Author’s Biographies

A

Jan Allison is a budding poet from The Isle of Man. She started writing in November 2013 and is an active member of Poetry Soup where she has over 1500 poems posted. Jan’s publishing credits include Haiku Journal #33 by Prolific Press and Cambridge University Press in Dubai. She enjoys performance poetry and has appeared on stage at the Gaiety theater and Erin Art’s center in the Isle of Man.

Jane Andrews is Nonfiction Editor at Glint Literary Journal. Additionally, Andrews is a poetry editor for 3Elements Literary Review. Andrews’ fiction, essays, memoir, and poetry have appeared in Prime Number Magazine, Main Street Rag, Lunch Ticket, Verdad Magazine, Kindred, The Rambler, and other publications. Andrews is a freelance writing instructor, workshop facilitator, and book editor. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

JoAnna Arnold teaches beginning and intermediate French and Spanish. She is a regular contributor to Old Mountain Anthologies. JoAnna lives in South Georgia with her family.

B

Frederick W. Bassett is a retired academic who currently lives near his grandchildren in Greenwood, SC. His poems have appeared widely in anthologies and journals. His latest book of poems is The Old Stoic Faces the Mirror. He also has two novels South Wind Rising and Honey from a Lion.

Joann Bhisop went through some old papers she wrote for English Class in 1973, and this essay included in this anthology was one of the things she wrote when she was a Junior in High School. She posted everything from Journaling to her computer and she noticed not much has really changed except for one essay she wrote on her ambitions. She is still in the process of writing her family and critter books.

Jerry Bradley retired from the military after thirty years of service in August, 2008. He now has the opportunity to concentrate on his writing, most of which are related to his faith, his family, or the military. He and his wife, Laura, raised three children, a daughter in the Army, a daughter married to Army, and a son in the Air Force. He and his wife Laura are currently living in Raeford, NC.

C

Vicki Collins lives in Graniteville, SC, and teaches English at USC Aiken, where she is the Director of the Writing Center. Her work has appeared in Kakalak, MoonShine Review, Windhover, and the Southern Poetry Anthology: North Carolina. Her book, The Silent Appalachian: Wordless Mountaineers in Fiction, Film, and Television, was published in 2017 by McFarland.

Kathy Craig is a retired teacher who resides in Durham, NC. Her work has appeared in Wellspring, Iris, The Urban Hiker, Carolina Woman, Heron Clan, Bindweed, and Kakalak 2016. She won an honorable mention in Duke’s publication Write Me a Poem.

D

Tom Davis’s publishing credits include Poets Forum, The Carolina Runner, Triathlon Today, Georgia Athlete, The Fayetteville Observer’s Saturday Extra, A Loving Voice Vol. I and II, Special Warfare., and Winston-Salem Writers’ POETRY IN PLAIN SIGHT program for May 2013 (poetry month). He’s authored the following books: The Life and Times of Rip Jackson; A children’s coloring book, Pickaberry Pig’s First Day of School, The Patrol Order; and an action adventure novel, The R-complex. Tom has recently completed his memoir. He lives in Webster, NC.

Andrea Dietrich, a Utah ESL teacher, enjoys empty nesting with her spouse and two pets. She loves reviewing movies and learning about health and fitness. Andrea began writing poetry after 2000,

published 8 chapbooks, was editor for SPQuill of www.Shadowpoetry.com , and has been both a sponsor and winner of numerous poetry contests. She’s appeared in many anthologies and fun magazines. A very active community builder at www.PoetrySoup.com , she cherishes her friendships with other poets.

Nancy Dillingham is a sixth-generation Dillingham from Big Ivy in WNC and vividly remembers the adventure from childhood of cutting down a Christmas tree. She is the author of 12 books of poetry and short fiction, editor (with Celia Miles) of 4 anthologies of WNC women writers, and a collaborator (with Joan Medlicott) of a collection of haiku and photography. Her collection, HOME, was nominated for a SIBA. She lives in Asheville, NC.

F

Dena M. Ferrari is a regular contributor to OMP Anthologies. Dena’s poetry is featured in Westchester Community College of NY Phoenix (1975);. Writers Alliance Poets World-Wide anthologies has dozens of her published works. Dena’s own books, Poems From the Hearth (2010); Come Closer My Dearies (2013) and her newest book Charmed Times Three (2015), shows diversified writing styles, leaving a Living Legacy for her grandchildren. She and her husband, Peter live in Vass, NC.

