I have a wonderful conversation to share with you today. Poet and photographer Greg Clary joins me to talk about growing up in rural West Virginia and the way he came to his art later in life. We talk about his new book, The Vandalia in Me, which combines poetry and photos that evoke places and people he has known. When he shares a new poem, you will be hard-pressed not to shed a tear. Join me now in conversation with Greg Clary. Greg’s new poem will be published in the Bridge Literary Arts Journal which will be released at this year’s Bridge LITfest in Oil City, Pennsylvania on September 12th. The link is below. Greg Clary is a retired college professor who was born and raised in Turkey Creek, West Virginia. He now resides in the northern Appalachia Pennsylvania Wilds. His photographs have appeared in The Sun Magazine, Looking at Appalachia, Rattle, Hole in the Head Review, Pine Mt Sand & Gravel, Tiny Seed Journal, Watershed Journal, About Place, Change Seven, Appalachian Lit, and many more. His writing has been published in Rye Whiskey Review, The Bridge Literary Journal, Northern Appalachia Review, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Waccamaw Journal, Anti-Heroin Chic, Trailer Park Quarterly, Black Shamrock Magazine, Rust Belt Review, and Tobeco. His book of photographs and poetry, “The Vandalia in Me”, was published by Meraki Press in 2024. He is co-author of Piercing the Veil: Appalachian Visions (2020). In this engaging conversation, Greg Clary shares his journey from a rural upbringing in West Virginia to becoming a poet and photographer. He discusses the significance of his new book, 'Vandalia and Me,' and how it reflects his cultural heritage. Clary explores the influence of his educational background on his creative pursuits, the beauty he finds in ordinary moments, and the ethical considerations in photography and storytelling. He also reads a new poem and shares insights on the future of writing and photography in the age of AI. Links: Vandalia in Me from Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/a/111423/9798991132848 Bridge Literary Arts Center, LitFest: http://www.bridgeliteraryartscenter.org/lit-fests.html Greg Clary on Instagram: @sligogreenbottom