NOW MIGHT AS WELL BE THEN by Glenda Council Beall

Finishing Line Press recently announced the publication date for Glenda Beall's new poetry collection titled NOW MIGHT AS WELL BE THEN.
Click Here to order your copy.

(Cover by Mike Keller)

$12.00 plus $1.00 mailing fee if ordered before October 16, 2009






Posted by Nancy Simpson

I know these poems well, and I feel the excitement in the air knowing her book, NOW MIGHT AS WELL BE THEN, will soon be in my hands. All of us who know Glenda as our NC Writers Network Program Coordinator, are placing our orders now. It is a bitter sweet time for Glenda, as she is caring for her life mate and husband Barry Beall, the subject of a number of her poems, who is seriously ill.

"I asked for an early release of the book for Barry," Glenda wrote to me, "and I wonder if he will ever see the finished book."

NOW MIGHT AS WELL BE THEN by Glenda Council Beall

Finishing Line Press is taking pre-orders for Now Might As Well Be Then, poetry chapbook by Glenda Council Beall, Program Coordinator for Netwest since 2007.


It is the second book on the page of new releases coming out in October.


This book is dedicated to her husband, Barry Beall, who was an unofficial member of Netwest as he made many of the photos at writing events, for articles, and of members that are used in publicity today.


Like William Wordsworth, Glenda Beall was raised knowing well the "yoke of earth," how the fields, pastures and woodlands yield both beauty and terror. Her evocations of being a daughter in the deep South, growing up on a farm, riding her mare, witnessing death and tragedy, as well as joy and fruitfulness, ring absolutely true. She gives us love poems from a mature woman's perspective, too, and poems that celebrate the vistas and culture of the mountains where she now lives. Every poem pulses with detail that brings life back to us in all its varied detail and music. The "yoke of earth" is also the poet's yoke, and she bears it gladly. --- Kathryn Striping Byer, NC Poet Laureate

Netwest Mountain Writers and Poets: Our Own Jayne Jaudon Ferrer Shares Her Survival Tale, Hazards of Youth Growing Up in the 1950s on MSNBC

Netwest Mountain Writers and Poets: Our Own Jayne Jaudon Ferrer Shares Her Survival Tale, Hazards of Youth Growing Up in the 1950s on MSNBC

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2009
Hey! I'm on MSNBC!
Some weeks back, I got word that a reporter was looking for input from people who grew up in the 40s and 50s and lived to tell about it. You know, back in those BAD old days, before any of us knew the dangers of suntans, red meat, bicycles, cigarettes, hairspray, hard candy, and such. By all rights, we Boomers should be dead, according to today's health and safety standards. But I feel pretty good myself; how about you? I frankly think my childhood was a lot more fun than what kids today experience, so I wrote the reporter and shared some of my thoughts on that. Lo and behold, he used my comments! Who'da thought it? As it turns out, he didn't do much reporting (doesn't even use a byline; what writer lets that opportunity fall by the wayside?!); he just printed some of the responses he got. But, hey, I'll take my fifteen seconds of fame from whencever they come.

Mostly, I thought it would be fun to use this as a prompt for YOUR memories of "dangerous" living during your childhood days. I've heard my big sister talk about foot x-rays (that was before my time) and I loved my mother's tales of driving the family car to school when she was nine. (Nine?!) One of my own favorite activities--which is totally banned these days--was walking barefoot around town in the summer; it felt sooooo good to go from that hot sidewalk on Main Street onto the cool linoleum of Ben Franklin's Five and Dime or the smooth hardwood floors of my Daddy's Western Auto.

I'm as cautious as the next person, but I think sometimes we get carried away with all these rules and regulations, and I have to say, I think the motivation for all the hoopla is more often about profit than public safety. Several years back I read Myrna Blyth's fascinating book, Spin Sisters, which shares in great detail how the media--women's magazines, in particular--thrive on alarmist stories targeted at "power moms"--those of us who are 25-54 with at least one child at home. Blyth should know; she was editor of Ladies' Home Journal for years, and helped give birth to one of my favorite magazines, More. She readily confesses that she was as guilty as the rest in making us moms second guess our belief that our homes and families are safe. Blyth's need to come clean (or, perhaps, just her need to sell a book, but that's okay) resulted in a mesmerizing examination of how media preys on our insecurities and need for approval. If you haven't read Spin Sisters, go find a copy. It's well worth buying, and certainly deserving of a trip to the library.

In the meantime, I invite you to confess all the horrors your mother may have unwittingly exposed you to in your youth, and the appalling risks you may have taken. Roller skating with no kneepads? For shame! B-B guns? The very idea! Truly, it's a wonder any of us survived to have children of our own.

Here's the MSNBC article. Hope it brings back some happy memories; scroll down seven paragraphs and one ad: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31670024/from/ET/ .


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31670024/from/ET/

Nagging Questions can be answered by Yvonne Perry's blog

Do you know when to use an en dash and when to use an em dash? What is an en dash? What is an em dash?
Interesting information on the subject at this site.

Cherokee County Poetry and Essay Contest

Dalton Mallonee, Cliff Owl, and Amanda Gaddis - Essay contest winners.
Kelly Noel Waldorf and Hannah Larson. Poetry contest winners.

Serving as judge of essays for the Cherokee County Poetry and Essay Contest held each year for high school students in Cherokee County, North Carolina was and is always an honor. I read and re-read the work of these students and found it difficult to choose only three winners.

Cliff Owl III, in the white shirt in the photo, was my choice for first place. His personal essay, Walking the Line of the Reservation, expresses deep insight into his feelings of guilt, stygma, and his reconciliation of these feelings as he graduates from Murphy High School. With a small enrollment of people from his father's Cherokee Indian heritage Cliff often felt he should be at Cherokee High School on the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee where his relatives live and his family once lived. I was not surprised when Cliff said he was going to college at Stamford University.His writing showed a surprising maturity for such a young man.

Second and third place essay winners responded to an assignment in class and both wrote entirely different views on the subject of a Learning Experience.

First place Poetry winner was Hannah Larsen. This was her second time to win this contest in her four years of high school

Judging the Poetry contest was Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, our Netwest Rep in South Carolina.

Our congratulations to all the winners. This contest is sponsored each year by the local community, and the Cherokee Scout Newspaper.

Paul Donovan, a long time supporter of writers in his community, organizes the contest which awards monetary prizes. Netwest donates an award each year.

