December Feature
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Renee Rigdon is a widowed, sober, nonbinary writer, artist, creativity instructor, and weirdo-about-town. They love blending the humor and tragedy of life into a milkshake of magic and hope. Their work reflects a deep connection to nature, the difficulties of being a human, and the aches and absurdities of everyday life. In addition to poetry, Renee coauthored The AntiCraft: Knitting, Beading, and Stitching for the Slightly Sinister with the spectacularly talented Zabet Stewart. When they are not writing, creating, or advocating for the importance of creativity for grown-ups, Renee fills their time with cat snuggles, jigsaw puzzles, and a good porch sit. They live in Lexington, Kentucky, with their awesome son and two absolutely precious perfect tortie cats. (Bio: Accents Publishing) Suzanna Spearman Susanna Spearman (they/she) is a queer, Appalachian poet originally from South Carolina. They graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Bluegrass Writers Studio in August, 2024. They live in central Kentucky with their wife, four cats, and senior chihuahua. They're a full-time ESL and English teacher. In addition to being the Secretary of Kentucky State Poetry Society, they are also co-editor of the KSPS literary journal, Pegasus. They are the director of Multifarious Collective, an organization based in central Kentucky that amplifies multilingual/multicultural poetic and artistic voices. They were the 2023 winner of the BGWS Emerging Writer Award for Poetry (selected by Bernard Clay). They have poems published in West Trade Review, Still: The Journal, Untelling Journal, Carolina Muse, UDD3R Mag, and Yearling Journal. They have pieces forthcoming in Verses from the Underground and Meow Meow Pow Pow Lit. (Bio credit: LexPoMo.com)
Hill Writers Collective
Hill Writers Collective is a writing collective and online reading series dedicated to uplifting Appalachian and Southern voices. Through a mix of in-person gatherings and virtual events, we create space for everyday writers to explore creative expression in a supportive, low-stakes environment. Our online series primarily features the work of southeastern Appalachian authors. However, our reading series has expanded into other southern regions, with viewers from all across the nation. The program includes author reading, followed by engaging conversations on craft and the writing life. Each session incorporates generative writing prompts led by the featured authors and concludes with an open mic where participants are invited to share new work. With a growing Facebook community of over 300 members, Hill Writers Collective is a place for much more than free writing prompts and timely publishing opportunities, we're building a strong collective for the voices of our communities. Our mission is to amplify contemporary Southern and Appalachian perspectives, foster creative connection, and cultivate an inclusive literacy across the region and beyond.
Hill Writers Reading Series would like to thank our 2025 Features:
January ||| Shaun Turner & Karrington Aliyah
February ||| Jan LaPerle & Patsy Kisner
March ||| Willie Edward Carver Jr. & Amy Le Ann Richardson
April |||Kevin Nance & Jay McCoy
May ||| Pauletta Hansel & JC Mack
June ||| Katerina Stoykova & B Elizabeth Beck
July ||| Dr. Caleb Pendygraft & Shiloh Stump
August ||| Marianne Worthington & Belle Townsend
September ||| George Ella Lyon & Brandon Sun Eagle Jent
October ||| Jeremy Paden & Davis Shoulders
November ||| upfromsumdirt & Torli Bush
December ||| Renee Rigdon & Susanna Spearman
