Gread Reading at John C. Campbell last night

For the first time in a while, I went out to a reading last night. Nadine Justice, author of I'm a Coal Miner's Daughter, But I Cain't Sang, was delightful and the audience loved her. She has a sense of humor that comes through in her writing. 

Mary Ricketson, one of my very favorite poets, always brings me to tears when she reads poems about her only child, her son who is super smart and won a scholarship to MIT or one of those big colleges. I feel I've watched him grow up from a boy by reading and listening to Mary read her poems about him. 

I told her last night that, although I've not had a child, she touches my maternal instinct or maybe it is my growing up with a mother like Mary. I saw my mother go through all the angst of teenagers making mistakes she couldn't prevent, seeing hurts she couldn't heal, and just giving them all the love a mother can give. I know Mother prayed for her children. I was one of her main worries. Always wearing my emotions on my shoulders, I came to Mother to ease my pain when I was hurt. 

Mary's son is grown and on his own now, but her poems about him continue to show a strong bond between mother and son.
The Journal of Kentucky Studies has published one of Mary's poems, her first in a literary journal. That was the first literary journal that published one of my poems. In fact the editor, Gary Walton, has published a number of my poems over the years. And I am grateful.

Nadine's book, which I watched develop from the beginning, has memorable stories about her own childhood with a mother she couldn't relate to, and a father she adored. In her memoir about her life growing up in the coal camps, then her travels overseas, and her failed marriages, I see another strong woman like Mary. Nadine has two daughters and I'm sure she has prayed many times for her children. I find her book extremely interesting and by the mail she has received, others find it a good read, too. 

Anyway,  I am so glad I went out to hear these fine writers share their work last night. I appreciate all those who came and really appreciate the Folk School for hosting Netwest each month.

And thanks to Linda Smith who schedules the readings.
  

  

Mary Ricketson and Nadine Justice will read at JCCFS Thursday night

JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL

Mary Ricketson, Poet and writer

              On Thursday, February 21, 2013,  John Campbell Folk School  and  NC Writers Network West sponsor the monthly reading in the Keith House by members of NCWN. The reading is free of charge and open to the public.  Poets Mary Ricketson and writer, Nadine Justice will be the featured readers.  

Mary Ricketson’s poetry has been published in her chapbook, I Hear the River Call My Name, Lights in the Mountains, Freeing Jonah IV, Freeing Johah V, Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future Cycle Press,Your Daily Poem, Journal of Kentucky Studies, various magazines and in Disorgananza, a private collection distributed among family and friends.  She won the gold medal for poetry in the 2011 Cherokee County Senior Games/Silver Arts.  She won first place in the 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest national poetry contest.

Mary writes a monthly column, Woman to Woman, for The Cherokee Scout.  She is a member of the North Carolina Writers Network, a mental health counselor, and a farmer.

Mary says she writes to satisfy a hunger, to taste life all the way down to the last drop.  She gains perspective from family and friends, her Appalachian home, and her life’s work as a counselor.

Writing poetry places her in kinship with her own life.

Mary Ricketson is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Murphy, North Carolina.  She brings more than thirty years experience to her work, with twenty-five years in private practice.  She is a founding board member of  REACH.  She has a special interest in women’s issues, victims of abuse, and family and couple relationships.  She offers innovative ways to effect change in difficult life patterns, including Journey to Intuition and Neurofeedback.  She is listed in Who’s Who in American Women.

Nadine Justice

Nadine Justice divides her time between a mountain-top cottage in north Georgia and her home in Atlanta. For the past few years she has worked on a memoir which was published last year. Excerpts have been published in an anthology by the Georgia Mountain Writers Club. She also enjoys a successful career as an interior designer. Her design work has been featured twice in Better Homes and Gardens and in Atlanta Custom Home magazines.

Nadine grew up in West Virginia and is the daughter of a coal miner. She is married to a retired federal agent, and enjoys spending time with her four “perfect” grandchildren.

Nadine is a new member of the North Carolina Writers' Network. She will share portions of her book, I'm a coal Miner's Daughter, But I Cain't Sang, at the reading on Thursday night. 

POETRY CLASS AT JCCFS APRIL 12 - NEEDS MORE STUDENTS

Check out this poetry class at John C. Campbell Folk School on the weekend of April 12. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?

We hear it will get cancelled unless more students sign up. Take this opportunity, if you live in the local area, to get the 1//2 price fee. Here's the description:

MITAKUYE OYASIN: POETRY AND THE NATURAL WORLD 

"Mitakuye Oyasin" is a Lakota Sioux prayer translated, "We are all related." It's a prayer of gratitude for all living things. In that spirit, enjoy the poetry of Wendell Berry, Mary Oliver, and others as we explore the poetic voices of the natural world. Using science and history, we'll investigate how writing poetry can reveal and deepen our relationship to this amazing planet. We'll gain inspiration from early spring in the mountains by taking our classroom outdoors on peaceful walks. All levels welcome. 

