JIM CLARK'S NEW CD SETS BYRON HERBERT REESE'S POEMS TO MUSIC

Poet, musician, and professor Jim Clark has just released The Service of Song: Words by Byron Herbert Reece/Music by Jim Clark.

The cd includes the text of the poems set to music by Clark, including I Go by Ways of Rust and Flame, The Elm and the Moon, and The Altitudes of Love.

I Go By Ways of Rust and Flame

I go by ways of rust and flame

Beneath the bent and lonely sky;

Behind me on the ways I came

I see the hedges lying bare,

But neither question nor reply.

A solitary thing am I

Upon the roads of rust and flame

That thin at sunset to the air.

I call upon no word nor name,

And neither question nor reply

But walk alone as all men must

Upon the roads of flame and rust.

The cd is $10.00 (plus $2.00 for shipping) and may be ordered from Eternal Delight Productions, P.O. Box 7861, Wilson, NC 27895.

Great Website for Writers

Greetings! As the new Program Coordinator for NCWN-West, I want to feature articles on our blog that speak to the craft of writing. I want to begin this endeavor by sharing with you a website that has been incredibly useful to me as a writer. Whether you are a poet or fiction writer, you will find the information on this site hugely helpful: www.newpages.com. If you are not already a visitor to this site, it is one you need to bookmark. I have it as one of my home pages, and I check it regularly. Because of newpages.com, I entered a poetry contest and actually won the contest (which came with a rare but significant monetary prize). What I like about newpages.com is that it is updated regularly with quality information – whether you want to enter a contest or search calls for submissions, you will be able to easily search a long list of literary journals or magazines that are seeking submissions. These links are found on the right-hand side of the page, and you can also search for writing conferences by state. What is so helpful about newpages.com is that the data is one click away, as opposed to endless searches that the user would have to do on his or her own. Newpages.com saves time, and it is contains reliable data. Every few weeks the “call for submissions” section is updated, and if you have a blog of your own, you may link it to this site to increase your visibility. I encourage all of you who are sending your work out or in search of a conference to visit newpages.com regularly. You will also find reviews of literary magazines, which can help you determine if you want to subscribe or if your work is a good match for the journal – always a must to research this before submitting. So check this site out if you have not already, and get your work out there!

Writers Talking About Writing a Big Success (NC Writers Network West)

Put together by Nancy Simpson and Mary Fonda and held last weekend at Moss Memorial Library, Writers Talking about Writing was a big hit. Not only did those in attendance gain a wealth of information from experienced writers, Netwest gained exposure, and copies of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge were sold and signed. The goal of reaching out to potential members was met, as the audience consisted of individuals who were not already NCWN-West members.

Panel members included Nancy Simpson, Brenda Kay Ledford, Maren Mitchell, Janice Moore, Glenda Beall, and Linda Smith. Thanks to all of you who participated, and to Moss Memorial Library for providing the venue! Since this event was so well-received, NCWN-West should consider making this an annual event.

Next Saturday, November 27th from 11 am - 1 pm, a book signing will be held for Echoes at Curiosity Books in Murphy. Join us if you can!

Submissions Welcome

Just a jiggle on the doorknocker of all you Carolina poets: Your Daily Poem reads submissions on a rolling basis, and The Cheese State is getting waaaay too much credit for having more great poets per capita than anyplace else because I hear from two or three Wisconsin poets every week! I'd love to offer more from us Southlanders; just be sure to read the guidelines. We're a unique market in that we cater to people who are NOT poetry fans, so submissions need to be immediately accessible and knock-your-socks-off powerful or entertaining. Thanks!

karen Holmes, poet, writer and successful business woman

Karen Paul Holmes  - instructor - Week of January 30, 2011
"Sing and Paint with Words"

Our members of Netwest know Karen Holmes as the editor and publisher of our Netwest News, newsletter for our chapter of NCWN. Karen has published her poetry in some of the best literary journals. She was most influential in editing Echoes across the Blue Ridge, Antholoy published by Netwest this past year. She has experience in teaching and is a lovely person. I urge anyone who is interested in writing and can come to the John C. Campbell Folk School in January, to contact them and register for this class. Local writers in certain counties in Georgia and N. Carolina have the possibility of one half tuition.

