George Ella Lyon and Diane Gilliam are longtime friends, having met years ago at Hindman Settlement's Appalachian Writers Workshop. Join us as they discuss their experience with and the value of friendships between writers both on the page and off.
George Ella Lyon has published award-winning books for readers of all ages, and her poem, "Where I'm From," has been used as a model by teachers around the world. Recent titles include She Let Herself Go and the picture books Which Side Are You On? The Story of a Song and All the Water in the World, which were both CCBC Choices; The Pirate of Kindergarten, recipient of a Schneider Award; and You and Me and Home Sweet Home, recipient of the Jane Addams Honor. Originally from the mountains of Kentucky, Lyon was the Kentucky Poet Laureate from 2015-2016. She works as a freelance writer and teacher based in Lexington, where she lives with her husband, writer and musician Steve Lyon. They have two grown sons.
Diane Gilliam is the author of the lyric narrative Dreadful Wind & Rain, and three collections of poetry: Kettle Bottom, One of Everything, and the chapbook Recipe for Blackberry Cake. She holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College and a PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures from Ohio State University. She is the recipient of the Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing, a Pushcart Prize, and the Gift of Freedom literary prize from the A Room of Her Own Foundation.
Part of the Fall Writing Series.