Education
MFA in Writing, Vermont College of Fine Arts
MA in English, College of Charleston & The Citadel
BA in English, Clemson University
BA in Speech & Communications Studies, Clemson University
Experience
Instructor, Great Smokies Writing Program, University of North Carolina-Asheville, Spring 2024
Director, MountainTop Writers Retreats, 2019 – present
Columnist, USA Today/Gannett, 2014 – 2019
Guest Speaker, Lecturer, Workshop Leader, Panelist, Guest Host, 2012 – present
Visiting Author, 2012 – present
Freelance Writer & Editor, 2004 – present
14+ years teaching on the college level
Classes taught: Environmental Literature, American Literature, Creative Writing, Adventure Literature, Southern Literature, College Writing, Professional Research & Reporting, Expository Writing, English Composition, Cherokee History & Culture in the Colonial South, Hiking the Movies, Writing History into Fiction, Local Trails
Academic Counselor, 2006 – 2008
Newspaper Reporter, 2001 – 2002
Experiential Educator, Programming Instructor, Backpacking Guide, 1998 – 2003, 2005 – 2009
Publications
Books
THE MINIATURIST’S ASSISTANT, Regal House Publishing, forthcoming May 2025
Keowee Valley, Bell Bridge Books, September 2012
Columnist
USA Today
The Greenville News (SC)
Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Upstate Parent Magazine
Essays
“‘To the Bones’ by Valerie Nieman,” Appalachian Review
“Keowee,” Wilderness House Literary Review
“‘A Million Fragile Bones’,” Appalachian Review
“July 19, 2007,” Past-Ten
“Deep Breathing Under Big Sky,” Santa Fe Writers Project
“Deep Breathing Under Big Sky,” South Loop Review
“The Sacred Stillness of Father Damien,” Appalachian Review (formerly Appalachian Heritage)
“Interview with Connie May Fowler,” Appalachian Review
“Procreation Pressure Meets Gross Grits,” Western North Carolina Woman
“Dr. Joe’s Office, 74 George Street,” College of Charleston Magazine
“Bringing Kathleen Home,” Bella: The Magazine
Articles
Various, Mountain Traditions Magazine
Various, The Hendersonville Times-News (NC)
Various, The Greenville News (SC)
Poems
“Litchfield Beach,” North Carolina Poetry Society, Pinesong Review
“Home,” The Petigru Review
“Stone Angel in the Protestant Cemetery,” The Petigru Review
Guest Blogs
Various – Paper Lantern Writers, Bell Bridge Books, BelleBooks, Riding With the Top Down, Living the Creative Life, etc
Podcasts
Southern Spines with Alison Law
Away With Words with Victoria Valentine
Recognition
2024 Writer-in-Residence, Weymouth Center for the Arts (NC)
2024 Artist-in-Residence, Wildacres Retreat (NC)
2024 Writer-in-Residence, South Porch Artists Residency (SC)
2022 First Place, Thomas H. McDill Poetry Contest, North Carolina Poetry Society
2015 Novel Retreat Scholarship, Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing Program
2014 The Writing Life Scholarship, Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing Program
2013 Puerto Rico Essay Contest & Scholarship, Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing Program
2013 Artist in Residence, The Reserve at Lake Keowee (SC)
2013 HOLT Medallion Award, Virginia Romance Writers
2011 Full Merit Scholarship, The Sun Magazine
2011 Quarter-Finalist, Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest
2009 Scholarship Award, Key West Literary Seminar: “Historical Fiction and the Search for Truth”
2008 Full Fellowship in Fiction, Vermont Studio Center
2007-2008 North Carolina Arts Award, North Carolina Arts Council
2007 Literary Arts Award, The Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards, Judge: Robert Olen Butler
2007 Writer in Residence, Montana Artists Refuge
2007 First Place, Paul Gillette Memorial Contest, Historical Fiction, Pikes Peak Writers Contest
2005 Partial Fellowship in Fiction, Vermont Studio Center
2005, Best of Issue, Poetry, The Petigru Review
Academic Service
2022 – 2025 Judge, The Weatherford Award, Appalachian Studies Association
2015 – present Reader, Appalachian Review
2016 – 2017 Reader & Judge, Looking Glass Rock Writers Conference
2014 – 2016 Planning Committee, Looking Glass Rock Writers Conference
2016 Judge, South Carolina PTA Reflections
2009 – 2019 Faculty Reader & Judge, Senior Projects, Transylvania County Public Schools (NC)
Memberships
Historical Novel Society
North Carolina Writers Network
Association of Writing Programs
