Writers Circle around the table

Scott Owens on blog by Robert Brewer, editor of Writers Digest

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:02:00 +0000

Below is a link to an article by poet and editor, Scott Owens, and includes some of his poetry.
http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/2012/01/bending-rules-or-poet-has-to-be-poet.html

If you are not familiar with Robert Brewer, he is editor at Writers Digest.

I subscribe to Writers Digest and to Writer Magazine. I enjoy the articles and find them useful for my classes with beginning writers and seniors who want to write about their lives.

Robert Brewer is from the Atlanta area and many of us enjoyed his workshop at the Blue Ridge Writers Conference in 2011 in Blue Ridge, GA.

Time to Cut the Clutter with Rebecca

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:11:00 +0000

Coming home from vacation means unpacking, doing laundry, and getting back into the groove of responsibilities. The first day back I felt like I had run a race and all the adrenaline had drained from my body. I just wanted to lie in bed all day, but I couldn’t do that. I used the time to pay some bills. But felt limp and useless.

As my little family has dwindled down to Tiger and me, I don’t feel a need to be here all the time. I would pack up and take another trip tomorrow if I could afford to go.
The bright light in this house right now is Rebecca, my assistant and houseguest. She has that amazing quality of youth – boundless energy. She absolutely loves to cook – and she does. She has made pasta dishes, stuffed peppers, a wonderful quinoa dish, pork medallions with apricot sauce, and today she made the best meatballs I’ve ever tasted. How delightful to eat a meal that I didn’t make and to have such nice company when I eat.

This is Rebecca driving us to Florida. She is an excellent driver.

Beginning Monday we will continue our de-cluttering. She is efficient and wastes no time. I hope that what I keep will be much easier to find when I want it. I like that she labels every thing and puts all like thinks together.
I feel a bit like the children when Mary Poppins dropped in. She made everything much better and then she flew away just as Rebecca will leave me as she continues her travels this year.
I recommend her to anyone who needs help de-cluttering closets or organizing their belongings. Just contact me if you want to reach her.
*************************************
I am planning my class at Tri-County College starting in March and also setting up a schedule for Coffee wit the Poets and Writers Circle.
We have Robert S. King teaching at Writers Circle in March. Bob Groves reads at Coffee with the Poets. Other dates I still have to reconcile with the instructors. I see a bright and interesting year ahead.

I’ll not teach at Writers Circle as I plan to get another book of poems out this year. I hope it will be successful, in that many readers will find something that touches their spirit and makes the book worth while.

The dreary days of January will be made happier with our plans for the future, watching for new experiences and opportunities. Already I see new things in the offing and I can’t wait to make those things happen.

www.glendacouncilbeall.blogspot.com
www.profilesandpedigrees.blogspot.com

Writing Class begins March 15 at Tri-County in Murphy

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:35:00 +0000

Beginning March 15, join me in a writing course at Tri-County Community College in Murphy, NC. The course is part of the Community Enrichment Program.

Time: Thursdays, 6:30 pm until 8:30 p.m. -- March 15 - April 26

The college is about half way between Hayesville and Murphy, NC.

Call to register: Main Campus Community Enrichment (828) 835-4313

Write What You Like: This class is designed to fulfill your writing dreams and projects, whether it’s fiction, memoir, or articles. You’ll also get feedback on your work and learn revision tools. Receive the knowledge and inspiration you need to put your words on paper. Each week, writing prompts will generate material for new writing or further a piece in process. Through examples of accomplished writers, you’ll learn techniques to aid you in your own writing.

Instructor: Glenda Beall

Back home from a nice vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:11:00 +0000

Please forgive me for falling behind in updating my Schedules and Workshops pages. I have taken some time off this winter and had my first real vacation since 2009. But I am back home and will catch up on everything shortly.

Had a great time in sunny Florida and came home to warm weather here in the mountains. I'm not even unpacked yet, so be patient with me. I'll get caught up soon.

Thanks for stopping in and reading my blog. I appreciate each one of you. Please let me know if you have any questions about upcoming workshops and classes. Contact me at Nightwriter0302@yahoo.com

Beautiful Tampa Bay with Skyline bridge in distance

Register for Workshop with Robert S. King on March 17

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Robert S. King will teach at Writers Circle on Saturday afternoon, March 17, 1:00 - 4:00. His subject will include how to prepare your poetry manuscript for publishing.
We have had poets asking for such a class and I hope everyone will register early.