Instructor: Mary Carroll-Hackett: Mary earned her MFA from Bennington College in Vermont in 2003. She now teaches creative writing at Longwood University in Virginia, where she founded "The Dos Passos Review," edits for Briery Creek Press, and administers the Liam Rector First Book Prize for Poetry. Mary's fiction has appeared in "The Carolina Quarterly," "Clackamas Literary Review," "The Pedestal Magazine," and other literary journals. She is the author of several books and chapbooks, most recently "The Real Politics of Lipstick" from Slipstream Press

.

LINDA SMITH - reads at Coffee with the Poets Hayesville

Linda Smith of Hayesville, NC is the featured reader at Coffee with the Poets on Wednesday, February 13, 10:30 a.m. at Blue Mountain Restaurant in Murphy, NC. Linda is a published poet. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals. She has been an active member of NCWN West for a number of years. At present she schedules the monthly folk school readings at John C. Campbell Folk School and is an excellent MC for this event.

LINDA SMITH, POET AND WRITER

Linda's poems capture a human feeling or a moment in time here in the southern Appalachian mountains. She says her writing is inspired by the place where she lives. Linda has been a student of Nancy Simpson for years and her writing has blossomed.

Coffee with the Poets will be held in a new venue, Blue Mountain Restaurant corner of Hwy 141 and US 64 Alternate near the Murphy Medical Center across from Tri-County College in Cherokee County. Come out and support this event and enjoy Linda's reading. Open mic is held after the reading so guests are invited to bring a poem or a short prose piece to share. Those who just want to listen are most welcome as well. Stay for lunch. The food is good at Blue Mountain. 

This writing event has been sponsored by North Carolina Writers' Network West, chapter of the state literary organization, NCWN since 2007. 

Another Poetry Book by Robert S. King forthcoming

I have the pleasure of posting an article by my friend Robert S. King. He is to be congratulated, again, for another book of his fine poetry to be published soon. Following are Robert's words.

I am pleased to announce that just this month I signed a contract with Sweatshoppe Publications, a new and very hard-working publisher. They have scheduled my book of poetry, One Man’s Profit, for publication by the end of February 2013. More information is available at the publisher's website.  An order link is forthcoming.

One Man’s Profit is my sixth collection of poetry and contains poems written during the past two years. The manuscript went through many revisions and versions. I wish to thank several folks who read and/or commented on the book, helping me to get it into shape. My appreciation goes to Nancy Simpson, Diane Kistner, Scott Owens, David Chorlton, and Joanne Lowery for their input.

Obviously, a poet must promote his work, so I have already scheduled six reading events and will post those dates on my website's calendar in the near future.

When the book is available for sale, I hope you will support this new publisher and this old poet.

******************************************************

Robert, with age comes wisdom. We will enjoy One Man's Profit as we have enjoyed all of your poetry.

Keep Dreaming - Reach for your goal - No matter your age.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
                                           - C.S. Lewis

This week I received a call from a local radio station. A nice woman asked if I could help her get local writers to appear on her morning talk show. I told her I thought I could.

I received a call today asking if writers might be interested in an event with other artists on the square in Hayesville to promote their work. I know I would be interested in promoting my work, my writing studio and my published writing. Perhaps we will have the opportunity.

A writer and dear friend asked me to accompany her to an event in Hendersonville, NC in February where we will both speak to a large group. I look forward to that, and hopefully to seeing some of my friends in Netwest while I am there.

What makes us go on each day, even when life has punched us in the solar-plexus? What makes us continue to dream about what tomorrow holds and what we can accomplish?

Some days I awake with pain in every muscle and tendon in my body. Other days I awake and want to pull the covers over my head and hope I don't have to see anyone all day. But those things have nothing to do with age. I had those same symptoms when I was much younger. Back then I often gave in to those painful days. Now, I know that time is precious. Today is gone quickly and will never be here again. So I force myself to think about the list I have made of things I want to get done today.

Some things on my list are not part of my dreams. I might have to see a doctor, keep an appointment with an accountant, make a call that I've already postponed, take my car in for repairs, but I remind myself that sometime during this day I will have the opportunity to brighten someone's day, with a smile or a word of appreciation. I might receive good news, get invited to read, to teach, to speak on writing. And before I go to sleep, I will take the time to write. Writing always brightens my day.

Dear Readers, I appreciate each one of you who stops in and visits here, and I really appreciate your comments. 

 

Ash Rothlein, World War II Veteran, awarded French Legion of Honor Medal

Today I received an email from a former student and now a wonderful friend, Ash Rothlein, Veteran of WW II. Ash has just received the French Legion of Honor Medal at a ceremony at the Miami Biltmore Hotel. 

