Rita Spalding-Harpring has lived in the Louisville area all of her life and began writing poetry and prose when she was eight years old. Published works are included in her book entitled Abstract Ribbons, the Heartland Review, AX-POW Bulletin and 12 Women Who Write anthologies. She received a special recognition award from Jefferson Community College for her ethereal poem “For Lisa” and a collection of her poetry was exhibited at the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library. Rita has also served as panelist for the Dorothy Norton Clay Fellowships at the Mary Anderson Center, presenter at the Kentucky Women's Book Festival, and a was part of a writing project in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby Museum and Women Who Write. She has been a member of Women Who Write since 1995 and has served as secretary and director.