Friends of Literacy established the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame in 2004 to honor local and regional writers who have created an outstanding body of work. This year Kristi Maxwell is the 2024 Writers Hall of Fame inductee for poetry and Maggie Longmire is this year’s Hall of Fame inductee for songwriting.
Kristi Maxwell was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and is the author of eight books of poetry, including Goners, which won the Wishing Jewel Prize. Her book Realm Sixty-Four was named editor’s choice for the Sawtooth Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Poetry Series, and her book Hush Sessions was named editor’s choice for the Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize. She is an associate professor of English at the University of Louisville.
Maggie Longmire spent her early childhood in LaFollette, Tennessee, and started out singing for family and school events. This led to performing folk songs in the 1960s, then folk rock in the 70s when she joined the band, Lonesome Coyotes, performing regionally, including the 1982 World’s Fair. Her first CD of original songs, Teachers and Travelers, was released in 2001. In 2008, Maggie collaborated with her brother John Longmire to create Granddaughters — An Americana Opera, exploring life in Campbell County in the early 1900s. 2017 brought the release of Baby It’s Time.
Each week, we will be recognizing inductees prior to the Hall of Fame Awards Gala on April 19. To purchase to tickets to the gala: Writers Hall of Fame Tickets.
Nominations are accepted from the public each year for the categories to include lifetime achievement, fiction, nonfiction, journalism, poetry, social media, playwriting, songwriting, children’s literature, and young adult literature.
An independent panel of judges evaluates nominees based on recognition within the writer’s field, longevity, quality, and volume of work. All nominees must have been born in, currently reside in, or have a body of work related to the East Tennessee region.
All of us have a story and I want to tell yours! Send them to susan@knoxtntoday.com