Titles of winning essays are:
First Place :Walking the Line of the Reservation
Second Place :A Powerful Learning Experience
Third Place :A Learning Experience

Corporate Sponsor of Netwest

Netwest is indeed appreciative of the annual donation from United Community Bank, Inc. UCBI supports the arts and other community events, and we are delighted they recognize the advantages of our writing group to the public. Mary Taylor, Administrative Assistant to Jimmy Tallent, founder and CEO, says she has noticed we support them as well. If you have a branch of United Community Bank in your town, you will find the folks who work there to be among the friendliest anywhere. I always come out of their doors with a smile on my face.







Many thanks, Mary, to you and United Community Bank, Inc.

MOTIF Anthology

Publisher Seeks Submissions for 2010 MOTIF Anthology

MOTIF is an anthology series published annually by MotesBooks of Louisville, Ky. Volume 1: Writing By Ear featured 116 writers, including Patty Griffin, Silas House, Buddy & Julie Miller, Maurice Manning, Evie Shockley, Neela Vaswani, Frank X Walker and Pamela Duncan.

Each volume in the MOTIF series focuses on a theme – for Volume 2 the theme is CHANCE.

Submissions may be poems, short stories, song lyrics, short memoirs, essays, letters, creative nonfiction, or other forms. Combinations of forms are acceptable up to the limits described: Prose must be under 3,000 words. Send no more than three poems/lyrics. All genres will be considered as long as “chance” is referenced or illuminated in the works. Submissions may address the theme either directly or indirectly, but “chance” should figure significantly and artfully in the piece. The definition or concept of “chance” can be interpreted in any way the writer sees fit, but could include ideas related to chaos, serendipity, mistake, the occasion for wonder, kismet, accident, fate, destiny, cause and effect, encounters, and/or predestination.

Each contributor whose work is accepted will receive one (1) complimentary copy of the book upon publication as payment. Contributors will also receive an ongoing contributor's discount for unlimited purchases of additional copies to use or resell. Marketing outlets include Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and the publisher's website, MotesBooks.com. Special marketing strategies will also be utilized, including one or more public readings with selected contributors by invitation of the editor or publisher.

Submit by email only. Send manuscript (Arial 12 pt., single-spaced) as a .doc or .rtf file (MS Word) to MOTIF@MotesBooks.com.
IMPORTANT: Use "MOTIF Anthology" as the subject line (email containing blank subject lines will automatically be deleted; other subject lines may inadvertently be tagged as spam). Include all author contact information (including phone, snail mail, and e-mail address) with each submission.
Include a 50-60 word biographical note to appear in Contributor's section of the anthology in case of acceptance.
Do not send previously published or simultaneously submitted material.
Submission period closes September 1, 2009.

Acceptances will be notified by end of 2009. Publication slated for early 2010. Editor is Marianne Worthington.

For clarifications, visit www.MotesBooks.com or email MOTIF@MotesBooks.com.

What else are we up to? See our growing fiction, non-fiction & poetry catalog:
http://www.motesbooks.com/

Poet W.S. Merwin, Today With Bill Moyer

Pulitzer Winner W.S. Merwin Interviewed on PBS’s Bill Moyers Journal, Friday, June 26



Dear Friend,


This Friday, June 26, the Bill Moyers Journal will feature poet W.S. Merwin and his Pulitzer prize-winning book, The Shadow of Sirius.

For information on the broadcast in your area: Check Time and Stations.

With this second Pulitzer, Copper Canyon poet W.S. Merwin has established himself as one of the most influential poets of our time. In this candid interview with Bill Moyers, Merwin shares his unique perspective on a lifetime of literary achievements, reads poems from his new book, and fields questions ranging from poetic inspiration to political engagement.

I hope you enjoy the show and welcome your thoughts and reactions to the broadcast. We also encourage you to forward this email to friends and post a comment on our Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bednarik
Copper Canyon Press
poetry@coppercanyonpress.org


Special Offer: Purchasing a copy of The Shadow of Sirius—or any of our W.S. Merwin books listed below—directly from Copper Canyon Press is an effective way to support our mission.

Order any W.S. Merwin books by June 30 and receive free shipping. Simply type “Moyers” in the “coupon code” section of our secure checkout… and while you’re there, please make a tax deductible donation. Your support—as a reader and a donor—is vital to the future of Copper Canyon Press, a non-profit publisher that invests every dollar into publishing and promoting poetry.

To read poems, reviews, and descriptions of W.S. Merwin books published by Copper Canyon Press, click on the titles below:



The Shadow of Sirius, winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize
Hardback, $22

Migration: New and Selected Poems, winner of the National Book Award
Paperback, $24

Present Company, winner of the Bobbit Poetry Prize from the Library of Congress
Paperback, $16

The Book of Fables (short prose pieces)
Paperback, $20

The First Four Books of Poems (complete text of Merwin’s first four books)
Paperback, $16

The Second Four Books of Poems (complete text of Merwin’s second four books)
Paperback, $18

Flower & Hand: Poems 1977-1983 (complete text of three Merwin volumes)
Paperback, $15




Notice: Copper Canyon Press loves poetry readers, and we occasionally send out email messages like this one to inform them about special events. If you know someone who would like to receive this email, please forward this message to them or send their address to poetry@coppercanyonpress.org and we’ll be happy to send it along. If you would like to not receive future email announcements, please send an email to poetry@coppercanyonpress.org with “Remove” in the subject line.

MICHAEL BEADLE - NEW POETRY CD

Netwest member, Michael Beadle, has a new CD called "Kaboom." His poetry collection, An Invented Hour, came out in 2004, followed by Friends We Haven't Met, in 2008.

Visit him and read his poetry. We find his poems to be fun, entertaining and interesting.

What You Long For by Anne Clinard Barnhill

A friend of Netwest is Anne Barnhill who will be reading at Malaprop's in Asheville NC on June 24, 7 PM and at Mountain Lore Books in Hendersonville on June 27 at 1:00 PM. Anne is a member of NCWN but doesn't live in Netwest territory.

What You Long For, by Anne Clinard
Barnhill, is a rich collection that
will make you laugh-out-loud in some places and
cry in others. Filled with humor and tenderness,
Barnhill has written an enormously
entertaining group of stories.
Whether she is describing country women
telling one another stories in “The Quilting
Bee,” or introducing a little boy in love
with his best friend’s beer-drinking
mother in “Kings and Damsels,”
Anne Barnhill creates unforgettable characters
who feel like people you have encountered
in your own life. She describes the interior
life of women, in particular, with honesty
and wonderfully real details from
ordinary life. Simultaneously erotic and down-toearth,
What You Long For, is bound to become a Southern classic.