The cost is only $25.00. Robert is a professional poet who owns Future Cycle Press where he publishes some of the best poets.
Send your check to Writers Circle, 581 Chatuge Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904.
Space is limited.

Read more about Robert at www.futurecyclepress.com

The Cure was worse than the Virus

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Computers have become such a part of our lives that we can hardly live without them, it seems. A nasty virus hit my laptop last week and I finally had to take it to be cleared out. Little did I know the technition would clean out my entire hard drive causing me to lose everything except the data they saved and restored.
When my computer was returned to me, I had none of the Microsoft Office programs including Word. My printers don't work now and I am having a devil of a time trying to download drivers and get things going again. Hopefully Rebecca can help me get things back to normal in a few days.
Barry had Photoshop installed on this machine and now it is gone and I can't find any software to reload it.
Well, enough venting for now. I am thoroughly enjoying my assistant, Rebecca, who is staying with me this winter. She is a lovely young woman with an easy going manner that makes having her here a real joy for me. She likes helping others and is quite efficient.
Read her blog, Renaissance Rebecca, listed on the sidebar of Writers Circle.

NEW YEAR'S EVE

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:23:00 +0000

New Year’s Eve

With Champagne toasts
rowdy revelers
prepare for another
bright new year.

Loved ones, dear friends,
from years gone by
appear to me
at midnight.

Nostalgia
grips me in its glove.
Auld Lang Syne
evokes my tears.

This party is a wake
for the passing of time.
Celebrating is not in me.

--------Glenda Beall, 2011

Who lighted the flame within you?

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:12:00 +0000

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark

from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep

gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

                                    ~ Albert Schweitzer

I begin with Nancy Simpson, Janice Moore, Carol Crawford, Richard Argo, Steve Harvey, Maureen Ryan Griffin, and other writers who sparked the flame of writng in me.
Later when my light was so dim I wasn't sure it would survive the storm within me,  my sisters, Gay and June, Lee Hunter and Lyn Hunter, Michelle Keller, Stu Moring, Ginny my guardian angel, Ash, Nadine and Vicki, Alice and Marsha, Dick and Linda, all helped me hold it together, and they sparked the flame to flare again. I think of all of them with deepest gratitude.
Supporting me also were JC Walkup, Kay Byer, Nancy Purcell, Paul Donovan, Estelle Rice, Maren Mitchell, and all my wonderful students who have passed through Writers Circle.
Without the support and guidance of Maureen Ryan Griffin, Writers Circle would have been a much larger challenge. I am grateful for my relationship with Tipper Pressley who has been a joy, huge supporter and technical helper for my blogs.

Is there any one of us who doesn't have cause to think with deep

gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us?

We had fun in Sylva, City Lights Books, Coffee with the Poet

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:14:00 +0000

We had a great time in Sylva at Coffee with the Poet. Six contributors to Celia Miles' and Nancy Dillingham's Women's Spaces Women's Places read poems, short stories and essays. Kathryn Byer, a contributor to the anthology, hosted the event. Newton Smith, treasurer for Netwest, was back in the country after a trip to Italy, and present today.
The room was filled with writers, poets and friends of writers. Jennifer McGaha read her piece from the anthology on the subject of running. I was happy to see Martha O'Quinn from Henderson County and JC Walkup, editor and publisher from Canton, NC. JC has the funniest story in this anthology. We laughed out loud as she read about buying bath towels in an upscale shop, one that did not display price tags.

Celia Miles and Nancy Dillingham hold copies of their book

I was on the far right side, but cut myself out of photo. My eyes were closed.

See you at City Lights on Thursday, Dec. 15

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:10:00 +0000

I'd love to meet you.

I will be at City Lights Books in Sylva, NC, Thursday, December 15, at 10:30 a.m. with other writers in the anthology Women's Places, Women's Spaces. Others who will be reading that day are Beth Moore, Jennifer McGaha, and Susan Lefler.

Contact Celia Miles for more information. http://www.celiamiles.com/

I'd love to sign your copy of this lovely book.

