About Me

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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, May 28, 2012

WRITERS' NIGHT OUT update from Karen Holmes

Dear Writers and Friends,

The second Friday comes early in June! Please mark your calendars for Writers' Night Out on June 8.



We had a great turn out last month. A few glitches we experienced at the restaurant should be solved this time, as promised by the manager. Specifically, the door to our room will not be used for other patrons passing through to get to the restaurant, we will have a microphone if needed, and the computer billing system will be up and running so we can each pay our bills quicker. That makes the venue just right for our group. 

Friday, June 8
Brother's Restaurant at Willow Ranch, Young Harris (across from Brasstown Valley Resort)
Private Room Upstairs (if you can't do stairs, park in the back upper parking lot and come right into our room via a ramp) 6:00 order food, socialize

6:30 eat, drink, be merry

7:15 featured reader: Ron Salzer

7:35 Break 
7:40: Open Mike, 2 1/2 minutes per reader


Come hungry! And come early to order! They have appetizers, salads, dinner entrees and excellent sweets, plus the lunch menu is available at dinner. The restaurant assigns a server just to us, so please support them in return by ordering food or drink. see menu of yummy options here.

Brother's Willow Ranch Restaurant, 6223 Hwy 76 West, Young Haris, phone 706-379-1272
Flyer attached. If you can, please print it and post it where interested people will see it. 

Happy Memorial Day, 


Karen

--
Karen Paul Holmes
Please change my email address in your records to kpaulholmes@gmail.com if you haven't already. Thank you.
sorry flyer would not attatch





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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

NEW ALL GENRE WRITING CLASS OFFERED AT JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL





Hello writers and friends,

Itching to write? Karen Paul Holmes is  teaching an all-genre writing class at the Folk School the weekend of July 6. limit 8 students. There are still a few seats.  If you live in the mountain counties, you can get  a 1/2 price spot. That's only $160 for a fun and inspiring weekend at John C. Campbell. Here's the link to register. 


Here's the class description:
"Calling All Muses. Let’s stir the creative juices with help from other muses. Stream-of-consciousness writing to classical music will get us going. Exploring artists like Monet, the Beatles, or Baryshnikov will spur ideas for characters, plots, or poems. Expect to get a burst of inspiration to finish a writing project—or start a new one. You’ll also receive editing tips to make your pieces stronger and more readable. All levels welcome."

"Karen Paul Holmes, an award-winning writer, has work published in business magazines, literary journals, and anthologies. Her enthusiasm for teaching has given her top ratings for her writing workshops at international conferences. She also taught poetry to students through the Georgia Poetry Society's "Poets in the Schools" program. Karen is a writing coach, poet, freelance writer, and the editor of the North Carolina Writers' Network's Netwest News. She hosts a monthly "Writer's Night Out" in Hiawassee, GA." 





 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

ROBERT S. KING IS A FEATURED POET TONIGHT AT JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL.

Poets and Writer Reading Poems and Stories will feature the nationally known poet, Robert S. King tonight 7:00 p.m. at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. Poet Clarence Newton, author of Short Glances Forwatd And A Long Look Back will also be a featured reader tonight.   This program is cosponsored by JCCFS and NC Writers Network West. 

Robert S. King is a native Georgian who grew up in the rural foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He began writing poetry seriously after he was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1972. Since then he has published several chapbooks and two full-length titles (see below).

Because poetry has never paid the bills, he has built a rather varied, and sometimes contradictory, résumé. To mention just a few jobs, he has been a Cambodian translator (U.S. Navy), a bookstore manager, a court reporter, an interlibrary loan manager, a technical editor, and a software engineer. He retired in 2010 and has been devoting himself full-time to writing, editing, and publishing poetry.

Robert is the former Director of FutureCycle Press (www.futurecycle.org) and served as President of the Georgia Poetry Society (www.georgiapoetrysociety.org).  Additionally, he is a member of  the Georgia Writers Association and the North Carolina Writers Network.