Curiosity Shop Bookstore hosts a child author

The Curiosity Shop Bookstore
46 Valley River Ave - Murphy proudly welcomes 9-year-old author, Ansley Carol Burnette this Saturday, June 20th, signing her book, Frisco Finds a Forever Family, a hardcover children's book about a dog who lives in a shelter but hopes for a family to love.
Ansley donates the proceeds to private, no-kill animal rescue shelters including Castaway Critters Pet Rescue, where she volunteers in Blairsville.

Ansley will be in Murphy from 11am-1pm Saturday.

***********************

ANDREWS -- DON'T FORGET - tomorrow (Thursday, June 18th) marks the start of the Kids' Summer Reading Club. Meet at our Andrews store at 10am. Grades 4 & 5 and Grades 6, 7 & 8 will all meet for the kick-off.

Don't miss Andrews Cruise Night Saturday evening. Stop by the West End Plaza and listen to the sounds of The Junaluska Jam Band, featuring our own manager, Connie McCabe.

Workshop on blogging a success

Glenda Beall, Netwest Program Coordinator, held another successful workshop for members on Saturday, June 13 at the Moss Library in Hayesville. This workshop focused on methods to improve your blog site and how to post and comment on blogs. Like many of Glenda’s workshops in the past, it was offered free to Netwest members.

Glenda is very knowledgeable on blogging and does a terrific job of managing our own Netwest Writers blog and has two terrific blogs of her own - The way I see it & Writing life stories.

Featured guest Tipper Pressley was on hand to offer her wealth of knowledge and insight on how to become a more successful blogger. Tipper has a very interesting blog focusing on Appalachian culture - Blind Pig and the Acorn. She is an excellent teacher and is also available for one-on-one sessions about blogging. You can contact her via her blog for more information.

The workshop was interactive with everyone sharing their knowledge. Topics included how to lay out your blog to grab your reader’s attention the minute they visit your blog, installing the latest gadgets from Google, ways to get news about you and your blog with Google Alerts, adding pictures and moving them around, the right way to use links, and how to build traffic for your blog through interaction and comments. The workshop was attended by Nancy Simpson, Carole Thompson, Pat Workman and Sam Hoffer.

Here are some interesting links related to blogging:

- Comments – how to give as good as you get

- How to get news about you and your blog with Google Alerts

- Common HTML/XHTML tags

- CSS tutorial starting with HTML + CSS

- Everything you ever wanted to know about a blog including how to grab your reader’s attention using the "above the fold line" concept

Echoes Across the Blue Ridge

Submissions for the cover art for the Netwest anthology, Echoes across the Blue Ridge, Poems, Stories and Essays by writers living in and inspired by the southern Appalachians, have been most impressive. We will continue to accept photos, 8x10 please, until July 4.

We accept submissions only from the Netwest area. Be sure contact information is on each submission. We hope to have a selection made by August 1.

POETS AND WRITERS READING POEMS AND STORIES

Brenda Kay Ledford, poet of Hayesville, NC

Richard Argo , writer of essays and science fiction

Netwest members, Brenda Kay Ledford and Richard Argo will read on the fourth Thursday of June, the 25th, at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. The readings will be held in the Keith House at 7:00 pm.

Brenda Kay Ledford, a native of Clay County, North Carolina, will delight all with her poetry drawn from life in these mountains. Her writing has appeared in OUR STATE, CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, CAPPERS, JOURNAL OF KENTUCKY STUDIES, and other journals. She received the Paul Green Award from North Carolina Society of Historians for her poetry books, PATCHWORK MEMORIES and SHEW BIRD MOUNTAIN. Finishing Line Press published her third book, SACRED FIRE. Brenda Kay is a member of North Carolina Writers Network, North Carolina Poetry Society, Byron Herbert Reece Society, Georgia Poetry Society and listed with A DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN POETS AND FICTION WRITERS.

Richard Argo of Murphy, North Carolina is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. His work has appeared in CAROLINA COUNTRY and LIGHTS IN THE MOUNTAINS. It is not uncommon to find bicycling as the subject of Richard’s work. He brings interest to everyday things in his musings. Richard is the facilitator of the Netwest Prose Group and is a member of long standing in the North Carolina Writers Network.

These readings are open to the community and to the students at the Folk School.

UPDATES THAT MAKE YOUR WEBLOG MORE EFFICIENT FOR YOUR USE

Please notice some of the new gadgets used on the sidebar of this blog.
You can now subscribe to this blog by email. You might not get to visit every day, but you can have the latest post e-mailed to you.
From that e-mail you can easily click on Netwest Writers to leave a comment or see what is new on the sidebar.

Links are listed on the sidebar to make it easier for the reader to find some of the most important recent posts such as guidelines for the Netwest Contest with the environmental theme. More of these will be used in the future.

Search this blog - this is a new gadget that helps you find a post from the archives. If you want to find a post in which your name appears, type in your name on the search line on the right side of the blog. Click Search.
Every post with your name will pop up. If you want to find a post in which poetry was mentioned, type in poetry and click Search. Hopefully this will help anyone searching for articles written over the past two and a half years. Please let us know if this is helpful.

Candy Maier Scholarship Fund Sponsors Kimberly Childs' Exhibit

THE “NATURE’S PATCHWORK” SHOW OF FABRIC ART OF KIMBERLY CHILDS WILL BE EXHIBITED IN A CHURCH GALLERY IN ASHEVILLE, NC

The Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers and the First Congregational United Church of Christ team up to display "Nature's Patchwork," an exhibit featuring the fabric art of Kimberly Childs, in the church gallery June 7-30, 2009. The exhibit opens at 11:00 a.m. following morning services on Sunday June 7, 2009, in the church’s gallery hall.
The church will be open from 1-5 pm on Tuesday June 9th, Friday June 12, Friday June 19, and Friday June 26, 2009 so the public can view the artworks, speak with the artist and board members of The Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers.
The exhibit features nine artworks within the theme of “Nature’s Patchwork”, titled, Park Scene I, Park Scene II, a 2-piece set of a different Park Scenes I & II, “Plenitessa-Kitchen Goddess”, “Feeding Koi”, “Words Words Words”, “Sweet Abundance” and “Homage To Monet”. Child’s pieces are vibrantly colored works of fabric marrying artisanal traditional quilting techniques with layers of landscape, figures and words.
Kimberly Childs is nationally known for her quilted fabric art and garments. A love of contra dancing and singing inspired her creativity with many of her artworks, but health challenges forced her to give up the dancing and singing that fed her artist’s soul. Her hands can no longer work with fabrics, and surgical damage to her vocal cords has silenced her singing voice forever. Even though she now uses a portable voice amplifier and struggles to speak above a whisper; her indomitable spirit refuses to give up or feel sorry for herself. Kimberly refuses to silence her artistic voice, and uses writing and watercolor painting as newer ways of expressing her creativity.
Kimberly wanted other women to experience the same comfort, joy and magic in writing that she and Candy Maier discovered on their artistic journeys. In 2007, she donated nine of her final fabric art pieces to The Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers. All pieces exhibited at the church are available for sale, with proceeds benefitting The Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers.
Candy Maier, according to her many friends, always lit up a room with her presence, sharing with everyone her zest for living. Her stories were often poignant, funny and meaningful, bringing joy to others.