Ann Fogelman, has a graduate degree in Public Health Nutrition. During WWII she served in the WAVES. Her work has appeared in The Noble Generation, That Thing You Do, Pets Across America, Texas Poetry Calendar , Boundless , OMP Anthologies and school publications. Ann is a member of Bay Area Writers League , Poetry Society of Texas and Osher Lifetime Learning Institute at UTMB, Galveston, TX. Ann lives in Friendswood, TX.

Joanne Kennedy Frazer, a retired peace and justice director and educator for faith-based organizations at state, diocesan and national levels, delights in exploring the kinship among all creation through her poetry. Her work has appeared in Old Mountain Press’ anthologies, Poetic Portions 2015 anthology, Soul-lit Journal of Spiritual Poetry, Postcard Poems and Prose Magazine, Panoply Literary Zine, Snapdragon Journal and will appear in Kakalak 2017. She lives in Durham, NC.

G

James Gibson, Northville, Michigan, featured Native American culture in the five novels in his "Anasazi Quest" series. His new novel, Searching with Pei for the Meaning of Life was published in August, 2016. Review all his books at www.PentacleSPresS.com . Two of his "Anasazi Quest" novels, Anasazi Princess and Anasazi Journey are now available as E-Books on Amazon.com.

Marian Gowan is author of Notes from the Trunk, published by Old Mountain Press. Her work has appeared in several Old Mountain Press anthologies and southern regional publications. Most recently, she contributed to It’s All Relative: Tales from the Tree, edited by Celia Miles and Nancy Dillingham. She retired to the NC mountains from western NY in 2001, but recently returned to NY to be near family.

(mariangowan1@bellsouth.net)

H

Kerri Mai Habben lives in Raleigh, NC. A graduate of Peace College and North Carolina State University, her work has appeared in literary journals, The News and Observer, and is regularly included in publications throughout the United States and Canada. Kerri has a manuscript of essays she is seeking to publish and a completed novella.

Karen Hammond lives in Falls Church, VA, and is currently working on finishing her first novel, Birdie Told Me. She enjoys reading, crocheting, working in her financial planning practice, traveling with her husband and fixing Sunday dinner for her children and five grandchildren.

Cordelia Hanemann, daughter of an army officer and diplomat, has lived in Japan and London. Professor emerita retired, she’s a writer and artist in Raleigh, NC. Her work has appeared in numerous journals Glassworks, Southwest Review, anthologies: Heron Clan IV, Well-Versed Reader, Kakalak 2017; and her chapbook, Through a Glass Darkly. She is currently featured poet for Alexandria Quarterly. She is now working on a novel about her roots in Cajun Louisiana.

MaXine Carey Harker and her husband Berkley, have lived 64 years in the little one-stop-light town of Grifton, NC, reared 5 children who have produced grandchildren and great grandchildren in far-flung places. Published in national, state, and local publications, she prefers non-fiction, sonnets, and haiku. She’s taught Writing for Publication for 35+ years at 2 Community Colleges (PCC & CCC, now Rec Center in New Bern, NC. MaXine is 89.

J

Arnie Johanson is a retired philosophy professor from Minnesota who moved to Durham, NC in 1999 and has been writing poetry since then. His work has appeared in a variety of journals and anthologies, and he has published three chapbooks, the latest being a Trunkload of Ephemera.

K

K. D. Kennedy Jr. has published four (4) books of poetry, short stories, and essays: Our Place In Time, Waiting Out In The Yard, For Rhyme Of Reason, and Progenitors: A Kennedy Genealogy. He has also published works in over twenty anthologies and periodicals. He has served as Chairman of the following: The Board of Trustees of Barton College, the North Carolina Board of Ethics, the North Carolina Theater, and the Building Committee of the Duke Power Performing Arts Center.

L

Patsy Kennedy Lain continues to live in Hubert, NC, and relies mostly on past memories, family stories and travels to inspire her work. Patsy continues to express her passions through writing and painting. She has works published in anthologies, magazines, a local newspaper, etc. and continues to receive awards for her works.

Blanche L. Ledford’s work has appeared in many Old Mountain Press anthologies and journals. She received the Paul Green Multimedia Award from NC Society of Historians for her book, Planting by the Signs. She enjoys writing about her Southern Appalachian heritage and lives in Hayesville, NC.

