DISTINCTIONS

April 2021, nominated for the Paul Engle Prize for my work with The Writer’s Loft (now known as MTSU Write) and the 2nd & Church literary journal. The annual prize from the IOWA City UNESCO City of Literature honors an individual who, like Paul Engle, represents a pioneering spirit in the world of literature through writing, editing, publishing, or teaching, and whose active participation in the larger issues of the day has contributed to the betterment of the world through the literary arts.

Editorial Consultant for Former Astronaut Rhea Seddon: I edited Go for Orbit, the memoir of Dr. Rhea Seddon. She published the book in 2015, and it is in a third printing. I developed and launched Dr. Seddon's first web site, and I worked with her as an editorial consultant until 2018.

Alabama Writers’ Conclave 2017 Flash Fiction Judge: I served as the flash fiction judge for the 2017 annual convention of the Alabama Writers’ Conclave. The conclave was organized in 1923, and it is today one of the oldest continuing writing organization in the United States.

Alabama Writers’ Conclave 2014 Fiction Judge: I served as the short story judge for the 2014 annual convention of the Alabama Writers’ Conclave.

Short Story and Poetry Judge, The Pensters Writing Group. This popular writing group is based in Fairhope, Alabama. In 2014, I served as the judge of the organization’s short story and poetry contests.

Appeared in Country Goodness Recipes of Tennessee Celebrities, published on November 1, 2010. The cookbook contains hundreds of recipes from Tennessee artists, writers, athletes, sportsmen, actors, and musicians. Contributors include such people as Trace Adkins, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus, Jack Hannah, Ashley Judd, Martina McBride, David Sacks (founder of PayPal), and Reese Witherspoon.

One of 15 competitively-chosen writers to participate in WKU’s 2009 Winter Writing Workshop. Novelist Silas House instructed the writers on such aspects of creative writing as dialogue, setting, point of view, and much more.

Nominated for the Association of Writers & Writing Programs’ (AWP) George Garrett Award for Outstanding Service in Literature for the creation of The Writer's Loft certificate in creative writing program at Middle Tennessee State University.

Jason Gross, editor of the webzine Perfect Sound Forever, selected my MFA ECE as one of the best pieces of music writing for 2004, placing it in the top category of "Super-Scribing Awards: Best Writing of the Year." According to Gross, "though it plays up the romantic notion of Earle and Cash as commercial outsiders, this does a brilliant job of delving into their worldviews, via songs."

Founder/Director, MTSU’s The Writer’s Loft (2002-2005). Planned, created, and launched The Writer's Loft, a low-residency certificate in creative writing at Middle Tennessee State University.

Awarded ‘Honorable Mention’ in the 1992 Kentucky Intercollegiate Press Association’s newspaper contest for general interest column in WKU’s paper, The College Heights Herald.