(Photo by Valorie Luhr)
It’s been three years since I first met Glenda Beall. We submitted one of Chitter’s poems to a Poetry Contest for children-Chitter didn’t win a prize-but through the contest we won a friend for life-Glenda Beall. From the first time I heard Glenda read one of her poems-I was hooked on her writing. It resonates with me in a way that’s hard to describe-her poems weave their way into my mind and come back to me at the oddest moments-always comforting me with the knowledge that she’s walked many of the same roads of life I have.
Glenda recently published a new book of poetry Now Might As Well Be Then-I thought this would be a great time to interview her for my Appalachian Writers Series.
When did you start writing?
I began writing when I was very young. I always loved opening a pack of Blue Horse paper and sharpening my pencils for school. I can still remember the thrill of having a fresh clean sheet of paper before me. As a little girl I built a place in the chinaberry tree behind our house where I could climb up among the leaves, sit and write while birds flew in and out of the branches around me.
Is there one person who stands out in your mind-who encouraged you along the way?
I kept my writing to myself until I was in high school and college and then I shared it with my sister, June and her husband, Stan. They were supportive, but it wasn’t until I moved to Hayesville, NC in 1995 and met Nancy Simpson that I began to read my work for others and share my poetry. Nancy’s classes for the next several years, helped me to finally have the courage to believe in myself as a writer. However, I was of the age by then that I’d never reach the goals I’d had as a child.
Your most recent book is a book of poetry-do you write other genres as well?
Glenda is a jewel when it comes to poems. I like her short stories as well : the old saying they get under your skin and simple terms where the rubber meets the road. Oh by the way Glenda is a jewel when it comes to being a friendly mountaiin lady now.
Thank you, David, and others who made such nice comments about my poetry. It is a pleasure to write something that others relate to and know my feelings have touched others through my words.
Poetry is a means of communication using few words,but exact words to convey our meaning.
Thanks again, Tipper.
Interesting lady.
And to have hidden her talent for so long. I’m so glad she is living a childhood dream.
I love Glenda’s poetry and I thank you for the interview, Tipper. You see I have a special interest in Glenda since I’ve known her from her first beginning and many a night I’ve rocked her to sleep. She was a sweet baby. I’m her big sister, June, and I’m so very proud of her.
Well, she is very good, isn’t she. Her poetry is crisp and full of sparks for my imagination and my feeling.
What is that feeling? In the summer I lie down on my back, for a long time, alone, on a sundrenched hillside, insects buzzing and a crow cawing somewhere off over there and I look up at the sky and the billowy clouds and I feel good and happy and free, for that moment, from the tug of main life. Her writing does much the same for me.
No mechanical writing here, no Harcourt exactness; just a mind pouring forth her imagination into pleasure for all who read her thoughts (I started to say “for all who read her work” but work isn’t the right word for what she does, it doesn’t sound like she’s working, struggling for correctness, carefully piecing together hackneyed phrases, checking this rule or that). No, it’s her mind, opened and just put out on some paper as she feels it.
She is a good writer and it seems natural, else I would just see the words and not feel the daydream.
I enjoyed the interview. I love to write about Appalachia, too. Enjoyed the poem about blackberry picking, except I loved to pick when I was a child and I still love to pick the juicy black fruit.
I admire your ability to write from within and the courage in sharing your inner beauty woven poetically in words and bound to be shared.
I am looking forward to meeting you as well as hosting this great event!
Hey, I can tell Glenda is a mountain girl at heart. The poems are beautiful and warm to the heart. Thanks for the interview.
I wrote a story about the mountains when I was in college. I believe these mountains call people who belong here and they reject people who do not belong here, even if they were born here. My story was titled “Of The Mountains” I love the mountains and I guess it shows.
Anyway, thanks Glenda for sharing with us and thanks for befriending Tipper, she is a very special woman!
Many thanks to Tipper for featuring me on her wonderful blog. I appreciate the comments on my poetry. There is something about these mountains that brings out the creativity in all of us, I think. I hope to meet any of you who are local (near Hayesville) at one of my readings this summer. I will be in Hickory, NC in August for Hickory Poetry.
Visit me on my blog, http://www.profilesandpedigrees.blogspot.com
I remember that Blue Horse paper, Glenda!
Lovely poems — nice insight into the tomato man — and I know my boys could identify with the blackberry poem!
WE won’t be able to buy tomatoes again from the roadside without thinking about what this poem says. I could again see in my mind the people selling them.
Hi Glenda, I am an Appalachian gal too–having been born and raised in Southwest Virginia. I now live on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. When people ask me if I am a country gal—I say, YES–and especially a mountain gal!!!!
Thanks Tipper for interviewing Glenda–and thanks Glenda for telling us more about you. I love your poems.
Hugs,
Betsy
Hey Glenda: I will never buy another PLUMP red tomatoe without thinking of your beautiful poem! You are mighty lucky to live in Hayesville. The comment by EA, “I would love to live in WNC but I am too old now” kind of made me sad! I have so many precious memories of my formative years in the Matheson Cove. It was a rough life style of working from ‘daylight til dark’ but we (11 Children) all made it!
Fondly,
Eva Nell Mull, Ph.D.
Author: “The Matheson Cove – In the Shadow of the Devil’s Post Office”
Nicely done, Glenda.
Beautiful poems.
Good luck with the upcoming busy schedule.
EA
I enjoyed the Poems, Tomato Man and blackberry Patch.
I wish I could live in WNC again but am too old now, but at least can enjoy poems and such that bring up wonderful memories of A Carolina Mountain childhood and youth,
We have planted somewhat of a garden in our back yard. I wish we had bought some tomato plants.
Just today my friend (who was from Burnsville, NC originally) and I were talking about how good home grown tomatoes are with mayonaise.
What fun it must have been to do this interview. And I love Glenda’s poems–such a “real”, true-to-life quality about them. I will be looking forward to reading more of her work!