Author/educator, Judy Light Ayyildiz, conducts writing and women's seminars in the USA and in Turkey. Internationally published, she has been a literary magazine editor, a writers' conference founder, a musical director for a student group touring Poland through the Friendship Ambassadors and a director of a USA nationally recognized choir of medical wives. Her 11 published books in various genres sprung from her life and teaching. A cross-cultural triumph-over-trauma memoir, Nothing but Time, was 2002 Virginia College Bookstores' Award Nominee, Virginia Outstanding Book Award Nominee and the runner-up in the Duquesne University Emerging Writers Series. Her third volume of poetry, Mud River, was highly acclaimed by the renowned Fred Chappell and William Packard. Leyla Ismier Ozcengiz translated her 10th book and first novel Forty Thorns into Turkish, titled, Kirk Diken, making Remzi's best selling list. She is author of four volumes of poetry, a children's book, and four co-written supplementary creative writing and critical thinking textbooks for teachers and students. Her 4th volume of poetry, Appalachia to Istanbul, was released June 2015 by Mountain Empire Publications, Appalfolks of America.Judy's honors include, Woman of Achievement-Education 2010, Va. Com. Of Arts, poetry and short story prizes, Daughters of Ataturk, Turkish Forum, Jim Wayne Miller Poetry Prize, Gusto Poet Discovery Winner, Nazim Hikmet Poetry Festival Prize Winner, Pushcart Prize nominee, Fellow VCCA, and 2012 Winner International Best Book Awards Winner for Literary Fiction. Her many lectures and workshops for writing and Women's Studies include Eastern Mediterranean. Univ.-Cyprus/ the American. Turkish Embassy-Ataturk Society-Washington, DC/ Florida-North Carolina and NYC Turkish Associations/ Kirklareli/ Istanbul/ Izmir/ Gaziantep/ Ege Univ./ international schools of Istanbul/ American Women of Istanbul/ Turk-American Univ. Women of Istanbul/ American. University. Women/ Anadolu Univ. and the Turkish Army/ Turkish Rotary Clubs/ Guilford NC/ Turkish League of America at NYC Consulate/ Radford University/ Roanoke College/ C-Span Book TV/ Hollins Univ.Women's Center and Hollins Summer Programs/ Marshall University/Roanoke Women's Coalition. Judy is completing a memoir with the working title of The West Virginia Diet.She has been married for over 50 years to Dr. Vedii Ayyildiz. They have three children and two grandchildren.