Cora Lee Hairston poses with her books about growing up in the southern coalfields of West Virginia while attending the West Edge Literary Festival in Huntington on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Cora Lee Hairston poses with her books about her time growing up in the southern coalfields of West Virginia at the West Edge Literary Festival in Huntington on Saturday, April 5.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. It replaces a previous little library, which was vandalized.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. The little library comes after the previous one was vandalized.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. The little library comes after the previous one was vandalized.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. The little library comes after the previous one was vandalized.
Cora Lee Hairston poses with her books about growing up in the southern coalfields of West Virginia while attending the West Edge Literary Festival in Huntington on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Cora Lee Hairston poses with her books about her time growing up in the southern coalfields of West Virginia at the West Edge Literary Festival in Huntington on Saturday, April 5.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. It replaces a previous little library, which was vandalized.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. The little library comes after the previous one was vandalized.
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. The little library comes after the previous one was vandalized.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ The first ever Literary Festival hosted by the West Edge Factory celebrated local authors while sparking inspiration in readers on Saturday.
Attendees of all ages could explore the adventures of books by West Virginia local authors, listen to writers of all kinds share advice and stories, print their own posters, explore local arts such as Alchemy Theatre and sign up for a library card. Children did not miss out on the fun either. A childrenƵs area was set up with Dolly PartonƵs Imagination Library of West Virginia and Huntington ChildrenƵs Museum welcomed children with activities.
Years in the making, the festival aims to focus on both the writer and the reader through panels and workshops. The panels gave local writers the opportunity to get insight from authors on how to make a career out of writing. Plans for the festival began before the COVID-19 pandemic.
A dedication was set up in the memory of Carter Taylor Seaton, a local author and one of the members who originally started planning the event.
Gina Milum, arts and outreach manager of the West Edge Factory, said the festival highlights the vibrant writing community of West Virginia, as well as Coalfield Development CorporationƵs goals of rebuilding the Appalachian economy in different ways.
ƵItƵs important to Ƶ along with the economic aspect Ƶ to make sure that aspiring authors have some information on how to help, maybe make a living completely with their art or and their writing, or to supplement their incomes with writing,Ƶ Milum said.
The Literary Festival is a collaboration between the West Edge factory and the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts. Milum said she hopes SaturdayƵs event was the first of many.
Authors from Bluefield, Morgantown and other West Virginia cities attended the festival, which also included the unveiling of the West Virginia Writers Hall of Recognition. Its portraits were painted by Sassa Wilkes, director of creative placemaking at Coalfield Development.
Cora L. Hairston attended the festival showcasing her books ƵFaces Behind the Dust: The story told through the eyes of a coal minerƵs daughter (on the black side)Ƶ and its sequel ƵHello World, Here Comes ClaraBy Rose: An Adolescent Black Girl Coming of Age.Ƶ Her first book follows a young precocious girl who has eavesdropping down to science and her coal mining family. There are racial issues that took place in the early 1950s and Ƶ60s during the period of integration.
Hairston said she never planned to write a book and had no idea what she was doing at first. Her journey in storytelling began when she and a couple of friends had a reunion at their old school. Ƶ the group talked about their memories, a friend suggested someone write a book, Hairston said she agreed right away and took it upon herself.
Hairston said being an author is doable for anyone willing to push themselves forward in their talent.
ƵI had no idea what I was doing, so there isnƵt a talent in writing books that I found out. You just have to do it,Ƶ Hairston said. ƵEverybody has a story and everybody can write a book.Ƶ
The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District unveils a new little library at Westmoreland Park on Saturday, April 5. The little library comes after the previous one was vandalized.
Wade Sullivan | For The Herald-Dispatch
During the festival, the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District dedicated a new Little Free Library at Westmoreland Park, right across from the West Edge Factory.
The new little library is a replica of the West Edge Factory. It replaces one that was vandalized. The new library will be monitored by West Edge, who provided it, and stocked with donated books from the Cabell County Public Library.
The new library is also portable, and can be transported for events. David Dillon, GHPRD board member and park commissioner representing the Westmoreland area, said the park board appreciates the partnership with the West Edge Factory.
ƵThe West Edge is crucial to this park,Ƶ Dillon said. ƵReplacing the factory that was in here and occupying that space and keeping activity in this area is big to try to keep down vandalism and things like that.Ƶ
Having a Little Free Library in parks, especially neighborhood parks, is important for children who will now have easy access to free books.
The Huntington Stormwater Utility also donated a rain barrel for the park.
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