By Jennifer Lewis
For Mountain State Press
We Are Appalachia! II, Mountain State Press’s newest release, is an anthology of short stories and personal essays that take place in Appalachia. Though continuing the conversation from the first We Are Appalachia!, this book stands on its own and includes even more contributors. All writers in the anthology are Marshall students, faculty, and alumni.
When asked about the work, one of the contributors, Carson McKinney, said, “Being a part of this book is a great publication opportunity, and it also allowed me to explore what Appalachia means for me and my life.”
Edited by Jennifer Lewis, a recent graduate and current instructor at Marshall University, We Are Appalachia! II explores ideas of belonging, history, love, magic, and so much more that takes place within those mountains. This book houses stories not only from those born and raised in Appalachia, but also the experiences of those who found a home there later in life. From cooking biscuits and magic bars to the mystery of cryptids and ghosts, there is something for everyone in this anthology.
We Are Appalachia! II is available to purchase for $20.00 on Mountain State Press’s website (mountainstatepress.org) and on Amazon. Mountain State Press is a non-profit, independent press currently housed at Marshall University that focuses on publishing Appalachian voices.
Additionally, several writers from We Are Appalachia! II will be presenting their work at the Appalachian Studies Association Conference on March 21, 2026, from 8:00am to 9:15am, in the panel titled “We Are Appalachia! 2: An Anthology from Mountain State Press.”
