Tuesday, May 15, 2018

CWTPW on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, will feature writers Estelle Darrow Rice and Glenda Council Beall; event to be held at the Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC


Coffee with the Poets and Writers will meet Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 10:30 AM, at the Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville, NC. Estelle Rice and Glenda Beall will be featured this month.



ESTELLE DARROW RICE is a retired mental health counselor who lives in Marble, NC. She is a native of Charlotte and many of her stories center on her life there and in the mountains of western NC where she and her late husband, Nevin, lived the past twenty years. She is author of Quiet Times, an inspirational poetry chapbook and has published poems and stories in numerous journals and anthologies. She taught writing classes for NCWN-West and at Glenda Beall’s studio, Writers Circle around the Table.


 
GLENDA COUNCIL BEALL: In 1998, Glenda Beall published a family history book, Profiles and Pedigrees, Thomas C. Council and His Descendants based on the lives of her grandfather and his ten children. Her poetry chapbook, Now Might as Well be Then was published in 2009 by Finishing Line Press.

She has been writing and publishing poetry, memoir and short stories since 1996 when she moved to Clay County, NC. She teaches writing at her studio as well as the Institute of Continuing Learning in Young Harris, GA and Tri-County Community College in Murphy, NC.

Her website is: www.glendacouncilbeall.com.


Estelle and Glenda will be reading from their forthcoming book, Paws, Claws, Hooves, Feathers and Fins, which will be published this summer. Both writers are animal lovers and decided to collaborate and co-write a collection of poems and stories about the pets they have loved and also other non-human species including birds and fish.


The public is invited to attend Coffee with the Poets and Writers and to take part in Open Mic. Because of time constraints, readers are asked to read no more than two poems or a prose piece of about 1500 words.


This event is sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network West, a program of the state literary organization, North Carolina Writers’ Network.


Contact Glenda Beall, 828-389-4441 or glendabeall@msn.com for more information.





Sunday, May 13, 2018

Poets Bell, Gage and Ricketson to read at The Literary Hour at John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown, NC, on Wednesday, May 16, 2018

This Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 7:00 PM, the North Carolina Writers' Network-West will sponsor The Literary Hour, at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC. The event will be held in the Keith House in the Community Room. The reading is free of charge and open to the public.

Staci Lynn Bell is a retired 25-year radio/ television host and commercial production copy writer. She is also an elite dog trainer.  Her emceeing skills have allowed her to serve an emcee for many NCWN-West conferences and events. Staci writes poetry, creative non-fiction, memoir and essays. She has been published in, Kakalak 2017, 2016, and several online journals, including, Wild Goose Poetry Review, Wolf Warriors Anthology II. Bell has poems in numerous Old Mountain Press Anthologies, Bell’s poem, "Escape" was published in the Old Mountain Press Anthology, Wish You Were Here. Her poem, "Unanswered Prayers" was published in the fall edition of Kakalak 2016. Additionally, her poem, "Time," won a bronze medal and her short story, "Cheyenne" won a silver medal in the North Carolina Cherokee and Clay County's Silver Arts 2016.


Joan Ellen Gage is an author of humor and inspiration written from her own unique perspective. Her photos are the spice in the mix that serve to punctuate the writing and add that special garnish to her creations. She has written and published five books, Water Running Downhill!, Embracing Your Inner Cheerleader!, A Redhead Looks At 60, Trinity's Adventures in Imagination, and a special edition of Water Running Downhill! the Rose Edition, as a tribute to her friend Rose Helena Macedo Kull. Gage is serves as administrator for the NCWN-West’s blog. Additionally, Ms. Gage has two blogs, Traveling at the Speed of Now, www.joanellengage.com,and A Redhead Blogs at 60!, https://joanszoneblogalicious @wordpress.com.


Mary Ricketson of Murphy NC, has been writing poetry for 20 years; to satisfy a hunger, to taste life down to the very last drop. She is inspired by nature and her work as a mental health counselor. Her poetry has been published in Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, and the anthologies, Lights in the Mountains, and Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Freeing Jonah, and her chapbook I Hear the River Call my Name. Mary's second poetry book is Hanging Dog Creek; her third book, Shade and Shelter, is newly released from Kelsay Books.
Ricketson is Cherokee County's Representative for the North Carolina Writers Network-West, and is president of Ridgeline Literary Alliance. Ricketson writes a monthly column, "Women to Women", for The Cherokee Scout, Murphy , NC’s newspaper. She is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, an organic blueberry farmer, and is currently working on a new collection of poetry.


Friday, May 11, 2018

Rupert is Back... Along with Jennifer Lux + Open Mic

May 18th Writers' Night Out, Blairsville, GA 

As Writers' Night Out audiences know. Rupert Fike draws a crowd wherever he reads. Now he's got a new book, Hello the House, you won't want to miss. It won the Snake Nation Press Award. 

This month, we also feature Jennifer Lux with her award-winning new book from Press 53 (Winston-Salem, NC), White Portals. She's a PhD in English, an excellent poet, and the widow of famous poet Thomas Lux. Her readings are captivating and intelligent.

And in other good news: The View Grill is now open for dinner. Last season, they improved their menu and service, so give them a try and come socialize will all of us, but please arrive by 6. You can also bring a drink to the first floor meeting room we're in. 

We welcome prose writers and poets to open mic -- one 3-minute piece each (about 1 page, Times New Roman, 12-point). Sign up at the door. 


Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Video Links for Nancy Simpson Celebration, held May 5, 2018, at the John C. Campbell Folk School

Left to right, Glenda Beall, Jeremy Brantley, Lynn Rutherford, Yan Yang Brantley, and Janice Moore
The Nancy Simpson Celebration was a success. Many noted authors spoke and read, most from Simpson's books. Some read poems they had written for Nancy.

Readers included:


Shelby Stephenson, Poet Laureate of NC, Steve Harvey, Debbie McGill, Janice Moore, Brenda Kay Ledford, Karen Paul Holmes, Mary Ricketson, Rosemary Rhodes Royston,Glenda Barrett, Joan Ellen Gage, and Glenda Council Beall.

Glenda Council Beall led the Celebration as Emcee. Here are video links from the Celebration, (taken by Yan Yang Brantley), note, they are not in order:

Video #1: Glenda Beall
Video #6: Rosemary R. Royston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNVqLYQGmzc
Video #10: Shelby Stephenson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ8_GYXPKKw

Photos will follow at a later date.