NC WRITERS NETWORK WEST 'S WRITING CONFERENCE MAY 10, 2014

NC Writers Network West's Writing Conference in  Sylva, NC on May 10th turned out to be the most fulfilling writing event of year 2014 for me. Best of all was seeing and visiting with long-time, treasured writing friends.  It was indeed restorative for me to spend time with my writing friends and to share with fellow poets some of the secrets of how we can build a readership for our poetry. It was a joy for me to share discussion time with Kathryn Stripling Byer. A family member remarked at how I came home with a spring in my step.

Kathryn Stripling Byer, NC Poet Laureate Emertia

For a long time, NCWN West has hoped to establish an annual writing conference and that goal was approved two years ago by NCWN Executive Director Ed Southern. NCWN West Program Director Ellen Schofield coordinated this event with the help of Kathryn Stripling Byer and Newton Smith, Jackson County's Netwest Representatives who hosted the event held at the historic  Jackson  County Courthouse Complex and also with the help of former Program Director Glenda Beall, Gay Moring, J C Walkup, Linda M. Smith,  Joan Howard and Lana Hendershott.

Kathryn Stripling Byer, NC Poet Laureate Emertia and NC Writers Network West Program Coordinator Ellen Schofield

JC Walkup, long time  NCWN member from Haywood County, author of new novel Partners and  William Everett, author of seven books and many articles  in English and German on ethical issues in Religion and Society, who taught ethics many years in theological seminaries and graduate schools.

Poet and long time member of NCWN West Dr. Gene Hirsch and his wife Ginny, residents of Pittsburg, PA and Cherokee County North Carolina. Gene Hirsch joined Netwest only two years after it began and he established NCWN West's  first monthly critique group for both poets and writers that still continues to meet monthly 21 years later. 

It is true I did return home with a spring in my step and with deep appreciation in my heart  for all of those who worked to coordinate such a day of inspiration

for our writers. Some of the  mountain writers do sometimes feel we are far from the writing centers of our country, even far from the writing centers of our our own state.  NCWN West has worked hard to promote writing and to serve our writers for over 23 years now. 

I want to assure you, I also returned home with a deep feeling that I too was appreciated, carrying in my arms an exotic multi-blooming purple orchid, which was presented to me as ( they said as founder of NCWN West). Those who know me know that I  always say and will always say "I am a co founder." I still deeply appreciate the guidance of then NCWN Executive Director Marsha Warren who defined the best of what NCWN West would become and  Debbie McGill then NC Arts Council Literary Director in Raleigh who organized our first meetings and ultimately got us mountain writer invited to the NCWN Fall Conference in 1991 and got us connected to NCWN. I honor Kathryn Stripling Byer as a cofounder because she signed and sent the first letter to invite the mountain writers to meet in Jackson County when Debbie McGill came out to the mountains to meet with us, and thus brought us all together for that first  meeting. How could I say no to "having dinner in Sylva with Debbie McGill when I had just received the NC Artist Fellowship for Poetry from her. I admit I did not know what I was getting myself into. Some months later, Kathryn and I were the  two members there in the room at the NCWN fall Conference when Marsha Warren and then President Anthony Abbott invited us to bring the mountain writers in as a special program under the umbrella of NCWN. This is the true account of how and when NCWN West began. Kathryn Stripling Byer has served as consultant to NCWN West from the beginning and served one year as Program Coordinator when our PC Glenda Beall had to resign during her husband's illness. That was a crucial year, as some of you remember well, because it was at the very time we were bringing our our second anthology --Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. It was the sale of that  anthology that now affords NCWN West the opportunity to hold regular writing events here in the far western NC mountains.  At the time Kathryn Stripling Byer served as P.C. she gave invaluable service in getting an introduction written by Robert Morgan and also got the best blurbs from renowned authors for the back book cover. Many times through the past 23 years I confessed and still say that I will never do much of anything related to poetry without first consulting with Kathryn Stripling Byer.

My orchid is the most beautiful flower I have ever seen. I am determined to keep it alive. If you have any inside knowledge of how to care for an orchid, please let me know as soon as possible.

