the membership list of NCWN and NCAC members living in Clay County (Hayesville), in Cherokee County (Murphy), and in Macon County (Franklin). I set up a meeting for NCWN members in those three counties. We met in Murphy. …

I will always be grateful to Marsha Warren, who worked with dedication to get NCWN West organized. She is the one who named the counties and areas to be served as NCWN West: Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Jackson County, Macon County, Swain County, Transylvania County, and adjacent counties in Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. During my service as Program Coordinator, I was asked to include Qualla Boundary.”  Read more here.

New Inductees to Be Honored October 7

SOUTHERN PINES—On Sunday, October 7, at 2:00 pm at the Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities in Southern Pines, the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame will welcome five new inductees.

James W. Clark, Jr., Randall Kenan, Jill McCorkle, Penelope Niven, and Marsha White Warren will join the sixty inductees currently enshrined.

Marsha Warren 

Marsha White Warren was an elementary school teacher, poet, and children’s book author when she became Executive Director of the North Carolina Writers’ Network in 1987, only two years after its founding. She would serve in that role until 1996. During those years she helped Sam Ragan develop and open the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, as well as serving on numerous state and national literary boards and as a consultant to literary centers in Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Idaho. In 1991, she also became director of the Paul Green Foundation and is still with the Foundation after twenty-seven years. In that position, she has overseen $575,000 in grants to nonprofits that support the arts and human rights. Her awards include the John Tyler Caldwell Award for the Humanities, R. Hunt Parker Memorial Award for Lifetime Contributions to Literature, Sam Ragan Award for Contributions to the Fine Arts, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from St. Andrews College. She lives in Chapel Hill.

Like Nancy Simpson, I am grateful to Marsha White Warren for creating NCWN-West. I moved to NC in 1995, just as our program was taking off and building community for writers here in the mountains. 
Thanks to Nancy, Kay Byer and to Marsha Warren, we are a thriving organization, the western arm of NCWN, but many, many writers and poets don’t know how we began. Now you do. 

Congratulations to Marsha Warren, 2018 NC Hall of Fame Inductee.

NCWN-West mourns the passing of a fellow writer and member, Donald "Newt" Newton Smith, Jr.

We at NCWN-West are saddened at the loss of our fellow member, poet, and treasurer, Newt Smith. He passed away on September 26, 2018.

Donald Newton Smith, was Emeritus Professor of English at Western Carolina University, and was the current Treasurer of NetWest and Chair of the Board of the Liars Bench. He taught many of the courses in the Professional Writing program at WCU as well as American Literature and Modern Poetry courses. Smith designed the Appalachian Literature course and helped create the Appalachian Studies minor at WCU. 

He was President of the Appalachian Writers Association for four years and had published both poetry and academic articles throughout his career. Smith was a founding poetry editor of Lillabulero magazine and press, the president of the Appalachian Writers Association, and was a Staff Writer for the Asheville Poetry Review.

 Please find the link to Newt's Obituary here:

https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/obituary/donald-smith-jr?fh_id=11748

News from Mary Ricketson: Call for exhibitors for ARTrageous Event November 9, 2018, at The Learning Center, Murphy, NC, where Former NC Poet Laureate Shelby Stephenson will perform; plus Stephenson will perform Sunday, 10/7/2018 at Malaprops, Ashville.

News from Mary Ricketson, Cherokee County Rep for NCWN-West

Would the NCWN-West community like to set up a book table of local writers for Friday, November 9th at ARTrageous, The Learning Center in Murphy's event, for exposure for NCWN-West to the community, possible sales, and talking to young writers? Contact Mary at: maryricketson311@hotmail.com. ARTrageous (see poster below) has a call for exhibitors, see: Calling all artists, at: http://www.naturallygrownkids.org/artrageous

Also, Shelby Stephenson , former NC Poet Laureate will be reading at Malaprops, Asheville, NC, at 3:00 PM, on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Stephenson will also be performing his poetry and songs on Friday, November 9, 2018, at 6:00 PM, at the ARTrageous event, at The Learning Center, 945 Conahetta St, Murphy, NC 28906.

Authors Robert and A. C. Brooks' Booksigning to be held at The Curiosity Shop Bookstore, Murphy, NC, Friday October 5, 2018

Author Robert Brooks of Brevard NC is a featured guest at The Curiosity Shop bookstore in Murphy on Friday, October 5, 2018. The book-signing event from five to eight p.m. for his mystery novel The Clown Forest Murders is part of the regular Friday night Art Walk celebrated each month in Murphy, NC.

Bob, along with first author and son A.C. Brooks, wrote The Clown Forest Murders released last November by Black Opal Books. The tale is set in a small town with surrounding forests and fields where strange mushrooms can arise and change behavior. Those who marvel at the alluring fungi in western NC forests will see them in a new and mysterious light. The novel tells Dave’s story: he witnessed his brother’s murder, but amnesia protects him, his memories return, and he must investigate. Dave’s return to his home town sparks problems with his psychiatrist, local cops, and the killer. Written in memory of a son and brother, the novel is dedicated to those who endure mental illness. Elements of an attractive but flawed hero, a heroine who holds a secret, and a hidden killer make the book a great read. The author will be available at The Curiosity Shop to discuss his books, reveal secrets of their creation, and sign copies.

R.R. Brooks, a retired pharmaceutical researcher, lives in Brevard with his wife, a beagle, and two cats. He writes fiction and nonfiction, including published science fiction and fantasy stories. The epic fantasy novel Justi the Gifted was published by Leo Publishing in January 2015. He is a member of several writers groups and the N.C. Writers’ Network and maintains author’s pages on Facebook and Amazon

We can't avoid new technology. We need to embrace it to stay current.

I don't know how often you read the blog on the NCWN site, but I find it most interesting, especially the past two posts.

https://www.ncwriters.org/whitecross/

We are all dealing with new technology now even if we don't want to learn new things. The recent posts are:

New Literary Podcasts for NC

and Technology can help you write better 

I have become a big fan of podcasts lately. I love to learn and I listen to  podcasts that teach me. New Literary Podcasts for NC was created by author Landis Wade, a member of the NC Writers' Network in Charlotte, NC and will have guests on his show that appeal to writers.

Landis will have an exhibitor table for the podcast at the NCWN 2018 Fall Conference in Charlotte.

Both articles give a hint to some of what we will see at the Conference in Charlotte. Have you heard about Freedom?  

This company is a sponsor for the Fall Conference, and I think I want to learn more. How many times are we distracted by social media or something on the Internet when we are trying to write? We can just click on Freedom and none of those notifications will pop up and stop our thought processes. 

Our members don't always take advantage of what is offered by our parent organization. Click on www.ncwriters.org and check out the White Cross Blog to keep up with the literary world in North Carolina and more. Charles Fiore and Ed Southern do a great job with it.

Georgia Poetry Society Contests

Poetry submissions will be accepted now through November 15.

Cash Prizes!

Several Awards including

The Herbert Reece International Award 

For information and submissions guidelines, go to the website and click on contests.

While you're there, consider becoming a member. For some of the contests, members' submission fees are waived.

Georgia Poetry Society is a member of the 

National Federation of State Poetry Societies

http://www.georgiapoetrysociety.org/contests