WNC WOMAN REVIEWS ECHOES ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:41:00 +0000

We are very happy to read the review of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, essays, stories and poems by writers living in and inspired by the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Book Review

WNC Woman

People whose voices still echo across these Blue Ridge Mountains.
www.wncwoman.com/2011/12/01/book-review-3/

Many of my writing friends have work in this book, and the compliments continue to pour in. As marketing director for Netwest, I have worked hard for two years in an attempt to get this book on the shelves of book stores, gift shops, and any place where the book might be appreciated by those who shop there. Representatives from all over the nine counties west of Asheville have done a tremendous job of distributing the books.

One of my best customers in Towns County, Georgia is Mary's Southern Grill. Mary's gift shop continues to order and sell this beautiful book. If any of my readers know of a retail store that carries books that appeal to tourists or good regional books, please let me know. We are in our second and probably last printing of the book, so when we sell out of our inventory, there will be no more.

The book reviewer for WNC Women, Mary Ickes, liked Echoes, edited by Nancy Simpson, and mentions many of the contributors and their work.

Correction to the review: The writers says the book includes only Netwest members. The submission call went out to all writers in the region served by NCWN West and writers who are not members are also included.

Give books for Christmas this year and include some of our regional writers.

Shop Indie book stores this Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:58:00 +0000

My readers know I always urge you to shop at your Independent Book stores.
To see the top selling books for 2011 at your Indie booksellers, visit this site:
http://www.authorsroundthesouth.com/bestsellers/7985-southern-indie-bestseller-list-11202011

The list includes hardback and paperback and children's books. Order one from a local bookstore. They need your support more than Amazon does.
City Lights Books in Sylva is a wonderful place to order books. http://www.nccitylightsbooks.com/

In Murphy, NC, Curiosity Books is another great place to shop. You can order online and if you live in the neighborhood, drop by and see the wide selection of books and gifts Linda has on hand.

In our town of Hayesville, NC stop by to see Elizabeth at Phillips and Lloyd. She will order your book for you and you will have it in no time. Phillips and Lloyd has a great new website that makes ordering easy. Remember that books make wonderful gifts.

In Franklin, NC, you will find Books Unlimited, 60 E Main St, Franklin, NC 28734
828-369-7942
This store has served the literary needs of the area for years. They stock the books of most local area writers.

Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville is a fine store. I could spend the day there browsing and eating and drinking coffee.

All of these book stores carry Echoes Across the Blue Ridge. If you don't have a copy, look for it when you stop in to shop. One reviewer says she had never read an anthology where she liked every single poem and story in it. She found it difficult to single out certain ones to mention in her review.

Do you shop Indie book stores?

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:05:00 +0000

Thursday, December 1, will be the final class for the present Creative Writing course.
We will hold a two hour class 10:00a.m. - 12:00 on non-fiction, memoir writing, and from noon until 2:00 p.m. we will discuss publishing - all kinds - all ways - and the pitfalls to be aware of in self publishing.
If you are not already enrolled in this course, but would like to attend either or both classes on December 1, please email for registration info.

Writers Circle will not hold classes again until next spring.
Join me at Tri-County Community College for a seven week writing course in April, 2012. Gosh, can it be as close as it seems?

We will have another great season of writing courses next year. Check with us so you don't miss anything.
You can contact me at nightwriter0302@yahoo.com with any questions.

THANKS! SUBSCRIBERS

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:31:00 +0000

We have a number of new subscribers to Writers Circle and I appreciate every one of you. E-mail if you have suggestions or problems that I might help with.
I appreciate your reading my posts. Let me know what topics you like best.
Glenda

Your Daily Poem has more than a daily poem

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

If you haven't visited Jayne Jaudon Ferrer's site http://www.yourdailypoem.com/ and clicked on all the pages available, you are missing a treat. I subscribe to YDP and receive my daily poem in my Inbox, but tonight I took some time to check out the full website.
So much of interest there! I clicked on the Store page. Good books on poetry, framed poems by poets who have been published on YDP, including mine!!
She has a Poetry News page. Did you know a documentary on Carl Sandburg was released this summer? I missed that. I should be reading Jayne's website more often.
She has an Open Mic page where poets send in poems for critique. Maybe you'd like to do that and see what the readers say about it. Or just read the poems that have been sent in for critique.
I think it is safe to say that Jayne's website is about all things poetry.

