Memoir Writing with Barbara Presnell

North Carolina author, Barbara Presnell, visited our area as part of a book tour promoting her newest work Otherwise, I’m Fine. She graciously agreed to an interview for Small Town Stories. We scheduled our recording session for Friday, May 9th, at 2:00 p.m. before the workshop “Preserving Memories: as Sweet as Strawberry Jam” scheduled for that same afternoon at Princeton Public Library. We were all set to record at the library, which is our regular makeshift recording studio, but because of the ongoing foundational work for the new Princeton Community Center and Public Library there was too much background noise for recording. The old community building that Princeton Public Library has occupied a portion of since September of 2023 was a rumblin’ and a shakin’! The bulldozers shook the ground and the old metal walls vibrated with noise. The sound was pleasant to our ears because it meant progress toward moving into our long hoped for new space, yet it would not be pleasant to hear in a podcast. At the last moment we moved our recording session to the quiet library at Princeton Baptist Church, one of the churches on the corner in downtown Princeton.

Librarian Hilda sat down with guest Co-host Cindi Brookshire to interview author Barbara Presnell. Cindy Brookshire is a regular patron at Princeton Public Library who constantly encourages and supports the Princeton Area Library Supporters, and she has also been interviewed for Small Town Stories. Cindi is an advisor for Neuse River Writers, and the Regional Representative for NC Writer’s Network. What is even more special about Cindi for this particular interview is that she is a long time personal friend of Barbara Presnell, which is why we asked Cindi to introduce Barbara to the Princeton Community.

Our conversation was much about Otherwise, I’m Fine and about writing in general. Barbara read excerpts from her award winning poetry and from her new book. We hope our listeners enjoy listening!