Vitae
Education
Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing, University of North Carolina--Greensboro
M.A. in English/Creative Writing, Colorado State University
B.A. in English, Mars Hill College, NC
Teaching Experience
Professor of English, Brevard College, Brevard, NC 1978-2018
Classes taught: Beginning Creative Writing, Poetry Writing, Wilderness Literature,
Literature and the Arts, American and British Literature
Publications
Books
The Best Material for the Artist in the World: Albert Bierstadt--A Poetic Biography
(coming March 2023) Stephen F. Austin University Press
If Not These Things, Kelsay Books, 2022
Logic of the Lost, Longleaf Press, 2001
Absolute Faith, ByLine Press, 1999
Anthologies
Witness: Appalachia to Hatteras, North Carolina Poetry Society, Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series
Kakalak, nine times, Moonshine Review Press
Pinesong, three times, North Carolina Poetry Society Awards
Personal Story Publishing Project Series: That Southern Thing,
Luck and Opportunity, Curious Stuff, Twists and Turns
Old Mountain Press: Webster's Reading Room, Enjoy the Holidays,
The Cataloochee Bridge, Old Tales
A Gathering of Poets, Jacar Press
Runes: Signals, Arctos Press
Lights in the Mountains: Stories, Essays, and Poems by Writers Living in and Inspired by
the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Winding Path Publishing
Poetry
Poems published in Appalachian Heritage, Asheville Poetry Review, Blueline, Blue Mountain Review, Blue Pitcher, Broad River Review, ByLine Magazine, Canary, A Carolina Literary Companion, Charlotte Poetry Review, Cold Mountain Review, College English, Crucible, Cumberland Poetry Review, Diagram, Ekphrasis, The Ekphrasis Review, Flying South, The Greensboro Review, The GSU Review, I-70 Review, Library Love Letter, The Lyricist, Main Street Rag, Montana Mouthful, Naugatuck River Review, North Carolina Literary Review, Ocean State Review, Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel, Pisgah Review, Redheaded Stepchild, Rockvale Review, Sandhills Review, Stone Poetry Quarterly, Tar River Poetry, Teach-Write, Thema, THINK: A Journal of Poetry, Fiction, and Essays, Twelve Winters Journal, Weber: The Contemporary West, Willawaw Journal, Willows Wept Review, The Worcester Review, Word Journal.
Recognition
2023 & 2022 Distinguished Poet, Western Region, Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series, NCPS
2022 & 2021 Finalist, Rash Award in Poetry, Broad River Review
2021 Finalist, Narrative Poetry Contest, Naugatuck River Review
2020 Honorable Mention, Poetry of Courage Award, North Carolina Poetry Society
2019 Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference, Truchas NM
2000 to 2018 I. B. Seese Distinguished Service Professor of English and Creative Writing, Brevard College
2018 Honorable Mention, R. T. Smith Narrative Poetry Prize, Cold Mountain Review
2017 Finalist, James Applewhite Poetry Prize, North Carolina Literary Review
2016 & 2009 Finalist, Iowa Review Poetry Contest
2015 & 1999 Pushcart Prize nominations
2011, 2009 & 2008 Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences residency
2004 First Place, Word Journal Poetry Prize
2002 & 1999 Vermont Studio Center residency
2001 First Prize, Longleaf Press Poetry Chapbook Competition
2000 Virginia Center for the Creative Arts residency
1999 First Prize, GSU Review (Georgia State) National Writing Award in Poetry
1999 First Prize, ByLine Magazine National Poetry Chapbook Competition
1999 Writers’ Conferences and Centers scholarship to attend Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
Academic Service
2016 – 2018 Director, Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference, Brevard College