Hello friends and fellow writers
Recently, I attended the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia held at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA. This was my second time at WCoNA. I reconnected with folks I met in 2025, sold some books, and was inspired by the presentations. One particularly interesting session was titled: The Forests of Northern Appalachia as Muse given by photographer and writer Tim Bennett. Bennett referenced authors such as Dr. Oing Li. Her book, Forest Bathing, talks about the power of nature to heal. Another idea I easily related to was the creative boost a simple walk in the forest can give a writer. Tim Bennett's photos of forests, particularly the massive hemlock trees in existing old growth forests, were equally inspiring.
Every time I go to these gatherings, I come back lifted up by readers and especially writers that I meet. WCoNA was founded by author PJ Piccirillo. PJ is also the editor-in-chief and founding editor of the Northern Appalachia Review. I am proud to have stories in Volumes 5, 6, and now 7 of this excellent publication. At last year's WCoNA, I bought PJ's Historical Fiction novel The Indigo Scarf. Based on the true story of two slaves who fled their owners into the wilderness of north-central Pennsylvania, this story re-creates pioneer life in the early 1800s with amazing detail. That slavery persisted in the north during this time period was eye-opening for me. Beautifully written, The Indigo Scarf is historical, literary fiction at its finest.
My story "A Day Long Awaited" made its debut in this year's Northern Appalachia Review Vol. VII. In this story, a sixteen-year-old girl becomes interested in the women's suffrage movement and leaves her western New York farm to live independently in Rochester, New York, where she supports herself sewing and works with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The story spans nearly fifty years beginning in 1872 when Anthony was arrested for voting in that year's presidential election. As many of you know, women finally won in their fight for the right to vote in 1920. Despite the time frame, "A Day Long Awaited" is a short story!
Several of you contacted me after my story "Connection" won second place in the 2024 WV Fiction competition. Thank you for reaching out and your encouragement. "Connection" is a featured story in Vol XVII of the Anthology of Appalachian Writers released in 2025. The anthology can be purchased at Four Seasons Book Store in Shepherdstown, WV, and is also available on Amazon. About the story: The setting switches from a modern day woman whose office is in historic McMurran Hall on the Shepherd University campus to a dying soldier from the Battle of Shepherdstown, a small, but bloody Confederate victory on Sept. 20, 1862. Much research was involved in getting the details just right. The town hall, which was later named McMurran Hall, was unfinished in 1862, but still served as a hospital for wounded soldiers, most from the Battle of Antietam across the Potomac in Maryland.
In 2024 three of my short stories saw publication. "Woven Lives" was published in the Northern Appalachia Review Vol. 5, and "Lizzie" appeared in Vol XVI of the Anthology of Appalachian Writers. Another anthology in 2024 was published from stories written by members of the Morgantown Writers Group, formerly led by the late George Lies. As a former member, I was invited to contribute. Find my story "Junk Food" in that anthology. All of these anthologies can be purchased on Amazon and are full of excellent stories, nonfiction, and poetry.
In February of 2025, I was invited to be a guest artist on the Salon for Creative Expression! This website is the new creation of poet Diane Melby. I met Diane at a poetry sharing group that meets in Shenandoah Junction, WV. At the Salon for Creative Expression Diane displays one of her poems each month and features a guest artist and their work. Each month visitors to Diane's site can read about Diane, enjoy one of her poems, and learn a bit about the guest artist. After my appearance on Diane's site, I received many comments to me personally and saw an increase in visits to my FaceBook and Instagram sites. I read from my novel Beyond the Stone Eagle Gate. Visitors can sign up to get news about the salon. Past presentations are not archived, but previous guest biographies are listed. Writers, musicians, visual artists such as painters and potters are all guest possibilities. Access the Salon here: https://www.dianemelby.com
Jefferson County here in West Virginia has several opportunities for writers to gather together to share and improve their writing. In 2023 I organized a group that met weekly at the beautiful Charles Town Library. Writers submitted work for comments via email and met every week to discuss. My own writing was inspired, and it was gratifying to see progress in our members' writing as well. The group has disbanded for now, but all of us are proud of the several authors who were published either during or shortly after working with our group.
I am presently an active member of another writing group in Shepherdstown, WV, hosted by Patricia Donohoe. Pat is the author of award winning short stories and essays. I had the privilege of meeting Pat when I first moved to the WV Eastern Panhandle in 2019. Shortly after, I wrote a review of Pat's book The Printer's Kiss- The Life and Letters of a Civil War Newspaperman and his Family for a local news magazine. Impeccably researched, this family history story of Pat's ancestor, newspaper editor Will Tomlinson, includes Tomlinson's private and published writings as well as letters from his wife and children. The setting is the volatile border country along the Ohio River. Donohoe's expressive telling captures the reader with political intrigue, racial tensions, family and community turmoil, and murder.
|
Review of The Whispering Chimney
A story of love and courage, The Whispering Chimney enthralled me from the first page until the last. Set amidst the well-described beauty of rural West Virginia, eleven-year-old Bethany discovers the ghosts of a bygone era still walk along the hills. This window on the past becomes clearer, and draws the reader deep into struggles once endured. Recommended for young readers as an interwoven tale of the long-past and challenging present. Sharon Keller Johnson author of Milky Way Rising and Lure of the Grove.
Review A tale of betrayal and courage, told with eloquence and beauty, BEYOND THE STONE EAGLE GATE traces the footsteps of David, a runaway orphan, to his ultimate victory over treacherous circumstances in rural 1893 Tennessee. Nancy Stewart, author of BEULAH LAND. |
|
Four Seasons Bookstore's anthology of ghost stories was released October 2020. My submission "The Water's Edge" was included.
For my fellow writers: I am now available for editing help. See my Contact page for more information.
|
|
|