About

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:

Darlene [dayita] is a teacher, poet, novelist and artist. She makes her home in southern Appalachia. She holds a master’s degree education. Her work has appeared in various publications such as StorySouth, Mid-South Review, Riverwalk Journal, Pegasus, Other Voices International, Coal by Blair Mountain Press, Instructor Magazine and many others. Her work also appears in Coal County, by Counterpoint press in conjunction with Sierra Productions as an accompaniment to the release of Coal Country [narrated by Ashley Judd]. She is a recipient of the Speculative Poetry Award from the Kentucky State Poetry Society and attends the Appalachian Writers Workshop. Darlene is a nature lover who enjoys gardening and other outdoor activities. She loves her Appalachian heritage, a blend of Cherokee, Mexican, British Isles and French. Much of her work is shaped by the land and its peoples.

Royalties from Darlene’s novel, I Listened, Momma, are being donated to Relay for Life to aide in the battle against cancer. Darlene is also the recepient of the 2012 Mary Ballard Chapbook Poetry Prize. Her poetry collection, Uncommon Clay, will be released in March o 2012. She is currently working on her next southern fiction novel. For more information, please visit Darlene’s official website.