Back home now, more than a week later,  I am still thinking about that very special day. I want to remind the poets who attended our discussion about  "Building a Readership for Your Poetry, " that my offer still stands to reprint some of your poems on this blog. Send 3-5 already published poems ( giving credit to the place it was first published) with your photo and a brief bio.
(nance@dnet.net) This is in keeping with the idea of getting your poems out there and keeping them out there in print, the old poems as well as the newly written ones.   Also, in the future, I am working to get this site revamped. I need more readers and more comments. In return, each week, I plan to give a listing of five open markets looking for poems. 

CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE HAS 30% DISCOUNT SALE NOW

To my writing friends, City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC has a 30% sale on most anything in the store. City Lights is by far the best independent bookstore in western North Carolina. It is where the writers hang out, for sure.

CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE | 828-586-9499more@citylightsnc.com | http://citylightsnc.com 3 East Jackson Street Sylva, NC 28779

Pre-Inventory Sale!

Begins Friday, December 27th

   

It is that time of year again.  Time to count our inventory and get set for 2014. Between December 27th and December 31st receive a 30% discount on most anything in the store. Special orders and gallery items are excluded from the sale.  Come by the store and grab that book that you have had your eye on.

New Years Hours

December 31st: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

January 1st:  Closed

January 2nd: Closed for inventory
January 3rd: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

City Lights Bookstore carries my book Living Above the Frost Line and also the book I edited with writing by writers living in and inspired by the southern Appalachian mountains -- ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE.

It's the best bookstore to quickly get gift books, signed copies of books by Kathryn Stripling Byer and other notable North Carolina authors.

Announcement on the Penultimant Day of National Poetry Month

Announcement on the Penultimate Day of National Poetry Month

Three stars shine bright in the south. Southern Independent Booksellers Award recently announced three poetry finalist for the SIBA Poetry Award 2013: Kathryn Stripling Byer of Cullowhee, NC for Descent, George Ellison of Sylva, NC for Permanent Camp and Natasha Tretheway of Athens, Georgia for her collection Thrull. 

NORTH CAROLINA LITERARY REVIEW CURRENT ISSUE AND A CALL FOR POEMS

North Carolina Literary Review is a once a year print and on line magazine. There is an overall attempt to cover statewide literature. This issue also features some of our western NC mountain writers.

The current issue is on line now with the topic North Carolina: a state of Change, a Changing State. It contains book reviews, essays, interviews, poetry, short stories, art work, photographs. There is a review by Robert West of Kathryn Stripling Byer’s new poetry collection, Descent recently published at LSU Press.

“Unseen” and “The Names” are two poems by Fred Chappell.

“His Story, History, and Home: Gary Carden Receives North Carolina Award for Literature,” by Lorraine Hale Roobinson.

Guidelines for 2014. Poetry deadline is May 1, 2013.

http://www.nclr.ecu.edu/issues/next-issue.html

February - CELEBRATE LOVE MONTH with new anthology titled ...and love...

   

Friday, February 1, 7:00 pm

Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave., Wilmington

Chocolate, wine, music, and poetry—pre-Valentines celebration of the …and love…. anthology, edited by Richard Krawiec, Debra Kaufman, Allison Elrod. Poems about lovers and spouses. Sons and daughters. Parents, friends, strangers, pets. First love, last love, dying love, passionate love, sad love, wasted love, devoted love; love of body, love of spirit, love of self, love of place, love of time, love of moments, love of love. Related events will be held:

• Sunday, February 3, The Arts Center, 300 E. Main St., Carrboro

• Saturday, February 9, 2:00 pm, Barnes & Noble, Northline Dr. (Friendly Shopping Center), Greensboro, followed by a workshop and an Open Mic

Want to buy the book?

...and love.... Edited by Richard Krawiec, 

Allison Elrod, and Debra Kaufman

Jacar Press
$15.95, paperback

Available from the publisher click

Poems by Marge Piercy, Sam Hamill, 

Dorianne Laux, Ron Rash, Lola Haskins, 

Stuart Dischell, Doris Davenport, 

Fred Chappell, Kathryn Stripling Byer, 

Alan Michael Parker, Michael Chitwood, 

Betty Adcock, Joe Millar, Nancy Simpson, 

David Huddle, Holly Iglesias, Dannye 

Romine Powell, and 100+ other poets.