Come get inspired. Through music and other arts, we'll stir the creative juices. We might listen to Beethoven or Elvis, look at paintings by Monet or Finster, read literary masters or contemporary writers - all to generate i...deas for our poems, fiction, or essays. You'll receive editing tips and one-on-one critiques to make your work stronger and more readable. Open to anyone who needs inspiration and help perfecting the art of writing.


John C. Campbell Folk School

Anthology Reading in Hendersonville, NC

On Wednesday evening, November 3, six poets and authors from Henderson County read their work from the new anthology Echoes Across the Blue Ridge at the Henderson County Public Library in Hendersonville. A book sale and signing by the writers, who are all Netwest members, followed.

The evening was sponsored by the Friends of the Library, and Lana Hendershott, Netwest’s representative in Hendersonville, handled the publicity for the event. Tom Hooker, Susan Snowden, and Lana Hendershott read their short stories (fiction); Charlotte Wolff and Cecily Wells read their poems; and StarShield Lortie read her creative nonfiction piece.

It was a misty, chilly night and we wondered if anyone would attend. We were pleasantly surprised when more than fifty people turned out and received our work warmly.

Ten books were sold and the Friends of the Library presented the group with a check for $100 for the reading. The check was signed over to Netwest at the request of the six members who participated.



Lana dressed as character in her story



“We especially want to thank Lana Hendershott for her efforts to make the reading a success,” said Susan Snowden. “It’s not easy to get things published in the Hendersonville newspaper, but Lana stuck with it and we got great coverage.”

Writers Night Out, held at Young Harris College, Wilson Audititorium Friday night couldn't have been better. Nancy Simpson, author of the new poetry collection, Living Above the Frost Line, Carolina Wren, publisher, gave us a decided glimpse into her poetry for the past thirty years. Even though I have read all the poems in this book and many I had read before in her earlier books, Night Student and Across Water, I never tire of hearing her read them.

One of the reasons Nancy's poems have been published for so many years in most all of the best literary journals is because she knows what she is doing. She lives and breathes poetry and has for as long as I've known her and many years before. She has another book when she gets around to publishing it. And most of those poems have been published already.

The open mic portion of Writers Night Out had us laughing with Karen Holmes poetry and Ron Salzer's nutty essay. But the nicest thing was having two readers stand and share their work who had never done that before. I know that feeing of exhileration when you make that jump into standing before an audience for the first time.

Next month Writers Night Out will be held in Hiawassee at a new venue, a coffee shop, which I think will be cozy and bring out more of the community. Don't you think that will be nice?
Can't wait to go.

COFFEE WITH THE POETS IN HAYESVILLE ON NOV. 10, 2010

NC WRITERS NETWORK WEST's featured poets today at Coffee With the Poets at Phillips at Lloyd Book Store were Maren O. Mitchell of Hiawassee  - Young Harris, Georgia and Linda M. Smith of Hayesville, North Carolina.These are popular poets with many publications to their credit.  

Glenda Beall, founder of Coffee With the Poets during the time she was Netwest's Porgram Coordinator, led the program.

During the Open Mic session, a number of Netwest members read poems, including Nancy Simpson who read from her newly published book  LIVING ABOVE TH FROST LINE: New and Selected Poems ( Carolina Wren Press.)  On this, the anniversary of her mother's death, Simpson read the poem, "Argument With My Mother."

Brenda Kay Ledford read a recently published essay written by her mother, Blanche Ledford that was published in a new anthology of poetry and prose TRAVELING TIME  (Old Mountain Press.)

Joan Howard read a vivid autumn poem. A number of other Netwest poet's read in the open mic session including Clarence Newton, Glenda Barrett, and long time member Carolyn Johnson.

WHAT IS NEXT?  Some of these writers: Glenda Beall, Linda Smith, Brenda Kay Ledford, Blanche Ledford, Maren O Mitchell,  and Nancy Simpson will be featured  in a panel discussion  WRITERS TALKING ABOUT WRITING at Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville 2:00 on Saturday, November 20, 2010.  It is said that they will share some of their writing tips and breakthrough moments in their own writing. The program is free and open to the the public.  All netwest members within driving distance are welcome to come and join in the discussion.  

TRAVELING TIME

TRAVELING TIME is the new anthology just released by Old Mountain Press. About 70 authors have poetry and prose in this collection. To order copies, go to: www.OldMountainPress.com. Tom Davis is the editor of this book on traveling.