Ash was in my class in 2008 having come to learn to write about his life. He had never written anything other than technical reports and such for his work. He is retired from owning and managing his own successful business. His friends said he wrote good letters, he told the class with a smile. I suggested he write about his life just as if he were writing letters to his friends. And he did.

His vivid images of  events and his experiences while serving in the military during World War II, and the emotions he provoked in his class mates will always stay with me. He is in his late 80s now, but he has plenty of life to live yet. He plans to go to France, to Normandy, for his 90th birthday, and he is in training every day for the walk up that beach where so many of his comrades lost their lives. He wants to do this in memory of those who died there. Ash doesn't think of this medal as his. He intends this medal to be given and placed on a statue recognizing those heroes.

Ash's dear wife, Liz, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, but she is his biggest supporter. Liz said the writing class changed Ash's life forever. When he realized that others were interested in his stories, his past, his life became more meaningful to him, and he has a mission that keeps him going every day. His story has been published in numerous newspapers with photos of him as a young soldier and him as he is today. 

Ash has been invited to speak at colleges where the students find his talks riveting and he has received mail from many of them. The following is an email telling about the ceremony where he was awarded the French Legion of Honor Award.

French Legion of Honor Award

Honorees - Ash Rothlein seated second from left front row.

WWII Veteran Ash Rothlein wears his medal proudly with wife Liz

"I just want to report that this past Monday the French Legion of Honor Medal ceremony was held in the Miami Biltmore Hotel at noon. It was a gracious affair sponsored by the French Consulate with the General Consul as the Master of Ceremonies and Major General Disalvo of the Southern Command. 

Ten of us were honored reverently and the crowd of friends family and invitees along with major press coverage made for a stimulating and inspirational affair. I attached a sample of photos taken and more will come as I receive them.

The best part was that I was able to bring Liz and she enjoyed it thoroughly.  We hope your winter is not too severe and that you are all keeping warm in your cuddle wraps by a roaring fireplace when it is cold. With this event behind me I am now working on stage two which I will bring you up to date on when we return in early March."

"Ash"

We look forward to stage two of your plans, Ash, and thanks for keeping us up to date. I love the photos and am sending hugs to you both. Glenda

Where have our bookstores gone? Will we save those that are left?

Yesterday I visited two bookstores in our area. The one closest to home, Phillips and Lloyd books on the square in Hayesville, NC is closing its doors at the end of this month. I am personally saddened by this because Elizabeth and her husband, Joe, have been, not only good people to have in our community, but good for our town. They   organized and formed a merchants association and made Hayesville a better place to visit any time of the year. 

They say they are ready to retire. I think they have struggled like all  independent book stores with the rise of Amazon and the difficulty for small stores to compete. We the buyers are the losers when we buy from Amazon and ignore our own local bookstores. 

Later in the afternoon, I dropped in to see Linda Ray, owner of Curiosity Shop Bookstore in Murphy, located at 46 Valley River Ave. where you will find the Shoppes of Murphy. Linda says her shelves hold half the books she had last year. She can order books she doesn't have in stock. Her distributors don't handle as many books as they once did.

Linda, like Elizabeth at Phillips and Lloyd, has been supportive of our local writers. She stocks well-written books by people who write about western North Carolina. Tourists come in and want books with local color. She is not too fond of run of the mill memoirs. They must have something special about them to grace the shelves of Curiosity Shop Books. 

What many people don't know is that they can order books online from Linda and she can get them quickly. Visit her website and see what she has to offer. I was pleased to see that she has Anne Lamott's new book, Help, Thanks, Wow at a discounted price. I am reading one of Lamott's books I received for Chrismas.

I hope readers in our area will do all they can to support Linda's bookstore. She has gift items available. She carries the NCWN West anthology, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, and has recently come upon a few copies of the first Netwest anthology, Lights in the Mountains. This is a rare opportunity to buy this book which is out of print. 

My book signing at Phillips and Lloyd

Both Phillips and Lloyd and Curiosity Shop Books are precious to us who live here and love to browse a good bookstore. Phillips and Lloyd hosted our first Coffee with the Poets events in the warm dessertery where we feasted upon delectable pastries and tasty teas and coffee. They sold many poetry books by local poets. 

Poets gather at Phillips and Lloyd with Elizabeth on far right.

Curiosity Shop Books hosted our writers on many occasions and has held numerous book signings for local writers and those not so local. I hope that my readers will stop in and thank Linda Ray for supporting all of us these many years. And stop in to Phillips and Lloyd on the square in Hayesville, for a good buy right now. Everything in the store is on sale. Thank Elizabeth for all she has done for writers in western North Carolina. We will miss that bookstore more than we can ever imagine.