Writers' Conference - What I enjoyed and You would, too

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:38:00 +0000

I wish all my students had been at the NCWN Fall Conference this past weekend. Fabulous faculty, outstanding writers and poets on panels, giving critiques, and best of all, getting to know writers from all over North Carolina and many other states.

I had hoped to attend a few sessions on Saturday, but our Netwest volunteers had signed up for classes, and I couldn't ask them to skip and man the Netwest table for me to have time away. The good part of sitting at the table was meeting so many writers, publishers and others connected with NCWN. Everyone who came in passed our table. New wanna-be writers enjoyed talking and telling their hopes and dreams. I enjoyed answering their questions. Often we sold books to people who had seen Echoes Across the Blue Ridge online. Some opened the table of contents and smiled as they recognized the names in the book. One young woman who had recently moved to Fletcher NC, had not realized she now lived in the Netwest area. She was delighted and couldn't wait to put the Netwest sticker on her name tag.

If you are a serious writer or want to be a serious writer, begin now to save your money for the next NCWN Fall Conference. I don't know the date yet, or the place where it will be held, but I hope to go and I'd love to take some of you with me.

Visit my other blog, http://www.profilesandpedigrees.blogspot.com/ and read more about my relationship with NCWN and attending the Fall Conferences over the years.

Death doesn't play fair - It takes the young who never had time to live

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:26:00 +0000

We are blessed who have had a normal life and our experiences with death have gone according to plan.
My mother and father raised seven children. None of their children died before their parents. Things worked out chronologically as they should.
My mother died at the age of 80, my father passed away two years later. She died quite suddenly after a walk. My father died from complications of pneumonia.

They lived to see all of their kids grown and married with successful lives. They were proud of their children and proud of themselves because all seven children completed high school and four of them obtained college degrees.

Recently a young local woman, only 25 year old, and a newlywed, lost her brief battle with cancer. She knew from the day of diagnosis that she was fighting an incurable disease. But Jessie did not take that diagnosis and sit down to die.

I first met Jessie Garrett through her newspaper columns with the Clay County Progress. I followed her blog and eventually followed her rough journey on Facebook. In her last posts she asked for prayers that the clinical trials she was a part of might have the answers for her. But later her doctors told her to go home and prepare for the end of her life. I wept. So many admired this upbeat, never-give-up, inspiring woman and we wonder again, why do the good die young?

As I think about her parents and siblings, I give thanks that all of my brothers and sisters grew to adulthood, married and, those who wanted them, had children. Although I am still grieving the deaths of my brothers, I appreciate the fact that I had them for so long. Two were in their seventies and one in his eighties.

None of them died out of order. None of them died as young men. How hard it must be to lose a child, to outlive your children is not the way it should be, but Jessie's folks have buried their bright, fun-loving and compassionate daughter.
I hope she knew how much her courage affected all who read her columns and posts online. My husband had just been diagnosed with lymphoma when I read Jessie's column in the local paper. I followed her religiously as we were going through much of what she did. She and I exchanged a few emails. The many tests, the chemo, the radiation, the fear, the ups and downs, and all the many emotions she expressed so well in her writing were happening to Barry.

He read her articles and remembered things she said. Atavan was terrific for those going through cancer Jessie said. Barry found that to be true as his pain worsened and his fear of more pain filled him with anxiety.
From the beginning she knew her Cancer was considered incurable. Barry was told by his oncologist that his cancer could be put into remission, and he would have to treat it for the rest of his life, but gave us no hint that he would be dead in one year.

Jessie outlived Barry although their struggle paralleled for one year. Barry had many people praying for him and he believed those prayers would pull him through.
Perhaps Jessie thought the same things. She had many, many followers who prayed for her.
Although my life has been wonderful, and I had a great man for 45 years, I am also grateful for my living sisters and one brother and my sisters and brothers- in- law.
Jessie met and married an unusual man who gave her all he could in the short time they had together. My heart goes out to him and to Jessie's family. I know their hearts must be broken and I offer them my sympathy, my best wishes and hope they will find peace in time..

Coffee with the Poets made a big splash this month

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Wednesday was Coffee with the Poets day in Hayesville, NC at Cafe Touche.
Mary Mike Keller, one of the Writers Circle faculty, along with a long time friend, Glenda Barrett, each read their original work for a packed house.

