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. 

COFFEE WITH THE POETS FEATURES ROBERT S. KING

On the second Wednesday of each month, we host Coffee with the Poets, sponsored by NCWN West. We meet at the Cafe Touche in Hayesville, NC, 82 Main Street, at 10:30 a.m.

We began this event in 2007 and it continues to be well-attended and enjoyable. I started CWP to give more people a place to read their poems. The area where I live is filled with poets. We open the floor up to anyone who comes and wants to read his original poetry.
A member of Netwest is featured each month. I wish I could have every poet in the area read, however, we only have twelve months. This year we decided to have two readers in some months.

I'd like to see such events in every county in western NC and N Georgia. It is so easy to set up a reading. Someone with leadership abilities is needed to get it off the ground, but once the event is successful, it is like a roaring fire. It doesn't require much tending. Mary Mike Keller is co-host with me and often Linda Smith takes over the MC duties.

This month, March, we are in for a real treat when Robert S. King reads his poetry. Robert has published hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. He has also published numerous books of poetry. I have two of his latest books. I go back to them often to read again.

We are fortunate to have Robert King teach at Writers Circle around the table on March 17. The workshop will be held in the afternoon. We have a few places left, but space is limited.

Contact Glenda Beall, 828-389-4441 or nightwriter0302@yahoo.com for further information.

Coffee with the Poets made a big splash this month

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

Midnight writing

It is too late at night for me to be writing, but want you to visit http://www.netwestwriters.blogspot.com/ and see the nice post written about my appearing at City Lights Books in Sylva for a reading at the new Coffee with the Poets. I look forward to our lunch down below the restaurant.
I know it will be fun and I hope you all can come and join us.

Much thanks to Kay Byer and the folks at City Lights.