Culture
Logan Native Draws on Ohio Upbringing for Poetry Book
By: Janey Savings | Logan Daily News staff reporter
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Amy Turn Sharp, a 1992 graduate of Logan High School, recently published a book of poetry titled Hold Me Like Ohio. The author, who attended Ohio University and works for an advertising agency as a writer, said that she has always loved to write, and at this stage in her life made it a point to take time to write poetry and get it published.
“My poetry is a collection of 40 poems that focus on life, women, love, marriage and children. Even though I lived all over the world, I have always had a love affair with Ohio,” she said. “I recall that when I graduated from high school I couldn’t wait to get out of Logan. Now that I’m a Worthington resident, I still hear the hills calling me back to my roots where you can truly experience the scenic beauty, nature and wildlife at its best. I believe that as I’m growing older it makes me appreciate the small town atmosphere that Logan has to offer.”
Whether writing about the Appalachian foothills of her childhood or big city of Columbus, Sharp’s poems are anchored by the great state of Ohio.
“There are places you live in and places that live in you. That is how I feel about Ohio – it lives in me,” she said.
Sharp said that while growing up, she spent a lot of time with her grandmother, Mary Francis Turn, who still lives in Logan.
“I believe that my grandmother was instrumental in inspiring me to become a writer. As I was growing up, she would write down remarks that I would make. She kept the writings and gave them to me later in life. I’m so glad that she did that for me because reading my own words that were spoken during my childhood is priceless,” she explained.
Sharp added that she is also proud to announce the rebirth of the monthly Open Stage Poetry Night at Brothers Drake, located at 26 E. Fifth Avenue in Columbus, where she was the featured poet a few months ago.
Sharp and her husband live in Old Worthington with their three sons. For more information about Sharp’s work, visit amyturnsharp.com.