Brenda Kay Ledford’s work has appeared in many anthologies and journals. Aldrich Press published her poetry book, Crepe Roses, that received the Paul Green Award. She resides in Hayesville, NC and blogs at: http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com

K. A. Lewis graduated from the Corcoran School of Art in 1986 with little idea of how to make a living. Her work experience includes cake decoration, jewelry sales, hypnosis certification, being robbed at gunpoint, and 29 years as a custom picture framer. Since 2014, her poetry and genre fiction have been published in several anthologies. Katy and her husband live with three demanding cats in a small book-stuffed house in Falls Church, VA.

M

Celia Hooper Miles, a Jackson County native, taught at Brevard College and retired from AB Tech. She lives, edits, and writes from Asheville. She has published eight novels, two short story collections, and co-edited four anthologies of WNC women writers. Her interests are traveling, photography, gristmills and neolithic sites. She expects to complete and publish the final novel in her Sarranda trilogy in the spring. www.celiamiles.com

Wayne Montgomery has experienced life in many dimensions. His recent publication, There’s a Horizon Always Calling, is descriptive of them all. Publications also include, Healing and Wholeness, John Knox Press, as editor/contributor of articles on Religion and Medicine, Journal of American Medical Association and various pamphlets/brochures. Wayne lives in Salina, KS.

Molly Moore’s lifelong love of rhythm and rhyme first led her to write song lyrics in college, then, in 1999, to try her hand at poetry. Since then, she has been a member of Poetry for Thought, appearing in their anthology, A Poetry Bridge to All Nations. Her poetry has also been displayed at such sites as Shadow Poetry, Tranquil Moments, and Whispers. Molly works as a registered nurse in Honolulu, HI.

O

Beverly Ohler still thinks of New York City as home, even after living in North Carolina most of her adult life. Although her career was more involved in designing for theater, teaching, producing festivals, creating visual art – primarily at Warren Wilson College, she has written five books, edited and designed others and is included in many magazines and anthologies. Bev lives in Black Mountain.

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, bear creek haiku, Shemom, Creative Inspirations and cattails. She enjoys sharing the gift of words, and edits an online journal called Whispers at

http://whispersinthewind333.blogspot.com

Martha O’Quinn’s work has appeared in a number of OMP anthologies in addition to regional and national publications, both in print and online. Along with five other local authors, she contributed to Crossings, an anthology published by OMP. Martha and her husband retired to Hendersonville, NC twenty years ago.

P

Michael Potts is Professor of Philosophy, Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC. He has written three novels, two poetry collections, and a book in popular philosophy. Michael lives with his wife, Karen, and their four cats in Coats, NC.

R

Jordan Rhodes is a professional actor/writer/director that has over 200 credits to his name. His poems have been published in OMP Anthologies, and he is an award winning playwright and actor for the Hemingway play, PAPA "the man, the myth, the legend", which was also filmed and premiered at Theatre 80 – St. Marks Place in NYC. He has written a number of screenplays and resides in New York City.

Mary Ricketson, inspired by nature, is published in Wild Goose Poetry, Future Cycle Press, Journal of Kentucky Studies, Lights in the Mountains, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, her books, I Hear the River Call My Name, and Hanging Dog Creek, and a monthly column in The Cherokee Scout. She won first place in 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 75th anniversary national poetry contest. She is a mental health Counselor and blueberry farmer.

Dwight Roth is a retired elementary school teacher of 29 years, who grew up in the mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania. He enjoys writing, poetry, painting, and music. He had his work in several OMP anthologies. He has self-published four memoirs and Three books of poetry and three children’s books. He has nine books or booklets on Amazon Kindle. He and his wife Ruth live near Monroe, NC. He writes daily on his blog:

https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com

Maria Rouphail, Senior Lecturer Emerita in English at NC State University, is the author of two poetry collections, Apertures and Second Skin. She has published widely.

S

Dr. Lynn Veach Sadler, native North Carolinian, lives in Burlington, NC. A former college president, she has published 5+ academic books and 72 articles, edited 22 books/proceedings and 3 national journals, and writes 2 newspaper columns. Her creative writing publications are 11 poetry chapbooks and 4 full-length collections, 125+ short stories, 4 novels, a novella, 3 fiction collections, and a nonfiction collection; she has written 41 plays. She was a Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet 2013-2015.

