Dorothy Allison is a 73 year old, white, feminist, working class story teller, who was raised in South Carolina and Florida and now makes her home in California. She is the author of many books including novels, short stories, a poetry collection, and a memoir. In this interview, recorded by Rae Garringer in August 2018, Dorothy talks about memories of growing up "a poor kid in love with language," learning to write, how she got from FL to CA, class, feminism, and the magic of writing.

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For this episode we're asking folks who are able to support Lauren Garretson-Atkinson's gofundme. Lauren is an Affrilachian creative hailing from the mountains of West Virginia. She received her BA in Africana Studies & Creative Writing from Hampshire College, and her MFA in Fiction from Virginia Tech. Non-traditional in most ways, Lauren enjoys pushing boundaries and genres in her writing, working with speculative-fiction, magical realism and historical fiction. She is raising money to support her in finding the time and space to finish the afrofuturist Appalachian novel she's been working on for years. You can support Lauren here: https://gofund.me/23c5fa12

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To learn more about this collaboratively produced 2nd season check out our websites at www.countryqueers.com and www.weareoutintheopen.org

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Created and produced by Rae Garringer with support from HB Lozito from Out in the Open.

Editorial advisory dream team: Hermelinda Cortés, Lewis Raven Wallace, and Sharon P. Holland. Music by Tommy Anderson.

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If you'd like to support this rural queer and trans led project head on over to our Patreon page.