Young Harris College Professor Wins Prestigious Poetry Prize with Work Inspired by Pandemic Isolation

Gale Thompson, a Creative Writing professor at Young Harris College in Georgia, has written a new book titled 'Mountain Amnesia'. This book, inspired by her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, explores themes of isolation and grief. It has been well-received and won the 2023 Colorado Prize for Poetry.

Thompson began writing poetry in 2019, during a period of personal and global crisis caused by the pandemic. Her third collection of poems reflects her personal losses and the wider impact of the virus. The collection focuses on the process of grieving, aiming to resonate with a broad audience.

Thompson lives in the mountains of North Georgia, where her isolation has deepened her engagement with writing. 'Mountain Amnesia' reflects her experiences of dealing with grief alone and her attempts to connect with others despite physical distance.

Her work was recognized with the Colorado Prize for Poetry, leading her to a reading event in Colorado. The prize, established in 1995, includes a $2,500 honorarium and publication by the Center for Literary Publishing at Colorado State University. Her visit to Colorado State was a significant part of her literary journey, highlighting the collaborative nature of publishing her book.

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