Coffee with the Poets and Writers in Hayesville NC - June 10

Last month there was barely enough seating room for all who attended Coffee with the Poets and Writers, a monthly event held at Joe’s Coffee Shop, 82 Main Street, Hayesville, NC. NC Writers' Network-West sponsors this event that meets Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. June 10. Two local poets, members of NC Writers' Network-West, Joan Ellen Gage and Mary Ricketson are featured on the program this month. Coffee with the Poets and Writers is open to the public at no charge. Bring a poem or short prose, 1000 words or less, and read at Open Mic. Joe’s Coffee shop serves fine coffees and teas, as well as bagels and snacks. Cindy and Norma make all feel very welcome at Joe’s. Joan Ellen Gage recently moved to Warne in Clay County from Florida where she worked as a dental hygienist. She says that much of her writing was inspired by her patients and their stories. Joan has published three books, A Redhead Looks at 60, Embracing Your Inner Cheerleader and Water Running Downhill!, both motivate and inspire middle-aged women, and women in general. She writes on her two blogs, Traveling at the Speed of Now: http://www.joanellengage.com and A Redhead Blogs at 60: http://joanszoneblogalicious@wordpress.com .   Joan enjoys photography, creating unique pictures and uses her own work in her books and on her blogs. She serves as an active administrator for the NC Writers' Network-West blog www.netwestwriters.blogspot.com  and stays busy publishing good news from our members. Mary Ricketson has been writing for many years and publishes a monthly column, Women to Women, in the Cherokee Scout newspaper. She is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and an organic blueberry farmer. She writes to satisfy a hunger, she says, to taste life down to the very last drop. Mary is inspired by nature and her work as a counselor. Her poetry has been published in Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Lights in the Mountains and other anthologies. She published a chapbook I Hear the River Call my Name and most recently, a collection of her poems, Hanging Dog Creek. She is a Cherokee County Representative for North Carolina Writers' Network-West and president of Ridgeline Literary Alliance.  She won the gold medal for poetry in the 2011 Cherokee County Senior Games/Silver Arts and silver medal for 2012 and 2013, and first place in the 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 75th anniversary national poetry contest. Come early for a good seat and plan to go to lunch with us after the reading.

Contact NC Writers' Network-West Representative, Glenda Beall, at 828-389-4441 or glendabeall@msn.com  for more information.

City Lights Bookstore, Sunday June 14 - Byer and Krawiec Reading - You are invited!

Kathryn Byer & Richard Krawiec Joint Poetry Reading--City Lights Bookstore

Former North Carolina Poet Laureate Kathryn Byer and Richard Krawiec will be reading from their new collections of poetry on Sunday, June 14th at 1 p.m. at City Lights Bookstore. 

Kathryn’s new chapbook from Jacar Press, The Vishnu Bird,  a finalist in the 2014 Frost Place chapbook contest, "is both a memorial and memoir in lyric poetry. This clean-spoken, deeply-felt chapbook remembers the poet’s dear friend by tracing his vocation of anthropology, and honoring his spiritual depth through vignettes from the speaker’s own past."  David Baker, contest judge. 

 

Richard Krawiec will read from Women Who Love Me Despite. Krawiec is the author of two other collections of poetry, two novels, short story collection and four plays. He has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and twice with the North Carolina Arts Council.  He is the editor of Jacar Press in Durham, NC. 

A wine and appetizers reception will follow the reading. 

 We invite you to come spend your Sunday afternoon with us.  

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

Listen

The crows wake up early,

claiming the day

with their black wings

and hungry beaks.

Dare you walk out

to claim your own morning?

Shield the sunflower sprouts

from their pillage?

What in the garden

is yours?  What in the forest?

If only, you say,

you could pitch your tent

amid green shoots

and blue shadows,

renounce the roots

holding you fast. 

Why do you let

the crows taunt you?

Throw down your toothbrush.

Let fall your nightgown

and walk out the back door. 

