Blue Ridge Writers
Our Board
Who We Are
Lillian Connor
Chair and President
Lillian Connor, who lives in Charlottesville, has a Masters in German Language and Literature and a Masters in English Literature from the University of Missouri-Columbia. A military spouse who early on moved often, Lillian has taught language and writing and has travelled extensively.
She also has participated in Blue Ridge Writers critique groups and has shared her writing with members of the Blue Ridge Writers Lunchbox Reading Series. Much of her work focuses on her parents’ lives in—and escape from—their homeland before and during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
Lillian won third prize in fiction and in nonfiction in the 2025 Blue Ridge Writers Blue Nib Contest. In previous years, she claimed second place in nonfiction
n addition to writing nonfiction, Lillian enjoys writing fiction—mostly children's animal stories—and poetry.
Gerry Kruger
Secretary
Gerry Kruger, a native Virginian, holds a bachelor of arts degree from Longwood College and a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia (UVA).
She moved to Charlottesville in 1979 and taught English there for 27 years. After retiring from teaching, Gerry began writing about the Canada geese she befriended on her Ivy pond.
Gerry facilitates one of two Blue Ridge Writers (BRW) Monthly Critique Groups for BRW members and members of The Center at Belvedere.
Gerry has self-published several books and has served as a judge in the Fralin Museum of Art at UVA's annual Writer’s Eye literary competition, which challenges writers of all ages to use visual art in the Fralin as inspiration for the creation of original poetry and prose.
Brenda Morris
Treasurer
Brenda A. Morris is a retired teacher who lives in Central Virginia. Her poetry books have been published under the pen names of BA Morris and briin amoor.
Gwendolyn Poole
Member at Large/Blue Nib Coordinator
Gwendolyn Poole became a member of BRW after joining the Virginia Writers Club in 2016. Shortly thereafter, her story “If God Gave Me Wings” placed in the 2016 Blue Ridge Writers Contest/Virginia Writers Club and subsequently was published in Skyline 2017, an anthology showcasing the prose and poetry talents of Central Virginia writers. In addition, the Journal of the Blue Ridge Writers—which publishes periodic journals containing regional creators' fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art and where Gwen served as an editor—has published several of her stories.
Gwen holds a bachelor of art's degree in sociology from Guilford College and an associate of fine arts degree from Guilford Technical Community College. Her interest in sociology often is reflected in her written work.
When not writing short stories, Gwen enjoys scriptwriting and play directing, creating and teaching choreography, and playing handbells.
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Diane Hernon Chavis
Member at Large
Diane Hernon Chavis is a former practicing trial lawyer, university administrator, communications executive, and entrepreneur. Her organizational, communications, and leadership skills laid the foundation for a highly successful and exceptionally rewarding professional career.
After earning her Juris Doctor degree, Diane built a robust civil litigation practice and later steered the operations, strategic direction, and board of an advocacy organization. She subsequently joined one of the nation’s premier public research universities, where she articulated and disseminated the university’s key messages to a constituency that included the board of trustees, donors, community partners, alumni, and students. She ultimately attained a longstanding dream when she publicly launched a symposium she created and titled Composing Women’s Lives, a Writing Retreat for Women by Women.
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