Author Archives: drparton

In this episode, Whippoorwill Award winning Tiffany D. Jackson sits down to chat with me about the importance of representation, her research process, and how to make a book authentic even when it’s about an experience outside of your own. Let’s just all agree to ignore the number of flubs during her bio – IContinue reading “The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson | Author Talk”

In this episode I talk to Gary Eldon Peter about craft, about out-migrant experiences and identity building, and about the importance of never giving up on yourself or your writing. To buy the book with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/a/86567/9781646032532 To learn more about Gary Eldon Peter: https://www.garyeldonpeter.com/bio

This episode features four of the contributors to Tori Bovalino’s folk horror anthology The Gathering Dark. These women are so insightful, and I learned so much about folklore, folk horror, and more through our discussion. In this talk, we tackle everything from what defines folk horror to publishing industry categories to what makes rural placesContinue reading “The Gathering Dark edited by Tori Bovalino | Author Talk”

In this episode Julia, David, and I talk about the importance of place and rurality to our lived experiences, to reading, and to writing. We also get to do something that few authors and readers get to do – talk to one another about the conversation we had across the page. This is one ofContinue reading “Angel Falls by Julia Rust & David Surface | Author Talk”

Time to get our spooky on! In honor of Spooky Season, in this episode, I do a little reading, give a summary, and use some place-conscious analysis to talk about Whippoorwill Award winning Angel Falls. I also outline some teaching ideas for using the book in a rural (or non rural) ELA classroom. Angel FallsContinue reading “Angel Falls by Julia Rust & David Surface | Book Talk”

Willie Edward Taylor Carver, Jr. is a brilliant poet and a kindred spirit, and I enjoyed every single second of this conversation. I hope rural English teachers out there will listen to it, because he puts language to a lot of issues faced by rural ELA in language with concrete examples that I’ve always wishedContinue reading “Gay Poems for Red States by Willie Edward Taylor Carver, Jr. | Author Talk”

In this episode I read a few poems from, give an overview of, and discuss how I would teach Willie Edward Taylor Carver, Jr.’s incredible collection, Gay Poems for Red States. If you’re teaching in a school that is currently inhospitable to queer literature, know that there are poems in this collection could still workContinue reading “Gay Poems for Red States by Willie Edward Taylor Carver, Jr. | Book Talk”

Y’all – this discussion with Regina Hansen was so good, I lost myself in the conversation and forgot about my questions. We talked about so much important stuff including Get the book: https://bookshop.org/a/86567/9781534482449 Learn more about Regina Hansen and her work: https://www.reginamhansen.com

In this Book Talk episode, I give the summary for, perform a mini analysis of the way place functions in the book, and provide a skeleton of an idea about how teachers could approach teaching The Coming Storm. Links to songs mentioned in the book:

In this Author Talk, Dr. Rob Petrone sits down with me to talk about my first book Country Teachers in City Schools. We talk about why I wrote it, how I wrote it, what’s in it, and what it means to me. I had so much fun and hope you do too! You can findContinue reading “Country Teachers in City Schools by Chea Parton | Author Talk”

In this episode, I give quite a few updates and announcements about cool stuff happening at Literacy In Place. I also talk about my book, Country Teachers In City Schools: The Challenge of Negotiating Identity and Place. Here are some things discussed in the show: You can buy the book Check out the Read AppalachiaContinue reading “Country Teachers in City Schools by Chea Parton | Book Talk”

In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Dittemore, author of WINTER WHITE AND WICKED to talk about how the story came to be, her connections to rural places, what she wants to set the record straight about rural people and living, and drop a couple hints about what *might* be my latest project. ToContinue reading “Shannon Dittemore | Author Talk”

Summary & Analysis In this episode, I read a few pages from Shannon Dittemore’s WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED, provide a summary of the book, and do some analysis of the rural place of the novel. Specifically, I think about how themes of faith/religion, race and history, and economic systems in the novel connect to ourContinue reading “Winter, White and Wicked by Shannon Dittemore | Episode 1”

In this episode, Terena Elizabeth Bell and I talk about the stories in TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE. We discuss her rural backrground and how that affects her writing, including the stories in this latest collection. We talk about rural places as culturally and linguistically rich supporters of art and the artists that produce it.Continue reading “Terena Elizabeth Bell | Author Talk”

In this episode I discuss how to use Bell’s story “#CoronaLife” to help students process the trauma of the pandemic, how it’s connected to place, and to study as a mentor text for their own writings. It even includes a sneak peak of the story! For more on rural language varieties: https://literacyinplace.com/2022/01/14/what-is-my-rural-language-variety/ To get one,Continue reading “Tell Me What You See by Terena Elizabeth Bell | Episode 2”

