Greg Lobas
By Carroll S. Taylor
Guest Writer
Firefighter, writer and poet Greg Lobas will be the featured reader at Mountain Wordsmiths' gathering from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 via Zoom. The event is sponsored by North Carolina Writers’ Network-West.
Lobas worked as a career firefighter and paramedic for 30 years, attaining the rank of captain and is the second in a three-generation string of firefighters. He has published as both an outdoor writer and a poet. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Outdoor Life, Tar River Poetry, Cimarron Review, Gray's Sporting Journal, Ekphrastic Review, Broad River Review, Kakalak, Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel and many others. He has won the Marjorie E. Peters Award and the Peter Pan Award from the South Carolina Poetry Society and the Carrie McCray Award from the South Carolina Writers' Association. His book, “Left of Center,” Broadkill River Press, 2022, won the 2022 Dogfish Head Poetry Prize. He lives with his wife Meg and Sophie, the dog, aka the Sophinator and writes in the foothills of western North Carolina.
Mountain Wordsmiths’ gatherings take place each month on Zoom. NCWN-West is continuing to stay in touch by using technology to share our writing. We offer writing events and writing classes both online and in person. Writers are enjoying the convenience and flexibility of Zoom meetings because they can join our gatherings from distant locations. Attendees are welcome to bring a poem or short prose piece to read during open mic. Limit the reading to 3-5 minutes.
Those wishing to attend Mountain Wordsmiths may email: vibiaperpetua@gmail.com or ncwngeorgiarep@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link. Our group is informal and we welcome those who would simply like to listen to the beauty of wordsmithing. All who attend are encouraged to enjoy their morning cup of coffee or tea as we share our thoughts about writing.