I am a Voice of West Virginia

Though some don't want to hear it. :-)

Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash

I don’t remember the first time I came across Kate Long’s name. It may have been during her time at The Charleston Gazette or her time at WV Public Radio. She became a fan our our print magazine, Two-Lane Livin’, and has followed my social media since, also subscribing to this newsletter, Two-Lane Renaissance. I do, however, remember the first time we spoke on the phone. I knew immediately that she was a force to be reckoned with.

And, for some reason, she’s a fan of mine as well.

If you aren’t familiar with Kate’s project, Voices of West Virginia, it evolved from the award-winning “In Their Own Country” radio series, first aired on West Virginia Public Broadcasting in 2002, which celebrated 14 successful, impactful, respected West Virginia writers.

Writers like Irene McKinney, Cynthia Rylant, Denise Giardina, Jayne Anne Phillips, Pinckney Benedict, Breece D'J Pancake, Marc Harshman, and others.

The name came from the Bible: "prophets without honor in their own country." The purpose was to show students in the state that West Virginia does produce writers, writers who can be enjoyed, as well as studied in a literary manner for their skill, talent, and impact in the literary world. In 2004, the Library Commission gave CDs of the series to all West Virginia schools and libraries, and many teachers used it in their classrooms.

“The series is timeless," writer Ann Pancake said. "Stories of writers’ lives and work, of West Virginia history and culture, and the writing advice these authors offer—none of these become outdated.”

"Students loved the writing, and they loved hearing the writers' voices," she said. But students no longer have CD players. So she joined other teachers to ask if the series could be put online.

The website brings the “In Their Own Country” series to the Web, 24/7. Each featured writer has a home page and an hour-long audio with each program divided into short, downloadable audio tracks of 3 - 12 minutes that can be played in class or presentations.

The site gives teachers ideas for ways to weave these writers into the classroom day, to teach skills they are already teaching, with advice on writing from all 14 writers. Fourteen-writer files are also available on "Growing up in West Virginia" and "West Virginia history."

And now, Kate is expanding on that with “Five More Voices,” an online newsletter featuring five more West Virginia writers in each issue. And forever bless her heart, Kate chose to include me in the inaugural issue. I am now, officially, a voice of West Virginia. What an honorable thought, considering that very often I feel I am just speaking into a void, that my entire writing career has been more hobby and happenstance than accomplishment.

I am neither a traditional literary writer nor an academic writer, nor a journalist nor a poet. A blend of all the above, I have been writing for West Virginia readers since 1993 - going on 32 years now. I have never gone viral, never been traditionally published (I self-publish), never before been blessed with such praise. And though I have won awards for news, journalism, essays, and poetry, I have never been given recognition as a voice heard — a voice that represents West Virginia.

(I am reminded of the time when the WV Division of Tourism ordered our magazine removed from rest areas and travel centers because it didn’t align with the image of West Virginia they wanted to present, even though thousands of copies had been circulating from there for years.)

Thank goodness for Kate Long is what I have to say. After 32 years, I feel my voice has been heard.

I urge you to visit Five More Voices and the original Voices of West Virginia. Learn about the wonderful writers produced by and living in the Mountain State. They are worthy voices, with much to say. Voices who need to be heard.