Pat Conroy said:

“American men are allotted just as many tears as American women. But because we are forbidden to shed them, we die long before women do, with our hearts exploding or our blood pressure rising or our livers eaten away by alcohol because that lake of grief inside us has no outlet. We, men, die because our faces were not watered enough.”
― Pat Conroy, Beach Music

Outstanding poets and poetry at Writers Night Out August 9

Rosemary Royston and Karen Paul Holmes, both well-published poets, will read from their new books at this month’s Writers’ Night Out at the Union County Community Center in Blairsville, GA. The two plan to do a coordinated reading, alternating their poems on similar subjects. The event takes place on August 9 with a social hour at 6 p.m. (dinner available for purchase) and reading at 7 p.m.  An open microphone follows for those who’d like to read their own writing. The public is welcome to this free event.

Karen Paul Holmes, founder and host of Writers’ Night Out, is a freelance writer, poet and teacher whose new poetry collection, Untying the Knot, was recently released by Aldrich Press and is available on Amazon. It’s a story of loss and healing, written, as one reviewer put it, “with grace, humor and without a dollop of self pity.” Holmes teaches at Writer’s Circle in Hayesville, NC, and the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. She also hosts a poetry workshop in Atlanta. Publishing credits include Poetry East, Atlanta Review, POEM, The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, and the Southern Poetry Anthology Vol 5: Georgia. She won a poetry grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation in 2012.

Rosemary Royston holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University and teaches at Young Harris College. Her poetry chapbook, Splitting the Soil (available through Finishing Line Press and Amazon) has been described as “Spiritual, sassy, smart, and so sure for a first collection.” Her poetry has appeared in many places, including Southern Poetry Review, The Comstock Review, Main Street Rag, Town Creek, KUDZU, New Southerner, Dark Sky Magazine, and the Southern Poetry Anthology, Volume V: Georgia. Two of her essays are included in Women and Poetry: Tips on Writing, Teaching and Publishing by Successful Women Poets (McFarland). 

Writers’ Night Outis sponsored by North Carolina Writers’ Network-West and normally takes place on the second Saturday of the month (third Saturday in October). Prose writers or poets wishing to participate in the open mic can sign up at the door to read for three minutes. The four-year-old event recently moved at the Union County Community Center at Butternut Creek Golf Course, 129 Union County Recreation Rd., Blairsville, Georgia 30512, off Highway 129 near the intersection of US 76, phone (706) 439-6092.  Signs will be posted to direct attendees to either the upstairs ballroom or A-B conference room for the event. For more information, please contact Karen Holmes at (404) 316-8466 or kpaulholmes@gmail.com.

I'm Scared. Aren't we all?

With a new class coming up at TCCC in August, I was reminded of a post by Nancy Purcell, wonderful writer and teacher from Brevard, NC.

She posted this: http://www.nancypurcellauthor.com/im-scared/

We are all afraid of something and many of us live our lives in fear of making mistakes, disappointing others, making a fool of ourselves and looking ridiculous, not having the talent to follow our dreams and so we don't take any risks or try to do what we want. 

Nancy's article is for all of us who halfway live our lives. How many never follow their passions and fulfill their hopes for themselves? Don't let it be you.

Writing class will be held at Tri-County Community College, Murphy, NC 

August 5 - 26, Tuesday afternoons, 6 - 8 p.m.

Contact Lisa now to register.  Lthompson@tricountycc.edu

See www.glendacouncilbeall.blogspot.com for more info

Karen Paul Holmes to teach weekend class at Folk School August 1 -3

Take note! If you have not attended a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School, where I attended writing classes for the past 19 years, this is an excellent time to come and take a class from poet and writer, Karen Holmes.

Karen Paul Holmes to Teach Weekend All-Genre Writing Class

Your Write Time
Itching to write, but can't find time? Or do you need a jumpstart to get you going? Give yourself the gift of a weekend devoted to writing. The instructor will provide inspiration, encouragement, writing prompts, editing tips, and one-on-one coaching. The Folk School provides the creative energy. Write here, then go home motivated to write more! For prose (fiction, non-fiction, memoir, blogging) or poetry. All levels welcome.

Ask the Folk School about 1/2 price tuition if you live in a near-by county.

Aug 1-Aug 3
For more info on the Folk School website, click here.  
or email kpaulholmesATgmailDOTCOM

Poets and Writers - July 9 - You are invited!

Coffee with the Poets and Writers is a monthly literary event held at Blue Mountain Restaurant in Cherokee County, NC on the corner of Hwy141 and Hwy 64.

On Wednesday, July 9, I, Glenda Beall, will read my poetry, some older poems and many new poems. I look forward to being at CWPW as I  have missed the last two meetings due to illness. We have had fun at this get-together of writers and those who enjoy writing for seven years.

One of my favorite guests is a man who recites poetry he memorized years ago. Some are clever, some are poignant and some are touching. He is a man who loves poetry and comes to listen and to share his favorites. 

At our open microphone session guests read a poem or a short prose piece. We give away door prizes - usually books of poetry- to some lucky person who signs our guest list.

This event is sponsored by NCWN West, our mountain chapter of the North Carolina Writers' Network, which also sponsors Writers Night Out facilitated by Karen Holmes.and held monthly in Blairsville, GA.

Everyone is invited to come out at 10:30  a.m. July 9 and participate in Open Mic and stay for lunch with us. See you soon.

Folk School Reading with Ledford and Simpson

Brenda Kay Ledford and Nancy Simpson gave delightful poetry readings tonight at the  John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. Several folk school students were present and many were from New York City. 

Brenda fulfilled their interests in mountain people and Appalachia with her poems about rural life, with images of nature, mountains, quilts, and lifestyles of her own family. Brenda has won many awards for her poetry and its historical value to this region.

Nancy Simpson has been writing and working on a new manuscript. She read some recently written poems and some of the older poems published in literary magazines and in her three poetry books.

Lucy Gratton prepared a program for the guests attending tonight's event. This monthly reading is sponsored by the North Carolina  Writers' Network West, the  mountain chapter of the state literary organization.  A large crowd turned out for two of our area's most prolific and most popular poets. 

Blue Ridge Mountain Poet featured

Blogger and poet, Brenda Kay Ledford, posted an interesting photo essay on Byron Herbert Reece and the farm and heritage center recently built to honor his life. 

Click here to enjoy and learn about a poet you might not know.

Thanks Brenda Kay for sharing your excellent photography and facts about the outstanding mountain poet. I think his life would make an excellent movie for Hallmark. 

C. Hope Clark on the word Self

I admire C. Hope Clark, author of the Carolina Slade Mystery series and publisher of Funds for  Writers which I've subscribed to for years. Her blog posts are instructive and interesting. She has written a post on the word Self. I think you will gain some insight into all your selves when you read Hope's essay here.