Neil Ray : When Asked to Speak About Myself

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I am a 44 year old, poet-performer, living in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I am a member of the Writer’s Ink Guild of Fayetteville. I am editor of the Guild’s newsletter, The Ink Pad, and an Executive Officer. At present, I am the Chairman of Membership Development, for the North Carolina Poetry Society. I am also registered in the "Artists In Schools” directory for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Arts Council, and the Cumberland County and Fort Bragg Schools. I am the coordinator of four “open mike” events in Cumberland County. I host two of them.

I have been published in several newspapers, college literary magazines, and anthologies, the latest being, Homecoming, (Old Mountain Press, 1999), a collection of poetry from present and previous members of the Writer’s Ink Guild. I have a chapbook entitled, “Quest…of the Plebeians”, FlamingHeart Productions, 1999. I am currently at work on a new collection of works, which should be ready by the winter of 2000.

I think that is enough for now. In closing, I would like to say, that I feel very fortunate to have this gift, of poetry bestowed upon me. I published my first poem in the third grade, but no one took the opportunity to encourage me, to continue my writing. Now, many years later, I have dedicated myself to making sure, this will not happen to others, who have the talent and the heart for this magnificent craft.

“I measure my success, not by the amount of money in my pockets, but by the hearts I have inspired.”