“Voices of the Heartland,” a 2007 book written and edited by four Rogers State University professors, was recently recognized by This Land Press as one of its “15 Essential Oklahoma Reads.”
“Voices of the Heartland” edited by Dr. Carolyn Taylor, Dr. Emily Dial-Driver, Carole Burrage (former RSU professor) and Dr. Sally Emmons-Featherston, was listed alongside works from such noted authors as Woody Guthrie and Washington Irving.
This Land Press writers collected a list of works of what they consider “Oklahoma required reading” based on comments from their Facebook fans, friends and others familiar with the state’s most well-known literature. “This anthology offers stories by and about Oklahoma women- some well-known, some not; some light hearted, some heavy. They celebrate women’s contributions to the state and share their wisdom for future generations,” wrote the list’s author, This Land Press news editor Holly Wall.
“Voices from the Heartland” is a collection of 50 different stories written by Oklahoma women about Oklahoma women. The many stories follow a wide range of women including the professors themselves, who have all contributed essays reflecting on the struggles they faced and the empowerment gained from them.
Growing tired from the negative statistics of Oklahoma, the book was created to make a positive impact on the views of Oklahoma. Creating a beautiful representation of hardships, the books touches on topics like adultery, motherhood, battling body issues, losing children and gaining perspective; these essays speak to the realness of a woman’s struggle.
“Voices from the Heartland” can be purchased at the RSU Bookstore on the Claremore campus or from major online booksellers, including as amazon.com.
-Written by RSU PR Intern Brandi Moore