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, April 20, 2015

YOU ARE A WRITER AND YOU WANT TO TAKE A WRITING CLASS



Nancy Simpson recommends:

HELLO MOUNTAIN WRITERS, Here is a new writing class I highly recommend and it will be taught in Hayesville, NC. THE PRICE IS RIGHT, for sure.



Dana teaches at Writers Circle in  Hayesville, NC on April 25, Saturday, 10 - 1:00 p.m.
Words are all we have - title of Dana's class for all genre writers. 
$35.00 for three hour class. Contact Glenda Beall - glendabeall@msn.com 

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Celebration of NATIONAL POETRY MONTH Held in Hayesville, NC


Coffee With The Poets, a program of NC Writers Network West celebratedNational Poetry Month with two featured readers, Glenda Barrett of Hiawassee, Georgia and Nancy  Simpson of Hayesville, NC on April 8, 2015. The event was held at Joe's Coffee Shop in Hayesville.

What a fun time. Thanks to all who where there.

Glenda Barrett, Glenda Beall, Carole Thompson, Bob Grove



NCWN West members and fellow poets
All living within driving distance are welcome to join NCWN West. 
http://www.ncwriters-west.org/ Serving writers in the western Carolina mountains. We are a 24 year old program of the statewide NCWN. 

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YOU TOMORROW, YOU'RE ONLY A DAY AWAY!


Celebrate National Poetry Month


This is National Poetry Month, and tomorrow, to celebrate, I will read some of my poems at Joe's Coffee Shop in Hayesville, NC. Because of a change in plans, Glenda Barrett, my long time friend and fellow poet from Hiawassee, Georgia will read also. Glenda Barrett is the most authentic  Appalachian poet writing in the mountains today.  She is the author of  WHEN THE SAP RISES and hundreds of individual poems.
Brenda Kay Ledford, also an outstanding Appalachian poet, known to you as "THE BLUE RIDGE POET,was scheduled to read, but had to cancel because of family matters. Please keep Brenda Kay in mind and her mother, our dear one Blanche Ledford, who is recovering from surgery. 
--Nancy Simpson
...AND A NOTE FROM GLENDA BEALL, founder of coffee with the Poets
We are happy that Glenda Barrett, artist, poet and writer from Hiawassee, Georgia will read with Nancy Simpson at Coffee with the Poets and Writers on Wednesday, April 8. Brenda Kay Ledford had to cancel and we appreciate Glenda Barrett stepping in at the last minute.












A long-time member of Netwest, Glenda’s work has been widely published. Her poetry and prose have appeared in Journal of Kentucky Studies, Woman's World, Farm & Ranch Living, Country Woman, Chicken Soup for the Soul and in anthologies, Lights in the Mountains and Echoes across the Blue Ridge. Her artwork is online at Fine Art America. Finishing Line Press, in 2008, published her poetry chapbook titled, "When the Sap Rises.”
Come and enjoy two experienced and well-loved local poets. Bring a poem or short prose to read at open mic. Bring a friend and enjoy Joe's delicious coffee and have a bagel with cream cheese. Joe has welcomed our writers to  his shop and I hope we will come out and show our appreciation.


Glenda Council Beall
828-389-4441

Monday, April 6, 2015

EVENTS AT YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE


A message from Rosemary Royston


All:  Greetings!  I wanted to be sure you all are aware of the upcoming events we are having at YHC.  Edward Hirsch, prize-winning poet and president of the Guggenheim Foundation, will be reading on campus, Thursday, April 9th at 7 pm, Suber Banquet Hall in the Rollins Campus Center.  The event is free and open to the public.  We are thrilled to have Hirsch on campus.  You may find the press release here:  http://www.yhc.edu/yhc%E2%80%99s-annual-reece-lecture-feature-celebrated-poet-edward-hirsch

We are also hosting the Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival, beginning on Friday, April 10th and going through the weekend.  General admission is $20.00, and there is a large line-up of award-winning storytellers.  More information is here:http://www.yhc.edu/yhc-host-first-annual-georgia-mountain-storytelling-festival, and tickets may be purchased in advance here:http://www.eventbrite.com/e/georgia-mountain-storytelling-festival-april-10-11-2015-tickets-14172300733.

I hope you'll be able to join us for one or both of these events.

Thanks, and happy writing!
Rosemary

-- 
Rosemary Royston

Friday, April 3, 2015

COFFEE WITH THE POETS AT JOE'S COFFEE SHOP HAYESVILLE,NC



Nancy Simpson



Brenda Kay Ledford

April is poetry month and there is no finer way to celebrate than attending Coffee with the Poets, a monthly event held at Joe’s Coffee Shop and Trading Post, 82 Main Street, Hayesville, NC. North Carolina Writers Network-West sponsors this event which meets at10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

Recently a visitor to our area said, "This should be on a list of things to do here!"

Two widely published local poets, members of NCWN West, Brenda Kay Ledford and Nancy Simpson, are featured on the program this month. Coffee with the Poets and Writers is open to the public at no charge. Bring a poem or short prose, 1000 words or less, and read at Open Mic. Joe’s Coffee shop serves fine coffees and teas, and snacks can be purchased.

Brenda Kay Ledford is a well-known poet and native of Clay County, NC. She holds a Master of Arts in Education from Western Carolina University. She has done post-graduate work in Appalachian Studies, and the theme of most of her writing is her Appalachian heritage.

Brenda received the Paul Green Multimedia Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians seven times for her books, her collections of oral history, and her blog Historical Hayesville. Her work has appeared in Our State, Carolina Country Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Appalachian Heritage, Wild Goose Poetry Review, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Asheville Poetry Review, Country Extra Magazine, Blue Ridge Parkway Silver Anniversary Edition Celebration, and many other journals.

Finishing Line Press published Brenda’s poetry books: Shewbird Mountain, Sacred Fire, and Beckoning. She co-authored Simplicity with Blanche L. Ledford.  She is also an outstanding photographer as you can see on her blog, Blue Ridge Poet.

Nancy Simpson lives in Hayesville, NC. Through 2010 she served as Resident Writer at the John C. Campbell Folk School. She taught many of the poets and writers in this area in her classes there and at Tri-County Community College. She also taught poetry for ICL at Young Harris College.

Nancy is the author of three poetry collections: Across Water, Night Student, and most recently Living Above the Frost Line, New and Selected Poems (Carolina Wren Press, 2010). She also edited Echoes Across the Blue Ridge (anthology 2010). She holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College and a BS in education from Western Carolina University. She received a NC Arts Fellowship and co-founded NC Writers Network-West.

Simpson’s poems have been published in The Georgia Review, Southern Poetry Review, Seneca Review, New Virginia Review, Prairie Schooner and others. Her poems have been included in anthologies, Word and Wisdom, 100 Years of N.C. Poetry and Literary Trails of N.C. (2008). Her poems have also been featured in Southern Appalachian Poetry, a textbook anthology published at McFarland Press.
Visit her blog, Living Above the Frost Line to learn more about her.  

Contact NCWN West Representative, Glenda Beall, at 828-389-4441 or glendabeall@msn.com  for information.