Amy Shinneman (left) accepts her Ink-Stained Wretch Writing Award from Janet Hart Leonard. Shinneman looks far better in that hat than our publisher ever does. (Reporter photo)
The Hamilton County Reporter is proud to name Amy Shinneman as the winter 2025 recipient of our Ink-Stained Wretch Award. Amy’s award certificate reads, “In recognition and appreciation for her exceptional writing, work to raise awareness, and her unparalleled honesty in print.”
Reporter Publisher Stu Clampitt and Reporter Columnist Janet Hart Leonard presented Amy with her award on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Amy also received a fountain pen inscribed with the words “Ink-Stained Wretch,” a $100 gift certificate for a celebratory dinner at Pasto Italiano, 3150 E. State Road 32, Westfield, and a stocking stuffer from The Reporter.
An ink-stained wretch is an old idiom from the halcyon days when people wrote with pens. [Editor’s note: A pen is a physical device filled with ink with which we used to scratch words on paper. “Ink-stained wretch” was a phrase for those of us who made a living from writing.]
Amy’s column, Disability in the City, has been published in The Reporter every week since Dec. 14, 2023. Long-time readers will recall that The Reporter has been covering Amy since 2019, shortly before she participated in her first marathon.
Amy was born with an undiagnosed neuromuscular disease that causes very weak muscles and affects her ability to walk. She has never had the opportunity to run, but thanks to the help and support of her family, along with a device called a duo chair, she has been able to participate in multiple marathons.
At the age of 44, she was formally diagnosed with a type of congenital Muscular Dystrophy called Bethlem myopathy. In January 2022, she was named one of two National Ambassadors for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
After her ambassadorship ended, she asked The Reporter for the opportunity to share her story in our pages on a regular basis.
“Pardon the pun, but Amy truly hit the ground running with her columns,” Reporter Publisher Stu Clampitt said. “I am always amazed at how painfully open she is about her life. There are people who can write well. There are people who can be unapologetically honest. There are people who can challenge us to see the world from a wider perspective. Amy is all of those things and more. ‘Humbly Courageous,’ the name of her MDA marathon team and the title of her personal blog is spot on.”
The response this newspaper gets from Amy’s columns is always positive. That feedback comes not only from other people living with disabilities, but more often from people without disabilities who tell us Amy has changed how they see the world.
“Amy’s body may be weak, but her voice is strong as she advocates for those who are physically challenged,” Reporter Columnist Janet Leonard said. “She opens the curtain to see those who are disabled, giving a new perspective to those who need to see what it means to have physical challenges. I now watch how I can be a helper in ways I would have never thought of. Her gift of writing is making a difference. I am so proud of my Word Warrior friend.”
Amy said getting her formal diagnosis was a relief.
“I lived for 44 years not knowing who I was,” Amy said. “I didn’t even really tell myself my story. When I was diagnosed, I was at Noble Coffee when I got the call with that information. At that moment, I was like, ‘I know who I am now.’”
Amy told The Reporter she has learned about herself through her writing.
“I have a heart for helping others and I just wanted to be that person for somebody that I needed in my life all that time,” Amy said. “I have gotten to know myself through my writing and it’s just been a gift to me. I hear other people say it’s a gift to them, but it’s hard to believe. I never saw myself as a writer really, and I’ve learned a lot from all of you guys. My Word Warrior mentors have just been such a great support. I say all the time the opportunity that you are giving not just me, but the whole disability community by letting someone have a regular column like that is incredible. So, thank you.”
Amy, you are the gift The Reporter gets to share with our readers each week.
You can read all of Amy’s weekly columns on The Reporter’s website at readthereporter.com/author/amy-shinneman. You can read her personal blog at humblycourageous.com.
