About the author:

Barbara Youngblood Carr

Award-winning native-born author/storyteller/humorist/musician/Editor Barbara Youngblood Carr has published thirteen books of poetry/prose and short stories based on her Native American Cherokee heritage and her Texas/Southwestern/Southern upbringing. Where Rivers Dance Across Stones (Sep 07) is the sixth book in her Ancestor Series, all partially funded by the City of Austin Arts Commission*. A prolific author, Barbara began writing published, award-winning poetry at the age of sixteen. After marriage, she lived in many locations, including Germany for six years.

In Austin, she's been host of Borders-on-the-Word poetry venue for fifteen years; facilitates creative writing workshops at bookstores, many area schools, universities and retirement centers; has served as an active Board member of Austin Poets International, Inc. (which holds the largest un-juried Poetry Festival in America annually) for fifteen years; is a member of many other creative/writing organizations; is the Editor for A Galaxy of Verse, DreamersThree Press and Little Chicken Fried Books; 4th place winner in the Eakin Manuscript Award (2006) (sponsored by the Poetry Society of TX); Finalist in the Violet Crown Award for 07 for 06 Ancestor Series book, Following in Ancestral Footsteps (sponsored by the Writers League of TX); published in the Austin Chronicle; Father's Day story published in the Austin American-Statesman, June 08; Published in Salado TX Anthology, Cat Tales, May 08; published in Windhover, the Journal of Christian Literature for Mary Hardin-Baylor University, in January 08; Published in Baylor University's 2008 edition of House of Poetry Anthology; read as Juried Poet at Houston Poetry Festival, Oct 07 and published in their annual anthology; published on three continents; was appointed in Wash, D.C. as National Poet Laureate for the Military Order of the Purple Heart for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

She received a Distinguished Service Award from the National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Austin, TX on Feb 22, 2008 for serving four years in her capacity as their National Poet Laureate and her poetry and bio are published in the National Purple Heart Magazine in the Mar-Apr 2008 edition and another poem was also published in their July/August edition.

Barbara traveled extensively between Jan - May, 2008 to present workshops / readings / booksignings / presentations. She was the featured poet at Houston First Fridays - Apr 08; presented a workshop and stage reading from Ancestor Series book, Where Rivers Dance Across Stones at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor annual Writers Festival - Jan 08; featured poet at the annual Military Order of the Purple Heart George Washington banquet, Austin - Feb 08 (as National Poet Laureate for the Military Order of the Purple Heart); featured reader at Baylor University "House of Poetry" - Apr 08; Apr-May 08 - featured poet/speaker at the Coffee Oasis, Gulf Coast; at Pipe Creek Christian School Regional Annual Seminar (near Bandera); at Buda elementary school Poetry Cafe and featured poet at the monthly Austin Poetry Society venue - May 08; featured author in Apr 07 and 08 at The Red Fern Festival, Tahlequah, OK (capital of the Cherokee Nation)where she read from and displayed all her Ancestor Series books and posters, etc.

The seventh book in her Ancestor Series,Whispers in the Wind, will be published in the fall.

This project is funded in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.