Diane Gilliam

Diane Gilliam

Poet Diane Gilliam was the winner of A Room of Her Own’s 6th Gift of Freedom Award. She has been widely recognized for the voice of honesty, beauty, and resilience  that she has given to Appalachian culture and history–among the many other subjects of her writing. Her second book, Kettle Bottom, is a collection of poems written in the voices of people living in the coal camps at the time of the 1920-21 West Virginia Mine Wars. Kettle Bottom has won several prizes, including a Pushcart Prize and the Ohioana Library Association Book of the Year in Poetry. Diane also won the 2008 Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing. She lives in Akron, Ohio, where she works as both poet and quilter. Diane has a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from Ohio State University, and an MFA from Warren Wilson.  Read more about Diane and her work in the Gift of Freedom Showcase. Master Class Leader, Waves Discussion Series Contributor