Brenda Kay Ledford's story, "The Emerald Isle," appeared in the anthology, TRAVELING TIME. Brenda Kay is a member of North Carolina Writers Network-West. Visit her blog at: http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com/ and website: http://www.brendakayledford.com/.

Blanche L. Ledford's story, "The Mystery Trip," and Barbara Ledford Wright's story, "Rail Path," both appeared in the anthology, TRAVELING TIME.

A mentor to many area writers
NANCY SIMPSON TO READ HER POETRY, NOVEMBER 12

Come hear a local favorite this month at Writers’ Night Out. Nancy Simpson will read from her new book, Living Above The Frost Line: New and Selected Poems on Friday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Wilson Lecture Hall at Young Harris College. After the reading, those who’d like to share their own poetry or fiction can participate in the Open Microphone.

Living Above The Frost Line was nominated by NC Poet Laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer as the first book in the new Laureate Series at Carolina Wren Press. Nancy also penned Across Water, a chapbook and Night Student, a full length poetry collection, published at State Street Press. Her poems have appeared in One Hundred Years of North Carolina Poetry; The Poets Guide To The Birds, edited by Judith Kitchen and Ted Kooser (2009, Anhinga Press); the 50th Anniversary Issue of Southern Poetry Review: Don’t Leave Hungry (2009 U. of Arkansas Press); and the textbook, Southern Appalachian Poetry, edited by Marita Garin (2008 McFarland). Several literary magazines have also published Nancy’s work.

A well-respected teacher to many local writers, Nancy presently serves as Resident Writer at John C. Campbell Folk School. She is a long-time member of NC Writers’ Network (NCWN) and co-founded the western NC chapter, known as NCWN-West.

Writers’ Night Out takes place the second Friday evening of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. The November reading remains at Young Harris College in Wilson Lecture Hall, which is located in the Goolsby Center on the campus. The evening is free and open to the public, and parking is free. Look for an announcement about a new location in Hiawassee for December.

Those interested in reading at the Open Mic may sign up at the event. Each writer will have three minutes to read. For more information, please contact Writers’ Night Out coordinator, Karen Holmes at (404) 316-8466 or kpaulholmes@gmail.com.

LIVING IN MEMORY OF THE NCWN FALL CONFERENCE.

NC Writers Network is holding their 25th Fall Conference this weekend in Charlotte. (2010) I am strongly aware of the event and wish I could have attended.   I feel forced to "live in memory" with a few old photos of  the November 4-6, 2005 NCWN Fall Conference. That was "once upon a time" when NCWN West was included.

Glenda Beall, Janice Townley Moore, Nancy Simpson, Shirley Uhouse and Kathryn Stripling Byer.

Glenda Beall, Rosemary Royston, Janice Townley Moore and Nancy Simpson.

Nancy Purcell is busy in Brevard, NC

We always love to hear what is happening in the Netwest area. Nancy Purcell, NCWN West Representative for Transylvania County, sent an update on her activities.

Instead of teaching an adult education program at Brevard College this semester, I've been volunteering at Brevard Middle School, working with 7th & 8th graders who are "enrichment" students. The 20 student class is an Art/Writing group, working on Life Books. I introduced them to an internet site, Wordle.net, where you paste a story you've written and saved in your documents into the sites "box" and hit GO. The words come out jumbled by size....largest being the words you used most frequently. Poets & Writers touted this site for writers, showing the writer which words they most frequently used in their work. For instance, if you have lots of similes in a story, the word "like" would come up larger than other words.

 What made it so much fun for the class members was doing this with the various fonts and COLOR. The site provides color selections and font selections. As a writer of fiction or non-fiction, it's a quick way to check your chapters or stories for word over-use.

It has been wonderful to see the work these young people produce and to learn they've been writing and drawing "forever", as one student told me. She has written 12 short books and writes every night. She is one among many who want to further their education in the Arts and have the full support of their parents. They speak to me of visiting colleges and selected careers, family discussions of their futures and the need to learn. They have lifted me through their work and their attitudes. Our group is considering a writing competition for 8th graders, offering 1st, 2nd & 3rd place certificate recognition and monetary prizes. This must be approved by the school and submission rules are yet to be written. Transylvania writers are at work!

Thanks, Nancy. The gift of your talents will be long-lasting with these children. Most of us have had mentors who helped us get where we are today with our writing successes. The most generous writers seem to be the most successful.

Nancy has published numerous short stories and essays in magazines and anthologies. She leads a writing group, Wordsmiths, and teaches at Brevard College.

