Hankla, Cathryn, 1958-

Cathryn Hankla was born on March 20, 1958 in the Appalachian Mountains in Richlands, Virginia to Joyce and Alden Hankla. From the age of thirteen her interest in writing was evident as she created a large body of poetry. She continued her interest in writing by working on the school magazine, "Inklings," at Pulaski County High School. After graduating from high school in 1976, she attended Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia and received a B.A. in English and Film in 1980, and in 1982 she earned a M.A. in English and Creative Writing. Throughout this period she continued to write poetry, short stories, plays, and married writer and critic Richard H.W. Dillard in 1979. They were divorced in 1992. Her first book, Phenomena (1983), was reviewed as one of the five best books of poetry published in 1983. Since then she has published a short story anthology, Learning the Mother Tongue (1987), the highly acclaimed novel, A Blue Moon in Poorwater (1988), and another book of poetry Afterimages (1991). Additionally, her reviews, poems, and short stories have appeared in such journals as Yarrow, the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, and College English. Hankla was visiting lecturer in fiction writing at the University of Virginia (spring of 1985), Randolph- Macon's Woman's College Writer in Residence (spring of 1987), and visiting Assistant Professor at Washington and Lee University (1989-1991). Currently, she lives in Troutville, VA and is an associate professor of English at Hollins College (1986-present).

From the description of Cathryn Hankla papers, 1971-1992 (James Branch Cabell Library). WorldCat record id: 690663206

Cathryn Hankla was born on March 20, 1958 in the Appalachian Mountains in Richlands, VA to Joyce and Alden Hankla. From the age of thirteen her interest in writing was evident as she created a large body of poetry. She continued her interest in writing by working on the school magazine, "Inklings", at Pulaski County High School. After graduating from high school in 1976, she attended Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia and received a B.A. in English and Film in 1980, and in 1982 she earned a M.A. in English and Creative Writing. Throughout this period she continued to write poetry, short stories, plays, and got married to writer and critic Richard H.W. Dillard in 1979. They were divorced in 1992. Her first book, Phenomena (1983), was reviewed as one of the five best books of poetry published in 1983. Since then she has published a short story anthology, Learning the Mother Tongue (1987), the highly acclaimed novel, A Blue Moon in Poorwater (1988), and another book of poetry Afterimages (1991). Additionally, her reviews, poems, and short stories have appeared in such journals as Yarrow, the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, and College English. Hankla was visiting lecturer in fiction writing at the University of Virginia (spring of 1985), Randolph- Macon's Woman's College Writer in Residence (spring of 1987), and visiting Assistant Professor at Washington and Lee University (1989-1991). Currently, she lives in Troutville, VA and is an associate professor of English at Hollins College (1986-present).

From the guide to the Cathryn Hankla Papers, 1971-1992, (Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University)