Wes Blake
@wesblake.bsky.social
Author of PINEVILLE TRACE (Etchings Press, 2024) |💙 music, cats, & trees | ✍️Words in Electric Literature, storySouth, more | wesblake.com |📍Kentucky
PINEVILLE TRACE, book club kit, & teaching guide: wesblake.com/pineville-trace-2
PINEVILLE TRACE, book club kit, & teaching guide: wesblake.com/pineville-trace-2
Pinned
Wes Blake
@wesblake.bsky.social
· Dec 13
Some highlights about my debut book PINEVILLE TRACE from Etchings Press, Univ. of Indianapolis. Available at your local bookstore or library, bookshop.org, and all the usual online places. Learn more at wesblake.com
Excited to be part of the 2026 Appalachian Writers Workshop faculty alongside these talented writers and teachers. You won’t find a better workshop or writing community. Join us! Applications are open until March 1st. Apply at hindman.org/workshop
#AWW26 #AppalachianWritersWorkshop #WritingWorkshop
#AWW26 #AppalachianWritersWorkshop #WritingWorkshop
February 7, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Excited to be part of the 2026 Appalachian Writers Workshop faculty alongside these talented writers and teachers. You won’t find a better workshop or writing community. Join us! Applications are open until March 1st. Apply at hindman.org/workshop
#AWW26 #AppalachianWritersWorkshop #WritingWorkshop
#AWW26 #AppalachianWritersWorkshop #WritingWorkshop
Check out my new story “To Bury” in the brand new UNTELLING Issue 4 | Winter ‘25 issue. I workshopped the story this summer at Appalachian Writers Workshop at @hindmanschool.bsky.social . I worked on the final sentence every day for three weeks!
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
February 3, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Check out my new story “To Bury” in the brand new UNTELLING Issue 4 | Winter ‘25 issue. I workshopped the story this summer at Appalachian Writers Workshop at @hindmanschool.bsky.social . I worked on the final sentence every day for three weeks!
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
Loved this book. One of the best Jim Harrison books, and it surprises me how high quality most are. This is a story about grief, life, death, the UP, Chippewa religious ideas, bears, our connection with animals and the spirit world, and how our stories and the stories of our ancestors carry on. 💙📚
February 2, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Loved this book. One of the best Jim Harrison books, and it surprises me how high quality most are. This is a story about grief, life, death, the UP, Chippewa religious ideas, bears, our connection with animals and the spirit world, and how our stories and the stories of our ancestors carry on. 💙📚
Honored to be included in the new UNTELLING Issue 4 | Winter ‘25 issue alongside so many writers/poets/artists I admire. Thanks to editor Melissa Helton and Hindman Settlement School.
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
January 30, 2026 at 5:29 AM
Honored to be included in the new UNTELLING Issue 4 | Winter ‘25 issue alongside so many writers/poets/artists I admire. Thanks to editor Melissa Helton and Hindman Settlement School.
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
Order your copy at hindman.org/untelling/
A sad day in our country that should deeply concern every American.
January 25, 2026 at 6:47 PM
A sad day in our country that should deeply concern every American.
Honored to be a finalist and look forward to writing in James Still’s cabin soon! Congrats to the winners and other finalists, and thanks to the judges!
#OakLedgeResidencyContest #JamesStill #Contest #WritingRetreat #appalachianwriter
#OakLedgeResidencyContest #JamesStill #Contest #WritingRetreat #appalachianwriter
January 22, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Honored to be a finalist and look forward to writing in James Still’s cabin soon! Congrats to the winners and other finalists, and thanks to the judges!
