KARI GUNTER-SEYMOUR

Anthologies - Edited by Kari Gunter-Seymour

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"I Thought I Heard A Cardinal Sing: Ohio's Appalachian Voices"

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Within these pages you will find a lavish mix of voices—Affrilachian, Indigenous, non-binary and LGBTQ; from teens to those creatively aging; poets in recovery, some with disabilities or developmental differences; emerging and well established; some living in the state, others from assorted locations throughout the country—all with a deep connection to Ohio (Central) Appalachia.

“This abundant anthology encompasses many styles and vantage points and backgrounds, creating a richly detailed tapestry of human experience in Appalachian Ohio. There is a pervasive sense of stoical courage in dealing with the rough edges of life; and many poems recognize and honor that struggle in the lives of past generations. The cumulative evocation of imaginative persistence in wooded valleys and on winding hilly roads and in hundreds of towns is seriously moving.”
—Mark Halliday, Director of Creative Writing, Ohio University

“I Thought I Heard A Cardinal Sing, Ohio’s Appalachian Voices brings to life the graceful rolling hills, the pockets and valleys, the generous souls, the vivid fruits and plants and birdlife that make Appalachian Ohio so entirely unforgettable. This diverse collection of precise, evocative poems sings the praises of a singular place and a people. A truly wonderful book.”
—Dinty W. Moore, Author of The Mindful Writer

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"Women Speak" Women of Appalachia Project Series

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Women from Appalachia keenly understand the concept of being considered “less than,” having been looked down upon for generations. We have learned by experience that, as women, we must work together to achieve our goals if we are to survive and thrive. WOAP encourages Appalachian-based female voices to rise up and speak their truths, or slap it down on a piece of paper, frame it, and hang it out in the sun for all to see. We do so with abundant respect for one another, our culture, and this land we so highly value.

 

No need for marches or protest signs; our work speaks for itself. We are: A PRINDI Award winner, Weatherford Award winners, state and municipal Poet Laureates, Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net awardees and nominees, and authors of acclaimed books. We are all shapes and sizes. Some of us are differently abled, some in recovery, some work two jobs, care for kids or ailing parents, and still somehow manage to create and contribute. Many of us come from ancestries full of remarkable women who worked the fields, then the factories or retail (some still do) children on their hip or strapped to their back, scrappers every one. From this we draw our strength, endurance, and determination to pay it forward to our own and future generations. We are aware of what’s at stake and that we must stay the course.

 

And just to be clear, reader, we will not back down.

 

“Mid-stem an ancient-green leaf is curled like

 a hand on the hip—daring and sassy.” -Sheila Carter-Jones

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-Kari Gunter-Seymour, Founder/Executive Director, Women of Appalachia Project

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"Essentially Athens Ohio"

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“I came to Athens for my undergrad and never left.” “I first visited Athens when my high school marching band attended a halftime performance at an O.U. football game.” “I live on the Westside, grow herbs and sweet potatoes in patio pots.” “I left Athens after my undergrad studies and scratch my head as to why I so often think of my time there, daydream about returning someday. ”Sound familiar? Athens, Ohio. Many who come, stay. Those who leave can never quite set aside the pull, the echo that reverberates no matter how far they roam – CASA, the Burrito Buggy, the Bike Path, New-2-You, bricks, church bells at noon, your favorite local or professor. Over one hundred poets, essayists, storytellers, songwriters and fine artists have come together in this very special collection. The work is raw, honest and steeped in all things Athens; from the foothills to the stadium, uptown to throughout the county. Join us as we celebrate all that is the heart and hearth of Athens, Ohio.

– Kari Gunter-Seymour, Ohio Poet Laureate AND Athens, Ohio, Poet Laureate

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