This Appalachian Anthology Is A Testament to Resilience and the Ongoing Danger of Climate Change

On July 22, 2022, floods struck central Appalachia, causing extensive damage and killing more than 40 people. Hindman Settlement School in eastern Kentucky had just finished its annual Appalachian Writers Workshop when floodwaters roared onto the campus. Staff were in the office when the flood occurred and the water rose to waist-high. Some people lost their cars to the rising waters, while others were injured while climbing to higher ground.

When the water receded and the cleaning began, many writers began to process what they had experienced through writing, but some were unable to write at all. Hindman Literary Director Melissa Helton began thinking of a project that could bring all these writers together, and it wasn’t long before this anthology began to take shape.

And what a star-studded list of contributors! Poets such as Bernard Clay, Doug Van Gundy, Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour, and former Kentucky Poet Laureate Frank X. Walker capture the deep impact of flood destruction. I was forever reminded of the prose works of Leah Hampton, Nima Abacia, Silas House, Annette Thornook Clapsaddle, and Carter Sickles. Each piece had something unique to say and helped give readers a complete picture of the devastation caused by the floods.

awkward rise “” is an anthology that leaves a lasting impression while savoring every word. This is a testament to Appalachia’s resilience in the face of the ongoing dangers of climate change. This is a love letter to a community of people who were determined to help each other and who worked together from day one to rebuild.