Unbroken Circle: Appalachian Writing

One of the goals of Unbroken Circle is to subvert stereotypes--to show that Southern people are not simple, shoeless rural white people.We are a people as varied as the Southern landscape, from the mountains of Appalachia to the deltas of Mississippi to the skyscrapers of Atlanta. We are black, white, Latino, Native American, Middle Eastern, Asian, and multiracial. We are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, atheist and agnostic. We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, straight, and questioning. We are urban and rural, old and young, poor and rich, and all points in between. We are all these things, plus more that don't fit into neat categories. The voices in this collection represent some of the diverse voices of our region, just a few spoonfuls from the giant pot of gumbo that makes up our region.
When Larry Smith of Bottom Dog Press agreed to co-edit this anthology, we struggled with the title, but once he suggested The Unbroken Circle, the vision for this anthology materialized. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is a classic in the Southern songbook, sung at pickins and funerals alike and recorded by artists from the Carter Family to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to Mavis Staples. In the song, the speaker grieves the loss of his/her mother but takes comfort in the fact that the circle of love created by family will be "unbroken by and by." In a country where politicians and pundits draw lines and build walls to separate people, it is especially fitting to embrace the circle, a shape symbolizing openness, wholeness, connectedness. One of the things that unites the pieces in this collection, both fiction and nonfiction, is the Southern love of stories. Each author, whether established or emerging, has created a distinct Southern voice which is nobody's stereotype. In a time when many people have lost the ability to listen and empathize, we the authors and editors of this collection, invite you to pull up a chair, join our circle, and listen to our stories. --Julia Watts
The writing gathered here is the result of some deep questioning and brave sharing. Whether in personal nonfiction or projected storytelling, the writing witnesses life as it's lived today. Character and voice are paramount, as are theme and style. These are real people caught in authentic situations and struggles for acceptance and caring. In a country where division and judgment are so prominent, they open the circle of acceptance. As Ram Dass declares, the circle is a wonderful image and concept, only keep it ever expanding. We thank these writers and welcome you reading it as part of our unbroken circle. --Larry Smith