After Candy’s sudden death in 2005, her writing friends created The Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers, an IRS 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which grants scholarships to Western North Carolina women over age twenty-one for shared writing classes from private teachers, universities and other sources.

Proceeds from the sale of the “Nature’s Patchwork” artworks will provide Candy Maier writing class scholarships to other women living in Western North Carolina in continuation of Candy Maier’s legacy.

Kimberly Childs
828-299-4499
http://www.kimberlychilds.net/

The Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers

Attn: Whitney Laura George 828-255-1847 whitneylgeorge@mindspring.com

First Congregational United Church of Christ
Attn: Gary Mitchell
20 Oak Street
Asheville, NC 28801
828- 252-8729
828-231-5856
http://uccasheville.org/

More Winners in 2009 Cherokee County Senior Games/SilverArts

In the 2009 Cherokee County Senior Games/SilverArts (SilverArts: one word, two caps), in addition to Brenda Kay Ledford and Blanche Ledford, who won the silver and bronze for their life experience entries, Jerry Hobbs won the gold medal for his short story "A Slippery Bar of Soap and the Rose Colored Bikini."

Jerry Hobbs also won the bronze for his essay, "How To Sweep Away The Silence." Peg Russell won the silver medal for her essay, "Hanging Around In North Carolina And Cherokee County."

Cherokee County Games is in its second year, and Jerry, Brenda Kay, and Blanche have won medals both years. Richard Argo won the NC state silver medal in 2008 for his poem "Ode to Rock and Roll."


Other NetWest participants in the 2009 Literary Arts included Shirley Uphouse, Richard Argo, and Mary Ricketson. Other medalists this year included Judith T. Lott and Carol McAfee, (who both also won last year), and John C. Tuffy

Contest for Netwest Members deadline July 4th

If any of you have seen Silas House's new book on Mountaintop Removal, you may know it got a rave in the Washington Times.
Netwest is holding a contest for our members. Write a poem, story or essay that is environmentally focused. We want work that evokes a love of the land. It doesn't need to be preachy or even "environmental" in the literal/political sense.
Send one poem or an essay or story with no more than 450 words to Lana Hendershott lanadhnc@aol.com our moderator for this contest. Lana will send the blind entries to our judges.

The winning entry will be published on the Netwest blog, in the Netwest News and if possible, in the winner's hometown newspaper.

WHY AREN'T GOOD WRITERS PUBLISHED?

From Blue Pencil Editing

Lauren questions Wendy Burt-Thomas, editor, writer, mentor and teacher.

I excerpted a small part of her interview here because she speaks to a matter I have harped on for two years.


Lauren: You've been a mentor, coach, or editor for many writers. What do you think is the most common reason that good writers don’t get published?


Wendy Burt-Thomas replies:
Poor marketing skills. I see so many writers that are either too afraid, too uninformed, or frankly, too lazy, to market their work. They think their job is done when they write "the end" but writing is only half of the process. I've always told people who took my class that there are tons of great writers in the world who will never get published.

I'd rather be a good writer who eats lobster than a great writer who eats hot dogs. I make a living as a writer because I spend as much time marketing as I do writing.

Freelance writer/editor Wendy Burt-Thomas's third book is The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters.

Visit Wendy's site to learn more about her.
http://www.guidetoqueryletters.com/. If you have a writing-related question, you can post it to http://askwendy.wordpress.com/.

POETS OF WNC - DON'T MISS THIS CHANCE TO STUDY WITH CATHY SMITH BOWERS

There are still spaces available for the poetry workshop with Cathy Smith Bowers at the Network's Squire Summer Writing Residency, July 24-26, at Warren Wilson College.
Cathy has been described as "an inspiration and model for her students. Cathy is on fire with love for the written word and she fires up her students as well. Her students love and admire her; they flock to her creative writing classes."
Her work has appeared in publications such as the Atlantic Monthly, the Gettysburg Review, the Georgia Review, Poetry, the Southern Review, and the Kenyon Review. She served for many years as poet-in-residence at Queens University of Charlotte, where she received the 2002 J. B. Fuqua Distinguished Educator Award.

She now teaches in the Queens low-residency MFA in Creative Writing Program, and at conferences throughout the United States.


The Squire Summer Writing Residency offers:
Affordable three-day session includes daily classes, free writing periods, evening readings & discussions, and group meals
Commuter rates for those who do not wish to stay on campus
Limited number of dedicated writers in each workshop
In-class exercises and "hands on" discussion of work

The registration deadline is July 8th. Please visit our website to get more information and to register online. We hope you can join us for a weekend of poetry and community in the cool mountain air.



Best Regards,

Virginia Freedman
Administrative Director

North Carolina Writers' Network
P.O. Box 954
Carrboro, NC 27510
Phone: 919.251.9140
E-mail: http://www.blogger.com/
Website: http://www.blogger.com/

Silverarts Winners

Brenda Kay Ledford and Blanche L. Ledford received medals for their entries in the 2009 Cherokee County Silverarts literary competition May 16 during an award's ceremony held at Murphy First Baptist Church; Murphy, NC.

Brenda received a silver medal for her entry, "Birthday Present." Blanche won a bronze medal for her story, "Red Shoes." Nancy Gadsby and Clarence Newton were the judges for the Silverarts literary competition.

Brenda is a member of North Carolina Writers' Network and North Carolina Poetry Society. Her work has appeared in OUR STATE, ASHEVILLE POETRY REVIEW, PEMBROKE MAGAZINE, and other journals.

Blanche's work has appeared in many publications including EXIT 109, MOONSHINE AND BLIND MULES, LIGHTS IN THE MOUNTAINS, and other journals.

Another Netwest Winner in Poetry

Congratulations, Janice Townley Moore, first place winner in poetry, Press 53 Open Awards anthology.

The results of the 2009 Press 53 Open Awards writing contest are posted online at http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1024106115&msgid=1837059&act=KZ5G&c=416361&admin=0&destination=http://www.press53.com/OpenAwards_2009.html.

