Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence

Shepherd University’s 2021 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence is Huntington, West Virginia, author Marie Manilla. Born and raised in Huntington, Manilla identifies as an “urban Appalachian” and strives to show that side of Appalachia in her writing. Education reporter Liz McCormick spoke with Manilla over Skype recently to discuss how she uses her work to push change in West Virginia and around the world.

Author Crystal Wilkinson is the 2019 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University.Wilkinson’s second book Water Street was chosen by…

This year’s Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University is Karen Spears Zacharias. Zacharias grew up in a military family but spent…

The 2018 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University is Karen Spears Zacharias. Zacharias grew up in a military family but spent most…

Author Wiley Cash is the 2017 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University. His newest novel The Last Ballad will be released October…

Award-winning author Charles Frazier is 2016's Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University. Frazier was born in Asheville, North…

On West Virginia Morning, reporter Liz McCormick talks with poet and activist Nikki Giovanni who was the writer in residence at the Appalachian Heritage…

Poet and activist Nikki Giovanni loves several things about Appalachia: its defense of freedom, and how the people here know when enough is enough in…

This week Shepherd University is hosting the 20th Annual Appalachian Heritage Festival. Many of the planned festivities surround the 17th Annual…