About

About Read Appalachia

Founded by Kendra Winchester in 2020, Read Appalachia is an initiative that celebrates Appalachian literature and writing.

We use the Appalachian Regional Commission’s map of Appalachia as a loose definition of Appalachia. According to the Appalachian Regional Commission:

“Appalachia is made up of 420 counties across 13 states and spans 205,000 square miles, from southern New York to northern Mississippi. The Region’s 25 million residents live in parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and all of West Virginia.”

But Appalachia is more than just a geographic location: it’s a region with a diverse range of peoples and cultures. No single story can define the region, which is why it’s so important to read a wide range of Appalachian Literature. Poetry, memoirs, novels, and picture books—Appalachian authors write it all.

About Kendra Winchester

Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. Originally from the Ohio River Valley, she is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast with LitHub Radio that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.