Amy is a native of Jonesville, Virginia, in the heart of Appalachia. She is the author of two books and several articles and essays. In 2012, she was presented with the Jean Ritchie Award in Appalachian Writing by Lincoln Memorial University, the highest monetary award given in Appalachian literature.
For six years she was a bi-monthly columnist for the Bristol Herald Courier, writing about Appalachian issues.Her award-winning writing has appeared in Still, Appalachian Heritage, Blue Ridge Country, Now and Then, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tampa Tribune, With Good Reason radio program on NPR affiliates, Appalachian Voices, National Writing Project online, Journal of the Virginia Writing Project, Virginia Educational Leadership Journal, and the anthology Motif v2: Come What May (Motes Books, 2011.)
Amy is the founding director of the Appalachian Writing Project, a non-profit organization now entering its twelfth year, which supports rural teachers in their research, writing, and teaching about writing. She teaches courses in writing pedagogy, Appalachian literature, rhetorical theory, speech, and sociolinguistics at The University of Virginia's College at Wise. She received her doctorate in English (rhetoric and applied linguistics) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
She makes her home in Big Stone Gap, VA with her husband, Dr. Bryan Spain, their two children, and Sadie, their golden retriever.
For six years she was a bi-monthly columnist for the Bristol Herald Courier, writing about Appalachian issues.Her award-winning writing has appeared in Still, Appalachian Heritage, Blue Ridge Country, Now and Then, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tampa Tribune, With Good Reason radio program on NPR affiliates, Appalachian Voices, National Writing Project online, Journal of the Virginia Writing Project, Virginia Educational Leadership Journal, and the anthology Motif v2: Come What May (Motes Books, 2011.)
Amy is the founding director of the Appalachian Writing Project, a non-profit organization now entering its twelfth year, which supports rural teachers in their research, writing, and teaching about writing. She teaches courses in writing pedagogy, Appalachian literature, rhetorical theory, speech, and sociolinguistics at The University of Virginia's College at Wise. She received her doctorate in English (rhetoric and applied linguistics) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
She makes her home in Big Stone Gap, VA with her husband, Dr. Bryan Spain, their two children, and Sadie, their golden retriever.