Rishan Singh is a writer based in Durban, South Africa. His poems have appeared in books and journals, both in South Africa and other countries. He was amongst the 5 finalists at the 2014 eThekwini Municipality Library Awards, hosted by the Department of Parks, Leisure and Recreation in Durban. Many sub-themes have been addressed in his writing to date.

Sybil Austin Skakle’s publishing credits for poetry includes: Searchings, rocks, revelations rainbows,, and Loves and Lives of Living and Loving. Prose: Confessions of an Outer Banks Filly; Valley of the Shadow, a journey through grief; What Came Next; The Story of Amity United Methodist Church, told by God’s own at Amity; and has a novel for young adults to be published by Austin Macauley, Who Plays on Court One, expected publication 2017. She lives in Chapel Hill, NC.

David Snyder is a hospital dentist. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Davidson College. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree and completed his Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He authored an action adventure novel, The Price of Innocence, and has a manuscript in circulation. He lives in Asheville, NC, with his wife, Linda.

Yvonne Sparkes publishing credits include Family History Maitland. Australia. Poetry for Thought, Hawaii, Cyberwit India, Cumbria Magazine U.K., Essex Chronicle Newspaper U.K., Poetry Magazines in Israel and Germany, Church Magazines in UK Yvonne lives in Chelmsford, Essex, England

Shelby Stephenson is the current Poet Laureate of North Carolina. He lives about ten miles northwest of Benson, NC, where he was born.

T

Barbara Tate is an award winning artist and writer currently living in Winchester, TN. Her work has been published in Santa Fe Literary Review, Storyteller/Anthology Magazine, Contemporary Haibun Online, Modern Haiku, the Heron’s Nest, Failed Haiku, Hedgerow, Presence, Frogpond, and Backstreet Review among others. She is a member of the Haiku Society of America, United Haiku & Tanka Society and Gulf Coast Writers Assoc.

Rebekah Timms resides in Greenwood, SC about fifteen miles from where she was born. She loves writing poetry and is inspired by her love of family, friends, nature and her cat. She has four sons, seven grand-children and three great-granddaughters. She has contributed to several OMP anthologies and has published a memoir entitled Effie, Her Life, Her Love, Her Legacy available on Kindle.

V

Gene Vickers lives in Young Harris, GA. He loves writing short stories, especially about animals. He has published one book Imagine This, A Tale of Two Bears and has a novel near completion. He hopes to publish a collection of his short stories in the near future.

W

Elizabeth B. Watson,(aka Betty) has contributed often to Tom’s Old Mountain Press anthologies for at least ten years. Her name appears in other anthologies such as moonShine review, WNC Woman and two volumes of women authors. The Watsons live in Greenville SC in the backyard of Furman University, which adds much to their lives.

Glenda S. Wilkins grew up on a North Carolina tobacco farm, and believed she’d never live beyond the county line. Decades later, she moved with her husband to Europe for a dozen years. Her poems have been published in Europe, Great Britain, & North America. Thus far, she appreciates several poetry awards. She lives on an air strip, Winterville, NC.

Connie Marcum Wong, the Web Mistress of a private poetry forum Poetry for Thought since October 1999. Her poetry has been in many publications, anthologies, magazines, and e-zines. She authored her first poetry chapbook, Island Creations in 2005, and in 2007, Heart Blossoms. A Poetry Bridge to All Nations, a member anthology, was published January 2010. Connie created the Constanza poetry form in 2007 and Con-Verse form in 2010. She has resided with her husband in HI since 1980.

Barbara Ledford Wright’s work has been published in several anthologies and journals. She presently resides in Shelby, North Carolina.

Y

C. Pleasants York: At family meals in the home of C. Pleasants York of Sanford, NC, the Moravian Blessing is a ritual. Her grandmother, Dora May Key Pleasants, and her mother, Jessie May Pleasants Stearns, were Moravians from Winston-Salem, so journeys to Old Salem were frequent and beloved. In this poem, York takes the blessing and entwines her own memories. As an artist who creates memory boxes, York uses this original concept poem as a memory box with words.

Joe Youngblood is a retired Navy Deep Sea Diver who is currently working as a Military Family Life Counselor at Ft. Bragg North Carolina. Joe’s poems have appeared in several previous anthologies. He writes for fun and for what he feels strongly about. Joe greatly admires the men and women of the US Military and deeply appreciates their daily sacrifices for all of us. Joe lives in Fayetteville, NC.