This event is sponsored by Netwest and has been running since 2007. Over the years we enjoyed local poets and writers as well as guests who traveled many miles to read here.

I am excited that two of my students, Nadine Justice and Barb Gabriel read at open mic and their work was evidently appreciated by the warm applause each received.

We gave a door prize yesterday - a copy of The Best of Poetry Hickory, an anthology of poets who read in 2011 at Poetry Hickory held at Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse in Hickory, NC. This event is led by Scott Owens, poet and NCWN rep for that area.
I am happy that the winner of the book was none other than Nancy Simpson, my mentor and teacher of poetry.

I am posting a few photos from yesterday.

Glenda Barrett, poet, When the Sap Rises, chapbook from Finishing Line Press

Mary Mike Keller reads an essay on spooky stories

Robert S. King, FutureCycle Press, and newcomer, Dot James.

Nancy Simpson visits with Netwest members Joan Howard and Carolyn Johnson

What do you fear? Do you have Phobias?

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 05:48:00 +0000

Do you have fears, irrational fears? Do you fear something you have never told anyone about?
What about a phobia? Do you check the doors several times at night before you can fall asleep?
Read my post on Writing Life Stories.
Let me hear what you are afraid of or what made you scared when you were a child.
Click on the link above and leave your thoughts at the comment section.

Paid Vacation? Cut short my pity party

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

I left my calendar blank this week because I had planned to take Rocky, resident dog at Writers Circle, and head north for a few days of vacation before the weather turns too cold.
But vet bills for Rocky and Tiger changed my plans. I went from plan A to plan B.
I would stay home and I would not make appointments. Leave your days free, I told myself. Use this free time to write, to take those ideas prompted by Maureen's class Saturday and create poetry or essays or short fiction. Work on those projects that have been floating around in your head.
As you know, if you are a writer, a home retreat is impossible. It is especially impossible for me at this time. For weeks I've been working toward making an office upstairs. The painting has been done. The furniture is in place, but the boxes filled with papers, books, and who knows what else, are piled up against my dining room wall. I am determined not to fill my nice neat office with clutter - at least not right now.
Today I handled paper all day. I'm glad I finally opened all those envelopes from the Insurance companies. My first inclination was to toss them because I thought they were just those Explanation of Benefits showing what doctors had been paid.
But, some of them actually contained checks. Wow! I was paid for opening all those envelopes. That helped end my pity party.
So, my vacation has turned into a working week after all. Still have three more loads of laundry, more boxes to go through, blinds to order for the windows, shopping to do and only when it is late at night do I find the time to write a post for this blog.

I am happy however, to hear that Kathryn Byer is posting a poem of mine on her new site, The Mountain Woman. Hop over there and read it. Let me know what you think.

Great article on Scott Owens in Pirene's Fountain Poetry Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:27:00 +0000

Scott Owens, poet, teacher, editor and facilitator, taught a workshop at Writers Circle in October. All of our students enjoyed and learned a great deal from Scott who has authored seven books of poetry.
Pirene's Fountain Poetry Journal included an interview with Scott and a number of his poems in their recent issue. The article is well-written and interesting. Find the article here

Get acquainted with Scott and with Pirene's Fountain, an online journal published twice a year.

City Lights Events in Sylva, NC

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:28:00 +0000

I receive the listing of events from City Lights Books in Sylva NC only a few miles over the mountains from where I live. The bookstore is one of the best Independent Book stores around. If you can't find the book you want there, but you likely will, they can order it for you. You can order online. Just visit their website. Chris and his staff welcome our writers and support local writers. They hold Coffee with the Poet on the third Thursday of the month at 10:30 AM. Their guests are poets and prose writers.
Contact Chris at City Light ( more@citylightsnc.com ) to learn more about this event. Perhaps you could be the featured guest.

Excerpt from Newsletter:
Join us Saturday, November 19th at 2 p.m. as we celebrate the new edition of Camping and Woodcraft by Horace Kephart. Included in the new edition are over 40 historic photgraphs taken by Kephart and George Masa. Many of these images were recently discovered and never before published. Also included is a wonderful new cover image featuring the work of Elizabeth Ellison and an 80-page introduction by Kephart scholars George Ellison and Janet McCue.

Local historian George Frizzell will join George and Elizabeth Ellison for the celebration at City Lights.

