NC WRITERS NETWORK 19th Annual Picnic will be held at Western Carolina University Picnic Grounds in Cullowhee, NC.

NC Writers Network West's annual picnic will be held Sunday Sept 12, 2010 beginning at 3:00 at Western Carolina University Picnic Grounds.

N.C. Poet Laureate Cathy Smith Bowers will be our special guest reader and an open mic will follow. Limit your reading to 5 minutes so that we can hear everyone who wants to share their writing.

NC Poet Laureate Cathy Smith Bowers is the featured guest reader.

The picnic is open to all writers. You do not have to be a member of NCWN West to attend. Bring your family and friends. Bring a covered side dishes or desserts to share. Meat and tea will be provided. The Jackson County Netwest members will provide paper plates, etc. Bring a folding chair. Kathryn Stripling Byer, Program Coordinator will host the event. A table will be provided for books for sale by members. Those with books bring copies. Copies of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge will also be be for sale.

DIRECTIONS and a Campus Map.

THE ANNUAL FALL PICNIC WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY,SEPT. 12 AT THE WESTERN
CAROLINA UNIVERSITY PICNIC GROUNDS BEGINNING AT 3:00 P.M. YOU WILL FIND DIRECTIONS TO THE GROUNDS AND PICNIC SHELTER AT THE LINK BELOW.IF YOU COME IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE, YOU WILL GO AROUND THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE TO THE LEFT, TAKE THE FIRST LEFT AFTER THAT(THE TRACK WILL BE TO YOUR RIGHT) AND KEEP GOING. YOU WILL SEE THE PICNIC GROUNDS. WE WILL HAVE SIGNS UP, OF COURSE. SEE YOU THEN!

CATHY SMITH BOWERS, OUR NEW POET NC POET LAUREATE, WILL BE OUR GUEST.

http://www.wcu.edu/546.asp
CAMPUS MAP

More Photos from Party

Paul Donovan reads Richard Argo's story, Turtle.


NCWN West southern region held a celebration for the book, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Sunday, August 29, at Twice Upon a Time used book store on Valley Road in Murphy, NC. These are some photos from the party.

Mary Ricketson, hostess with the mostess, took a moment to pose for the camera. Mary is the Netwest Representative in Cherokee County, NC.

WRITERS Celebrated the Publication of ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE

NC Writers Network West celebrated yet again the publication of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge on Sunday August 29, 2010 in Murphy, North Carolina, at TWICE UPON A TIME Book Store.

Editor Nancy Simpson thanked all who donated their writing and all who worked to accomplish the publication of the anthology.

Let it be noted that Richard Argo (February 21, 1944 - July 8, 2010) was remembered and that Paul Donovan read one of Richard Argo's stories from Echoes Across the Blue Ridge.

A number of authors read their own work that was included in the anthology.

A champaign toast was made by Clarence Newton.

Thank you to Mary Ricketson who hosted the event.

Book Stores where you can buy a copy of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge $16.00

City Lights Books, Sylva

Curiosity Books in Murphy, NC

Phillips and Lloyd Books in Hayesville, NC

Books Unlimited, Franklin, NC

Book Nook, Blairsville, GA

Blue Ridge Books, Waynesville, NC

Malaprop's bookstore in Asheville, NC

Twice Upon A Time in Murphy, NC

Highlands Books, Brevard, NC

Fountainhead Book Store, Hendersonville,NC

E-mail address: twiceuponatimeusedbooks@verizon.net

Phone number: 828-835-9319
Address:
Twice Upon A Time Used Books
1214 Andrews Rd
Murphy , North Carolina 28906 United States

A special Thank You to Peg Russell who took these photos.

BLUE RIDGE BOOKS IN WAYNESVILLE, NC HOSTS ECHOES AUTHORS

Reading and Book Signing at Blue Ridge Books, Waynesville, NC, August 28, 2010

Blue Ridge Books in downtown Waynesville will host a reading and book signing for the new anthology "Echoes Across the Blue Ridge," from 1:00-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 28.

The anthology includes a variety of stories, essays, and poems by writers living in and inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The list of authors includes Kathryn Stripling Byer, Gary Carden, Thomas Rain Crowe, and many others.
Best-selling author Lee Smith has praised the book as a "dynamite collection-strong and surprising." Author, poet, and Western Carolina professor Ron Rash writes of the book, "Anyone who enjoys Appalachian Literature will be delighted by this excellent anthology, particularly because it introduces the reader to a number of our region's gifted though lesser-known writers."
Local authors scheduled to appear on August 28 include Dick Michener, JC Walkup, George Ivey, Glenda Beall, and Jane Young.
The book is now available for sale at local bookstores, including Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville, City Lights in Sylva, and Malaprop's Bookstore and Café in Asheville. For more information, go online to netwestwriters.blogspot.com/2010/01/echoes-across-blue-ridge.html.

NCWN West Events coming in August and September:

The ANNUAL FALL PICNIC will be held on Sunday, Sept. 12 at the western Carolina University Picnic Grounds Beginning at 3:00 p.m. You will find directions to the grounds and picnic shelter at this LINK .


CATHY SMITH BOWERS, OUR NEW NORTHC CAROLINA POET LAUREATE, WILL BE OUR GUEST. http://www.wcu.edu/546.asp



WRITERS' NIGHT OUT - New Location

On Sept 10 at 7 pm, we'll be meeting in Wilson Lecture Hall, located in the Goolsby Center on the campus of Young Harris College.

Beforehand, we hope to have some light refreshments in the board room close to the lecture hall; stay tuned for more infomation on that.

Sept 10 features Dan Veach, poet and editor who has made international appearances. He's also a really nice approachable guy, and his poetry is very accessible. Don't be afraid to read at the Open Mic in front of him!

For Writers' Night Out in the future, we hope to be in the Campus Gate Art Gallery.

Sunday, August 29, Celebration Party for Echoes Across the Blue Ridge
Twice Upon a Time Books, Murphy, NC - Food, fun, readings from Echoes. Book sales and signings. 1:30 p.m. Contact Mary Ricketson for information. maryricketson311@hotmail.com

Call for Submission for Poets

Anyone remember the Gumball Poetry project from a few years back? Wisconsin poet Shoshauna Shy is launching a similar venture through Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf and is looking for poems on the theme "the luck of the draw." Read all the details here; deadline for submitting is November 30th.

MARY MIKE KELLER (From "Here Where I Am" blog)

When Mary Mike Keller read her poem "As the Deer" at our Gala Publication party for Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, hosted by City Lights Bookstore two weeks ago, I was swept away. It's a beautiful poem, and she read it beautifully. This poem is yet another reason to own a copy of Echoes. Go to the Echoes page on Facebook and take a look. Or the Netwest blog. You will find information on how to purchase the book.

As The Deer

The dulcimer drones tranquil

as the pick grazes across strings

as the deer across the glade

My thumb under f sharp mimics

her tongue curled to pluck

a blade intoned on b

Quietness slides along her body

my finger descending the string

in a smooth slur of music

The sweetness of the melody

new as young grass lingers

in the lea of my instrument

A barre chord trembles

I wait

for that last unfettered fret

----Mary Michelle Brodine Keller

Mary Mike reads her poem at the Gala event.

NC Writers Network West Featured the Poetry of Carole Thompson at COFFEE WITH THE POETS IN HAYESVILLE

Carole Richard Thompson was the featured poet at Coffee With The Poets on August 11,2010.

Brenda Kay Ledford and Blanche Ledford

Georgia poets Glenda Barrett and Michelle Keller