Robert has published in hundreds of magazines, including The Kenyon Review, Southern Poetry Review, ELF: Eclectic Literary Forum, Midwest Quarterly, California Quarterly, Chariton Review, Negative Capability, The Hollins Critic, Blue Unicorn, Poem, Louisville Review, En Passant, Xanadu, Chattahoochee Review, The Cape Rock, Amelia, Slant, Sow's Ear, Windless Orchard, Great River Review, Visions Inter­national, Writers' Forum, Lullwater Review, Permafrost, Habersham Review, Spoon River Poetry Review,The Bridge, Hellas, Hammers, Poetpourri, Grasslands Review, Lungfish Review, etc.  His chapbook titles are When Stars Fall Down as Snow (Garland Press, 1976), Dream of the Electric Eel (Wolfsong Publications, 1982), and Traveller’s Tale (Whistle Press, 1998).
Two full-length titles, The Hunted River and The Gravedigger’s Roots, were published by Shared Roads Press in 2009.

Robert is available for readings, lectures, and workshops. You may contact him about how to get copies of his books at rsking@futurecycle.org.





POET CLARENCE NEWTON LAUNCHES HIS NEW POETRY BOOK TONIGHT AT JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL.

Clarence Newton is a featured author tonight at POETS AND WRITERS READING POEMS AND STORIES scheduled at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, 7:00 p.m. He will be launching his new poetry collection. You must not miss this. Come early. We expect standing room only.


Clarence Newton’s first poetry collection, Short Glances Forward and a Long Look Back, sparkles with humor, yet shows the life of a man who learned that some pain never goes away, some wounds never heal.  In “Examination,” one of his strongest poems, he writes: “My beautiful, intelligent child has become a lost man.”  Other favorites of mine are the image-rich poems: “Damsel Dancing Sideways” written for his wife, and “ October Sands”, which leaves me with  the eternal image of men fishing. 

Newton’s keen observation after over forty years in an aviation career comes through in his poems, whether he observes the human nature of pilots on a misguided bombing mission or when he watches a hawk circling its prey. His appreciation for poetry gives us his most humorous and delightful poems: “If I were an English Major”  and his love poem to Emily Dickinson, “Dream Number 4001.”  The reader will cry maybe, will laugh for sure, and keep turning the pages.   --Nancy Simpson, author of  Night Student and Living Above the Frost Line.

SHORT GLANCES FORWARD AND A LONG LOOK BACK Poems by Clarence Newton was published by Sourwood Cove Publishing and Mountain Graphics, Hiawassee, Georgia. The book may be bought a Phillips and Lloyd Booksellers in Hayesville, NC,
or can be ordered from the author at 1951 Rolling Meadows, Young Harris, Georgia 30582.($12.00 includes postage and handling.)


From the Back Cover



“The observant eye of Clarence Newton, his original way of encountering the world, often humorously and always thoughtful, invites the reader to come along for an enriching journey
 --Janice Townley Moore, autor of Teaching the Robins.”
“Clarence Newton’s writing is entertaining at the same time it tells us something important. A pervasive quality in his work is humor. Particularly in verse, the author is quite clever (as in “Froggy”)He has a serious side as well (see “Short Glances Forward and a Long Look Back.” 
--Robert S. King, author of The Hunted River and The Gravebigger’s Roots.
It is always a delight to read poetry that is playful.  And Clarence Newton’s poems are not only playful, but often have a biting edge.  There are no wasted words, and plenty of sharp and witty observations that leave the reader pondering long after the poem has been read.  A good poem should stick with you, and these will, along with a grin or chuckle, too. --Rosemary Rhodes Royston, Poet and Writing Instructor.

Also featured on the POETS AND WRITERS READING POEMS AND STORIES program co sponsored by NC Writers Network  West and  John C. Campbell Folk School, will be nationally known  poet Robert S. King. (see following feature on Robert. S. King.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Jack J. Prather's new book, Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina, due to be released in late May.


Jack J. Prather is a member of NCWN and NCWN West. I want to announce his new book. Visit his website. Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina is due to be released in May 2012.
Please read more below. 
Attached is information about Jack J. Prather's new book, Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina, due to be released in late May. To view the book cover and photos of the 12 Notables, visitwww.futurenowpublishing.com.
 
