Karen Weyant is a writer and Associate Professor at Jamestown Community College. She is the author of two poetry chapbooks, Stealing Dust (Finishing Line Press) and Wearing Heels in the Rust Belt (Main Street Rag). Her poems have been published in over 100 journals including Chautauqua, Copper Nickel. Crab Orchard Review, Harpur Palate, Fourth River, Flyway, Spillway, Rattle, River Styx and Whiskey Island. Her poetry has also appeared in Ted Kooser’s American Life in Poetry series and Sundress Publications Best of the Net annual anthology. In this episode, Karen talks about growing up in Northern Appalachia and how her writing is influenced by the region. Her piece of flash fiction, “At the Playground” appears in the recent Summer Edition of The Watershed Journal. The story features a young girl from a gritty rust belt town and the moment she decides she will move through the world with agency and resilience.
In our continuing mission to promote regional writers, photographers, artists and storytellers, we are introducing yet another way for our followers and supporters to get to know the incredibly talented people who make The Watershed Journal possible. In these episodes, our writers will talk about the inspiration and methods behind their work. A big thank you to PSUS for the original music! Find more of his good vibes at psusmusic.com.