thank God for Hindman
In February 2019, my friend McKenna and I slipped away from our Kentucky Kernel print production night to the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Six writers were inducted that year, including—as I wrote in my journal—“my icon Alice Dunnigan.” Even though it meant a late night when we returned to the newsroom to finish the paper, McKenna and I didn’t want to miss the induction.
We took our red, cushioned seats in The Kentucky Theatre. Before the ceremony started, an older woman asked if she could take the seat next to McKenna. Of course, we said.
Our Kernel photo adviser David Stephenson and his mother were sitting behind us. David texted me, “Do you know who you’re sitting next to?” When we replied no, he said it was George Ella Lyon.
Even if you don’t think you know George Ella Lyon, think back to a school assignment you almost certainly did: writing a poem about your life experiences called “Where I’m From.” That poem and school activity were created by Kentuckian George Ella Lyon.
McKenna and I freaked out but didn’t say anything to her as the event started.
“So much talent in that room,” I wrote in my journal, underlining “so” for emphasis. “It was very inspiring for a young Kentucky writer.”
Last week, I was in many rooms with so much talent at the Appalachian Writers’ Workshop, hosted annually in Hindman, Kentucky, by the Hindman Settlement School. Faculty and attendees included longtime heroes of mine like George Ella Lyon, Frank X Walker, Robert Gipe and Tom Eblen, plus so many established and emerging writers who were new to me.
We spent our days along Troublesome Creek, studying craft with our genre groups, listening to funny and heartbreaking and healing readings, and connecting with fellow writers.
What a humbling, joyful, inspiring experience it was to be around so many people who love writing and are dang good at it. I’ll keep doing all I can to be in those rooms.
The title of this newsletter is taken from the song “Hindman” by Nicholas Jamerson, which I actually forgot to listen to a single time while I was in Hindman. I did listen to Tyler Childers’ new album, though. Thanks for being on my subscription list; try to stay off my Bitin’ List.
I love the bridge over Troublesome Creek.