“I think there’s a sense from those newer to the form that poetry is something to be ‘solved’— that there’s a hidden meaning to a poem that requires the reader to find a clue or key and it unlocks,” says local poet Brandon Amico. “It’s hard to say where that sense comes from, but almost every young person seems to be taught that.

To celebrate WNC’s 2023 literary accomplishments, Xpress reached out to writers Mildred Barya, Clint Bowman, Michael Hettich, Meagen Lucas and Brit Washburn. All five participants had new publications come out this year.

“I think some folks definitely have assumptions about what makes a book or a poem ‘Appalachian.’ I find most Appalachian writing buying into some of the marketable stereotypes from the region instead of saying or doing anything interesting,” says poet Evan Gray. “I’m not interested in that.”

“I love poetry that requires the engagement of the reader’s imagination,” says poet Tina Barr. “I like opaque language, rather than transparent language.”

On Tuesday, Sept. 26, author Ron Rash will celebrate the release of his 20th publication. His latest novel, The Caretaker, is set in Blowing Rock in 1951. “To me, this is a book about love,” Rash says. “Not in a sentimental way. It’s about the destructiveness of it. How we misuse the word — exploit it.”

New York Times bestselling author, Wiley Cash, joins Xpress for our recurring feature on the life and literary works of Thomas Wolfe.

Chelsea LaBate wrote her latest poetry collection, ‘Free Roses,’ while experiencing several psychotic episodes, which resulted in multiple hospitalizations. Her hope is readers walk away from the works “poetically informed by the mania and the bliss.”

“Wolfe’s writings shed a brighter light on how prolific health tourism was specifically, and how that significantly escalated with the arrival of the railroad in the 1880s,” says historian Kayla Seay, assistant site director at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial.

In this month’s poetry feature, Chess — a professor emeritus of English at UNC Asheville, where he served as the director of the Center for Jewish Studies for 30 years — discusses the influence Judaism has had on his writing and the role poetry plays in the present day. Along with the conversation is Chess’ poem “Tashlikh 5773.”

Xpress’ new “Look Homeward” feature begins with Thomas Wolfe, but aims to eventually shift focus to other celebrated writers with ties to WNC, including, but not limited to Wilma Dykeman, John Ehle and O. Henry.