Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," sits down for an interview and Q & A session with author Sheila Redling outside of Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
A crowd of people gathers under the tent outside Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of ƵDemon Copperhead,Ƶ visits the store on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Audience members give a round of applause as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," speaks with Sheila Redling outside of Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," reads out an excerpt from her book while sitting with author Sheila Redling outside of Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Customers shop inside Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," visits the store for an event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
People shop through the vendors along Central Avenue outside of Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," visits the store on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Barbara Kingsolver, the author of ƵDemon Copperhead,Ƶ sits down for an interview and Q&A session with author Sheila Redling outside Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
People play games along Central Avenue outside of Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," visits the store on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," sits down for an interview and Q & A session with author Sheila Redling outside of Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
A crowd of people gathers under the tent outside Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of ƵDemon Copperhead,Ƶ visits the store on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Audience members give a round of applause as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," speaks with Sheila Redling outside of Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," reads out an excerpt from her book while sitting with author Sheila Redling outside of Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Customers shop inside Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," visits the store for an event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
People shop through the vendors along Central Avenue outside of Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," visits the store on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
Barbara Kingsolver, the author of ƵDemon Copperhead,Ƶ sits down for an interview and Q&A session with author Sheila Redling outside Booktenders on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
People play games along Central Avenue outside of Booktenders as Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," visits the store on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Barboursville.
BARBOURSVILLE Ƶ More than 300 people gathered Saturday to hear award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver speak in an interview-style event under a tent on Central Avenue in Barboursville.
Local independent bookstore Booktenders sold the most copies of KingsolverƵs book ƵDemon CopperheadƵ last year during the ƵBring Barbara to Our BookstoreƵ contest hosted by publishing company HarperCollins. Barboursville became the only location Kingsolver will visit to celebrate the bookƵs recent paperback release.
Kingsolver said Saturday it was a Ƶdream come trueƵ to be in West Virginia for the event, after initially thinking a store in a larger city would win the contest.
ƵThis book is about us; itƵs about Appalachia and Appalachia is made of community. When we decide we are going to do something, we do it as a village, as a community,Ƶ she said. ƵItƵs just a thrill for me to be here.Ƶ
Barboursville Mayor Chris Tatum praised Booktenders co-owners Ƶhley Skeen and Mandee Cunningham for investing their time and money in Barboursville and hosting the event.
ƵItƵs another thing for quality of life for our residentsƵ he said. ƵIt was exciting to be able to hear her speak and have a fireside chat, and I think the attendance also speaks for itself, for the event. So it was an exciting day for all of us and I think that itƵs something that people will remember.Ƶ
Kingsolver was presented with a Literary Merit Award from the West Virginia Library Ƶsociation for her body of work and contributions to Appalachian literature, and Tatum officially declared Sept. 7, 2024, as ƵBarbara Kingsolver DayƵ in the village.
ƵI think her contributions to the literary world speak for themselves, and I donƵt know that I recall ever a Pulitzer Prize-winning author being in our city,Ƶ he said Monday. ƵI think sheƵs certainly worthy of having her own day.Ƶ
ƵDemon Copperhead,Ƶ which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is a modern retelling of Charles DickensƵ novel ƵDavid CopperfieldƵ that is set in Appalachia and focuses heavily on substance use disorder.
Kingsolver was interviewed during SaturdayƵs event by local author Sheila Redling, who shared the news with attendees that Kingsolver had just won the National Book Award for lifetime achievement. Audience members were able to ask questions as well.
SaturdayƵs event also included live music and poetry readings. Vendors lined Central Avenue, which was closed to traffic, outside Booktenders.
ƵItƵs kind of like Ƶthe little bookstore that could,ƵƵ Tatum said, echoing a remark made Saturday. Ƶ(Ƶhley and Mandee) found success here and weƵre super happy that they chose to locate Booktenders here in Barboursville.Ƶ
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