Distance Not Only Gives Nostalgia, But Perspective,

One Of The Biggest Changes That Ever Occurred In My Life Was Going From The Isolation Of Working Part-time As A House Painter In Henderson County, To Cornell, Where Everybody Was A Literary Person.

Some People Want To Call Me An Appalachian Writer, Even Though I Know Some People Use Regional Labels To Belittle.

I Considered Going To Film School; I Took A Course In Film And Was Very Interested In Filmmaking As Well As Film Writing.

Pound's Translation Of Chinese Poetry Was Maybe The Most Important Thing I Read. Eliot A Little Bit Later.

Among The American Contemporaries I Read With Most Enjoyment Are Several North Carolinians. I Think The Best Poetry Being Written These Days Is Being Written By Southerners.