For any English professor, the dream is to be published. This dream has become a reality for Milligan College’s Associate Professor of English and Composition, Heather Hoover.
Hoover, also the director of writing at Milligan, has put her work together in a collection of faith poems titled “If Moon, Then Yes.”
From a young age Hoover expressed an interest in poetry. She would write poems and then sell them to members of her family for a nickel.
There have been many challenges for Hoover while writing this book, with most of them coming in the form of self doubt and finding time to write. She overcame these challenges through teaching and her students, specifically her creative writing and humanities classes.
“I found a lot of inspiration and support through my creative writing students,” Hoover said.
Her students encourage her through their own writings, which push Hoover to work on her own work.
Senior English major Brianna Tuscani adds her own opinion as to why Hoover finds inspiration from her students.
“I feel Hoover really listens to us in class,” Brianna said. “She is always looking for us to achieve our best.”
That kind of listening creates bonds that are reciprocal between student and teacher where both sides listen to each other.
Tuscani heard about the new book through one of Hoover’s Facebook posts.
“Professor Hoover is usually not one to self promote, so when I saw this I wanted to support her,” Tuscani said, who has already pre-ordered the book.
Tuscani says she is looking forward to finding a personal life value within Hoover’s poetry book.
Hoover has worked hard to accomplish her dream. All of the poems in her book are new poems, written specifically for her book.
Students who feel inspired to write their own poetry may do so in The Phoenix. The Phoenix is a magazine full of student-written works, which can include creative short fictions, research essays, poetry, non-fiction, memoirs and experimental fiction. Tuscani hopes to be able to submit something to The Phoenix after being being inspired by Professor Hoover.
Those who wish to turn in works for The Phoenix must do so before Feb. 28. Submissions can be sent to Dr. Hoover at hhoover@milligan.edu.
“If Moon, Then Yes” is available through the publisher Dancing Girl Press & Studio on their website at dulcetshop.myshopify.com. The price of the book is $7.