There are so many fantastic writers in Western Pennsylvania. Almost all of them owe a debt of gratitude to Chuck Kinder, who has opened up his home to students, novelists, poets, "fictioneers" and mere readers for more than three decades. Chuck is releasing two volumes of poetry this week, with a reading at ModernFormations Gallery on Friday. If you've not read Chuck's work, by all means go. If you have -- well, I don't have to tell you how special Friday is going to be.
Here's my story about the man who first called Pittsburgh the Paris of Appalachia.