Jacar Press website: www.jacarpress.com.

MAY BRINGS THE MAY APPLE, A FAVORITE APPALACHIAN WILDFLOWER

April and National Poetry Month has slipped quietly into history, but  I keep thinking of that very special time in my life. As a poet, it was encouraging to see poets step forth and make things happen. Finally Oprah's O Magazine had a feature on poetry. Although it was at the back of the magazine, there were many pages. It was amazing to see Our USA Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin featured, so now more citizens know that America does have a Poet Laureate. I was happy to see one of my favorite poets featured in O Magazine, Mary Oliver.

Every day during April, I eagerly read Kathryn Stripling's blog. She was featuring a poet each day during the month. I was amused and laughed with joy toward the end of the month, as days were running out,  she began featuring two poets each day.   

I myself, on my site, had featured one poet for the entire month, Robert S. King. "Why did I do that?"  I chided myself, but then I reasoned it out in my mind. On this site, I feature one poet every  month. For this special occasion, I wanted to choose someone who had given much to poetry but one who has not received the honors he deserved. Robert S. King has dedicated his life to promoting the work of other poets. I hope if you missed reading about him and reading his accomplished poetry, you will go back to the archive for April 2011, and get yourself caught up.

I have some catching up to do myself. Today I received another  link to a site that featured a poet a day during National Poetry Month. A number of our best poets are featured. Rosemary Royston's "Dogwood Winter" poem which  first published in Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, was included.  Read and enjoy.

Lincoln Memorial University Poem a Day for National Poetry Month

Best Buy for Literate Person on your List --NOT A COOK BOOK but filled with delicious soul food

 DON'T LEAVE HUNGRY: Fifty Years of Southern Poetry Review

Southern Poetry Review has been so much a part of so many poets' lives over the past 50 years that it's hard to imagine the universe without it. When I was a student in the MFA program at UNC-G in the '60s, I was introduced to the journal and to its founder Guy Owen. Owen was an instructor in the program for one semester while I was there.

After his death, SPR, as we called it, moved to Charlotte for several years and then down to Savannah's Armstrong Atlantic State University, where a friend of mine and native western North Carolinian, James Smith, became Associate editor. Now, as editor of the new anthology Don't Leave Hungry, celebrating 50 years of Southern Poetry Review, he gathers this peripatetic history together in his masterful introduction. His first paragraph makes Owen's commitment to poetry, and SPR's ongoing adherence to it, clear: In many journals, and certainly in major magazines that bother at all, as Owen notes, poems are “filler,” not “the main course.” A Journal Dedicated to Poetry: that’s the logo the current editors gave SPR, and we like to think its founder would approve. For us, talking about Guy Owen is a way of talking about Southern Poetry Review.

No doubt about it, DON'T LEAVE HUNGRY: Fifty Years of Southern Poetry review, recently published by the University of Arkansas Press, makes an immediate impression on anyone who comes within a few feet of the book. Its cover design is composed of a Mark Rothko painting, Untitled, from 1953, Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Its title, too, surprises the eye. This is a poetry anthology? Not a cookbook? When you read the title poem, by Eleanor Ross Taylor, you will understand that this anthology offers nothing less than an invitation to feast on the art of poetry. James Smith, again, from his Introduction: Our anthology’s title derives from a poem in it by Eleanor Ross Taylor, a southern poet undervalued for years. I was delighted to find “Don’t Leave Hungry” as I read through SPR’s archives, selecting poems for this book. Not only is it strange and marvelous (that word again!) in its own right, but its commanding title has a “southern” ring to it that would satisfy Owen. Taylor’s niece, Heather Ross Miller, also in the anthology and a former staff member, described Owen as “always encouraging us and welcoming us toward that table where so many crowd and so few get fed.” Miller speaks of writers here and their desire for publication, but Owen also offered his journal as a table where he hoped readers would crowd and find plenty to feed them, no needto leave hungry.


(Eleanor Ross Taylor)

What else by way of enticement? Well, there's a foreword by Billy Collins. And dust jacket testimonials by Jane Hirschfield and Lee Smith, who says "No reader will leave this harvest table hungry--here is nourishment for all. ...These poems epitomize their eras yet move beyond, rise beyond as poetry always does, capturing time and place and lived life in a way no other art can manage."

And now for the "main course," as Guy Owen called them, arranged and introduced by decade, with Smith's usual clarity of style and presentation! As the dust jacket notes, this anthology "charts the development of this influential journal decade by decade, making clear that although it has close ties to a particular region, it has consistently maintained a national scope, publishing poets from all over the United States. SPR’s goal has been to celebrate the poem above all, so although there are poems by major poets here, there are many gems by less famous, perhaps even obscure, writers too. Here are 183 poems by nearly as many poets, from A. R. Ammons, Kathryn Stripling Byer, James Dickey, Mark Doty, Claudia Emerson, David Ignatow, and Carolyn Kizer to Ted Kooser, Maxine Kumin, Denise Levertov, Howard Nemerov, Sharon Olds, Linda Pastan, and Charles Wright."

But wait--why rush through a feast? In this first week of National Poetry Month, let's sit back and anticipate what waits for us tomorrow, several poems from this beautiful and generous anthology. And because these few poems I offer will, I hope, serve to whet the appetite for more, here is the publication information and a link to the University of Arkansas Press. (Copied article written by Kathryn Stripling Byer April 1, 2009.) 

Want to buy a copy? click on University of Arkansas Press URL

http://www.uapress.com/titles/sp09/smith-dlh.html

New Anthology of Appalachian Writing

Thursday, August 5, 2010

ECHOES FEATURED IN SYLVA HERALD

New anthology includes work by Byer, Carden, Crowe

By Lynn Hotaling

A new anthology of Appalachian writings includes work by several local writers.

“Echoes Across the Blue Ridge,” a collection of poems, stories and essays from the southern Appalachians, features poems by former N.C. Poet Laureate Kay Byer of Cullowhee; stories by Gary Carden of Sylva; and an essay by Tuckasegee writer Thomas Crowe.

A celebration of the book’s release from Winding Path Publishing is planned this Sunday, Aug. 8, from 5 until 8 p.m. at City Lights Bookstore. The volume was published with sponsorship and support from the N.C. Writers Network West, a chapter of the statewide N.C. Writers Network.

“Netwest members conceived this anthology, raised funds and brought it to fruition,” according to Nancy Simpson, the collection’s editor.

The anthology’s introduction is by author Robert Morgan, and its cover holds compliments from noted Southern writers Ron Rash and Lee Smith.

A new anthology, “Echoes Across the Blue Ridge,” a new poetry and prose collection, includes work by several local writers. A special book celebration is planned at City Lights Bookstore on Sunday, Aug. 8, from 5 until 8 p.m.

“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,” Rash writes.

“Straight from the land of sky, song and story, another dynamite collection – strong and surprising – these mountain writers know how to howl at the moon,” adds Smith.

In addition to Byer, Carden and Crowe, local contributors to “Echoes Across the Blue Ridge include James Cox, Carl Iobst and Arnie Nielsen. The remaining writers and poets reside within the nine counties south of Asheville, on the Qualla Boundary and in bordering counties of Georgia and South Carolina.

In his introduction, Morgan says the anthology, which places the writing of poet laureates like Byer and former Georgia Poet Laureate Bettie Sellers with the work of newcomers, gives him renewed confidence in the future of Appalachian literature.

“Beyond the storytelling, the ballads, the songs, the fiddle music, there is something profoundly poetic about the Southern Appalachian Mountains,” Morgan writes.

Byer, Carden and Crowe all said they are pleased with the book and proud to be among its writers.

