"Free of the Feds" by Phoenicia Miracle

 – The cows? The cows were a problem?

I walked each check to the bursar's office, fully aware that the cost of my education was far greater than the value of the check.

Phoenicia Miracle is originally from Harlan County, Kentucky, one of Appalachia's most recognizable communities. Through non-fiction short stories, Phoenicia features the region's people and place in authentic, narrowly focused plots. "Free from the Feds" centers on her Dad and his independent, self-reliant spirit. This piece benefited from recommendations made by her local writing group in Charleston, S.C. For several decades, Phoenicia worked in education and non-profit fundraising. Recently, she launched Shuck Beans, a podcast celebrating positive aspects of Southern Appalachian culture.