Arts Directory

About

Ray McManus is the author of three books of poetry: Punch. (published by Hub City Press, 2014, and winner of the 2015 IPPY award for best book of poetry in North America by an independent publisher), Red Dirt Jesus (published by Marick Press, 2011, and winner of the Marick Press Poetry Prize), and Driving through the Country before You Are Born (published by USC Press, 2007, and winner of the 2006 SC First Book Poetry Prize). He is also the co-editor of the anthology Found Anew (published USC Press, 2015). He is a professor of English at the University of South Carolina Sumter, where he teaches Irish Literature, Southern Literature, and creative writing, and directs the South Carolina Center for Oral Narrative. Ray is also the Writer in Residence for the Columbia Museum of Art, and chairs the Board of Governors for the South Carolina Academy of Authors. Since 2000, Ray has worked with thousands of students through a project he developed called Split P Soup and through his direction as the creative writing coordinator for the Tri-District Arts Consortium.