The vignettes in this collection are memoir essays connected by the theme of hit-and-runs – i.e., random life encounters in which people share bits of themselves and leave subsequent lasting impressions. Resonating with themes of identity and belonging, overcoming obstacles and taking risks, the chronological throughline visits unique locations around the world, and frequently “hits” historical events, while tracing the narrator’s coming-of-age and spiritual journey from the mountains of Appalachia to the streets of Prague and home to Houston, as she “runs” with carnies and psychics, hurricane refugees, lovers, and predators from whom she must escape. Interspersed in these memoirs are lyrics from songs – a soundtrack for life – sharing with the audience an auditory impact of the recollection. Each of these hit-and-runs are true to experience, with changes to names only if needed to respect the privacy of those involved.
Key words: narrative, coming of age, spirituality, creative nonfiction,
","abstract_html":"<p>The vignettes in this collection are memoir essays connected by the theme of hit-and-runs – i.e., random life encounters in which people share bits of themselves and leave subsequent lasting impressions. Resonating with themes of identity and belonging, overcoming obstacles and taking risks, the chronological throughline visits unique locations around the world, and frequently “hits” historical events, while tracing the narrator’s coming-of-age and spiritual journey from the mountains of Appalachia to the streets of Prague and home to Houston, as she “runs” with carnies and psychics, hurricane refugees, lovers, and predators from whom she must escape. Interspersed in these memoirs are lyrics from songs – a soundtrack for life – sharing with the audience an auditory impact of the recollection. Each of these hit-and-runs are true to experience, with changes to names only if needed to respect the privacy of those involved.</p> <p>Key words: narrative, coming of age, spirituality, creative nonfiction, </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Cope, Alison"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts - English","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"English","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Mark E. Sanders","Sara Parks","Lauren Burrow"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-12-14T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-12-14T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:45Z","subjects":["memoir","coming of age","spirituality","car wreck","creative nonfiction","travel narrative","Nonfiction"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/576","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Mark E. Sanders","Sara Parks","Lauren Burrow"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Cope, Alison"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-12-09T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["English"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts - English"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["memoir","coming of age","spirituality","car wreck","creative nonfiction","travel narrative","Nonfiction"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/576"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The vignettes in this collection are memoir essays connected by the theme of hit-and-runs – i.e., random life encounters in which people share bits of themselves and leave subsequent lasting impressions. Resonating with themes of identity and belonging, overcoming obstacles and taking risks, the chronological throughline visits unique locations around the world, and frequently “hits” historical events, while tracing the narrator’s coming-of-age and spiritual journey from the mountains of Appalachia to the streets of Prague and home to Houston, as she “runs” with carnies and psychics, hurricane refugees, lovers, and predators from whom she must escape. Interspersed in these memoirs are lyrics from songs – a soundtrack for life – sharing with the audience an auditory impact of the recollection. Each of these hit-and-runs are true to experience, with changes to names only if needed to respect the privacy of those involved.
Key words: narrative, coming of age, spirituality, creative nonfiction,
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Hit-and-Runs: A Memoir"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Mark E. Sanders","Sara Parks","Lauren Burrow"],"dc:creator":["Cope, Alison"],"dc:date.available":["2024-12-09T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The vignettes in this collection are memoir essays connected by the theme of hit-and-runs – i.e., random life encounters in which people share bits of themselves and leave subsequent lasting impressions. Resonating with themes of identity and belonging, overcoming obstacles and taking risks, the chronological throughline visits unique locations around the world, and frequently “hits” historical events, while tracing the narrator’s coming-of-age and spiritual journey from the mountains of Appalachia to the streets of Prague and home to Houston, as she “runs” with carnies and psychics, hurricane refugees, lovers, and predators from whom she must escape. Interspersed in these memoirs are lyrics from songs – a soundtrack for life – sharing with the audience an auditory impact of the recollection. Each of these hit-and-runs are true to experience, with changes to names only if needed to respect the privacy of those involved.
Key words: narrative, coming of age, spirituality, creative nonfiction,
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