NC Author Barbara Presnell to lead memoir writing workshops May 8-10 in Johnston County
On May 8 – 10, Barbara Presnell, author of the newly published Otherwise, I’m Fine: A Memoir (University of South Carolina Press) will lead three memoir writing workshops, an informal coffee with the author, and book-signing in Johnston County, North Carolina. All events are free, and open to the public, especially for veterans and their families, thanks to sponsors Neuse River Writers and the Johnston County Arts Council. May 8 is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Presnell’s book is a daughter’s story of unresolved grief and a family’s hard-won healing. Through her narrative of traveling across Europe to follow her father’s WWII trek from Omaha Beach to the Elbe, Presnell explores the emotional breakthroughs that helped alleviate her depression, reconcile her feelings toward her late mother, and honor the memory of her father. Her work exemplifies the transformative power of memoir in navigating and expressing complex emotions. Here are the five Johnston County events:
Thursday, May 8 – 5:00 pm-7:00 pm, “Memories into Words: Shaping Stories and Writing Your Life,” memoir workshop sponsored by Neuse River Writers, in Lawrence Hall, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 218 S. Second St., Smithfield.
Friday, May 9 – 9:00 am-10:00 am, Coffee with the Author at Charcuterie Charm by Tina, 109 E. Pine Street, Pine Level.
Friday, May 9 – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, “Preserving Memories: as Sweet as Strawberry Jam,” memoir workshop at Princeton Public Library, 106 N. Center Street, Princeton.
Saturday, May 10 – 11:00 am – 12:00 noon, “We Cannot Forget: Telling Our Stories of War at Home and on the Battlefield,” memoir workshop at the Johnston County Museum, 329 E. Market Street, Smithfield.
Saturday, May 10 – 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Book Signing at Vibe Central Events, 127 N. Raiford Street, Selma.
A lifelong Southerner, Barbara Presnell is the author of two award-winning poetry books as well as essays and theatrical performances. She is a senior lecturer emeritus in writing at UNC-Charlotte, a graduate of UNC-Greensboro’s MFA in Creative Writing program, and the recipient of two NC Arts Council Fellowships. She is a resident fellow at Willapa Bay AiR, the Hambidge Center, and the Wildacres Residency program. She lives in Lexington, NC, with her husband, Bill Keesler, and rescue pup, Colby.
Otherwise, I’m Fine is available for pre-order online or at the events.
For more information, visit the author’s website at www.BarbaraPresnell.com.
Book video trailer at Otherwise, I'm Fine by Barbara Presnell on YouTube.
Submitted by Cindy Brookshire, 703-785-9949, cindybrookshire10@gmail.com
Brookshire, Cindy
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Cindy Brookshire Writer
- April 01, 2025
- (703) 785-9949
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