Learning Center Kids in Bay Leaves

We learned that some of The Learning Center's students who submitted poems for the contests of the Poetry Society of North Carolina will have their poems published in Bay Leaves, the annual anthology with the winning poems in the annual contests held by the Poetry Society of NC.

In the Charlotte Young Contest for Elementary School Students Eli Sellers won third place and Jade Shelton received an honorable mention. The other contest was called “Carol Bessent Hayman Contest for Middle School Students” and Sam Davidson received honorable mention for his poem.
The names of the poems are:
Eli Sellers- “Dragon!”
Jade Shelton- “Fat Boy”
Samuel Davidson- “WAR”

The Learning Center in Murphy, NC is a charter school headed by Netwest member, Mary Jo Dyre.

Writing in Brevard/Transylvania County

Brevard Writers/Transylvania Writers Alliance Group meets first and third Tuesday of every month at First Presbyterian Church on Main Street at 3:00 PM. County-wide writers group for writers of all genre

In cooperation with local arts “Writing As Art” continues to be hosted by Wayne Drumheller through February, 2011. They meet at 1:30-3:00 PM on third Tuesday of month in reading room at Quotations. This is for writers of all ages who want to go beyond reading and produce, in the short term, their short stories, essay, memoirs and poetry works using illustrations, art and photography.
Limited to eight to ten members. Contact for more details. Minimal cost.

Wayne Drumheller,Writer, Photographer, Storyteller
260 Frank's Cove Road
Brevard, NC 28712

Phone 704-287-9806 cell
Phone 828-877-5133 home office
Email mystory@citcom.net

NANCY SIMPSON'S BOOK LAUNCH AT CITY LIGHTS

Nancy Simpson's long awaited collection of poems, LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE, had its official "launch" last Sunday afternoon at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, North Carolina. Yes, we had champagne, and we toasted Nancy and her book before she began her reading. On hand was her editor Andrea Selch, all the way from Carolina Wren Press in Durham. Spring Street Cafe offered up a great spread of reception food after the reading. Below are assorted photos from the event.

Nancy chats with novelist Sue Ellen Bridgers at the signing table.

Nancy signs a book for Dick Michener.

Andrea Selch and City Lights owner Chris Wilcox confer beside the reception table.

Gary Carden's painting, "Preaching to the Chickens" displayed above one of the reception tables.

Andrea Selch talks with Rosemary Royston.

Nancy brings intensity to her reading! Rose, sitting next to me, remarked that it was the most moving poetry she had heard in a good while.

Andrea and I join Nancy for a photo op. Nancy will be reading at Campbell Folk School on November 4.

Book Launch for Living Above the Frost Line

The book launch party for Nancy Simpson's Living Above the Frost Line, New and Collected Poems, was fun and the audience enjoyed Nancy's reading and her Q & A after. I commented on how well the poems from her first books melded with the new poetry to unfold her life on the page.
We gathered at City Lights Books in Sylva last Sunday afternoon to honor Nancy and to celebrate the book.
I enjoyed talking with Gene Hirsch who was riding with Linda Kane a former Netwest member and poet. Dick Michner and Sandy were present, as was Rosemary Royston. The room was full of people that I didn't get to speak to, but was so happy to see purchasing Nancy's book as I know they will enjoy every word.
I took some pictures I will share.

A long line formed after Nancy read and talked about her writing

Many of our Netwest Poetry Group will remember Linda and her exquisite poetry.

Dr. Gene Hirsch always supports our writers when and where he can. We appreciate him.

Contact Carolina Wren Press to order Living Above the Frost Line or check your local Independent Book Store.

POETS DRINK COFFEE AND READ POEMS AT PHILLIPS AND LLOYD BOOK STORE

Poets gathered at Phillips and Lloyd Book Shop today in the town of Hayesville, North Carolina for COFFEE WITH THE POETS, held monthly and sponsored by NC Writers Network West. Linda M. Smith welcomed all.

Nancy Simpson, the featured poet, read from her new book LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE, 
( Carolina Wren Press) and she discussed the meaning of "frost line." She also spoke about the theme behind much of her poetry, that we live "many lives in one life time." Simpson read five poems: "Living Above the Frost Line", "On A Mountain In An Unfinished Cabin, " Lives in One Lifetime", "Green Place", and "Frederick at the Piano". Her book is for sale at Phillips and Lloyd Book Shop, The Book Nook, and John C. Campbell Folk School.

