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Nancy Simpson's LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE, New and Selected Poems was published by Carolina Wren Press (N.C. Laureate Series, 2010.) She is the author of ACROSS WATER and NIGHT STUDENT, State Street Press, still available on WWW at Alibris and Books Again. Her poems have been published in Southern Poetry Review, Prairie Schooner, The Georgia Review and other literary magazines. "Carolina Bluebirds" was published in THE POETS GUIDE TO THE BIRDS, Anhinga Press). "Grass" was reprinted in the 50th Anniversary Issue of Southern Poetry Review: DON'T LEAVE HUNGRY ( U.of Arkansas Press.) Seven poems were reprinted in the textbook, SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN POETRY,(McFarland.) Two poems were published in SOLO CAFE, Two more poems were published in SOLO NOVO."In the Nantahala Gorge" was published in Pisgah Review. "Studying Winter" was reprinted in Pirene's Fountain Anthology and "The Collection" in Collecting Life Anthology. Most recently, Southern Poetry Review Edited by James Smith, published "Our Great Depression," and The Southern Poetry Anthology Vol. VII: NORTH CAROLINA,Edited by William Wright, reprinted "Leaving in the Dead of Winter."

Monday, August 30, 2010

A Champaign Toast to Southern Appalachian Writers

ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE Stories,Essays and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Edited by Nancy Simpson with a forward by Robert Morgan


I am happy to say I have celebrated yet again with a champagne toast to the anthology ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE and to its outstanding mountain writers. We met yesterday at TWICE UPON A TIME BOOK STORE in Murphy, NC. It was a program to honor the writers for their writing and to thank all who worked on the publication project. Some moments were set aside to remember Richard Argo (Feb. 21, 1944 - July 8, 2010). Paul Donovan read one of Richard Argo's stories that is included in the anthology.









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


Twice Upon a Time Book Store,1214 Andrews Road, Murphy,NC 28906
Thank you to Peg Russell for the photos

Monday, August 23, 2010

THE LET'S GO FISHING TONIGHT UNDER the FULL MOON - see it now


Waiting for the Full Moon Rise over Lake Chatuge.


Full Sturgeon Moon – August 24. 2010

Fshing tribes of long ago are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.

If you have not yet seen it, take a look tonight or tomorrow night, August 24th. 2010.

In August 2010, you will also find Mars every evening low in the west after the sun goes down. Mars appears in Earth's sky as a reddish dot of light.You will have no trouble knowing which is the moon and which is Mars, no matter that some false info is out there telling you that Mars will look as large as the moon.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Peek in on the Publication Party FOR THE authors of ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE


We turned right on Spring Street and drove to the top of the hill. City Lights Book Store in Sylva, NC. Believe me, the place was surrounded by cars and people. The party was hosted by Kathryn Stripling Byer, NCWN West's Program Coordinator, City Light Book Store and Spring Street Cafe.

Glenda Beall, NCWN West Marketing Manager.

Kathryn Stripling Byer welcomed Linda M. Smith from Hayesville, NC and Mary Michelle Keller from Young Harris, Georgia.
Delicious Food was spread and a champaign toast was made to the editor and contributors.

Chances are you were there, for I recall standing room only, one hundred or more writers paying their respects to one another for a job completed, a job well done.


And so once again, I felt "out of my body", beside myself with joy, with echoes across City Lights Book Store and Spring Street Cafe on the evening of August 8, 2010.


Most of these photos were taken by Peri Gordon Flohr. I'm sharing them with NCWN West Program Coordinator, Kathryn Stripling Byer, so you may see even more of them on the Netwest site.

Peri Gordon Flohr, writer (took most of these pictures, except for a few stolen by N.S. )


Janice Townley Moore of Hayesville, NC, Tipper Pressley of Brasstown, NC, William V. Reynolds of Murphy, NC, Rose Mary Royston of Blairsville, Georgia, Truman McKillip of Marble, NC and Joyce Reynolds of Murphy NC.

Poet Rose Mary Royston had three poems chosen for ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE:
"Dogwood Winter", "Neighbor Lady" and "The Possibliity of Snow". She read two poems in the open mic reading at the party.

Poet Clarence Lee Newton from Young Harris, Georgia, had two poems included: "Walking on Chatuge Dam at Dawn" and "Glad Hands at Lake Burton."
Glenda Beall's essay " The Trillium" found on page 31 of the anthology.