#OakLedgeResidencyContest #JamesStill #Contest #WritingRetreat #appalachianwriter
#OakLedgeResidencyContest #JamesStill #Contest #WritingRetreat #appalachianwriter
The new @publisherswkly.bsky.social print edition features PINEVILLE TRACE and highlights how artist Erik Rust worked with Etchings Press and designer Abigail Bailey to create the NIEA award-winning cover! #publishersweekly @booklife.bsky.social
#booklife #coverart #collage #pinevilletrace 💙📚
#booklife #coverart #collage #pinevilletrace 💙📚
January 19, 2026 at 6:47 PM
The new @publisherswkly.bsky.social print edition features PINEVILLE TRACE and highlights how artist Erik Rust worked with Etchings Press and designer Abigail Bailey to create the NIEA award-winning cover! #publishersweekly @booklife.bsky.social
#booklife #coverart #collage #pinevilletrace 💙📚
#booklife #coverart #collage #pinevilletrace 💙📚
PINEVILLE TRACE is a 2026 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite for both the literary fiction AND audiobook categories! Thanks to Etchings Press and narrator Michael Mau!
www.independentpressaward.com/2026-favorites
#2026IPA #GabbyBookAwards #bookaward #literaryfiction #audiobook 📚💙🐱
www.independentpressaward.com/2026-favorites
#2026IPA #GabbyBookAwards #bookaward #literaryfiction #audiobook 📚💙🐱
January 16, 2026 at 2:23 AM
PINEVILLE TRACE is a 2026 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite for both the literary fiction AND audiobook categories! Thanks to Etchings Press and narrator Michael Mau!
www.independentpressaward.com/2026-favorites
#2026IPA #GabbyBookAwards #bookaward #literaryfiction #audiobook 📚💙🐱
www.independentpressaward.com/2026-favorites
#2026IPA #GabbyBookAwards #bookaward #literaryfiction #audiobook 📚💙🐱
Honored to be included among these fine writers in FLASH FICTION WRITING TIPS—the #1 Amazon New Release in Reference! a.co/d/bNL4N1W
Featuring luminaries of the form like Meg Pokras, Sherrie Flick, Grant Faulkner, Stuart Dybek, Dinty Moore, Etgar Keret, @nodghosh.bsky.social
Featuring luminaries of the form like Meg Pokras, Sherrie Flick, Grant Faulkner, Stuart Dybek, Dinty Moore, Etgar Keret, @nodghosh.bsky.social
January 11, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Honored to be included among these fine writers in FLASH FICTION WRITING TIPS—the #1 Amazon New Release in Reference! a.co/d/bNL4N1W
Featuring luminaries of the form like Meg Pokras, Sherrie Flick, Grant Faulkner, Stuart Dybek, Dinty Moore, Etgar Keret, @nodghosh.bsky.social
Featuring luminaries of the form like Meg Pokras, Sherrie Flick, Grant Faulkner, Stuart Dybek, Dinty Moore, Etgar Keret, @nodghosh.bsky.social
Help protect nature and farmland! If you live in Woodford County, sign and share this petition to protect rural farms from being developed and subdivided. After signing, contact county magistrates and come to the meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13th at Woodford Fiscal Court at 5:30. c.org/MYrx4H28jQ
Sign the Petition
Preserve Woodford County Farmland
c.org
January 10, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Help protect nature and farmland! If you live in Woodford County, sign and share this petition to protect rural farms from being developed and subdivided. After signing, contact county magistrates and come to the meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13th at Woodford Fiscal Court at 5:30. c.org/MYrx4H28jQ
My favorite reads of 2025! 💙📚
December 31, 2025 at 11:20 PM
My favorite reads of 2025! 💙📚
Winter Solstice. Orion through Pines
December 22, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Winter Solstice. Orion through Pines
Some highlights about my debut book PINEVILLE TRACE from Etchings Press, Univ. of Indianapolis. Available at your local bookstore or library, bookshop.org, and all the usual online places. Learn more at wesblake.com
December 13, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Some highlights about my debut book PINEVILLE TRACE from Etchings Press, Univ. of Indianapolis. Available at your local bookstore or library, bookshop.org, and all the usual online places. Learn more at wesblake.com
Audiobook Sale! $1.99 now through Dec. 31!
