The West Virginia Library Commission and the West Virginia Center for the Book has announced the One Book One West Virginia selection for 2018-19.

Each year, one book written by an Appalachian author is selected for this prestigious honor, and this year’s honoree is “Water Street” by Crystal Wilkinson.

A Long List Finalist for the Orange Prize for Fiction and a Short List Finalist for The Hurston-Wright Legacy Award, “Water Street” examines the neighbors and friends who live on Water Street in the small town of Stanford, Kentucky. On Water Street, every person has at least two stories to tell, and the book is composed of 13 short stories that tell those tales.

A native of Indian Creek, Kentucky, Wilkinson offers a glimpse into small-town Appalachia in a book dealing with love, loss and tragedy.

One Book One West Virginia is West Virginia’s most important statewide book discussion group, It allows readers across the state to read the same book and take part in detailed group conversations about the book’s unfolding story line.

Now in its 14th year, this literary project helps support the Appalachian Heritage Writer-In-Residence Project developed by Shepherd University.

West Virginia readers are urged to join book discussion groups and attend related events, such as meeting the author, character portrayals, movies, and workshops.

AP

4/11/2018