Full Strawberry Moon on June 26, 2010

Tonight, June 26, 2010, is your chance to see the "Full Strawberry Moon."

Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.

These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes.

Europeans named the June moon, Full Rose Moon.

WANT TO TAKE A week long WRITING CLASS?

Harnessing the Power of Words will be taught at John C. Campbell Folk School August 15 - 21. 2010.

Instructor: Jayne Jaudon Ferrer

Class Description:

Each of us has something important to say, but just as we speak in different dialects, we write in different genres. Find your writing niche as we explore the power and appeal of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, journals, letter and blogs. This class will help you find the format best suited to your voice through creative writing prompts, supportive sharing, and gentle critiques. From business people to retires, novelists to blogger...all are welcome.

TUITION IS $527.00. Ask about 1/2 price if you live in the area.

Pre register at John C Campbell Folk School 1 800 FOLK - SCH.

Yellow Flowers Blooming in the Middle of a Forest - Just For You

(above - false sunflowers)

Below you will see some of the yellow flowers now blooming - Mid June, 2010, in the southern Appalachian mountain area, on the north side of the mountain, in a full sun perennial garden.

(above - lemon drops)

(Above - Jerusalem Artichoke)

(above - Asiatic lily)

(above - a clump of chrysanthemums)

(above - gloriosa daisies)

( above - gazania)

ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE, A NEW ANTHOLOGY FROM THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS

Hello Fellow NCWN West Members and Friends. As editor of NCWN West’s forthcoming anthology, I am happy to announce we have made progress and found our way to publish the anthology titled Echoes Across the Blue Ridge: Stories, Essays and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains. In fact, the book is at the printer now and is due to be released in coming days.

An Introduction to Echoes Across the Blue Ridge was written for us by Robert Morgan. Other North Carolina authors who endorsed the collection include Lee Smith who said, “Straight from the land of sky. song and story, another dynamic collection--strong and surprising,”

and

Ron Rash who said, “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. Bravo!”

These anthology authors, who live within the Netwest area, were invited to contribute their work and they did so with generosity: Our Program Coordinator Kathryn Stripling Byer, Thomas Rain Crowe, Steven Harvey and Bettie M. Sellers.

The anthology is dedicated to the memory of our Appalachian ballad poet Byron Herbert Reece.

Check the list below of other contributors who have work forthcoming in Echoes Across the Blue Ridge:

Ellen Andrews

Richard Argo

Glenda Barrett

Glenda Beall

Jo Carolyn Beebe

Janet Benway

Joan Thiel Blessing

Rachel T. Bronnum

John T. Campbell

Gary Carden

Nancy Sales Cash

James M. Cox

Paul Donovan

Robert Edward Fahey

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer

Debora Kinsland Foerst

Joyce Foster

Karen Gilfillan

Gerri Wolfe Grady

Lana Hendershott

Eugene Hirsch

Sam Hoffer

Karen Paul Holmes

Tom Hooker

Kitty Inman

Carl Iobst

George Ivey

Mary Michelle Brodine Keller

Eileen Lampe

Blanche Ledford

Brenda Kay Ledford

Susan Lefler

StarShield Lortie

John Malone

Gail Maye

Marshall McClung

Jennifer McGaha

Mary Lou McKillip

Dick Michener

Maren O. Mitchell

Janice Townley Moore

Clarence Lee Newton

Arnie Nielson

Nancy Purcell

Betty Jameron Reed

William V. Reynolds

Estelle Rice

Mary Ricketson

Judy Roney

Rosemary Royston

Peg Russell

Linda M. Smith

Susan Snowden

Dorothea Spiegel

Wendy Richard Tanner

Carole Richard Thompson

Shirley Uphouse

J.C. Walkup

Cecily Hamlin Wells

Eleanor Lambert Wilson

Charlotte Wolf

Jane J. Young

Congratulations to Katja Holmes for formatting, book and cover design.

Congratulations to Philip L. Sampson whose photograph was chosen for the cover. Congratulations to other photographers who had one or more photos included in the book: Tipper Pressley, Seth Russell, and Billy J. Turnage.

The book release date WILL COME SOON. STAY POSTED.

Poets and Writers Reading Poems and Stories AT JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL

Brenda Kay Ledford and Carole Richard Thompson will be the featured readers at Poets and Writers Reading Poems and Stories on June 17, 2010 7:00 p.m. in Keith House at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.

This program is cosponsored by N.C. Writers Network West and the John C. Campbell Folk School.

Brenda Kay Ledford is listed with Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers. Her work has appeared in many publications including Lights in the Mountains, Asheville Poetry Review, Our State, Chicken Soup For the Soul, Poetry Now and many other magazines.

She received the Paul Green Award from North Carolina Society of Historians for her chapbooks Patchwork Memories, Shew Bird Mountain and Sacred Fire. Her poem "Aunt Rena" won this year's Clay County Historican and Arts Council Poetry competition.

Carole Richard Thompson brings a

vast background of experiences to her poetry. Being an avid reader, she was drawn to words and began to put them together for herself in poetry.

She lived the life of a military officer's wife for twenty-nine years and now resides in the North Georgia Mountains. She says of living here, "I felt I had started over." Her poetry is about every day things we so often miss.

Both of these poets have poems forthcoming in the soon to be released anthology titled Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Stories, Essays and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

NCWN West's Monthly Prose Group will Meet

Are you writing a book? Want to meet with other writers?

NCWN West's monthly prose group will meet at Tri County Community College, located between Murphy and Hayesville, NC on June 10, 2010

at 7:00.

This is the same group that has been meeting under the sponsorship of NCWN West for more than 15 yrs. The first critique sessions were held by N.C.W.N. West's Cherokee County Representative Gene Hirsch for both poets and prose writrs. When the group grew too large and Gene Hirsch moved from the area, the prose writing group, as we now know it, met under the leadership of Mary E. Lynn Drew and for many years under the direction of Richard Argo. The new workshop leader is Peg Russell.

This monthly group has as it's main purpose to help prose writers finish their fiction and nonfiction writing. It is free to NCWN West members within driving distance and open to observers who consider joining. You only need be a member to NCWN to participate. There is no jury process to deside who can join. It is a group of Netwest writers who welcome other writers.

If you write essays, short stories or have novel in progress this could be the right group for you. They meet once a month, bring copies of a number of pages to share with others and get considerate and helpful feedback on their writing. I myself have participated in this monthly prose writing group, and I got genuine help on writing a novel that I am working on.

Peg Russell, the workshop leader sent this message today : "Hope to see everyone McSwain Building, room 127, 7PM."

Do You Like to Hear Poets Read Their Original Poems? Mark Your Calendar Now.

Coffee With the Poets, a monthly program of NC Writers Network West, will feature poet Maren O. Mitchell reading her original poems at Phillips and Lloyd Book Store on the town square in Hayesville June 9th, 2010 at 10:30.

After the featured poet reads, there will be an open mic reading, so come and bring one of your poems to read. Coffee, tea and morning sweets are offered by The Dessertery for $2.50.

Maren O. Mitchell's poems have been widley published in American literary magazines including Red Clay Reader, Appalachian Journal, The Journal of Kentucky Studies and a new poem is forthcoming in Southern Humanities Review. She also has a poem forthcoming in Echoes Across the Blue Ridge -

Stories, Essays and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Maren taught poetry writing at Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC and she catalogued at the Carl Sandburg Home.