--

City Lights Bookstore

828-586-9499

3 East Jackson Street

Sylva, NC 28779

more@citylightsnc.com
Open 9 am to 9 pm Monday-Saturday, and 10 am to 3 pm Sunday

* Now you don't have to choose between buying eBooks and supporting your local, independent bookseller! Order e-books for your Nook, iPad, iPhone, Android, netbook, notebook, desktop, and more! Shop locally at

http://www.blogger.com/www.citylightsnc.com

Saturday workshop with Maureen sent us home filled with motivation and inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Thanks to Maureen Ryan Griffin for a wonderful workshop Saturday at Writers Circle. Everyone of us came away with tons of ideas for writing and motivation to stop procrastinating. Delicious Memories was the title of the course and I was amazed to see how many poems and essays are written about food. We wrote about food. I wrote an Ode to Real Butter. We wrote a persona poem. This was fun.
We learned new ways to create a poem or essay. Maureen has such a gift for inspiring others.
Her book, Spinning Words into Gold, has been one I revisit often and she will soon have a new book on writing.

Maureen Ryan Griffin, author and poet

I was sorry that the Georgia Poetry Society's meeting at Young Harris College was also on Saturday and I could not attend.
I want to thank Michelle Keller for making delicious bread and muffins for us today. Very good food for a class on food.

Next year, Maureen will teach again at Writers Circle and the date is June 10, 2012. Put that date on your calendar now. YOu will not want to miss it.

A Delightful Day on a Mountaintop

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:17:00 +0000

Nadine, Ash, and Vicki

Nadine, Ash and Glenda

On this beautiful autumn day I was invited to join four former writing students at the home of Nadine J. on top of a mountain in north Georgia. We sat on her nicely appointed deck and feasted on a lovely lunch, enjoyed a bottle of wine with various desserts and laughed at the clever remarks of our dear friend, Ginny.

One of the nicest perks of teaching adults is finding friendships in the class. When the course ended, Ash Rothlein, a WWII veteran, enjoyed the others so much he invited them to the home he shares with his lovely wife, Liz, where they continued sharing their stories. I was included. Since that time, several years ago, we have all come to love each other.

Nadine's gritty and memorable stories about her childhood growing up in a coal mining camp will soon be compiled in a memoir. Meanwhile she designs interiors for fine homes all over the country.

Ash is involved in trying to reach descendants of those brave men buried above the beach in Normandy where he plans to be on the seventieth anniversary of that battle and on his 90th birthday. His writing consists of articles about his mission on D-Day for the Citizen-Times and other newspapers. Today he said he wants to motivate people to think about the lives lost in that war and the way our country came together as one after the fighting was over. Ash believes America can return to the way we were then. He is speaking to college students and sharing his story with all who listen, and those who listen find him captivating.

Writing has brought me joy in many ways, but finding friends such as Ginny, Vicki, Nadine, Ash and Liz is like the cherry on top of the whipped cream on the hot fudge sundae. We wrote down what we are thankful for in 2011, and these good friends were at the top of my list.

Saturday workshop with Scott Owens

noreply@blogger.com (Glenda C. Beall) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:53:00 +0000

It was lively here this weekend. Our guest instructor, Scott Owens, highly published poet, teacher, speaker, and editor of Wild Goose Poetry Review, arrived on Friday afternoon for his reading at Writers Night Out, held in Hiawassee, GA at Mountain Perk. We made him comfortable in our guest room overnight, and Scott was up at 5:00 a.m. quietly enjoying his self-made breakfast.

I warned him I am not an early riser, and he would have to fend for himself with cereal, fruit and juice, if he wanted breakfast before 8:00 a.m..

The enthusiastic poets and writers who had registered for his three hour workshop arrived with questions and were eager to hear Scott speak. One of them told me she felt this was one of the best workshops she had taken. Although she has been writing for many years, she picked up constructive tips on writing poetry and essays.

I was unable to go to Writers Night Out, and I missed the NCWN West picnic this year where Scott was the guest speaker, but I'm sure our local area writers enjoyed the priviledge of meeting him and learning from him.

Writers Circle became somewhat of a writing retreat for Scott as he had the place to himself for one day and one evening. All I asked of him was to feed Tiger, the resident cat.

Tiger, resident cat