About

I am the recipient of the Thomas and Lillie D. Chaffin Award for excellence in Appalachian Literature, the Appalachian Book of the Year award in fiction, a Jean Ritchie Fellowship from Lincoln Memorial University, and an individual artist’s grant from the North Carolina Arts Council. In 2018 I was inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame. I've written the novels, HOW FIRE RUNS (A Fall 2020 SIBA Okra Pick), IN THE HOUSE OF WILDERNESS (2018), A SHELTER OF OTHERS (2014), LAMBS OF MEN (2010), and the story collection, SINNERS OF SANCTION COUNTY (2011). I've also edited the contemporary Appalachian story anthologies, DEGREES OF ELEVATION (2010) and APPALACHIA NOW (2015). I am an Associate Professor at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee. I'm working on a couple of projects that I hope will see the light of day in the near future. If you enjoy any of my books, please think about leaving a short review on Amazon. Doing so really helps get the word out about my work. That being said, I would love it if you bought your next book from your local bookstore or directly from the publisher.