Description

Poet, educator, anthologist, and activist Allison Adelle Hedge Coke is the editor of tenanthologies and author of seven books of poetry and one memoir: Rock, Ghost, Willow, Deer: A Story of Survival (2004). She wrote the first draft of her memoirabout her mothers mentalillness, the physical abuse Hedge Coke suffered, and her own substance abuse in youthduring a residency at MacDowell Colony. She says of that experience: I wrote myself intoreally deep PTSD. She credits the Veterans Administration medical care she was able to access, as the child of a World War II veteran, with her recovery. Her editor cut huge swaths from her manuscript, telling her the material would be too painful for readers. Hedge Coke warnsaspiring memoirists: You can write yourself into a very dark place. In our discussion of Hedge Cokes brilliant memoir, we will consider how to write through the darkness, how toface the hardest stories, and how to keep ourselves healthy as we do so. The author will visit for a Q&A during the class session.