Remembering Ginger Murchison
by Christian Gullette, editor-in-chief of The Cortland Review
As Ginger Murchison handed me her business card after a lecture at Warren Wilson College, I could not have known that she was about to change my life. What a gift that moment would turn out to be for so many reasons. Nor could I have anticipated that I would someday sit down to try to write the remembrance I now compose in honor of my dear friend, fellow poet, mentor, and emeritus editor of this remarkable journal, The Cortland Review, which was so dear to Ginger’s heart and soul. It is an honor to write this, though I do it with a heavy heart. I know so many people, including staff of TCR, friends, and family also greatly mourn her loss and celebrate her enduring contributions to poetry, teaching, editing, family, and being a wonderful human.
One of the many important legacies left by Ginger at The Cortland Review is the much-watched Poets in Person video interview and documentary series she produced along with Guy Shahar. These videos still receive hundreds of views on YouTube, and there is a link to them under “Videos” in the menu.
And Ginger was also a fantastic poet, and I so admire her collection of poems, a scrap of linen, a bone (Press 53, 2016), which I recommend purchasing here. In addition to earning her MFA from Warren Wilson College in 2008, Ginger helped found the Poetry at Tech series with Thomas Lux at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she served as associate director and as one of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s visiting McEver Chairs in Poetry. I know how much Ginger also deeply loved serving as a member of the conference faculty for the Palm Beach Poetry Festival. These are only a few of her many accomplishments.
She was especially good at lifting people up. Ginger always looked for ways to encourage and support others, especially writers at the very beginning of their careers. That day at the Warren Wilson MFA Program summer residency, when Ginger walked up to me and introduced herself, she changed the direction of my life, inviting me to become a first reader of submissions for TCR. That was something I was eager to try, and I readily accepted her offer. At that time, Ginger was already the long-time editor-in-chief of the journal, having joined the staff of the magazine very early on in its history. I knew I could learn a lot from Ginger, and I did. Reading submissions in different capacities over the years taught me an enormous amount about my own craft. I got to know our founder Guy Shahar, editor Anna Catone and reviewer David Rigsbee, all of whom remain integral members of our TCR staff. An excellent leader and listener, Ginger exemplified many of the qualities I hope to embody.
A skilled organizer, Ginger’s enthusiasm for TCR could convince writers and readers to join in and volunteer in a way I always admired. Sometimes I didn’t know how she managed to get so many people to volunteer their time or agree to interviews or guest editorships, but it was partly due to the way one sensed her dedication and absolute joy in making it happen.
One of the greatest honors I ever received was the day Ginger asked me to take the helm of The Cortland Review. It is a real pleasure to celebrate the work of so many poets, writers, and artists in this way, and I have Ginger to thank for taking that chance on me. Cheers, friend, and thank you from all of us.
-Christian Gullette