BC Honors Former Librarian with Appalachian Writing Contest
Do you love these beautiful mountains we live in? Help Bluefield College celebrate that, and you could win up to $100.
How? By participating in the annual Nora Lockett Memorial Writing Contest. Students and other writers are encouraged to submit original short stories that pertain to the Appalachian area. The deadline to submit is March 31, 2020.
“The goal is to write a story that celebrates Appalachia, but you can do this in many ways. It could be nostalgic, like writing about cleaning out your grandmother’s basement. It could also be about Appalachian legends, historical fiction, or something with a modern twist. For example, ghost stories are a big part of Appalachian culture.”
– Paula Beasley, Co-Director of Library Services
The college hosted the first Nora Lockett Memorial Writing Contest in April 2014. The idea for the event came after the success of Terrifying Tales, another annual campus writing competition that takes place every Halloween. The school’s Celebration of Appalachia committee voted to approve the contest as a part of Bluefield College’s annual Appalachian Festival.
This year, contestants will be read their entries on April 15 in Easley Library at 7 p.m. during a reception that will include light refreshments and the opportunity to vote for audience members to vote for one of the entries to receive the People’s Choice Award. The rest of the winners of the contest will be announced during the Appalachian Festival on April 18. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day with live music and local food and craft vendors. The story winners are generally announced sometime in the middle of the day (around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). First place wins $100, second place wins $75, and third place wins $50.
The writing contest was created in memory of Nora Lockett who served as a librarian at Bluefield College for several years before she passed away in May 2013. Lockett is remembered for her passion for reading and impressive knowledge. Beasley remembers Lockett’s love of Great Britain and The Royal Family.
“She would often dress up as Queen Victoria and go into history classrooms,” Beasley said. “She remained in character, British accent included, as students asked questions.”
Lynne Bartlett, a Bluefield College reference and online librarian, worked with Lockett for 12 years.
“She was an excellent conversationalist,” Bartlett said about Lockett, “and her story is so uplifting.”
Bartlett has many fond memories of Lockett, including the time they traveled together to a library conference at Virginia Intermont College and got lost along the way. Bartlett said Lockett even baked a cake for her daughter’s wedding.
Lockett surprised everyone by being a librarian who was also a very enthusiastic hockey fan. She proudly cheered on the Detroit Red Wings. The interest began as a way to connect with her son, Joseph E. “Jed” Lockett, who once surprised his mom with tickets to a Red Wings game and who usually attends the readings of the writing contest. Her dream was to work as a librarian for the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Despite her broad interests, Lockett’s greatest passion was Appalachia. She grew up in Coalwood, WV, and even knew the Rocket Boys, the four boys portrayed in the novel and movie October Sky. She attended Bluefield College when it was just a two-year college and continued her higher education at Concord University because she did not want to leave her home in the mountains.
“Nora was a true product of Appalachia, from her unique southern sayings to her love of storytelling. It is an honor to celebrate both her and the region through the Annual Nora Lockett Memorial Writing Contest.”
– Paula Beasley, Co-Director of Library Services
