Hidden Voices Reflections from an Affected Community Edited by Kristofer Neely Introduction by Cathy Smith Bowers ISBN: 1-891885-44-8 Paperback 90 pages, 8.5 x 8.5 10 Illustrations Publication Date: October 2005 $3.00

Hidden Voices is anthology of creative writing by clients and friends of Piedmont Care Inc. the non-profit agency in Spartanburg that serves HIV+ people and their families. Hub City writer-in-residence Kristofer Neely spent four months in a creative writing project working with people whose lives have been affected by AIDS and HIV. The book includes poetry, pieces of memoir, and artwork.

“This book reminds us of all the ways we can become one of the marginalized, all the ways we must share responsibility for those who have been forced onto the periphery of family or larger community,” writes poet Cathy Smith Bowers in her introduction to the book.

“Within these pages are supplications for compassion and understanding from an HIV-positive African American female; a grieving brother who ‘will never forget changing big brother’s diaper’; remorse of a worker who ‘made it hard’ for an infected colleague; a son’s reverence, honor, and gratitude for a mother who did not turn away.”

Hidden Voices celebrates the tenth anniversary of the work of Piedmont Care, and the project is partially underwritten by the Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg.