Born in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1937, Richard H. W. Dillard is the author of two novels, a collection of short fiction, two critical monographs, two verse translations of classical dramas, and eight collections of poetry, including two of the latter published by Factory Hollow Press, WHAT IS OWED THE DEAD (2011) and NOT IDEAS (2014). He is a Professor of English at the Jackson Center for Creative Writing of Hollins University, where for thirty-two years he chaired the graduate and undergraduate creative writing programs.