This is where you'll find me now.

If you've been reading me elsewhere already...

I have been writing for various central West Virginia audiences for almost 18 years now. First, via The Calhoun Chronicle, then for ten years in Two-Lane Livin’ Magazine. Most recently, I was penning a column for The Hur Herald, which also appeared in The Glenville Democrat/Pathfinder.

I can’t imagine anyone who has read every installment, every piece — not even my Mother. A mixture of print and online, local and worldwide, my writing has jumped from one platform to the next publication, free and subscription, off and on for two decades now. Different publications with different audiences across a central region. I’m quite sure it’s all been hit or miss, but I might hope (and the numbers would suggest) that there may be readers out there who have been reading my work for more than 18 years. I like to imagine so.

As of December 2021, The Hur Herald (one of the first online publications in West Virginia) is no longer updating. After 25 years, Bob and Dianne Weaver decided to hang up their hats as the reliable source of news in central WV, (most specific to Calhoun County). A 25-year collection of news and local history, the archives remain online and have been added to the collection at R.F. Kidd Library at Glenville State College.

I could continue sending my essays to the local newspaper. I could. But their audience is a fraction of The Herald’s, and though I support local print newspapers, I am not quite aligned with them politically or journalistically.

So here we are. New platform, a new newsletter, and me trying to make use of the skills I have developed over the last 25 years. When I started at The Chronicle, I had just received my B.A. in English. Since then, I have completed my MFA in Creative Writing, published my own magazine, and had my works recognized and accepted in multiple publications. In the last two years, I have scrambled with the rest of the world to learn to produce video and audio files and have all the equipment (which I intend to use).

I think you’ll enjoy what’s to come. I have some fun ideas. If I don’t get sidetracked, and actually plant seeds here that grow, I will start building a paywall, with certain features for free subscribers, and special features for paid subscribers - but we’re a long way from there right now. A week ago, this was nothing more than a mere idea. (Of course, I already have a paypal.me account if you want to make a donation now.)

If you know anyone who enjoyed my column in The Chronicle, or on The Hur Herald, or in Two-Lane Livin’ Magazine, you might share this new space with them. I’ve been writing for central West Virginians for almost two decades — but I think the best is yet to come.