Diane Gilliam

Who is Diane Gilliam?

Diane Gilliam Fisher is an American poet. She is author of several poetry collections, most recently, Kettle Bottom, which earned her numerous honors, including a spot on the American Booksellers Association Book Sense 2005 Top Ten Poetry Books list, and inclusion in The Pushcart Prize XXX anthology. In her review of Kettle Bottom, Catherine MacDonald gives the book high praise, "Set in 1920–21, a period of violent unrest known as the West Virginia Mine Wars, the poems in Kettle Bottom combine compelling narratives with the charged, heightened language of lyric poetry. It is an unforgettable combination, one that characterizes the very best contemporary verse."

Diane Gilliam Fisher has had her poems published in literary journals and magazines including Wind Magazine, Appalachian Journal, Shenandoah and The Spoon River Poetry Review. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Spanish, and a Ph.D. in romance languages from Ohio State University, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Warren Wilson College. She lives in Ohio. Diane won the prestigious $50,000 Gift of Freedom Award from A Room of Her Own Foundation for her poetry in March of 2013.