Poet Gene Hirsch, of Pittsburgh, PA and Murphy, NC, a long time Netwest member, attended with students from his John C. Campbell Folk School Poetry Writing class. He read two poems in the open mic session and some of his students read poems.  Bob Grove also read two newly written poems.

Appalachian poet Brenda Kay Ledford of Hayesville read.

 (Brenda Kay Ledford and Blanche Ledford)

Appalachian poet Glenda Barrett of Hiawassee, Georgia read two poems.











Joan Ellen Gage, another Netwest member at large, who lives most of the year in Florida was in the neighborhood and read two poems.

Poet Maren O. Mitchell shared her delicious Nasturtium poem and gave positive energy and encouragement to all.

NC Writers Network West Monthly Prose Writing Group Will Meet

On Oct 12, 2010, at 9:23 AM, Peg Russell wrote:

Thursday at 7PM the NetWest Prose Critique Group will meet at Tri-County Community College, in the Enloe Building small conference room, #108.

 At entrance of Enloe Building, turn right, go through doors, and #108 is on right after the bathroom.

   This is the perfect place for our group:  smaller room with window wall,  large conference table, comfortable chairs. Bring Copies of your work to share.

 Let me know if you will be able to come.  Thanks.   Peg  e mail -  pegrussell@hotmail.com

On Jayne Jaudon Ferrer's Your Daily Poem.com, I clicked on her Poetry News page where I found this article.



Poetry doesn't come out so well on an e-reader, it seems. I finally succumbed and bought a Kindle when they came down to a more reasonable price. So far, I'm not impressed, but then I've done very little with it. Now I read that Billy Collins was less than impressed with the way the e-reader destroyed the forms of his poetry.



"I found that even in a very small font that if the original line is beyond a certain length, they will take the extra word and have it flush left on the screen, so that instead of a three-line stanza you actually have a four-line stanza. And that screws everything up," said Collins, a former U.S. poet laureate whose "Ballistics" came out in February.



Now, I wonder if we want Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Stories, Essays and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains, on Kindle after all. We have excellent poetry from numerous poets in this anthology. How will they feel if their poems are changed due to the inability of the technology to hold the words on the proper lines, keep punctuation in place and keep the integrity of the poem intact?



What do you think? If you are a poet, please let us know by leaving a comment.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/19/BUN21EFS7H.DTL#ixzz126qxVEOz

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

NCWN West appreciates Helen Losse, poetry editor of the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. She has given Echoes Across the Blue Ridge a very positive  review. Click here to read.


Be sure to visit Dead Mule and submit your poetry for the next online issue.
This online journal also accepts essays and fiction. Check them out.

Carden's plays premiered Highlands Performing Arts Center

Congratulations to Gary Carden!

His new plays premiered at the Highlands Performing Arts Center this past weekend. "It was an incredibly successful event," according to Gary and we all knew it would be. He just won a Fleming Award for short story ($500). He was unable to attend the awards ceremony in Augusta, GA because he was in rehearsals for his newest play"Signs and Wonders."

The performance in Highlands included another of Carden's plays, The Bright Forever. This is a story about Shelby Jean and a young evangelical preacher in rural Georgia. "The Bright Forever" is a true story of Fanny Crosby, a blind woman who wrote 8000 hymns, including Blessed Assurance. The two theatrical pieces present a contrasting view on how religion affects people’s lives and were directed by Ronnie Spilton.

Gary Carden has been described as a storyteller with the "ability to blend humor with poignancy, a blend that allows him to bring to the reader the great themes of human existence -- love, death, bravery, fear, desire, success, failure -- without having to beat the reader over the head with these themes" by the Smoky Mountain News. Gary is also a folklorist and a storyteller. He was raised by his grandparents in Jackson County in a house filled with the past.

He says, “I grew up listening to a great deal of foolishness about 'bad blood' (mine), black Irish curses (my grandfather's) and the evils of being 'left handed' (I couldn't play a musical instrument.) I grew up with the cows, June apple trees, comic books, the Farmers' Federation and Saturday movies. My first stories I told to my grandfather's chickens in a dark chicken-house when I was six years old. My audience wasn't attentive and tended to get hysterical during the dramatic parts.”

