Newspaper article about me

Noted Poet and Writer Glenda Beall to be Featured Reader for Mountain Wordsmiths

 By Carroll S. Taylor

 Members of Mountain Wordsmiths are honored to have as our featured reader for September noted writer, poet, and writing mentor Glenda Beall on Thursday morning, September 22, at 10:30 via Zoom. Our monthly gathering, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, continues its online Zoom presence because local writers as well as writers from other cities and states are joining us each month online.

Beall is the program coordinator for the NCWriters’ Network-West and also teaches memoir writing. She has published a book of poetry, Now Might as Well be Then, co-authored a collection of short stories, essays and poems, Paws, Claws, Hooves, Feathers and Fins, with Estelle Rice, and compiled a family history book, Profiles and Pedigrees, Descendants of Tom Council.

 After living the first part of her life on a family farm in southwest Georgia, Beall and her husband, Barry, moved to Hayesville, NC, in 1995.  In 1996, after taking classes with noted poet Nancy Simpson,  she began publishing her writing in literary journals and reviews.  She comes from a family of storytellers and her narrative poetry reflects her ability to tell stories.

She is an advocate for clean air and uses only natural products for cleaning in her home. She is concerned that we use too many chemicals where we work and where we live, as well as on our bodies. She can be found online at www.glendacouncilbeall.com 

NCWN-West is continuing to stay in touch by using technology to share our writing. Also known as NetWest, the organization will offer writing events and writing classes online, while several other writing groups are now meeting face-to-face again.

Those wishing to attend Mountain Wordsmiths may contact Carroll Taylor at vibiaperpetua@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link. We welcome those who would simply like to listen to the beauty of wordsmithing.

                                         

Festival time in western North Carolina

Glenda Beall with writer Raven Chiong, new member of NCWN-West

This past weekend The Festival on the Square was held on the historic square of Hayesville, NC. Thousands of people attend this event each year, but everything was cancelled in 2020. The NC Writers' Network-West registered for a booth this year. Carroll S. Taylor and her husband, Hugh, volunteered to staff the booth, put up the tent and tables and take it all down on Sunday afternoon. They had a long, tiring weekend, but Carroll said she sold more books than at any other place she has signed books.

Carroll is a novelist with two young adult novels published. She recently published a picture book. Feannag, the Crow is filled with colorful illustrations by Doreyl Ammons Cain.

See more about Carroll at www.chinaberrysummer.com

Brenda Kay Ledford sits with Carroll in front of our banner. Visitors seem to take notice of the Books by Local Authors sign and wanted to take home one of our books. Brenda Kay also published a picture book recently and it, too, had colorful illustrations by Doreyl Ammons Cain

A larger photo of the booth with Brenda and Carroll at the front table.

I sat at the side table on Saturday and Sunday and enjoyed meeting people who stopped by. We wanted to show our presence in the community and encourage novice writers to join us and become a part of our group in western NC. We handed out our brochure with all our contact information and a form for joining NCWN. I expect to hear from folks who want to write and learn more about publishing.

We gave away a number of books and our anthology, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, was popular with visitors from other states. They wanted to take home a book by western NC writers. This book is still for sale by contacting me.   www.pcncwnw@gmail.com 

I signed up to teach another writing class in September on Zoom. I will give more details later.
Hope you all had a great weekend. I am suffering a bit from sitting in that hard chair for hours, but tomorrow I will be fine again.

Your Daily Poem accepts Carroll Taylor's Poem

Today I am happy for my friend and volunteer PC assistant, Carroll Taylor, whose poem was recently published in an online journal, Your Daily Poem. Click on the link below to read this short poem.

http://yourdailypoem.com/

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer is owner and editor of Your Daily Poem. She and I have been friends for many years. Jayne is also a poet. I enjoy reading and giving copies of Jayne's books as gifts. They are hard copy, traditionally published books. You can find them on her website.

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer

She began this online journal so that people who  had to read poetry in school and found it boring and complicated can see that poetry can be fun, touching and inspiring, She makes sure the poetry on her site makes you feel something. She does not want readers to be left wondering what the poet was trying to say.

Jayne says this about Your Daily Poem.

"This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you."

I and other poets from my region have poems published on the site. Go to the Authors list and put in the name of a published poet and see if he/she is in Your Daily Poem Archives. I am proud to be there.

Chinaberry Summer and Carroll S. Taylor for your pleasure

I like to share good things, good people, with you, my readers. Today I am sharing Carroll S. Taylor.


http://chinaberrysummer.com/journal-1/2019/12/24/one-small-bag#comments-outer-wrapper=

A lovely touching poem about someone who has lost so much. Carroll S. Taylor has become one of my favorite poets . 

Her novels Chinaberry Summer and Chinaberry Summer: On the Other Side are entertaining and interesting. Recently she published a picture book, about a little crow.

 Beautiful illustrations.  Find it  here.

The picture book has just come out and since we are in lock down, Carroll cannot go out and do book signings and readings, so if you read her books please write a review and send to me.  I will make sure it goes where it will help most, and Carroll will love hearing from you.    chinaberrysummer@gmail.com