2/14/08
Local poet publishes first book at 80
By Cathy Gilbert

Eric Goold/Manning Times

Local poet, Barbara Ardis recently held a signing of her new book, “Remembered Days,” at the Water Lily Gallery in Summerton. “Remembered Days” is a collection of Ardis’ poetry from the last 65 years.

Will there be new sandy shores to stroll
Warm sunny mornings for our lover’s gaze
Or has the luster of the world been dimmed
And are we lost in our remembered days?

These simple but evocative words came to Barbara Ardis in a dream … word for word she says. And those simple words became the inspiration for the title of her newly published book of poetry, “Remembered Days.”

“I’ve been writing poems since I was 15 years old,” says Ardis, who never really imagined herself a published author.

But a friendship with another local author, Jean Evans, set the wheels in motion and the Eutawville native and longtime Manning resident is now a published author.

“Talking to Jean, I told her I would like to get my poems published someday,” Ardis explains. “She helped me email a few poems to Publish America but warned me it could be a year or more before I heard from them. In just five days I heard from them and they wanted three chapters. Chapters? I didn’t have chapters; I just had little pieces of paper!”

But with Evans’ encouragement and her children’s technological assistance she got her many poems arranged into those preview chapters and in just a few weeks learned she was to be published.

Ardis explains that unlike many self-publishing houses, Publish America does not charge its authors for printing the books upfront, but that authors must market their books themselves.

That didn’t daunt Ardis who has already had a book signing at the Water Lily Gallery in Summerton and has another planned for Simpson’s in Sumter in the next few weeks.

Even more exciting is an upcoming appearance at her college alma mater, Peace College in Raleigh.
“I sent them a copy of my book for their collection and they invited me to come for alumni weekend and give a reading,” she said. “I am so excited and so honored.”

The Peace College Bookstore will also be selling Ardis’ book.

Ardis has lived in many places in the southeast and came to Manning when her father moved here to be a dry kiln engineer at Stuckey Lumber, where she also worked.

She has been married for 38 years to Herman Ardis of Manning. Together the couple has seven children, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

In addition to her writing avocation, Ardis stays very busy as a member of McDowell Presbyterian Church where she is the keyboard player. She also serves as volunteer with the Clarendon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and is a member of the Red Hat La-Dee-Da’s and the Clarendon County Republican Party.

“So many people are afraid of poetry, thinking that is it deep or mysterious,” she added. “My poems are just my true feelings from my heart, written very plainly to be enjoyed.”

To purchase a copy of “Remembered Days,” contact Ardis at 473-2850 or they can be purchased from PublishAmerica.com or Amazon.com.