2007 Georgia Literary Festival

Excitement is building as interest and inquires come in for more information on the annual 2007 Georgia Literary Festival, located in the quaint Appalachian mountain town of Blue Ridge, Ga.

Anyone who reads, writes, or just enjoys being around books has an incredible opportunity for a unique three day literary adventure this September. The 2007 Georgia Literary Festival promises a refreshing combination of literary talent in surroundings that are unsurpassed in autumn beauty.

The schedule of events is in its final planning stages. One quick look shows why this festival is a must-attend.

The main honoree is the renowned poet/novelist Byron Herbert Reece who was born near Blairsville, Ga. Reece's many works include his first volume of poetry titled Ballad of the Bones (1945) and his Pulitzer Prize nominated work for Bow Down in Jericho (1950). Born September 14, 1917, Reece produced enduring poetry and fiction before depression and illness caused him to take his own life June 3, 1958. The sounds and feel of North Georgia resonate throughout Reece's writings. His work drew from nature and the Bible, which was an integral part of his everyday life. His two novels present vivid portraits of the people who lived in the agricultural North Georgia area surrounding Blairsville. Reece both attended and taught at Young Harris College.

Young Harris is a presenting sponsor of the 2007 Georgia Literary Festival. The founding sponsors are the Georgia Center for the book and The Georgia Humanities Council.

The keynote speaker is Cathy Cox, former Georgia Secretary of State and current president of Young Harris College. Cathy Cox is a dynamic speaker who plans to speak on the influence Young Harris College had on Reece and the influence Reece made on the institution that remains to this day.

Additional program personalities include featured writers:

Phillip Lee Williams is the award winning author of A Distant Flame, Blue Crystal , and The Heart of a Distant Forest. His presentation is titled "Remembering a Man I Never Met" and will focus on how Reece's influence carries through to authors of today.

Bettie Sellers, a renowned Reece expert who wrote The Bitter Berry: The Life of Byron Herbert Reece will present "A Meeting of Two Remarkable Men: Byron Herbert Reece and Rev. Jack Waldrip". In 1947 Rev. Jack Waldrip became acquainted with the poet Byron Herbert Reece- a friendship that lasted until Reece's death.

Helen Lewis noted Appalachian scholar, social activist and author (Mountain Sisters, It Come From the People) speaks on "North Georgia Mountains: Is it Southern, Appalachian, or Hillbilly Chic?" Dr. Lewis is a well respected sociologist, social activist, author, teacher, researcher, and mentor who has utilized an unorthodox approach to education, fought for social and economic equality, was instrumental in the development of Appalachian Studies programs.

Honored Participants:

Joe Dabney is the author of Mountain Spirits, More Mountain Spirits, and Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread and Scuppernong Wine: The Folklore and Art of Southern Appalachian Cooking. Winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Cookbook of the Year medal, Dabney will speak about mountain humor he gleaned while researching his books, or as he says, "Some mountain philosophers who taught me a lot about life".

Fred Craddock is a soughtafter lecturer and author of a number books (The pre- Existence of Christ, As One Without Authority, Overhearing the Gospel, The Gospels). Named by Newsweek as one of America 's top preachers, Craddock will help get the festival started on Friday evening with delightful Appalachian Storytelling.

George Brosi (No Lonesome Road: The Prose and Poetry of Don West) is the editor of the literary quarterly Appalachian Heritage. He runs a retail book business that has specialized exclusively in books of the Southern Appalachians since 1982. His friendship with Don West lasted thirty years from 1962 until West's death in 1992. Brosi (with James Lorence) is scheduled to lead a discussion of the friendship and correspondence between Byron Herbert Reece, who argued that a writer's first duty was to create a work of beauty, and Don West, who believed writers should play a political role and inspire social reform.