Celebrate Nancy Simpson

Nancy Simpson celebrates her 100th post on her blog, Living Above the Frost Line. Look at the photo on her page today of some Netwest members back in 1998 when we soaked up Nancy's gifts in her classes at Tri-County Community College. Can you name those writers?

NETWEST SUPPORTS INDEPENDENT BOOK STORES

Curiosity Shop Bookstores in Murphy and Andrews, NC
sent their upcoming events list.


Friday, 5/29 - 5-7pm Hondo will be playing music at The Shoppes of Murphy.
5pm - Relay for Life in Konehete Park, Murphy

Saturday, 5/30 3-4pm The Bear Notes will play music at our Andrews location.

Saturday, 6/6 11:00am-1:00pm Senator Zell Miller will be in our Murphy store to sign his book, Purt Nigh Gone
The Murphy Spring Fest takes place that day downtown.
(If you can't be here that day and want him to sign a book, you may purchase in advance and we'll take care of it)!

Saturday, 6/13 11am-1pm Senator Zell Miller will be in our Andrews store.

Saturday, 6/20 6pm - 11pm Andrews "Cruise Night". Join us on our deck to watch the action!!

Saturday, 6/27 - Andrews Cultural Art Center Garden Tour
also, Andrews Music Festival

Waynesville book store - Osondu's coming events

This week's events at Osondu's books in Waynesville, NC

Friday the 29th
@ 7:00 p.m. tea tasting

Saturday the 30th
@ 11:00 a.m. tea tasting

@ 3:00 p.m. meet the author Sarah Addison Allen
Sarah Addison is the author of Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen. Come out support Sarah by attending her signing. If you have never read her books or met her you will be so happy you came. If you have read and met her you will be thrilled to see her again. :)

@7:00 p.m Music with Lorraine Conard
This is our last Saturday night of music. So come in join us in thanking Lorraine for the year of music she has provided on Saturdays.
We will see Lorraine on many of the Friday Art after Dark evenings.

Tuesday June 2nd
@10:00 a.m. Mystery Book Club first meeting. All our welcome.

Squire Summer Writing Residency to be held in WNC

Western North Carolina Writers - Now is the perfect time to sign up for the Squire Summer Writing Residency at Warren Wilson College, near Asheville.



North Carolina Writers’ Network

SQUIRE SUMMER WRITING RESIDENCY

Friday–Sunday, July 24–26
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC

Writing Workshops Featuring:

Poetry with Cathy Smith Bowers
Fiction with Tommy Hays
Nonfiction with Catherine Reid


Register by July 8 at http://www.ncwriters.org/ or call 336-293-8844.

SILVER BOOMER BOOKS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Silver Boomer Books issues a Call for Submission


Two anthologies - be sure to check these links.

http://silverboomerbooks.com/submissions.htm

http://www.eaglewingspress.com/guidelines.htm





Karen Greene

abilenewritersguild.org

writing as:Kerin Riley Bishop

silverboomerbooks.com

silverboomers.com

frecklestowrinkles.com

New Anthology is making progress

The new Netwest anthology will have a lovely cover, I'm sure, although it hasn't yet been chosen. Photos are coming each day and I get excited to see what the next envelope will hold.
Work on the book is moving along as CDs have been mailed to Nancy Simpson, Editor. Each story, essay or poem will be proof-read several times before all are combined into one file to go to Katje, Karen Holmes daughter, who will format the book for the printer. It will take many weeks, many hours of reading, and more reading before the manuscript is complete.
If your work was selected for the anthology, and if you cannot make a CD with your work and a fifty word bio, please contact Nancy
and we will work out something so that your poem or prose piece will not be left out.

NETWEST MEMBER, JACK JOSEPH PRATHER RECEIVES RAVE REVIEWS

Jack Joseph Prather, author and poet, is reading and signing his highly praised new novel - The Day of the Knights.

Saturday, June 13th from 11:30-2 p.m. at Mike's On Main, Main Street and Third Avenue, Hendersonville, NC

Tuesday, August 18th from noon-1:30 at the Lanier Library, Chestnut Street, Tryon, NC

Thursday, August 20th from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Henderson County Library, Washington Street, Hendersonville, NC

Be sure to check out Jack's website: http://www.jackjosephprather.com/
Order The Day of the Knights from Amazon.com and other sites you will find on Jack's website.

One reviewer asks for a sequel, and others say this book is impossible to put down. A page-turner, it seems. If you have read Jack Joseph Prather's books, please leave a comment.

Candy Maier Scholarship Fund

Mary Ricketson, Netwest Rep for Cherokee County, Mary Jo Dyre, Netwest Representative on the Board for NCWN Board of Trustees, Glenda Beall, Program Coordinator for Netwest, Gwendie Camp, Chairman of the Candy Fund, Cheryl Dietrich, treasurer of the Candy Fund stand in front of a beautiful quilt at the Curiosity Shop Bookstore in Murphy. The quilt was raffled off and a name drawn the day of our visit.

Recently Gwendie Camp and Cheryl Dietrich drove down to join Mary Jo Dyre who acts as a liaison for the Candy Fund, and her guests, Mary Ricketson and Glenda Beall to discuss the future of the new non-profit charity over lunch at Shoebooties' restaurant in Murphy. In the three years this fund has been active, they have raised $11,000 and given out 50 scholarships totaling $8, 000.
They are ready now to develop a website, send out a newsletter and hold a series of fundraisers. Gwendie says they have volunteer positions available on the Board of Directors and for regional coordinators to reach out beyond the boundaries of Asheville to women south and north of Buncombe county.

We offered our support from Netwest because we believe this to be a needed organization. The Candy Maier Fund provided scholarships to several of our members in the past couple of years. The Fund is seeking donations to help meet the growing need for Candy Fund scholarships. Donations, any amount is appreciated, are tax-exempt.The Candy Fund is the only scholarship program of its type in this area.
You can reach the Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers by email: thecandyfund@yahoo.com or by snail mail: 4B Long shoals Road #164, Arden, North Carolina, 28704-7781.

Jo Carolyn Beebe and Karen Holmes read to a full house at JCCFS

Karen Holmes impressed students from around the U.S. as well as locals with her powerful poetry Thursday evening at John C. Campbell Folk School. Karen is a recent member of Netwest. Enthusiastic and energetic, Karen is helping with the new Netwest anthology, and she publishes and edits the online newsletter, Netwest News. With her background as V.P. with ING corporation, she brings new ideas and talent to Netwest.

