West Virginia writers make nonfiction as fun as it is transformative.
The Climb from Salt Lick by Nancy L. Abrams
This memoir details a young photojournalist’s attempts to find her footing as an outsider in smalltown West Virginia. Follow Nancy L. Abrams’ professional and personal growth as she befriends the residents of a mountaintop commune, learns Appalachian ways of life, and finds love in West Virginia in more ways than one.
Requiem for a Redbird by Torli Bush
A Webster Springs native, Torli Bush is a once-in-a-generation wordsmith. In this debut poetry collection, Bush takes the reader on a journey of growing up Affrilachian—a term coined by Kentucky writer Frank X Walker to describe the unique experiences of Black Appalachians—with an emphasis on rejecting stereotypes and rousing hope.
A Literary Field Guide to Southern Appalachia edited by Rose McLarney and Laura-Gray Street
Southern Appalachia is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, and appreciating its fascinating flora and fauna doesn’t end at species identification. In this art–science fusion, 60 iconic species— the copperhead, black bear, and American chestnut among them—are explored through poetry, illustrations, and ecological histories. Next time you spot one of these natural wonders in the wild, you’ll understand them to new depths.
Find these books at your local bookstore or library, or visit bookshop.org and direct the revenues to your favorite West Virginia independent bookseller.
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