Cassie Premo Steele     Born: April 13, 1967     Detroit, MI CASSIE PREMO STEELE, Ph.D. is an award-winning poet and writer who lives in Columbia, South Carolina. She is the author of four books: Moon Days, Ash Tree Publishing, 1999; We Heal From Memory, Palgrave, 2000; Ruin, Finishing Line Press, 2004; and My Peace, WordClay, 2008. She has also published hundreds of poems, essays and stories on the themes of mothering, nature, and the healing of our bodies and spirits through creativity. Dr. Premo Steele has taught in university and community settings for over a decade. Whether discussing feminist theory or or the best way to write a poem, she is a gifted and nurturing teacher who truly has the best interests of her students at heart. Currently she teaches courses in Ecofeminism and Ecopoetry at the University of South Carolina's Green Learning Center. "Cassie is a gifted writer and a generous writing teacher. She shows me barriers I place in front of myself and helps me chart a course around them. Her wisdom and humor put me at ease and tell my soul it’s in good, trustworthy hands. I recommend her to anyone who needs a soul whisperer—a guide to coax their true selves into the light--and who doesn't? Because writing without soul is just rearranging the alphabet." --Meredith Kaiser First Place Award for Best Essay in Cup of Comfort for Writers for “Hummingbird's Journey,” 2007. Sponsored by Adams Media Corporation. First Place Award in the Recycled Words Nature Poetry Competition for “Walking with My Daughter,” Fall 2007. Sponsored by the Sumter County Cultural Commission. Best of Literary Mama 2007 Creative Nonfiction Category for “My Wild Child.” Honorable Mention in The State newspaper and USC Poetry Initiative’s annual poetry contest for “Her Colors.” April, 2006. Top Ten Finalist in the The State newspaper and USC Poetry Initiative’s annual poetry contest for “This Bird.” April, 2006. Finalist for the Rita Dove Poetry Award judged by Joy Harjo for “Findabair.” April, 2003. Third Place Sumter County Cultural Commission Literary Award for “Three Years Down.” February 28, 2002. Semi-finalist in the 1999 Finishing Line Press New Women's Voices Competition. Poetry chapbook, Caves of My Memory. First Place for "The Reunion of Women" in the Carrie McCray Literary Award for Poetry sponsored by the South Carolina Writers Workshop. October 13, 1996.