Jo Carolyn Beebe writes historical fiction. Her long time interest in genealogy provides fodder for her writing. At JCCFS Thursday evening the large audience enjoyed excerpts from her most recent young adult manuscript about Willie, a young boy in Mississippi during the War Between the States. With humor and mystery, she enthralled her listeners, and left everyone wanting more.

Support Our Local Bookstores

Curiosity Shop Bookstores in Murphy and in Andrews, NC
are proud to welcome Senator Zell Miller to our stores to sign his new book, Purt Nigh Gone, about the disappearing "old mountain ways".

Saturday, June 6th - Murphy store (46 Valley River Ave.) from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. This will coincide with the Murphy Spring Festival in downtown Murphy.

Saturday, June 13th - Andrews store (1060 Main Street) from 11am-1pm.

JEFF BIGGERS TO SPEAK IN ASHEVILLE

Jeff Biggers will speak at the Folk Art Center in Asheville, NC on Friday May 22 at 6:30 pm. For more on Jeff click on link below.

http://www.maconnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4722&Itemid=85

Want to reach Ed Southern?

New Address:Ed Southern, Executive Director
North Carolina Writers' Network
P.O. Box 21591
Winston-Salem, NC 27120-1591

336.293.8844

Jeff Biggers dramatizes the history of Appalachia

Jeff Biggers. Have you heard of him? I heard him dramatize one of his books today and I, like all the audience, was mezmerized. All I could think of was: If history was taught to our children the way Jeff taught us today, we'd have college history classes filled to the max. Jeff is a fount of Appalachian history. According to his session today, almost everything that is good in the USA, came from Applachia. And he gave us samples to prove what he said.

I recommend to anyone, if you see this man's name on a program in your area, go see and listen to him. After hearing him, his audience swarmed the table buying his book. I came away feeling I'd learned exciting tales about history and the people who made it.

Blue Ridge Book and Author Showcase - I'm Still High!

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, poet and Netwest Rep for South Carolina is always gracious and friendly. Even though her books had not been ordered for the book fair, she gained many new friends and names for her newsletter.

Bob Greenwald and his group of volunteers conducted a full day of activities for writers and book lovers.Above is Kathryn Stripling Byer and Robert Morgan, author of the new novel Boone.

Poetry, alive and well in Cherokee County NC, May 7

Dr. Gene Hirsch and his John C. Campbell Folk School poetry class visited the Netwest Poetry critique group on Thursday evening, May 7.
Linda Smith, far end on right, is reading a poem she brought for critique.

Poets Glenda Barrett, author of When the Sap Rises, and Joyce Foster, author of Painted Leaves, a book Kathryn S. Byer called one of the most beautiful poetry books she has ever seen, follow the words of a poem read by Linda Smith. Joyce attended Gene Hirsch's class and lists him in her book as her mentor. Beyond Joyce in the photo is Clarence Newton, Gene Hirsch, Karen Holmes, Barbara Groce, and Maren Mitchell.

NETWEST WRITERS, POST YOUR GOOD NEWS HERE

Many of our Netwest members are authors of this blog, http://www.netwestwriters.blogspot.com/. That means you have permission to post your own work on this blog. If you are a member and would like to post on this site, please email me, writerlady21@yahoo.com, and you will be sent an invitation to post



This site was set up in 2007 to promote writing and writers in the Netwest area of NC, GA, SC, and TN. Since then, a number of our members have gone on to set up their personal blogs, websites and some have begun literary journals.



We urge you to continue to post here where we have viewers from all over the world. Send us news about your region and your successes. We love to post your photo and your good news on this blog.



Send us the schedule for writing events in your county and we can post those for you.



Exciting things are happening in the Netwest area and this is where you will learn about them.

Dr. Gene Hirsch at JCCFS this week

Dr. Gene Hirsch is teaching poetry this week at John C. Campbell Folk School. His class will read on Thursday afternoon, 4:15 , in the Keith House. Dr. Hirsch is responsible for instigating the Writing Program at JCCFS and comes down from Pennsylvania each year to teach a class or two. He has been most generous to Netwest and we appreciate him. He and his class will attend the Netwest Poetry Critique group at Tri-County College on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM.

Blue Ridge Book & Author Showcase Hendersonville, NC

9:00-9:10
Robert Morgan
welcome and keynote introduction
Conference Hall/Gala
9:10-9:50
Sharyn McCrumb
Keynote Address. Tell it Slant: Finding Truth in Fiction
Conference Hall/Gala
10:00-11:00
Louise Bailey
The historical and cultural dimensions of henderson county
Conference Hall/Gala
10:00-11:00
Vickie Lane
Appalachian Mysteries
Conference Hall/Cortland
10:00-11:00
Rose Senehi
Romantic thrillers threaded with environmental themes
Cortland Hall/Macintosh
10:00-11:15
Student Presentations
School-age writing talent to the microphone
Classroom 213
11:00-11:30
Author Display tables open Book sales/signings, author/public interaction.
11:30-12:30
Sheila Kay Adams
Historical novels, mountain culture in storytelling and ballad style
Conference Hall/Gala
11:30-12:30
Keith Flynn
Inside the poetry genre
Conference Hall/Cortland
11:30-12:30
Susan Reinhardt
Southern Humor
Conference Hall/Macinstosh
11:30-12:30
Student Presentations
School-age writing talent to the microphone
Classroom 213
12:30-1:30

Lunch break

1:30-2:00
Author Display tables open Book sales/signings, author/public interaction.

2:00-3:00
Kathryn Stripling Byer
Poet Laureate of North Carolina
Conference Hall/Gala
2:00-3:00
Joan Medlicott
Never too late to become a published author
conference hall/cortland
2:00-3:00
Gary Carden
Western North Carolina storytelling and folklore
Conference Hall/Macintosh
2:00-3:00
Marvin Cole
Character portrayal of mark twain
room 213
3:10-4:10
Robert Morgan
Boone's legacy reaches to the Pacific
conference hall/gala
3:10-4:10
Peggy Collins
"The self-sufficiency syndrome"--Learning to accept help
conference hall/cortland
3:10-4:10
Jeff Biggers
the appalachian character and other memoirs
conference hall/macintosh
3:10-4:10
Steve Kirk
Navigating the publishing labyrinth
room 213
4:10-5:00
Author Display tables open Book sales/signings, author/public interaction

Echoes Across the Blue Ridge

Echoes Across the Blue Ridge: Stories, Essays and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains.


Above is the title for the new Netwest anthology. It is appropriate for the vast number of poets and writers whose work is included.

Nancy Simpson, editor of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, has worked long hours night and day to choose the absolutely best work from around nearly one hundred submissions.

