There's a shoulder poem in me somewhere. It's been trying to break me since June but I haven't quite written it yet.

Lexington, Kentucky, we’re signing books this weekend! I’ll be joining a couple legends: @upfromsumdirt.bsky.social and @crystalwilki.bsky.social

NEW PODCAST EPISODE! In today’s episode @kdwinchester.bsky.social talks to @upfromsumdirt.bsky.social about his new poetry collection THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN’S WIFE. Have a listen! www.readappalachia.com/blog/ep-51-u...

well, well, well... what have we here? 40% OFF ALL BOOKS (hard or soft cover!) AT UPK WHEN USING FROSTY25 AT CHECKOUT? 👁👁 hey... that includes my book!! 👁👁 & GOOD UNTIL JANUARY THE WHAT?!?!? 👀👀 www.kentuckypress.com

What a great mini-feature on this new work by @toniannj.bsky.social, published by @kentuckypress.bsky.social Screen Door Press imprint, edited by @crystalwilki.bsky.social #ReadUP

Thank you Library of Virginia.

This is a photo of me at 7:30 am this morning with Stefan. I have a love/hate relationship with Stefan's ass and my shoulder hates his guts. He's good at his job tho. Today he released me from his services and my shoulder is at 80%. I'll be taking over my own progress from here.

@upfromsumdirt.bsky.social Congratulations on another great reading!

well, thats one down... mightve had 15 folks in the audience (almost half was family) and i am grateful for all that came out tonight, thank yall. ❤️ and thank you to joseph-beth books & my publishers at upk.

When your editor says "beautifully rendered" you allow yourself a little 5-minute victory lap and then get back to work.

in case it's slipped yalls mind...

Average sleep for the last month: Four hours

Me: Gordon Ramsey says baking your overnight oats w/ walnut or pecans is a game changer! Him: I thought you were saying something universal. Chile, let me get to my writing desk.

Shout out to the ppl who hand write letters and notes in careful cursive on lush paper. A balm. What small things are carrying you today?

What's In The BHT Office? Part 1: Praisesong For The Kitchen Ghosts by Crystal Wilkinson!! If you are looking for authentic Black Cookbooks to enjoy some unique recipes, this one is for you! Visit us at 222 Court Street, Portmsouth, NH to come check it out! www.blackheritagetrailnh.org

Crystal Wilkinson will speak at Steely Library on Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. Wilkinson is the author of “Praisesong of the Friendly Ghosts,” a culinary memoir that reflects on the familial history and unique recipes of Black Appalachian food traditions. linknky.com/culture/2025...

Thanks for reading!

These are my people. Aunt Lovester's great-grandfather discovered Boneyville, Kentucky. Legends. Remember them. Remember us.

I have an article in this issue! Big thanks to Greg Michalson, @crystalwilki.bsky.social, and @davidjoy.bsky.social for sharing their advice on writing difficult scenes.

Feeling wobbly at my writing desk today, but thinking of the woman who helped raise me who is straddling this world and the next but going home today. She is 89. I'm writing about my mama but all my mamas come to me. I'm not steady at all but here. I'm here. Fingers on key board. I'm here.

Hospitals are strange places for trauma bonding. Shoutout to the stranger who tried to mirror my steps to the parking lot to tell me about the doctors drilling a hole in her niece's head. The image is with me on my pillow all these hours later.

Is writing a selfish act? Must we untether ourselves from family to get it done?

Join me and Frank Walker for a writing workshop in beautiful Butler State Park. parks.ky.gov/writing-work...

The NEW issue of Kweli Journal has dropped. Our May issue is focused on the theme of MOTHERING. READ NOW at link in bio 👆🏿

Still glowing from our Deep South Convening, this past weekend in Birmingham. Here's 3/4 of @hubcitypress.bsky.social and the organizers (@johntedge.bsky.social, Ashley Jones, me) with our incredible keynote, @crystalwilki.bsky.social.

Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts released on audio from Tantor TODAY! Thank you for reading AND listening. Link in the comments and take a listen. Get it wherever you buy your audiobooks.

Grateful for a beautiful night of words and a sold-out house at @themercantilelib. What kind staff and stewards. Nights like this are a brilliant respite from the rest. Being in this special place felt like a sort of church. I hope to get back soon.