Also attached is the process to follow for supporting the new Young Writers Scholarship founded by Jack at Warren Wilson College in April. He is donating a portion of book proceeds to the scholarship fund and handling external fundraising; WWC is responsible for grants and alumni donations.
 
The Twelve Notables:
• Rev. Dr. Dan Matthews, O.B.E. - Waynesville
Priest at Ground Zero on 9-11 / Recipient Order of the British Empire
• Musician David Holt - Fairview
Grammy winning Musician-Storyteller / PBS-TV and NPR-Radio Hostf
• Captain Ray F. West, Jr., USNR, Ret. - Flat Rock
Moldova World Childrens Fund Founder / UNCA Distinguished Alumnus
• Judge Harry C. Martin – Biltmore Forest
Former NC and Cherokee Supreme Court Justice / Honorary Cherokee
• Olson Huff, MD, FAAP - Black Mountain
Founding Medical Director of Mission Children’s Hospital, Asheville
• Glenis Redmond – Asheville
Hall of Fame Performance Poet / Kennedy Center Teaching Artist
• Douglas M. Orr, Ph.D. – Black Mountain
President Emeritus Warren Wilson College / Author / Musician
Billie Ruth Sudduth – Bakersville
Basket Artist / Smithsonian Collection / 1st Female NC Living Treasure
• Matthew J. Hayes, M.D. - Hendersonville
Pioneer of National Emergency Medical Services / ACEP Fellow
• Joe Epley, APR - Tryon
Global Public Relations Leader / UNC Journalism School Hall of Fame
• Richard Ritter – Bakersville
Glass Artist / NC Living Treasure 2011 / Governor’s Award as Fire Chief
• Julyan Davis Asheville
Southern Art Oil Painter / Galleries on East-West Coasts and Europe

If amenable, please share this information with your world.

To e-mail Jack J. Prather: prathergroup@aol.com 


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Something Knows the Moment named one of 5 finalists.


Great news!  Something Knows the Moment has been named 1 of 5 finalists for the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
Thanks for ordering, reading, and supporting Something Knows the Moment

Scott Owens

Sunday, May 6, 2012

GLENDA BEALL INVITES YOU TO COFFEE WITTHE POETS FEATUING BARBARA GABRIEL

Come and join us to listen, to read at open mic or to have coffee and socialize with the writers, poets, and those who enjoy writing. You will really enjoy Barbara Gabriel - read her bio- who will be leaving us this summer. See you Wednesday.
 
 
 
COFFEE WITH THE POETS IN HAYESVILLE FEATURES BARBARA GABRIEL
 
 
Barbara Gabriel of Murphy, NC will be the featured poet at Coffee with the Poets, Wednesday, May 9, 10:30 a.m. at Café Touche, 83 Main Street in Hayesville, NC .
 
Barbara Gabriel grew up in Minnesota along highway 61. She ran away to sea in her twenties, living aboard boats, ships and other floaty things. Her passions are travel and food, and she tries to combine those any chance she gets. Barbara has traveled, lived and eaten in South America, Turkey, North Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. She makes a seriously lemon tart and is on a lifelong search for the world's best french fries.
 
Barbara has been gathering writing material for fifty years while impersonating a chef, cruise director, ice cream scooper, sailor, child advocate, landscaper, package designer, banker, medical technician, dive master, log cabin builder, and a really bad waitress. In her current state of mind she is a salvage artist and writer. Until recently, she shared her writing only with her husband and dogs. She was recently published in the online journal of topical poetry "Poetry24."
 
Barbara has lived in western North Carolina for nine years and is about to embark on a new adventure when she, her husband Brian, and their dogs Gracie and Scout move to Portland, Oregon later this summer.
 
Members of the local community are always invited to Coffee with the Poets to listen, buy a muffin and a cup of coffee, or read an original poem at open mic.
 
This event is sponsored by NCWN West (Netwest) the western chapter of the North Carolina Writers' Network. Contact Glenda Beall, 828-389-4441 for more information.