We hope to send out acceptance letters in the coming week to those who sent an SASE informing them of the protocol expected when sending in their revised copy on disk.

Now that we have a title, we need submissions for cover art. If you are an artist, or a photographer and want to send an 8 X 10 color photograph, we welcome submissions from anyone living in the Netwest area. After acceptance, the photo will need to be sent on disk or jump drive as a jpeg file.
Keep a copy of your photograph as we will not mail them back.
Photo credit will be given in the anthology.

Mail submissions to Glenda Beall, 581 Chatuge Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904
Be sure you include your contact information including phone number and E-mail address.

Heart Poetry Award

Brenda Kay Ledford will judge the HEART magazine national poetry contest. The winner receives $500 and the entry deadline is June 30, 2009. For contest guidelines, go to: www.nostalgiapress.com.

This is the third time Ledford has judged national poetry contests for Connie Lakey Martin, editor and publisher, of Nostalgia Press in Orangeburg, SC. The press was founded in 1986.

You may read Ledford's bio at: www.brendakayledford.com. Also, visit her blog: http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com.

BRITAIN'S FIRST FEMALE POET LAUREATE

('I look on it as recognition of the great women poets we now have writing' ... Carol Ann Duffy. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe)

If you go to my ncpoetlaureate.blogspot.com site, you will find a lengthy post about Britain's first woman Poet Laureate. I welcome your visit!

Netwest Anthology Update

We are all looking forward to the new Netwest Anthology edited by Nancy Simpson. We are extremely pleased to have had many submissions, and so many excellent writers sending poems, essays and short stories. For those of you who are anxious to know if your work has been selected, please be patient a few more days. Our editor, who has worked diligently and put in long hours and late nights, seems to have come down with a bug, not swine flu, but has been sick this week. We expect to send out letters next week if all goes well.
Nancy says she has enjoyed reading the work of our mountain writers and she assures me we will have a terrific book. Meanwhile we have an agreement with a printer for one thousand books, first printing. We are already working on the marketing of the anthology. We'll be calling on our representatives in all counties to give us suggestions as to the best outlets for selling this book to tourists and book lovers. We will plan readings in all counties of Netwest. If your work is in the book, we hope you will take part in those readings.
The first Netwest anthology, Lights in the Mountains, stories, poems and essays by writers living in the southern Appalachians, sold out of two printings of 750 books each printing. Because we do our own editing, copy-editing, and formatting, we can produce the book less expensively than if we used a POD or small press. However it takes a bit longer to get the book out there.

This endeavor is labor intensive, but it is a labor of love. You will be pleased and proud of the anthology you all have helped produce.

Meet the Cracker Queen at Osondu's

This week's events at Osondu's Book Store in Waynesville, NC
Thursday the 30th at 7:00 p.m. meet the author
Lauretta Hannon author of The Cracker Queen will be here to talk and sign her books. Come and meet this fabulous writer.


Saturday the 2nd of May
@ 11:00 a.m. meet the author
Terry Rollins author of Married to the Military will be here to talk and sign her books. If you want to hear some great stories of men and women who give to their country come and meet Terry Rollins.

@ 7:00 p.m. music
Chris Minick will be here. Join us for great music, tea, wine, company, and coffee.

Netwest News, the online newsletter published and edited by Karen Holmes has been e-mailed. If you did not receive your May edition, please let us know. All members on our most current membership list receive this excellent update on NCWN West (Netwest).

If you do not reside in the Netwest are, but you are a reader of this blog and wish to receive a copy of Netwest News, please send your name and e-mail address to writerlady21@yahoo.com

Kudos is a column in the newsletter that lists names of members who recently published poems, essays, fiction or books. Karen spotlights events held in the Netwest area or close enough for our Netwest members to drive.



If you have news or articles on writing and you are a member of Netwest, please send them to Karen karen.holmes@comcast.net, or to writerlady21@yahoo.com. Deadline for the next issue is July.

ASHEVILLE WORDFEST ON WEBCAM

(Li-Young Lee)


ASHEVILLE WORDFEST IS COMING, APRIL 30-MAY 3. Go to their website for all the information you could possibly want: schedule, poets, history, and a photo archive of last year's festival. WordFest live webcasts the evening (7-9 pm) readings from this site so everyone with access to wifi, dial-up, ethernet and telepathic powers can "attend" this intercultural, international, inter-aesthetical (!) poetry event. With a line-up including Quincy Troupe, Liz Bradfield, Li-Young Lee, Valzhyna Mort, Frank X Walker, you don't have to wonder what to do next Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings.

Below is your schedule of readings. Here also is the Asheville WordFest promo video produced by Kurt Mann at American Green. http://vimeo.com/4296487

SCHEDULE
7 pm Thursday April 30 at Jubilee! 46 Wall St.
Lee Ann Brown, Patrick Rosal, doris davenport, Ross Gay


10 and 11 pm departing from Jubilee!
LaZoom Poetry Bus Tour presented by Catalyst Productions

4 pm Friday May 1 at Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center:
Caroline Mercurio, Holly Iglesias, David Hopes

7 pm Friday May 1 at Jubilee!
Elizabeth Bradfield, Gary Copeland Lilley, Quincy Troupe

10 pm Friday May 1 at Bobo Gallery at 22 Lexington Ave
Thomas Rain Crowe & the Boatrockers w/ Coleman Barks followed by Wordfest Wide Open Mic. . .

Saturday Morning 10 a.m. May 2 Bookworks 428 1/2 Haywood Road
West Asheville 828.255.8444
Poetry and Citizens Journalism w/ Laura Hope-Gill and Wally Bowen

2 pm Saturday May 2 at Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center at 56 Broadway
Keith Flynn, Pat Riviere-Seel, Ekiwah Adler Belendez

7 pm Saturday May 2 at Jubilee!
Valzhyna Mort, Frank X Walker, Li-Young Lee

10 pm Saturday May 2 Hookah Joe’s at 38b North French Broad
Poetix Lounge featuring The Poetix Vanguard w/ an open set

Sunday Morning May 3 10 a.m. Bookworks 428 1/2 Haywood Road
West Asheville 828.255.8444
Writing the Imaginative Storm Workshop with James Nave

3 pm Sunday May 3 at Malaprops Bookstore/Café at 55 Haywood St.
Debora Kinsland Foerst, Landon Godfrey, Paul Allen followed by Closing Reception

Netwest Members Attend Spring Conference

It was a delight to see some Netwest writers attending the Spring Conference in Greensboro today. Wayne Drumheller, James Cox, Michael Beadle and our old friend, Al Manning were there.