👠👠 + 🎣👨🏿‍🦳 + 👰🏿‍♂️ THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE has an official cover AND release date from @kentuckypress.bsky.social - Oct 14, 2025! surreal poems, narrative poems, nature poems... maybe "surreal narrative nature" poems? preorder link coming soon!

"Witness" by Crystal Wilkinson #poem #poetry #apoemaday

Listen to Francis’ full conversation with Melissa Clark in our latest episode! splendidtable.org/episode/2024/02/09/melissa-clarks-deep-dive-into-salt-crystal-wilkinson-on-her-kitchen-ghosts

There’s an awesome book by Crystal Wilkinson, a historian and black Appalachian, that is full of these kind of shorthand recipes (and the full recipe as well). It’s called “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts.” www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704948...

We had so much fun last week with Crystal Wilkinson and Ronni Lundy at the 2025 Prichard Lecture! Wilkinson read from her latest book, Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, and took us on a captivating journey from the hidden legacies of Black Appalachia to the unexpected pitfalls of cookbook writing.

The 3rd annual Tremont Writers Conference takes place this October. Join authors Crystal Wilkinson, David Joy, Karen Spears Zacharias, & Maurice Manning. Apply by May 15. https://www.newpages.com/blog/events/2025-tremont-writers-conference-in-great-smoky-mountains-national-park/ #writingconference

Current reading pile. Antidotes to the news. H is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald; Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, by Crystal Wilkinson; and the Winter 2025 issue of the Little Patuxent Review.

Join Crystal Wilkinson, David Joy, Karen Spears Zacharias, & Maurice Manning for an intensive 5-day retreat in the Smoky Mountains at the Tremont Writers Conference. Apply by May 15. https://www.newpages.com/events/2025-tremont-writers-conference/ #writingconference

Now go read his novel "Those We Thought We Knew" which deals with this exact monument. Then, go read Marie Cochran, @crystalwilki.bsky.social S.A. Cosby and more Affriclachian artists.

Whew, Lord, if y'all don't stop sending me stuff about supporting HBCUs. I'm on my sick bed this week. Y'all making me sicker.

Congratulations to CALLALOO contributor Torli Bush! Torli's work appears in our special double issue on Black Appalachia, guest-edited by Crystal Wilkinson. Order the issue at www.press.jhu.edu/journals/car...

the 4 other inductees: ron eller, frank x walker, naomi wallace, and david dick; david dick passed in 2010, but his family accepted on his behalf. i highly recommend his collection of homespun essays & stories, The View From Plum Lick...

the inductees: crystal @crystalwilki.bsky.social, introduced by @robgipe.bsky.social (brother, where can i get my hands on your introductory speech?!?)

Three young people (under 40) in my circle have contracted pneumonia in the last week and been hospitalized. One has died. What in the world is going on?

2025 is a lot, so I'm casting spells and throwing poxes.

Woke up to Lizzo's nod to Prince. I'll have to listen to it again, but at first listen, all I could think about was the Beautiful One. I wouldn't be mad at a Lizzo pastiche Prince album/tour tho. Bring it.

Black History is also culinary history, so our Black History Month 20% off promo includes a section of cookbooks, some historical, some contemporary. Check them out! #booksky #blackbooksky theliteratelizard.com/list/cookboo... Titles and authors in alt-text, authors on Bluesky below 🧵

Cornbread: The real bread of champions.

This was a fun interview. Francis Lam is the GOAT.

Take a deep dive into the fascinating world of salt with NYT cooking columnist Melissa Clark on this week’s show. Then, hear award-winning author @crystalwilki.bsky.social discuss her memoir, “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks.”

#Winter has fully arrived in #Appalachia, and we're celebrating the entire season with books by #BlackAuthors and about #BlackAppalachia. Our #Winter2025 #ReadingList featuring works from Crystal Wilkinson, Alena Hairston, and bell hooks. www.appli.org/appli-...#Winter#Appalachia,#BlackAuthors#BlackAppalachia.

Ok @crystalwilki.bsky.social just finished, and already thinking about a course I want to teach with your novel, Hurston, Morrison, Walker, Ward, and maybe Gaines, among others. Thank you for this book!