I’m kicking off Season 3 of Reading Rural YAL with TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE, an amazing short story collection by Terena Elizabeth Bell. I’m absolutely obsessed with it. It’s experimental, cutting edge, and powerful – especially in its exploration of life during the pandemic and the January 6th insurrection. I say it a millionContinue reading “Tell Me What You See by Terena Elizabeth Bell Season 3: Episode 1”

In this episode, I talk with New York Times Best-Selling and Whippoorwill Award winning Kalynn Bayron, who is the absolute epitome of cool. We talk about everything from her time growing up in Alaska, the underrepresentation of rural folks of color in YA, challenges faced by authors of marginalized identities in publishing, her reserach andContinue reading “Author Talk | Kalynn Bayron”

In this episode, I sit down with Ginny Myers Sain. We talk about how place and rurality have impacted who she is and how she writes. She gives some solid tips and tricks for developing craft, especially through dialogue and one-act plays. We also chat about the representation of rural language varieties in young adultContinue reading “Author Talk | Ginny Myers Sain”

In this episode I outline two activities that I would use to teach this text. One involves a dramatic reading (which I hope Sain would love since I know she loves theater) and the other is to come up with your town’s claim to fame. Get a copy of the book: https://bookshop.org/a/86567/9780593403969 Learn more aboutContinue reading “Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain | Episode 2”

Whippoorwill Award winning author Tim Lockette and I talk about TELL IT TRUE, how his rural background influences his writing, what it means and can look like to challenge rural stereotypes, how reading can influence your writing, and rural language practices. Shout-outs to Dr. Sarah J Donovan and EthicalELA. Get the book: https://bookshop.org/a/86567/9781644210826 More informationContinue reading “Author Talk | Tim Lockette”

In this episode, I talk about some ideas for teaching Tell It True, including turning the class into a newsroom, partnering with the art class for printing, and sharing with the community and school. Resources From This Episode Daily Yonder Article: https://dailyyonder.com/meet-the-77-year-old-woman-keeping-her-towns-newspaper-the-montezuma-record-alive-as-its-last-remaining-employee/2022/07/06/ Get the book: https://bookshop.org/a/86567/9781644210826 More information about Tim Lockette: https://timlockette.com/

In this episode, I provide a brief summary, read the first page (or so), and provide some analysis on important and rural-salient themes of Tim Lockette’s Tell It True. Specifically, I focus my analysis on the importance of local news staying local. Buy the Book: https://timlockette.com/

In this episode, Michelle Coles and I talk about so many things: How transactions across different types of places teach us to see and celebrate difference as well as connect through commonality The importance of authentic and intersectional stories of rurality How we’re essentially in a third cycle of Reconstruction and civil rights Her inspirationContinue reading “Author Talk – Michelle Coles”

In this episode, I talk about the possibilities of co-teaching this book with a history teacher and brainstorm projects such as Little Known History: Reconstruction Edition where students could learn about the historical events and people of the novel through research game creation. Learn more about Michelle Coles and find copies of Black Was theContinue reading “Black Was the Ink by Michelle Coles: Episode 2”

In this episode, I give a brief summary, read the first couple of pages, and do some critical place analysis of Michelle Coles’s Black Was the Ink. Its focus on Reconstruction America provides important connections to and insights for our own current cultural moment. It also importantly depicts Black rural folks – their history, struggles,Continue reading “Black Was the Ink by Michelle Coles: Episode 1”

In this episode, we talk about Monica’s rural connections, rural as cultural identity, code-switching/translanguaging with rural language varieties, and so much more. Another wonderful conversation I’m grateful to have had.

In this episode, I discuss some critical rural pedagogical approaches to teaching AIR, including a reading unit framed by an essential question with suggestions for reader’s notebooks; a PBL writing unit designed to learn about and improve accessibility in students’ school and community. Learn more about critical rural English pedagogy: https://youtu.be/NFrLzo27-Ek Resources about equity audits:Continue reading “Air by Monica Roe: Episode 3”

In this episode, I talk about how rurality shapes accessibility and role that plays in shaping Emmie’s story. I also connect it to my own experiences as a rural student and teacher. If you haven’t filled out my survey yet, I’d really appreciate it if you could. Connected Resources: Why We Need More Rural PerspectivesContinue reading “Air by Monica Roe: Episode 2”

In this episode, I give a brief overview of Monica Roe’s 2022 debut, AIR. I discuss the inspiration for the book and read the first chapter. Also… If you haven’t filled out my survey yet, I’d really appreciate it if you could. https://forms.gle/e26yPv8ycMppouPv5 Buy the book: https://bookshop.org/books/air-9781250798268/9780374388652