“This anthology is a labor of love by Netwest, especially by Nancy Simpson, the editor,” Byer said. “This project took two years to bring to completion, and the effort was well worth the time. Here we have a diversity of voices ranging from the well known to the relatively unknown. Robert Morgan’s introduction is stellar, and the testimonials by novelists Lee Smith and Ron Rash hit the bull’s eyes, especially Lee’s: ‘These writers know how to howl at the moon.’ I hope Jackson county lovers of the word will come out on Aug. 8 to hear these literary howls echoing across the mountains.”

Crowe said he appreciates the anthology’s role in allowing new voices to be heard.

“One of the things that this highly inclusive anthology does is bring new voices (and they are many with both natives and ‘new natives’ sharing their stories and talents during a period that can only be seen as a kind of renaissance of writers here in these hills and surrounds) before the general public and to the fore in terms of chronicling the new life of our region as well as delineating the work to be done to preserve and protect the beauty and sustainability of Western North Carolina for future generations,”

Crowe said. “Having spent the majority of my life in these mountains, I am very pleased to be counted as one of the members of this writers community who writes passionately about this place.”

For his part, Carden termed the book “an impressive collection” and said he intends to invite its writers to read their work at the Liar’s Bench, his monthly storytelling and mountain culture event. In addition to contributing several of his stories to “Echoes Across the Blue Ridge,” Carden donated the proceeds from a special production of his play “Birdell” to NCWN West to help with costs involved in publishing “Echoes.” Carden said he was glad to help. “It’s wonderful when art nurtures art and produces another kind of art,” he said.

The anthology is dedicated to the memory of Appalachian ballad poet Byron Herbert Reece (1917-1958) whose poetry collection, “Bow Down in Jericho,” was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1950. “Echoes Across the Blue Ridge” includes several of Reece’s poems.

Participating writers will read from “Echoes Across the Blue Ridge: Stories, Essays, and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by the Southern Appalachian Mountains” during Sunday’s City Lights event.

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MESSAGE FOR POETS AND THOSE WHO LOVE TO READ POETRY BY SOUTHERN AND APPALACHIAN POETS

Hello Felow Poets and Friends of Poetry,

Living Above the Frost Line is a site that promotes poetry, especially poems written by Southern and Appalachian poets. Some poets featured in the past (found in the archive still) are Kathryn Stripling Byer, Bettie M. Sellers, John Stone, Janice Townley Moore, Glenda Barrett, Glenda Beall, and many others.

Ruth Moose of Chappel Hill, NC is the featured poet for the month of March, 2010.

Brenda Kay Ledford will be the featured poet in her birth month--April, 2010.

The featured poet is chosen by Nancy Simpson. Most of the poets featured are members of N C Writers Network West, have a book or books published and currently have a book for sale. They may be featured at any time, but birth month is preferred. It is not too soon or too late to have a few of your poems featured with a photo and a short bio. Short stories and memoir chapters are also sometimes reprinted, such as in the recently featured work of Dana Wildsmith.

To have your poetry featured and your book announced, please contact poet Nancy Simpson at

LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE. www.nancysimpson.blogspot.com or through e mail

communicaton at nancy.simpson38@yahoo.com.

See List of Writers Who Have Writing in Forthcoming in Anthology from the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Posted by Nancy Simpson

Hello Fellow NCWN West Members and Friends. I have been working as the editor on Netwest’s forthcoming anthology for about one year now, with the work arriving in my mailbox from December 1, 2008 to February 28, 2009. Getting a book published is a long process. Sometimes things move along like clockwork, but time stalled due to circumstances beyond our control. Still, I am happy to announce we are making progress and seeing our way clear 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, we have completed the proofreading process. The galley copy is being made at this time. We plan for publication in the new year.

An Introduction to Echoes Across the Blue Ridge has been written for us by Robert Morgan.Other North Carolina authors have endorsed the collection including Lee Smith, Ron Rash, and more comments are forthcoming.

These 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 Philip Sampson of Young Harris, Georgia

whose photograph was chosen for the cover.

Congratulations to Katja Holmes for her cover and book design

and for formatting the galley manuscript .

MORE NEWS WILL COME . STAY POSTED.