Present and past Lost State Writers Guild members (cont'd - pg 3)

ohaynes

Delilah O'Haynes is Professor of English at Concord University in Athens, WV, where she teaches Creative Writing. A coal miner's daughter from Clintwood, VA, Delilah's first book, The Character of Mountains, a collection of poetry and photography, was released in August 2006 and has been nominated for the Appalachian Book of the Year award. Her second book, Walk Free from Fear of Cancer, the book she had to write, was published in 2007.

osborne

Christine Osborne is a transplant to NE Tennessee from the Midwest. She has written numerous non-fiction articles for professional journals during her careers which have included funeral service and hospice, and presented at several national conferences. Now retired, she is focused on writing a novel. She enjoys taking a periodic hiatus to write personal essays about the 'special' people she has worked with in the past as well as those she meets in the hills and hollers of her adopted home. Two of these pieces have been published in Lost State Voices III, an anthology by members of the Lost State Writers Guild.

pendergraft

Eleanor H. Pendergraft is a native of Durham, NC. She received a BBA in Trust Management from Campbell University, NC in 1983. She has six children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Currently retired, she lives in Johnson City, TN and writes, paints and designs and builds furniture.

porter

Geraldine Russo Porter has a BA in English from Empire State College (SUNY) and an M.B.A. from Syracuse University. Gerry worked from 1975-8 as a journalist in the U. S. Army. Having written poems in her high school and college years, Gerry recently returned to writing poetry and hopes to publish a collection of her works in the near future. Gerry currently resides in Johnson City, TN but considers Rochester, NY her home.

ramsey

The pictures which grace the covers of the three anthologies published by the Lost State Writers Guild have all been generously provided by David Ramsey, professional photographer extraordinaire. All three photos were taken by David in and near the Southern Appalachian Mountains. As a native of Unicoi County, TN David has spent his life exploring the wild and scenic treasures of these lands. His photographic efforts have provided a channel of personal expression of his passion and concern for them. Sale of his work has helped support The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, which has worked for over 25 years to preserve and protect the wild nature and special beauty of these ancient mountains.

ratliff

Michelle A. Ratliff was always making up stories, sometimes illustrating them in homemade books. In high school she wrote for the school paper, a local teen magazine, and edited her yearbook. When she later had two boys she again wrote, making up fanciful stories for their amusement. Some of their favorite memories hark back to this happy creative collaboration. She only seriously began to write since moving to Virginia. She credits the classes of the COA, the Lost State Writers Guild, and Arts Depot Appalachian Writers and Poets for encouragement and wonderful friendships.

simpson

Marlene Simpson

samerdyke

Michael Samerdyke is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He has lived in far southwest Virginia for thirteen years. His nonfiction has appeared in The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Military History Magazine and Bristol Herald Courier. He is a graduate of the Odyssey Writers Workshop and won the 2000 Lonesome Pine Short Story Contest. Michael chaired the Lost State Voices III book committee and was the moving force behind its publication.

smith

Rodney Smith always enjoyed reading and wanting to express himself in words. He is writing his first bookabout a family from the 1800's, their hardships and joy of being of the land. He also writes poetry.

smith

Tammy Robinson Smith published her first novel, Emmybeth Speaks (Mountain Girl Press) in 2005. The first chapter was awarded second place in the adult short story category of the 2003 Virginia Highlands Festival. After a number of years as a broadcast reporter and public relations professional, she founded Mountain Girl Press in 2005. In 2006, she wrote and published the lead story for Zinnia Tales, a collection of short stories about Appalachian women by thirteen Appalachian women writers. She lives with her family in Bristol, VA and belongs to the Lost State Writers Guild, the Appalachian Authors Guild and Associates and is a participating artisan of 'round the Mountain. Her contact address is publisher@mountaingirlpress.com.

sorrell

Linda Sorrell lives on a small farm near Johnson City, Tennessee. There she gives guitar, piano, and accordion lessons. She enjoys her organic gardens and nature as much as her cats, dogs and horses. She enjoys writing about and for her family. She has written articles for newspapers and music education magazines.

spurlock

Ronnie Spurlock was born in Leesburg, Virginia and currently resides in Norton, Virginia. Previously employed with Walmart and Sam's Club for almost 24 years, he is currently is a substitute teacher in the Norton City and Wise County School Systems. Ronnie enjoys spending time with son Chris and daughter Ashley. Ashley Spurlock, pictured with her father, was the original Ashley and the inspiration for Thank You, Ashley. She lives in Jonesville, Virginia and is a senior at Lee High School where she actively participates in cheerleading, band, cross country and track. Thank You, Ashley is Ronnie's very first attempt at writing, and he looks forward to sharing the adventures of Ashley and Abby in future publications.

