Without the guidance of her mother, Miracelle grows up following the only path she knows, traveling from town to town, sometimes fortune-telling, picking up odd jobs to fill the time and the ever-present lostness she can't seem to escape.
"A memoir-in-essays, Voice Lessons is one woman from Appalachia's remembrance of childhood and of education, both formal and personal. McElmurray learns enter the world of writing and teaching, all the while coming to understand her deeply troubled mother. The essays are arranged in four major sections: early years and experiences of faith; the work of hands and the work of classrooms, paralleling her mother's diagnosis of Alzheimer's; writing and academia and the mother, disappearing into a land of forgetting. Finally, a fourth section relays both her mother's death and the author's acceptance of her own voice"--
Exploring diverse landscapes from India to Greece, the author weaves a rich tapestry of personal history through a blend of poetry, memoir, and travelogue. Each location serves as a backdrop for reflections on memory, spirituality, and the transformative power of writing. McElmurray's lyrical prose captures her journey toward acceptance and belonging, revealing vulnerabilities and insights that resonate deeply. The collection invites readers to join her in a meditative exploration of identity and the places that shape it.