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 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDemon Copperhead,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDemon Copperhead,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDemon Copperhead,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDemon Copperhead,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” 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 KingsolverÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s book ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDemon CopperheadÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ last year during the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBring Barbara to Our BookstoreÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ contest hosted by publishing company HarperCollins. Barboursville became the only location Kingsolver will visit to celebrate the bookÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s recent paperback release.
Kingsolver said Saturday it was a ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œdream come trueÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to be in West Virginia for the event, after initially thinking a store in a larger city would win the contest.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis book is about us; itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 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,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s just a thrill for me to be here.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Barboursville Mayor Chris Tatum praised Booktenders co-owners Ashley Skeen and Mandee Cunningham for investing their time and money in Barboursville and hosting the event.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s another thing for quality of life for our residentsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt 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 itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s something that people will remember.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Kingsolver was presented with a Literary Merit Award from the West Virginia Library Association for her body of work and contributions to Appalachian literature, and Tatum officially declared Sept. 7, 2024, as ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBarbara Kingsolver DayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in the village.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think her contributions to the literary world speak for themselves, and I donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t know that I recall ever a Pulitzer Prize-winning author being in our city,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said Monday. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s certainly worthy of having her own day.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDemon Copperhead,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is a modern retelling of Charles DickensÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ novel ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDavid CopperfieldÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ that is set in Appalachia and focuses heavily on substance use disorder.
Kingsolver was interviewed during SaturdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 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.
SaturdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s event also included live music and poetry readings. Vendors lined Central Avenue, which was closed to traffic, outside Booktenders.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s kind of like ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜the little bookstore that could,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Tatum said, echoing a remark made Saturday. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œ(Ashley and Mandee) found success here and weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re super happy that they chose to locate Booktenders here in Barboursville.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
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