still

Teresa Still and her husband live in East Tennessee. She finds daily inspiration in her four grandchildren. Teresa wrote and illustrated her book, Katie Has Two Homes as a bedtime story for her then 4 yr old granddaughter. The book answered questions and eased Katie's mind about Mommy and Daddy and herself not living together anymore. It has made the process of communicating about divorce simple. Teresa's second book, Tessa Has Two Homes is the same but illustrated as African American at the request of a dear friend. Order Teresa's book through the usual online outlets or her website.

susong

James D. Susong was born in a log cabin on his grandparents' farm in Cocke County, TN. His writing is influenced by his grandmother, a wonderful storyteller, drawing on stories told her by her father and grandfather who had come from Scotland. Educated at Indiana University, James has published The First Winter, a book based on his grandmother's stories. He has over 25 such stories and they have been used in The Annie Oakley Foundation news letters, the read across America reading program, the Oklahoma Public School System in Northern Oklahoma and The Hamblen County School System here in Tennessee. He also has a book A Flicker of Light about farm life in the Tennessee Valley in the late 1800's. James and his wife, Lucy Jane Hudgens Susong, have 2 children and 4 Grandchildren, who can pass along these treasured stories now. Grandson Alexander has taken to writing and at age 13 is a published author. James belongs to the Annie Oakley Foundation and helps present the annual Annie Oakley Days in Greenville, Ohio every year.

tennis

Joe Tennis

tipton

Anne Tipton was born in Tipton Hill, North Carolina. An educator and instructional materials designer, she acquired an MA degree in Early Childhood Education from East Tennesssee State University. Later, she studied programmed instruction at New Mexico State University. She's designed language arts for the NEA's Project Life filmstrips and computer related instruction for beginning reading for Montgomery County, Maryland, Public Schools. She has also directed adult literacy in Abingdon, Virginia, through a Bell Atlantic-American Library Association grant.

van de merwe

Cobus Van der Merwe is married to Reta Rood. They have three sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren. He is a native of South Africa , a descendant of 1652 Dutch Settlers to the Cape Of Good Hope, and is an American citizen having immigrated to the USA in 1983. He is an electrical engineer, a viticulturalist, does jail ministering and is an inventor recognized by Who's Who of American Inventors and Who's Who World Wide.

varner

Gary Varner was born in a coal camp at McRoberts, KY and raised in the small coal mining town of Pound, VA. After graduating from East Tennessee State College in 1962, he was drafted into the U. S. Army. He spent seven years in the Army, attending Officer Candidate School to become an officer, Flight Training School to become an Army aviator and then served as a reconnaissance and combat support pilot for one year in the Go Cong province of Vietnam. He worked in healthcare administration in Johnson City, TN for twenty-eight years and served as Executive Director of the Johnson City Area United Way for two years. He is now retired and plays gold, writes books, tells stories and enjoys his family. Gary's book, Let Me Tell You a Story is available in print and audio format.

waldron

Joel R. Waldron, Sr. is a graduate of Bristol University in Kingsport, Tennessee. He is a full time pastor and has been in the minstry for over forty years. He has pastored several churches, done evangelistic work, and is active in missionary work and radio. He has written poetry and has written for newspaper and magazines. He ahs been a contributor to a book. He has written several plays.

ware

Claudia Ware was born on Long Island, NY. She believes she was born to write. Her first writing experience was a play performed by her Sunday School class. While a sophomore in high school, she won first place in an essay contest. Claudia moved to Florida in 1973, and began to write a weekly column for the local newspaper. She began to write in earnest after her English professor praised her writing ability. Her initial major interest was children's books, short stories, and poetry. In 2001, she started her first novel. After many revisions, she finally sent Clues: The Mystery at Ridge Manor to a publisher for consideration. Clues was published in November 2010 and is available through most major retailers. She is currently completing her second novel. Most recently Claudia won first, third, and honorable mention for three short stories sent to the Nashville branch of American Pen Women. Interests besides writing are reading, music, and teaching. She has taught psychology courses at Walter's State Community, and Carson Newman colleges. Claudia is also actively involved in the Appalachian Authors Guild, planning meetings and programs while serving as Vice-President. Click the link to learn more about Claudia on her website

zager

Muriel Kagan Zager is the author of four novels: Bystander, based on a murder committed during a feud in Jerusalem; The Faithful, nominated for a National Book Award, exploring fundamentalist, extremist concepts; and Death of a Pilgrim dealing with the Bethlehem murder of a pilgrim. Her newest book, Murder on the Mount of Olives, was released in August 2006. Muriel Kagan Zager also writes a monthly column for Highlands Publications, Inc. about the Middle East.