The grass blades will never

again feel so whetted, 

the earth underfoot so forgiving.

from The Vishnu Bird                                                                

                                               (cover painting, Suffusions, by Elizabeth Ellison)

moorings

 
                        


 
                         


                          


 
                         

                          cool air flowing through the screen


 
                         

                          a curious cardinal tipping its head


 
                         

                          at me from the empty feeder


 
                         

                          as if to moor me to this day, as if aware 


 
                         

                          that I drift still in that day our kisses


 
                         

                          slid us down the grassy bank 


 
                         

                          towards the reflection of a sky 


 
                         

                          we didn’t feel we had to embrace


 
                         

                          to own those breeze-rippled clouds


 
                         

                          swaths of bright blue descended


 
                         

                          to surface yes love there are things


 
                         

                          we can’t claim a familiar table


 
                         

                          with years of scars drawers


 
                         

                          where my socks might hide beneath


 
                         

                          your black lace underwear mindless


 
                         

                          routines of coffee-making rubbish


 
                         

                          but look at the heron circling


 
                         

                          its wings bent in gray-blue welcome


 
                         

                          landing in the shallows by the shaded bank


 
                         

                          look at those clouds rising with the sun


 
                         

                          from the shoreline to cover us like a quilt


 
                         

                          look at how our fingers and mouths find 


 
                         

                          ways to craft tightly what we do have


 
                         

                          this boat drifting away from all moorings


 
                         

                          


 
                         

                          


 
                         

                          


 
                         

                          


 
                         

                          


 
                         

                          from 
                          Women Who Loved Me Despite
                         

 

www.kathrynstriplingbyer.com

Author Jack J. Prather’s tour to present personal and career life stories of 18 NC ‘Notables’

The 18 Notables in Jack Prather’s two books of biographies are exemplary North Carolina residents who made their marks anywhere in the state, nation or world. 

Each was selected after extensive research and recommendations from their peers; and for their record of giving back to the community. Each bio includes a photo-array that shows the Notable in various stages of her or his life.

The in-depth personal and career life stories of these men and women from North Carolina portrayed by Jack J. Prather will be the focus of discussion during his upcoming statewide speaking and book-event tour.

 Six Notable Women of North Carolina (238-pages/81-photos) published in January was Prather’s sequel to Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina (400-pages/134-photos) that was nominated for the NC Literary & Historical Association 2012 Ragan Award for Non-Fiction. Prather’s books are available at Amazon.com, online book sites, and bookstores and libraries by request.

The Hendersonville author founded the Young Writers Scholarship at Warren Wilson College in 2012 to honor the Notables in his books. He donates a portion of proceeds from sales to the fund, and asks fellow authors, writers and avid readers to lend their support. The next book in the ongoing series planned for 2016 will be Young Notables of North Carolina.

Favorable reviews of Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina appeared in the NC Libraries Journal and the NC Genealogical Society Journal; and for Six Notable Women of North Carolina in NC Woman magazine and The Hendersonville Lightning.

Information about scheduling an author appearance in your area can be obtained by calling 828-808-0660, or by emailing info@futurenowpublishing.com.

Testimonials about the Notable series have come from TV icon Katie Couric, noted reviewer Rob Neufeld, writer and director of Writers Circle around the Table, Glenda Beall, music legend Doc Watson, former Governor Jim Hunt, former Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Exum, biographer Bruce Chadwick, and educator Ron Partin, et al.

The Six Notable Women of North Carolina are :

Kathy Reichs of Charlotte: novelist and inspiration for the Bones TV series; certified forensic anthropologist.

Sharon Decker of Rutherfordton: former Secretary of Commerce; first female Duke Power VP; founder of Tapestry Group.

Jennifer Pharr Davis of Asheville: Appalachian Trail record hiker; National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.

Millie Ravenel  of Raleigh: Director Emerita Center for International Understanding; Friendship Force founder.

Kathryn Stripling Byer of Cullowhee: Poet Laureate 2005-9; Literary Hall of Fame; author of five poetry books.