He graduated from Western Carolina University and taught literature and drama for 15 years, worked for the Cherokee Indians for 15 years and has spent the last 15 years as a lecturer and storyteller. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from Western Carolina University in August 2008. Carden said in his commencement speech, "I couldn't get out of Appalachia quick enough" after his 1958 graduation from what was then known as Western Carolina College. "I wanted to be near theaters, book stores and nice restaurants. I wanted some culture," he said.

For 15 years, Carden worked as a teacher in the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh, but as the years passed he said he became less and less happy.

Eventually, Carden came back to Sylva, NC for a visit and stopped at WCU's Mountain Heritage Center to hear a program by Southern Appalachian poet Jim Wayne Miller. Through the poems in his collection, "The Mountains Have Come Closer," Miller exhorts his readers to "come home."

"I took him literally, and I came home," Carden said. "I moved in my grandfather's house in Rhodes Cove, and for the past 40 years I've been trying - striving - to remember where I came from."

Other Carden plays and stories include "The Raindrop Waltz," "The Tannery Whistle," and "The Prince of Dark Corners."

NCWN West is grateful to Gary for the generous gift of his play, Birdell, which was presented in Murphy, NC in 2008. The ticket sales for this play were donated to NCWN West for the printing and publishing of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. This is a good example of different forms of the arts community working together for the good of all.

Thank you, Gary, for your donation of the excellent play, Birdell.

 

 

Mitchell and Newton read poetry October 8

WRITERS’ NIGHT OUT FEATURES TWO POETS, OCTOBER 8

Writers’ Night Out will feature poets Maren O. Mitchell and Clarence Newton followed by an Open Microphone for those who’d like to share their own poetry or fiction.

The event takes place October 8 at 7:00 p.m. in Wilson Lecture Hall at Young Harris College, Young Harris, Georgia.

Maren O. Mitchell has worked as a proofreader, managed a group home, taught poetry at Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC, and catalogued at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. A North Carolina native, she now lives in Towns County, GA with her husband and two cats. Her poetry publishing credits include Red Clay Reader, The Richmond Broom, The Arts Journal, Appalachian Journal, The Journal of Kentucky Studies, Wild Goose Poetry Review, Southern Humanities Review and the anthology, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge.

Clarence Newton, who lives in Hiawassee, GA, puts both humor and wisdom into his writings. Once a guest writer for several newspapers, he has turned his love of writing toward poetry. He has studied under former Poet Laureate of Georgia Bettie Sellers and under poet and resident writer at John C. Campbell Folk School, Nancy Simpson. His work appears in Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. After a long career in aviation, Clarence now finds inspiration in the things of retirement, such as fishing, gardening, and birding.

Writers’ Night Out takes place the second Friday evening of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. Formerly at Mountain Perk Coffee House in Hiawassee, the event now takes place at Young Harris College in Wilson Lecture Hall, which is located in the Goolsby Center on the campus. Parking is free.

Those interested in reading at the Open Mic may sign up at the event. Each writer will have three minutes to read fiction or poetry. The evening is free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact Writers’ Night Out coordinator, Karen Holmes at (404) 316-8466 or kpaulholmes@gmail.com.

TWO LAUREATES ON THE LAM

An Evening of Southern Poetry 
Monday, October 4, 2010 at 7 PM
Wesleyan College, Benson Room
4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA 31210
Former North Carolina Poet Laureate and Wesleyan Alumna Kathryn Stripling Byer and current North Carolina Poet Laureate Cathy Smith Bowers, plus Macon native Robert Perry Ivey, will recite original work. This event is sponsored by the Eugenia Dorothy Blount Lamar Lecture Series, dedicated to celebrating Southern culture and recognized as the most important lecture series on Southern history and literature in the United States. Free and open to the public. 478-757-5228

Two Laureates on the Lam
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Wesleyan College, Porter Auditorium
4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA 31210
Enjoy poetry readings by Former North Carolina Poet Laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer and current North Carolina Poet Laureate Cathy Smith Bowers. This event is sponsored by the Eugenia Dorothy Blount Lamar Lecture Series, dedicated to celebrating Southern culture and recognized as the most important lecture series on Southern history and literature in the United States. Free and open to the public. 478-757-5228

Poetry in Music
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Wesleyan College, Benson Room
4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA 31210
Hear the beautiful poetry of Former North Carolina Poet Laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer set to music. This event is sponsored by the Eugenia Dorothy Blount Lamar Lecture Series, dedicated to celebrating Southern culture and recognized as the most important lecture series on Southern history and literature in the United States. Free and open to the public. 478-757-5228

Writing as Art in Brevard

"Writing As Art" Workshop At Quotations Cafe Conference Room, Brevard,NC
Creating and Writing Your Story Book using StoryBook Creator Plus 3


Tuesday, September 28, 1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Wireless connection for computers

This Workshop is designed for users of Creative Memories digital software or those who might be interested in seeing a demonstration of how this software works to create personal digital books of poetry, memoir writings, children and family books, art prints, photographic designs, etc.

