I was given a fairy tale life--full of tragedy, drama, wicked witches (it seemed like), heartbreak and triumph. At four years old, my family could no longer raise me, (alcoholic father, mentally ill mother), and I was given away. My new mother was a fundamentalist minister and my father, an elder. I grew up steeped in the world of hellfire and brimstone, fed a daily dose Bible stories and scriptures, Southern food and folklore. All this, and being an only child fed my overactive imagination. It is only natural for me to be a storyteller--both on the page and in person. Instead of considering all this a terrible childhood, I consider it my greatest asset.

Carol is the recipent of the 2006 St. Petersburg, Russia Summer Institute fellowship, and the 2007 John Woods Scholarship to the Prague Summer Workshops. She also teaches at the Florida Governor's Honors Program in Jacksonville, Florida.

Carol D. O'Dell has published many short stories, essays, poems and articles. Her creative nonfiction work, Mothering Mother BIO026000 Biography & Autobiography | Personal Memoirs FAM005000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS | Aging HUM011000 HUMOR | Topic | Family | January 2007 --by Kunati Publishing.

Carol D. O'Dell
Visit my website to find upcoming events, workshops and a weekly blog on everything from writing to mothering to faith and the lack--all at www.caroldodell.com