Poet Jayne Jaudon Ferrer had two poems in the anthology: "Street Scene" and "Homage."

Gary Carden is the author of an essay, " Listen to the Mockingbird" included in the anthology and also a short story: "Quincy and Rush."

Thomas Rain Crowe is the author of "Triple Negatives: Losing A Langauge" included in
Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. The essay contained two poems: "Here With Who Shot John" and"Crack Light".

Poet, Ellen Andrews authored two poems included the anthology: "Homing" and "Contradance in Brasstown".

Jennifer McGaha's essay "Looking Glass" was chosen for the anthology.

Fiction Writer, George Ivey wrote "Creekside Conspiracies".

Poet Rachel Bronnum had two poems included in the anthology: "The Goat Man" and "Emma". (here with Echoes Across the Blue Ridge editor Nancy Simpson)


Poet from Cherokee, Deborah Kinsland Foerst, authored two poems: " Corn Dance" and
"a gi li si."

Poet Joyce Foster, authored "A Taste of a Ripe Peach at Midnight."


Mary Michelle Keller recited her poem "As the Deer".

Linda M. Smith read "The Lapadry Artist", one of her poems in ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE.

Carole Richard Thompson recited her poem, " Returning", about twin falls returning after a long drought in the north Georgia Mountains. p 140. "I hear again/the liquid music of the mountains, spilling over ledges,/ and there, across a divide, stand two triumphant waterfalls."

Laughter. Carl Iobst read "Aunt Lucille Whups the Bear."
More Laughter: Mary Lou McKillip, story teller and writer read her anthology story, "If You Can't Run With the Big Dogs, Stay on the Porch."


Arnie Nielson read his story that made me warm all over, and made a tear roll out of my eye - "Sadie Underwood."

Robert Edward Fahey read "Mountain Journal" an excerpt from The Mourning After, a novel in progress.


Dick Michener had two short stories in the anthology: "Jesus Freak" and "The Final Gathering"

Janice Townley Moore read " Photos From Another State." She also had a second poem published in the anthology, "In September."


William V. Reynolds read "The Man on the Doorsteps." He is the author of many novels and the owner of Double Eagle Enterprises - BOOKS FOR THE COMMON MAN


Last but not least to read her story "The Spirit Tree" was Susan Lefler from Brevard, North Carolina.
In Memory of Richard Argo,( Feb. 21, 1944 - July 8, 2010) NCWN West's Monthly Prose Critique Group Leader for 15 years, the author of "The Apple Man" and " Turtle" . It seemed to me he was there with us at City Lights, reading his stories to us.

If you hope to see more photos from the publication party, click on the NCWN West site http://netwestwriters.blogspot.com/

Where can I buy a copy of ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE?


It is is available for purchase at only $16.00.


Book Stores

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


Saturday, August 7, 2010

LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE - BOOK SIGNING


From Carolina Wren Press - LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE - NEW AND SELECTED POEMS



Janet Bennett and Nancy Simpson.


Nancy Simpson signed copies of her new book LIVING ABOVE TH FROST LINE New an Selcted Poems today August 7, 2010 at Phillips and Lloyd Book Store on the Syuare in Hayesville, North Carolina.


Three Long time poetry friends: Janice Townley Moore, Nancy Simpson, and Blanche Flanders Farley.


Tim Brantley and Peri Gordon Flohr


Joan Howard and Ellen Andrews

Poet and Writer, Glenda Beall

Ellen Andrews, Glenda Beall, Mary Lou McKilllip and Michelle Keller


Georgia Poets Barbara Groce, Pamela (P.K.) Wright, Ann Cahill


Kathleen Larsen, one of the sweet Simpson family cousins

Rachel Bronnum and her husband Dwight with the author Nancy Simpson.



Nancy Simpson and Carole Richard Thompson




Blanche Ledford and Brenda Kay Ledford


Carol Crawford

Maren O. Mitchell

Peri Gordon Flohr and Linda M. Smith


Anne Wolf and Nancy Simpson


Nancy Simpson at book signing of LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE with poets Bill Killin and
Mary Ricketson.


Order book at Carolina Wren Press


or at Phillips and Lloyd Bookstore in Hayesville,NC