A Disappointment

A few months ago, I announced Our State Magazine had used my "Why We Love North Carolina" blurb in their February issue, and that they accidentally misattributed the piece to a *sigh* Floridian.

Before that issue hit the shelves, someone from the editorial department called to tell me a correction would be printed in the April issue. April came, and so did the outstanding magazine, which contained just about everything but a correction. Ouch. I called Our State (for they'd left their phone number on my answering machine) and was told they'd look into it.

The newest issue recently appeared, but failed to include a correction. This was getting embarrassing, for I'd shared the news of the published blurb with family, friends, my writing group, my hiking group, my Facebook network, (I may have Twittered it as well) and anyone who happened on my blog post. So I called the editorial department again, and was basically told because it's now May, and because they're working on the July issue, it's too late to run the correction. But they'll look into it.

Ouch.

Obviously I'm disappointed. Will that affect my support of Our State? Oh my, have you see the magazine? It not only covers NC destinations, but each issue generally includes a restaurant review and Tar Heel stories. Among other things, we plan to visit a pound cake company in Benson, and a German restaurant in Sanford based on articles I read in the magazine. And it includes a ton of fabulous photos.

I don't agree with the editorial department's decision not to run a correction when I was told they would, but Our State is a fantastic publication, and--like my blog, which is free and has all articles available in a single click (see label list. I'm laughing here, really)--it's most helpful to newcomers.

So, despite the fact someone else can lay claim to my entry, I'm reprinting my blurb here. It's simple, but I systematically worked from the mountains to the sea, and included several aspects you'll recognize from this blog: natural communities, wildflowers, and "endangered lives", aka, NC's sea turtles:

Jagged mountains scoring blue skies
Water falling gracefully over tall cliffs
Fringed orchids near Elisha's Peak
A lazy day on the Parkway
Long tendrils of blackwater flowing past
longleaf pine savannas
Pretty Edenton sitting primly on the bay
Snow geese rising with the dawn
on quiet pocosins
Silent (lighthouse) sentinels guarding
endangered lives and watery graves

I don't recall including the word lighthouse in that line, but I jotted down the entry in a matter of minutes and sent it, so it's possible. Regardless, these are things we've learned to appreciate about North Carolina. I'm sure we'll find more as we continue to explore the state.

Thank you, Our State

A few months ago, Our State magazine asked readers to share the reasons they love North Carolina. I couldn't pass up that request, so I entered a short blurb naming things dear to my heart from the mountains to the sea.

Today I received both the February issue of Our State and a call from the editorial office informing me they printed my essay, but accidentally attributed it to the wrong person. While disappointed, I'm honored they felt my entry worthy of inclusion in their "Why We Love North Carolina" spread. Thank you, Our State.

So if you have the February issue, turn to page 116. After you read Loretta Oxendine's Fresh Catch article, check out the sidebar on the right, attributed to DeeAnn Johns. Those are just a few of the reason I love North Carolina. The rest are in this blog.

--Kimberli

Our State Magazine's Gift to Readers

Our State Magazine is a great resource for North Carolinians. Each month's issue is loaded with information and photos on NC destinations, stories about North Carolinians, recipes and more. I can't wait to get my copy (though I often groan when I see an article about a destination I recently covered in this blog.) It's a great resource, one every North Carolinian should have.

The people at Our State apparently appreciate that attitude as much as they appreciate NC. Inside the June 2008 issue I found a card I nearly tossed out. According to the copy, as a means of saying thanks for 75 years of loyalty to the magazine, Our State is giving their readers a complimentary admission coupon and a choice of over thirty locations to choose from. Included are Linville Caverns near Boone, The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, the North Carolina Zoo, Tryon Palace, Grandfather Mountain, and too many others to mention.

The hitch: the coupon is only valid on June 7, 2008.

So if you received the latest copy of Our State and you haven't yet ditched the irritating little cards inside, tear it out of the hands of whoever is reading it and flip to page 79, stopping first to read pages 1-78.

And I'll see you at The Elizabethan Gardens or the Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Or perhaps the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. Oh! How about the Great Smoky Mountgains Railroad? Or Ayr Mount in Hillsborough....