Staci Lynn Bell's poem, "The Best of Times," appearrs in Kakalak 2017

Hats Off! to Staci Lynn Bell whose poem "The Best of Times" will appear in Kakalak 2017 (Main Street Rag, December).

 Staci Lynn Bell is a Chicago native who attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She relocated to South Florida, gaining popularity as a 25 year radio and television personality. Bell’s poetry and prose have also been published in Wild Goose Poetry, Wolf Warriors Anthology,and 234 Journal. She lives with the loves of her life, her two dogs, in Hayesville, NC.

Congratulations to Nancy Purcell, writer from Brevard, NC

I want to congratulate Nancy Purcell from Transylvania County, NC, a prolific writer and writing teacher. She is a guest writer in Smoky Mountain Living, Vol. 17, issue 5, October/November 2017.

Nancy's story, The Suffragette, takes us back to the late 1800s when women were trying their wings, so to speak, in a country where they had no rights, especially no voting rights.

The main character is Lilly who eventually went to Washington DC to march on the nation's capital demanding women's right to vote. This is a good read.

This entire magazine is one of the best to learn about what is happening in Appalachia and to read interesting stories and articles by good writers.

Nancy Purcell was once the NCWN-West Rep for her county and did a great job. She has always been a loyal member and always helpful to me when I needed her.

We are proud and excited for our members when they are published whether in a magazine or book and we urge them to send us the news. Contact us by using the form on the sidebar or contact me by email. gcbmountaingirl@gmail.com

For more information on Smoky Mountain Living magazine, click on www.smliv.com

Nov 10: Final Writers' Night of 2017, Blairsville, GA

Christopher Martin & Dana Wildsmith

plus open mic 

(sign up at door to read 3 mins of poetry or prose... leave us wanting more)

Featuring award-winning writers
at Union County Community Center, Blairsville, GA

Events at City Lights of Sylva!

On Friday, November 3rd, NCWN-West of Jackson County hosts its Open Mic Night at 7 pm at City Lights Bookstore (on Spring Street, in Sylva).  There'll be desserts and beverages, including wine--come out and join a friendly and supportive group. 

The following Saturday, November 11th, poet and former Haywood County resident Michael Beadle will read at City Lights at 3:00 p.m. from his new collection, Primer, a national finalist in the 2016 Cathy Smith Bowers Chapbook Contest, sponsored by Main Street Rag. Bowers, a former NC Poet Laureate who served as the judge for the contest, writes, "With courage and a kid's heart, Michael Beadle brings to life the rites of passage of a small-town boy inching toward the threshold of adulthood." 

 Beadle has authored or co-authored four books on Haywood County history and was active in the Haywood County arts community for nearly two decades, performing poetry at downtown Waynesville festivals, acting on stage at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, emceeing events at Folkmoot festivals, and teaching creative writing courses through Haywood Community College.  As a writer-in-residence based in Raleigh, he now teaches creative writing workshops throughout the state and serves as the director of the NC Poetry Society's student contests and the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poets Series. To reserve copies of Primer, please call City Lights Bookstore at 828-586-9499.

GPS Poetry Day with NCWN-West poets

At a recent gathering with the Georgia Poetry Society in Union County Georgia, I made some photos to share with our members. Ellen Andrews was visiting the area and we were happy to see her again, Janice Moore who leads the Netwest Poetry Critique group was on hand as well as poet, Joan Howard who has a new poetry collection coming out soon.

Ellen Andrews, Janice Moore, Joan Howard

I

Karen Holmes and Lyn Hopper 

Lyn Hopper lives in Dahlonega, GA and is active member of GPS. She published a poetry book last year.

Ellen Andrews reads a poem

A large number of poets read at the open mic session of the meeting. Ellen was happy to have an opportunity to share a poem. 

Nature Journaling - Art and Phenology Workshop

MACON COUNTY

 2ND ANNUAL ART AND PHENOLOGY WORKSHOP
When: Saturday, October 21
Where: Alarka Expeditions, LLC, --  376 Snow Hill Falls Cir.
Cost: $65 (includes lunch and beverages)
Register: https://www.paypal.me/cedartree

Participants will explore nature journaling utilizing a variety of art genres, and will gain an understanding of basic phenology (record keeping on a daily basis of environmental phenomena). A short hike of about 2 miles is part of the day's exercises. Limit: 12.

Directions: The workshop venue is about twenty minutes north of Franklin, about two miles off of state highway 28. www.coweenc.com   It's a straight shot out of Franklin on Highway 28 for almost seven miles, then you are in Cowee, NC There is a historic marker. 
More detailed directions are given after registration.

Learn more about Brent Martin here.

Old Time Radio Show to be hosted by Ridgeline Literary Alliance and the Cherokee Arts Council, on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at the Murphy Art Center, Murphy, NC

Ridgeline Literary Alliance and the Cherokee County Arts Council  Present:

Old Time Radio Show and readings of prose and poetry

When: Saturday, 10-21-17, 2 pm, at Murphy Art Center (MAC),

Where: 33 Valley River Ave, Murphy NC 28906.

FREE:  Come one come all!

Light refreshments provided by the arts council

The agenda includes 2 old time radio shows (short) complete with props and sound effects, scripts adapted from Bob Grove essays. 8 to 10 Ridgeline members will read original work for 3-5 minutes each.

Cherokee County Arts Council is headed by David Vowell of Brasstown. He and another actor, Ryan Bender drama teacher at The Learning Center, will perform roles in the radio shows. The other roles are filled by Ridgeline members.

The arts council joins with Ridgeline Literary Alliance to provide a literary aspect of their artistic presence in the local community. Ridgeline Literary Alliance is a group for serious writers of any genre.

Old Time Radio Show Links:

 https://www.facebook.com/events/121116788571721/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%22263%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D

 http://visitcherokeecountync.com/events/2017/10/old-time-radio-and-poetry/

Poet Maren O. Mitchell's poems appear in Town Creek Poetry Journal, and Chiron Review

Maren O. Mitchell’s poem, “I, The Pillar of the Alphabet,” appears online in the 10^th Anniversary Issue of Town Creek Poetry Journal.

Her poems, “Rod Spears, How He Got Started,” “Air on G”, and “E without a Base, F” appear in the summer 2017 issue of Chiron Review.

Poet Mary A.Ricketson to read at Coffee with the Poets and Writers at the Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC, on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at 10:30 AM

On Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at 10:30 AM, poet Mary A. Ricketson will read at Coffee with the Poets and Writers, at the Moss Memorial Library, 26 Anderson St., Hayesville, NC. The public is welcome, and an open mic will follow the reading.

Ricketson, from Murphy, NC, has been writing poetry for 20 years; to satisfy a hunger, to taste life down to the very last drop. Her poetry has been published in journals and anthologies. Ricketson has two books, I Hear the River Call my Name and Hanging Dog Creek. 

Ricketson is the Cherokee County Representative for the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, and is the president of Ridgeline Literary Alliance in Murphy, NC.

Coffee with the Poets and Writers is a North Carolina Writers’ Network-West sponsored event.For more information, call Glenda Beall at 828-389-4441.