Anne Ponder of Asheville: Chancellor Emerita UNC Asheville; Collegiate Honors Council fellow and president.

Kathryn Stripling Byer, first woman poet Laureate of NC

The 12 Notables in Western North Carolina are:

Judge Harry C. Martin of Biltmore Forest: former NC & Cherokee (EBCN) Supreme Court Justice.

Rev.Dr. Dan Matthews of Waynesville: priest at Ground Zero on 9/11/01; owner of TheSwag Inn.

David Holt of Fairview: Grammy winning musician; Doc Watson’s performing partner; storyteller.

Billie Ruth Sudduth of Bakersville: first woman named NC Living Treasure, basket art in Smithsonian.

Doug Orr of Black Mountain: president emeritus of Warren Wilson College, musician, singer, author.

GlenisRedmond of Piedmont: Hall of Fame Performance Poet; Kennedy Center Teaching artist; author.

Julyan Davis of Asheville: British Southern Art master oil painter; work shown in international galleries.

Joe Epley of Tryon: global public relations leader; PRSA Lifetime Achievement Award winner; novelist.

Dr. Olson Huff of Black Mountain: founding Medical Director of Mission Children’s Hospital; author.

Dr. Matt Hayes of Hendersonville: emergency physician pioneer, co-founder Emergency Dept. of Nurses.

Capt. Ray West, USNR-ret. of Flat Rock: Moldova World Children’s Fund founder; UNCA Alumnus of Year.

Richard Q. Ritter of Bakersville: NC Living Treasure studio glass artist; Governor’s Award as Fire Chief.

Jack J. Prather                                                

prathergroup@aol.com
828-808-0660

www.futurenowpublishing.com

SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL DOGFISH HEAD POETRY PRIZE OPENS MEMORIAL DAY!

Submission Guidelines for the Thirteenth Annual Dogfish Head Poetry Prize
The thirteenth annual Dogfish Head Poetry Prize for the winning book-length manuscript by a poet residing in the Mid-Atlantic states (DE, MD, VA, PA, NJ, NY, WVA, NC and District of Columbia) will consist of $500, two cases of Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Beer*, manuscript publication by Broadkill River Press, and 10 copies of the book (in lieu of royalties).

The rules are: Manuscripts must be received by midnight, September 7, 2015 (Labor Day). Manuscripts received after Labor Day will not be considered. Eligible poets must reside in the above listed states and be twenty-one years of age or older by the date of the award. * The manuscript is to be submitted electronically in one MS Word document attachment. Send to Prize coordinator Linda Blaskey at dogfishheadpoetryprize@earthlink.net. Snail mail submissions will not be accepted.*

Send two title pages with each submission: one with the title of the manuscript, author’s name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address; the second with just the manuscript title. No manuscript is to have any author-identifying information other than the one title page and will be rejected if it does. The manuscript should have an acknowledgement page of poems previously published, and in which publications and/or websites they appeared. Judging is blind and double-tiered.

The manuscript must be book-length (between 48 and 78 pages of original work – no translations) and no more than roughly thirty lines to a page, including the poem’s title and two line-spaces between the title and the body of the poem. A poem may be more than one page. The book’s dimensions will be 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches, with a minimum of half-inch side margins, and printed in 12 point type, so avoid very long lines.

The award will be presented to the winner on Saturday evening, December 12, 2015 at the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware or at the Dogfish Head Brewpub in Rehoboth, Delaware (venue to be decided). The winner must agree to attend this event and to read from their winning book at a reception honoring the winner. The prize will be officially awarded by Sam Calagione, Founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Distillery, or by another company official.

The author of the winning manuscript also agrees to provide, within ten days of notification, a color head-shot photograph for the back cover and a dedication for the interior of the book. The winner agrees to travel to Delaware at the winner’s expense for awarding of the prize. Dogfish Head will provide the winner one night’s lodging at the Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales retains the right to use any of the winning work in promotional materials.

