Ray McManus is the author of two collections of poetry: Left Behind (Stepping Stones Press, 2008) and Driving through the country before you are born (USC Press, 2007). His poetry has appeared in many journals throughout the United States and Canada. Ray has won several awards for his poetry including an Academy of American Poets award and a James Dickey award in poetry at the University of South Carolina. Ray is an Assistant Professor of English in the Division of Arts and Letters at USC Sumter where he teaches creative writing, literature, and composition.