Bragging on North Carolina Writers -- The Road Not Taken

Ellyn Bache, North Carolina Writers, North Carolina Writers Network, Writers Conferences, Writing 6 Responses »
Aug 032011

I had the good pleasure of attending a gathering of about 100 North Carolina writers this past weekend in the lovely mountains of Asheville.  Award-winning fiction writer Ellyn Bache (http://ellynbache.com) kindly extended the invite to me.  And off I went, not realizing the gift I had in store.

Mercy, I wish this writer could come up with a better word, one that is not a cliche or considered trite, but the word that continues to come to my head to describe what I felt being in these good folks’ midst is special.  It has to do with how encouraging they are to and of each other, their talk of mentors, calling them by name and thanking them and not being afraid to show their souls when they served on a panel discussion about their mentors or finding home.  Home, yes, that’s it.  That place where we feel welcomed and encouraged.  A place of warmth.  A place where egos are checked at the door.  Continue reading »

Tom Franklin is My Hero

Cows, Mama Red, Writing 2 Responses »
Jan 112011

I realized when I wrote yesterday’s blog on Billy O’s finally finding his place in the goat pecking order, that it’s time for me to move on to another big love that I have, writing.   “Note to self,” I said, “make your next blog about the novel you are writing.”

Which today’s blog is and is not.

The “is not” first.   I was in my writing space this morning, working on my novel like a good girl, when I decided to pick up my Blackberry and check to see the latest weather.   Before I did that, though, I saw the latest Publishers Marketplace Lunch pop up in my email, so I opened it up.  (Note to self: Tomorrow, leave contraption outside room.  No, lock it up somewhere!)

The good news is my detour lead to a terrifically inspiring article about Tom Franklin, an Alabama writer who teaches at Ole Miss. Continue reading »