Amy Blackmarr is an author of such works as Going to Ground, House of Steps, Above the Fall Line, and Dahlonega Haunts. She is taking time out of her busy tour promoting the 10th anniversary of the publication of her first book Going to Ground (now available in an audio CD version) to join the festival in celebrating Reece and the literary works of Georgia.

Doris Davenport is an African-American performance poet who grew up in North Georgia . She will speak briefly on the intense desire for poetry in all mountain people, particularly the Affrilachians which is a term she and other mountain writers use to describe people like herself- both African-American and Appalachian. Following her talk, she will perform poems from her most recent book "madness like morning glories."

Dana Wildsmith is an exciting author who will read from her book One Good Hand. She calls it a reading from one good hand to another since it was inspired by the poem "One Good Hand" by Byron Herbert Reece. She finds parallels between his life and her life as a farmer/poet. The festival is also fortunate to have Wildsmith conduct a workshop in the park for teens on text messaging as poetry, since both involve coded language.

James Lorence is a historian, author of A hard Journey: The Life of Don West. He has served as Eminent Scholar of History at Gainesville State College, and Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Wisconsin- Marathon County. He has published eight books and has more that thirty articles in print based on his research focused on labor history and film studies.

Johnathan Sarris is the author of A Separate Civil War which records the history of the civil war as it played out in Appalachia, specifically Georgia 's Fannin and White Counties .

Paula Nelson is a Native American who will speak, chant, and sing during her presentation. She is the author of the chant which opens the "Unto These Hills," the outdoor drama in Cherokee, N.C. Her most recent successes include: "Project Songbird" (a songwriting/composting collaboration in the Cherokee language) and the recent completion of her first album, "CHANT Cherokee Hopes and New Traditions."

Steve Harvey is a professor at Young Harris College, author of three books including Bound for Shady Grove, A Geometry of Lilies, and Lost in Translation. He also plays clawhammer banjo with Butternet Creek, a group which performs a variety of folk and old time Appalachian music.

Many additional talented people will participate in the festival including poet Robert Kimsey author of "Paths From The Shawnee Spring"; Ethelene Jones poet, editor, newspaper columnist and editor of Facets of Fannin: A History of Fannin County, GA; Dale Dyer a local columnist and historian; Carol Crawford writer and essayist as displayed by her release of "Feast" on NPR; Kathleen Thompson who has focused on publications in the education field as well as two books about mountain culture, will present "Appalachian Dialect; Bad Grammar or Fascinating Dialect?" as well as moderating a panel discussion on the characteristics of Appalachian people.

In addition to these presenters, there will be a wide array of children activities from the youngest to older teens. In addition to the text messaging as poetry seminar mentioned above, teens can enjoy an acting workshop, hear a special students' presentation of a Reece Readers' Theater, and more. Young children can enjoy hearing "granny storytellers" in the library. All children will have an opportunity to write poetry and receive recognition for their efforts. A special van from the Craddock Center will give away books. There will be many costumed book characters, including Curious George (courtesy of Georgia Public Broadcasting). Kids may also try their hand at playing traditional hand-made Appalachian musical instruments, or attend the marionette show with puppets made by local artist Judi Abernathy. If that's not enough, there will be a variety of clowns.

Storytellers will present readings from Reece's poetry as well as traditional Appalachian tales. String Bands will perform throughout the event. A Reece Literary Ramble (self-guided road tour) will lead guests to the Reece landmarks in the area. And of course there will be lots of food vendors, booksellers, and many authors you can meet, talk to, and get autographs from. If you get your picture with your favorite author, there will even be a booth where you can get the photo made into a T-shirt!

Many affiliated events are planned to coordinate with the festival. Among these are "An Evening with Mark Twain" presented by Blue Ridge Community Theater, and train excursions to nearby McCaysville, Ga., on the Blue Ridge Mountain Railway. Note that all Georgia Literary Festival events are FREE, but that there are ticket charges for affiliate events. For more information and frequent updates please go to the Georgia Literary Festival website www.georgialiteraryfestival.org