Karen Salyer McElmurray won an AWP Award for creative nonfiction for her book Surrendered Child: A Birth Mother's Journey and the Orison Award for creative nonfiction for her essay "Blue Glass." She has had other essays recognized as "Notable Essays" in Best American Essays, while her essay "Speaking Freely" was nominated for a Pushcart Award. She currently teaches at Gettysburg College and at West Virginia Wesleyan's Low-Residency MFA.