No cost----just a cup of coffee or tea
Please confirm your attendance

Wayne Drumheller, Writer, Photographers, Self-Publishing
260 Frank's Cove Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone 704-287-9806 cell Phone 828-877-5133

NETWEST PICNIC AT WCU

Our annual picnic which took place on Sept. 12 on the picnic grounds at Western Carolina University, brought out some good food and even better words shared by our members and guests. Special guest Cathy Smith Bowers, our current Poet Laureate, read work from her most recent collections. She came with friend Jeff Davis, a poet from Asheville, who was in graduate school with me years ago. His blog is Natures (www.naturespoetry.blogspot.com). Give it a look. Cathy herself is learning her way around cyberspace. She now has a facebook page and is working on a website. Her New and Selected Poems will be out in November from Press 53 in Winston-Salem.

(Cathy and Jeff)



An old friend, George Ellison (www.georgeellison.com), came to visit, along with his wife, the painter Elizabeth Ellison, and treated us to some of the new work in his ongoing Permanent Camp manuscript, including a sonnet by his dog Zeke. George hopes to bring out this manuscript under his Unaka Range imprint soon. Some of you may remember the journal Unaka Range from several decades ago, its attempt to give voice to WNC poets. If so, you can see how George's new work has special resonance.

Here is Zeke's sonnet.

“If there was a dog heaven … a simulated sonnet,”

There would be mountains and valleys like these.

There would be a swift creek to drink from and wade in.

There would be bear brutes and wild hogs from hell to fight.

There would be lesser critters galore: coons weasels coyotes et al.

There would be a pinkish-white horse and a black barn cat to chase.

There would be a woman to walk with me feed me and fuss at me.

There would be a man who talks with me and writes poems about me.

There would be better company dog-wise than is presently the case.

There would be a dog like Maggie, now dead, who (or whom) I still miss.

There would be a house like this to sleep in and a deck to lie on.

There would be a tree-lined meadow across the swift creek and

a trail alongside the creek that leads into a

dark forest of smells and sounds … if there

was a dog heaven it would be like this.

Joyce and Allen Moore listen to George as he reads Zeke's sonnet.


After several readings by Nancy Simpson, Brenda Kay Ledford, Linda Smith, and others, we broke for food! Need I say more?

Dick Michener mans the book table. He looks happy!

After supper Angela Dove read from her recently published book.

Followed by Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, who drove up from South Carolina.



JC Walkup was on hand to share her fiction.



Even Lord Byron was there, charming Netwest member Deanna Klingel. I didn't want to leave him in the house on such a beautiful September afternoon. I am wondering when, or if, he will ever write a sonnet!

Thanks to all who came to this event. We hope you will continue to support Netwest in the months to come.

Echoes Across the Blue Ridge now on Amazon

Echoes Across the Blue Ridge is now available on Amazon.com thanks to William Reynolds one of the authors in the anthology and owner of the publishing company, Double Eagle Enterprises. One very positive review has been writton on Amazon. More reviews would be appreciated.
Plans are to have Echoes Across the Blue Ridge on Kindle very soon.
Click here.

Remember, the anthology can be ordered from local Independent bookstores.
City Lights Books in Sylva will take orders online.

In Brasstown, NC, Carolina Crafting carries Echoes Across the Blue Ridge.
If you live in the area or if you are attending John C. Campbell Folk School, drop by and pick up copies for gifts or for yourself. This popular gift and craft shop is located in the shops of Brasstown.

BOOK NOOK BOOK SIGNING

Bettie M. Sellers, Blanche L. Ledford, Brenda Kay Ledford, Linda M. Smith, Maren O. Mitchell, Nancy Simpson, Carole Richard Thompson, and Jo Carolyn Beebe, signed copies of ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE on Saturday, September 18, at the Book Nook in Blairsville, GA. North Carolina Writers' Network West published the anthology and Nancy Simpson edited it. The book is available at local book stores.