Announcing the 2024 Winners of the Whippoorwill Award for Rural Young Adult and Middle Grade Literature

This is the fourth cycle of the Whippoorwill Award for Rural Young Adult and Middle Grade Literature, and it has been an eventful one. The Award has recently moved to be housed by The Rural Assembly on English Language and Literacy Education (TRAELLE, pronounced “trail”). TRAELLE is an assembly of educators through the National CouncilContinue reading “Announcing the 2024 Winners of the Whippoorwill Award for Rural Young Adult and Middle Grade Literature”

Vicious Is My Middle Name by Kevin Dunn | Author Talk

In this episode, Whippoorwill Award winner Kevin Dunn and I talk about the importance of rural voices in publishing, the impact that transactions of place have on identity, and the connection between DIY punk and rural culture. To learn more about Kevin Dunn: https://www.kcdunn.com/ For more info on the Whippoorwill Award for Rural YA andContinue reading “Vicious Is My Middle Name by Kevin Dunn | Author Talk”

TRAELLE & WHIPPOORWILL TO JOIN FORCES

If you’ve been following along on this little journey of mine, you likely already know that I (with the help of Rebekah Buchanan and other amazing colleagues) started The Rural Assembly of English Language and Literacy Education through the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) as a home for rural ELA teachers and teacherContinue reading “TRAELLE & WHIPPOORWILL TO JOIN FORCES”

Vicious Is My Middle Name by Kevin Dunn | Book Talk

In this episode, I sit down with my buddy, Brian Brady, to talk about the Whippoorwill Award winning Vicious Is My Middle Name by Kevin Dunn which is about Sydney Vicious Talcott and her efforts to derail the construction of an asphalt plant in her new home in Appalachia. Here’s the jacket copy summary: WithContinue reading “Vicious Is My Middle Name by Kevin Dunn | Book Talk”

Rural Teen Writing Contest Portal is Open: Middle Schoolers Welcome!

When I began The Rural Teen Writing Contest, I wasn’t sure how it would go, so I began by opening the contest to only high school students in grades 9-12. Well, this year, that’s changing! The Literacy In Place Rural Teen Writing Contest is officially open to rural writers in grades 6 – 12! ThisContinue reading “Rural Teen Writing Contest Portal is Open: Middle Schoolers Welcome!”

2023: A Year in Review

I’m currently sitting in my childhood living room while my three kids play with their uncles’ assortment of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars collected over a couple decades. Sometimes it’s collaborative; sometimes it’s not. The youngest frequently breaks off to play in the 30-year-old Playskool kitchen we all used at my Mamaw and Papaw’s house.Continue reading “2023: A Year in Review”