Wayne is from Brevard and this was his first conference. Although we had met by e-mail, it was nice to put a face to the name. James Cox who is one of the editors of The Hod, a new literary magazine urged me to let our readers know that he needs submissions now. Send him poems, stories, or essays and don't worry that they might not fit. You won't know what works here until you send him work and his editors make decisions about content. I promised I'll send him some of my work. They are planning a June publication date.

I ran into Michael Beadle, one of my favorite poets and one of my favorite people networking in the exhibitors hall.

This was an excellent time to meet and get advice on submitting to the publications and small presses like Press 53 and Main Street Rag. Finishing Line Press was also there but no one was sitting at the table when I was there.

The day was packed chock full and I didn't get to visit all the tables, but did talk to the folks representing Snake Nation, a literary journal from Valdosta, Georgia. I'm especially happy I met them.

Tomorrow I'll review my notes and post about the Publishers Panel, one of the most enlightening and interesting sessions of the Conference.

Thanks to Ed Southern and Virginia Freedman who organized this conference. I think the nearly one hundred registrants, including me, came away motivated, more informed and excited about writing.

Support Our Local Bookstores

Two Independent Book Stores - in Andrews NC and in Murphy, NC

This Friday (April 24th), the merchants in downtown Andrews will be having great sidewalk sales and displays for Earth Week. The Curiosity Shop Bookstore is having special sales, so please stop in and see them!

Saturday (April 25th), downtown Murphy merchants are featuring a town-wide sidewalk sale to benefit Relay for Life.
Stop in at The Curiosity Shop Bookstore and check out the special sale tables and purchase luminaries in honor of loved ones.

Songwriter and poet Bruce Piephoff will perform Friday, May 1st in Murphy - 7 to 9pm
He will perform Saturday, May 2nd in Andrews - 7 to 9pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Murphy hosts musicians from 5-7 pm on Fridays (other than music nights)

Book Clubs - Murphy meets Tuesday, April 28 to discuss Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. (Call 835-7433 for details)
Andrews Book club will meet Thursday, May 7 at Book Store to discuss Wicked, by Gregory Maguire.
(Call 321-2242 for details).

ASHEVILLE WORDFEST: Coming Our Way VERY Soon

Last year Asheville Wordfest took its inaugural flight. A festival devoted solely to poetry landed in town. Asheville, that is. Two of the guiding spirits, as well as the corporeal organizers, were Laura Hope-Gill and Sebastian Matthews. Now the second landing of Wordfest is about to take place, beginning next Thursday. Go to the Wordfest site for more information, including schedules and list of poets. Headliners include Quincey Troupe and Li-Young Lee, but the roster of lesser-known poets is just as dazzling.



(Asheville WordFest organizers Laura Hope-Gill and Sebastian Matthews are bringing together poets from a variety of traditions. Photo by Anne Fitten Glenn.)

I asked Laura to share her vision of Asheville Wordfest with me. She said that was a dangerous thing to ask! She could talk about it for hours, her hopes for its growth, her reasons for devoting so much of her life and energy to it. What follows is an unexpurgated version of her email to me, interspersed with photos of some of the featured poets.


Glenis Redmond, Patricia Smith, and Laura at last year's Wordfest.)


I think the really important thing to convey about Wordfest is that it is product of many years of Asheville poets' legacy-building. From the early nineties until now, there's been a strong poetry community. (I see it as a healing of what happened to poor Thomas Wolfe whose words won him exile from his city.) James Nave, Glenis Redmond, Bob Falls, Allan Wolf, Keith Flynn and more recently Graham Hackett, Sebastian Matthews, Jeff Davis, and too many more to list, have stoked the fires for a free poetry festival for this town. Back in the early 90's there was a poetry event every weekend evening, in some crazy location, ranging from the Green Door to the Diana Wortham, which back then, like the Green Door, allowed local performers to use the mainstage (!) for a mere 20% of the door. The town came out for these events.



(Debora Kinsland Foerst, from Cherokee)

Wordfest was dreamed up at a table at Malaprops, where I think all of us have read at one time or another. James Nave, Jeff Davis, Glenis Redmond and I sat around after a broadcast of Wordplay and up it bubbled. It's interesting that three of us are rooted in the performance scene--we've always had that drive to make poetry public, to literally give it away. That's the spirit of creativity, so we keep that at the heart of Wordfest. Lewis Hyde's book *The Gift* is one of the most important books in my world. In that book, the poet explores the creative economy, one based on circulating energy, rather than trapping it in place. For Whitman, poetry was currency. He spent it generously and in return he received it generously. He devoted hours to writing letters for wounded soldiers. For him, there was no difference between service and poetry. Hyde also studies ancient economies and folktales, revealing that cultures have survived quite well on this circular economy. It's interesting to me that we're witnessing the end of the linear economy (however many bailouts we attempt in order to put off the inevitable). It's a perfect time for creativity to rise, for people to give things away for free, such as a poetry festival, and enjoy seeing how it comes back to them in other forms. So, it's about much more than poetry for me. It's about restoring things to a more natural economy.



(Keith Flynn, founder and editor of Asheville Poetry Review and widely published poet)

We invite local businesses and groups to sponsor poets as way of integrating poetry into the marketplace. For the amount it costs to buy a paper ad in one issue of a magazine, a business or group can actually pay for the poet's airfare and (part of) a reading fee and give much more life to the money, and reach many more people (through our website, press and the actuall event itself) in a much more human way.



(doris davenport, formerly of NC, now teaching at Albany State University)

Also, WordFest presents poetry as Citizens Journalism. This is simply an emergence from my experience of watching Dr. Maya Angelou on Nightline on September 11. She was talking about how we need to "feel" what has happened, how we need to grieve, and Ted Koppel said, "Well, thank you for that poetic reflection, Dr. Angelou. And now for a more realistic perspective." And gone was the poet and up came a general or colonel. That was it. Neither of those perspectives is more realistic than the other. There are two realities--the active and the reflective. Asheville Wordfest, by presenting poetry as Citizens Journalism, explores this.




(Pat Riviere-Seel)

We are funded by the North Carolina Arts Council and the North Humanities Council, two amazing examples of circular economy in the way they return taxpayers money to the taxpayer in a higher form, that of art. My own company, The Healing Seed, picks up the rest of the tab along with Amy Mandel, Shiner Antiorio, Katina Rodis, Laurie Masterton, Grateful Steps Press, Maggie Wynne and many other members of our community. As the years continue, I envision more businesses and friends will "sponsor-a-poet" by donating money. It can happen, We can change the economy into a creative one, and see how everyone benefits. Asheville Wordfest is one model for doing this.