For questions and more information contact Linda Blaskey, Prize coordinator, at linblask@aol.com

*North Carolina  Writers and Poets are under no financial obligations to Dogfish Head Brewery, and are not accepting gifts from Dogfish Head Brewery.

Maren O. Mitchell's Poems to Appear in Appalachian Heritage and Iodine Poetry Journal

Maren O. Mitchell

Maren O. Mitchell’s poem, “Cougar, Blue Ridge,” will appear in Appalachian Heritage; and her poems, “Catching the Flu after a 10 Year Hiatus” and “Hank, Clarinetist, The Platinum Lounge, Chicago, 1932,” will be published by Iodine Poetry Journal.

Brenda Kay Ledford Graduates From Stratford Career Institute

Brenda Kay Ledford earned a diploma of highest honors in Creative Writing from Stratford Career Institute.  She maintained a 96% grade average in the course. 

This institute offers more than 60 courses online for adults who wish to further their education.

For more information:  www.scitraining.com

http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com

http://historicalhayesville.blogspot.com

Brenda Kay Ledford Published in ENO

Brenda Kay Ledford's poem, "Reece Farm," appeared in ENO.  This magazine is published by Duke University, the Nicholas School of Environment.  The poem was included in Issue 4/2015.
For information:  www.enomag.org

Steven Harvey Class, The Mnemonics of Memoir, June 27, 10 AM–1 PM, Hayesville, NC

Steven Harvey, Instructor

Memory coming to us as a strange concoction of thought and dream is the source of memoir, personal essays, and other forms of creative nonfiction. Some memories come unbidden, others emerge in the writing process, and some reluctant ones need to be teased out.


What tools can the writer use to access these memories, even the shy ones, and see them vividly enough and in enough detail to use in a memoir or essay? In this class we will begin by looking at a range of techniques that can be used to access memories.


Then, through a series of exercises, we will apply a number of these techniques to a single memory to enrich our experience of it. Finally, we will offer suggestions to use these techniques, in our writing, to make our personal texts more powerful.
Students should bring paper and a pen even if they plan to use a computer to write. Interested parties should contact Glenda C. Beall, at Hayesville, NC.

glendabeall@msn.com

Upcoming Anthology for WNC Women, "It's All Relative" - A Reminder from Celia H. Miles and Nancy Dillingham

To those who have submitted and those who may submit poems and prose for the fourth anthology: "It’s All Relative"

A reminder and a request from Celia H. Miles and Nancy Dillingham

· The deadline for submitting is June 1.

· Publication is planned for the fall with a party and perhaps a reading at a local bookstore

· If you know a Western North Carolina woman writer who may not have received our announcement, pass on the information or have her contact Celia or Nancy.

· All those whose submissions are published will receive a complimentary copy of the anthology. But…

· You may reserve additional copies—to help us determine the initial print order—at the tentative price of $16.00 per copy. Your reserved copies will stay at that price, but since we don’t know the cost yet of the printing, the final price may be higher (though we hope not).

· Please let us know if you wish to reserve one or more additional copies.

· We are also offering Women’s Spaces Women’s Places at $10.00 per copy to contributors. Clothes Lines is now out of print.

We are looking forward to an interesting compilation of family stories and situations.

Contact Celia Miles - celiahoopermiles@gmail.com

Congratulations to Bob Grove

Bob Grove, author of several books, has been awarded three gold medals for his  entries in the Cherokee and Clay County Silver Arts writing competition.

The first-place medals were for his short story, The Switch; his essay, A moral Conundrum; and his performance reading of The Follies of Youth, also written by Bob and delivered at the closing ceremonies of the Senior Games on May 16.

Bob Grove, medal winner

His recent memoir, Misadventures of an Only Child, can be found on Amazon.com. Bob is facilitator of the NCWN West Prose group that meets monthly at Tri-County Community College in Murphy, NC. He is known locally for his humor, his tales of the antics of his youth and his annual Christmas season performance of Dickens' A Christmas Carol at the John C. Campbell Folk School.