Welcome to Made In Appalachia by Appalachia Book Co.
We've made a better newsletter for you.
Hey there! Just wanted to let you know about some exciting changes to our newsletter, "Made in Appalachia." We're shifting gears a bit – instead of updates about our internal happenings at Appalachia Book Co, we'll be focusing on what we're truly passionate about: the incredible work happening across our mountain communities.
Each month, we'll share what's catching our eye in the region's cultural scene, from the latest books hitting shelves to the festivals and events that bring our communities together. We're especially excited to spotlight other publishers and cultural organizations doing amazing work in Appalachia. Think of it as your monthly guide to the creative spirit of the mountain South – whether you've lived here your whole life or are just getting to know our corner of the world.
Want to take this journey with us? We'd love to have you along. You can use this form to submit your news.
—Natalie
Dir. of Programs, Appalachia Book Co.
“Why Every Appalachian Writer Is an Environmentalist”
From BookRiot: Kendra Winchester of Read Appalachia writes about environmental disaster in Appalachia and the many books Appalachians have written about it.
I’m already seeing Appalachian people roll up their sleeves and get to work. We don’t know what recovery will look like, but we’re going to fight for it.
How to help victims of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene, now the deadliest hurricane to make US landfall since Katrina, has devasted parts of Appalachia. Our team in far eastern Kentucky wasn’t severely impacted. Our hearts break for the communities, families, and Appalachians impacted by this disaster.
For those looking to help or get assistance, visit https://asphome.org/helpafterhelene/ to donate or volunteer for assisting recovery and https://appvoices.org/helene-relief/ to find shelters, and area specific relief.
We’ll have more to share from our partner organizations in the coming months.
Coming Soon: Of Love and Water by Elizabeth Burton
The next chapbook in our Made In Appalachia series is a work of fiction about a young Kentucky woman living in far western China. Told in a masterful braiding of past and present, Of Love and Water is a story of renewal from writer Elizabeth Burton.
Burton brings her personal experience of living in western China to the story, sharing glimpses of Uyghur culture and language. As she explains:
The story was born from my fascination with the Silk Road region and its rich tapestry of cultures, as well as my personal experiences with horses in Kentucky. During my time in Kashgar, I often felt as foreign as Grace, the protagonist, allowing me to infuse the narrative with authentic details and emotions drawn from my own journey of adaptation and self-discovery in an unfamiliar land. I wondered what might happen if a character from Appalachia with a complicated past ended up in the Xinjiang Province of China. How might she react? How might she change? Grace is the result.
Of Love and Water is coming soon and will be available exclusively via our website.
"You have to stop drinking Diet Mountain Dew. It’s gross."
Your thoughts on Mountain Dew?
And in case you haven’t noticed, Mountain Dew has changed its logo, bringing back the word ‘Mountain’ in the logotype after a 15 year hiatus.
According to writer Sarah Baird:
“Mountain Dew” is a centuries-old mountain slang term for moonshine, which Tennessee-bred creators Barney and Ally Hartman found fitting because their bubbly elixir was initially crafted as a mixer for whiskey in the early 1930s. It was hot potato’d around through several bottling companies before eventually being sold to Pepsi in 1964, and nationally marketed.
Read her Eater essay about the internalized shame of drinking Mountain Dew outside Appalachia. (Baird has a book about rural grocers, Shelf Stable, due out from University of Kentucky Press in 2025.)
Is Mountain Dew a deeply ingrained part of Appalachian culture? Does the phrase “Mountain Dew mouth” fill you with shame? Pride? Tell us your thoughts.
Mark your calendars:
Red Fox Storytelling Festival. Saturday, Oct. 26 6-8pm in Pound, VA. Sponsored by Appalshop. Hike up to Killing Rock for the story of the Killing Rock Massacre and a bonfire.
Kentucky Book Festival. Saturday, Nov. 2nd in Lexington, KY. A program of Kentucky Humanities, the 43rd annual festival will be held at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY.
At Appalachia Book Company, our mission is to preserve and continue the literary culture of central Appalachia. We’re a nonprofit literary publisher based in far eastern Kentucky. Support from individuals like you is crucial to our success. If you can, please consider supporting our work.