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Appalachian Studies: Appalachian Literature

Guide to resources about Appalachia

Author Websites

Barbara Kingsolver
Barbara Kingsolver is a novelist, essayist and poet. She grew up in Carlisle, Kentucky,
Crystal Wilkinson
Crystal Wilkinson is a novel and short story author who grew up in Indian Creek, Kentucky.
Denise Giardina
Born and raised in the West Virginia coalfields, Denise Giardina is an Appalachian writer who explores fundamental issues of faith and belief through her literary characters.
Frank X. Walker
Frank X. Walker is an African-American poet and author who grew up in Danville Kentucky.
George Ella Lyon
George Ella Lyon is a Kentucky author who has published in many genres, including picture books, poetry, juvenile novels, and articles. She grew up in Harlan, Kentucky
John Ehle
John Ehle was born in Asheville, North Carolina and is predominantly a writer of fiction that is set in that Appalachian Mountains
Lee Maynard
Lee Maynard is an author of fiction who was born and raised in West Virginia.
Lee Smith
Lee Smith is an author of fiction who grew up in southwestern Virginia.
Silas House
Silas House is a novelist, music journalist, environmental activist and columnist. He was born and grew up in rural Lily, Laurel County, Kentucky, but he also spent much of his childhood in nearby Leslie County.
Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry is the author of more than 40 works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He is a native of Henry County, Kentucky.

Appalachian Literary Websites

Appalachian Places (Previously Now & Then)
Appalachian Places digital magazine is published by the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University. Appalachian Places continues the tradition of the print magazine, Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, which was in publication for 32 years. Appalachian Places publishes a wide range of content, including news and feature articles, essays, interviews, poetry, photo-essays, and fiction.
As the Crow Flies
As the Crow Flies is the new open-access expansion of Appalachian Journal: A Regional Studies Review. Appalachian Journal, founded in 1972, is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed quarterly featuring field research, roundtable discussions, interviews, first-person essays, and scholarly studies of history, politics, economics, culture, folklore, literature, music, ecology, and a variety of other topics, as well as poetry, photography, and reviews of books, films, and recordings dealing with the region of the Appalachian mountains.
Still: The Journal
Our emphasis is on the literature of the Southern Appalachian region, and we are committed to publishing excellent writing that does not rely on clichés and stereotypes. We want to feature writing that exemplifies the many layers and complexities of the region or that is written by an author with a connection to the region.

Books on Appalachain Literature

A gathering at the Forks : fifteen years of the Hindman Settlement School Appalachian Writers Workshop by editors, George Ella Lyon, Jim Wayne Miller, Gurney Norman.
Call Number: PS537 .L960 1993 (Lees College Kentucky Appalachian Collection)
A Southern Appalachian reader by edited by Nellie McNeil and Joyce Squibb
Call Number: PS537 .S68 (Hazard Kentucky Appalachian Collection) / 810.8 S727s (Lees College Kentucky Appalachia
An American vein : critical readings in Appalachian literature by edited by Danny L. Miller, Sharon Hatfield, and Gurney Norman.
Call Number: PS286.A6 A83 (Hazard and Lees Kentucky Appalachian Collection)
Appalachia inside out by editors, Robert J. Higgs, Ambrose N. Manning, Jim Wayne Miller
Call Number: PS554 .A65 (Hazard and Lees Kentucky Appalachian Collection)
Bloodroot : reflections on place by Appalachian women writers by Joyce Dyer, editor
Call Number: PS286.A6 B57 (Hazard and Lees Kentucky Appalachian Collection)
Discovering place : readings from Appalachian writers by Ernest Lee
Call Number: PS554 .D57 1997 (Hazard Kentucky Appalachian Collection)
Listen here : women writing in Appalachia by edited by Sandra L. Ballard and Patricia L. Hudson
Call Number: PS554 .L57 (Hazard and Less Kentucky Appalachian Collection)
Mountain ways : southern Appalachian Mountains by editor, Art Cuelho
Call Number: PS554 .M68 1985 Lees College Kentucky Appalachian Collection
Voices from the hills : selected readings of southern Appalachia by edited by Robert J. Higgs and Ambrose N. Manning
Call Number: PS551 .V64 (Hazard Kentucky Appalachian Collection) / 810.80975 H635v (Lees College Kentucky Appalac

Crystal Wilkinson

Denise Giardina

John Ehle

Wendell Berry

Frank X Walker

Silas House

Lee Smith

Lee Maynard

Barbara Kingsolver