December 11, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Audiobook Sale! $1.99 now through Dec. 31!
It’s been so nice listening to stories about Gurney Norman over the last couple days. I feel lucky to have had him as a teacher. Thelonius Monk said that “a genius is the one most like himself.” Gurney was always completely himself. Listen to Gurney read “Allegiance”: youtu.be/Zk8nRWujzu4?...
December 8, 2025 at 3:18 AM
It’s been so nice listening to stories about Gurney Norman over the last couple days. I feel lucky to have had him as a teacher. Thelonius Monk said that “a genius is the one most like himself.” Gurney was always completely himself. Listen to Gurney read “Allegiance”: youtu.be/Zk8nRWujzu4?...
New interview at Southern Review of Book ! I got to talk with Julie Hensley about her new book FIVE OAKS, memory, secrets, form, autofiction, and the importance of place. Read here: southernreviewofbooks.com/2025/12/05/f...
December 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
New interview at Southern Review of Book ! I got to talk with Julie Hensley about her new book FIVE OAKS, memory, secrets, form, autofiction, and the importance of place. Read here: southernreviewofbooks.com/2025/12/05/f...
Thanks to @publisherswkly.bsky.social & @booklife.bsky.social for featuring PINEVILLE TRACE in their “Cover Crush” article! Read about how the cover came to be, then check out the original artwork by Erik Rust on display at Paul Sawyier Library in Frankfort, KY.
booklife.com/news/create/...
booklife.com/news/create/...
December 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Thanks to @publisherswkly.bsky.social & @booklife.bsky.social for featuring PINEVILLE TRACE in their “Cover Crush” article! Read about how the cover came to be, then check out the original artwork by Erik Rust on display at Paul Sawyier Library in Frankfort, KY.
booklife.com/news/create/...
booklife.com/news/create/...
Get signed copies of PINEVILLE TRACE at Joseph-Beth Bookstore in Lexington! Signed books make great gifts! Joseph-Beth can ship signed copies, too. Thanks so much to the folks at Joseph-Beth like Randy, Gary, Sam, Liz (who took this photo!), and many others. 💙📚
December 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Get signed copies of PINEVILLE TRACE at Joseph-Beth Bookstore in Lexington! Signed books make great gifts! Joseph-Beth can ship signed copies, too. Thanks so much to the folks at Joseph-Beth like Randy, Gary, Sam, Liz (who took this photo!), and many others. 💙📚
Reposted by Wes Blake
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Get signed copies of PINEVILLE TRACE at Fireside Reads Bookshop! Signed books by local authors make great gifts. This cool new bookstore is just past the Fayette County line in Jessamine County, on Harrodsburg Road. #shoplocal #indiesfirst
November 30, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Get signed copies of PINEVILLE TRACE at Fireside Reads Bookshop! Signed books by local authors make great gifts. This cool new bookstore is just past the Fayette County line in Jessamine County, on Harrodsburg Road. #shoplocal #indiesfirst
We’re giving away 10 signed copies of PINEVILLE TRACE, “an introspective, haunting tale that remains with us” (Heavy Feather Review). Enter today for a chance to win! www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
#goodreadsgiveaway #free #signedbook #southernlit #appalachianlit #novella #flashfiction
#goodreadsgiveaway #free #signedbook #southernlit #appalachianlit #novella #flashfiction
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
We’re giving away 10 signed copies of PINEVILLE TRACE, “an introspective, haunting tale that remains with us” (Heavy Feather Review). Enter today for a chance to win! www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
#goodreadsgiveaway #free #signedbook #southernlit #appalachianlit #novella #flashfiction
#goodreadsgiveaway #free #signedbook #southernlit #appalachianlit #novella #flashfiction
Thanks to Randy Mackin and Porch Light—Southern Lit Journal for publishing my new story “Hit the Road,” excerpted from ANTENNA—the novel manuscript about Frank Russet’s life prior to PINEVILLE TRACE! Read here: www.readporchlight.com/read/excerpt...
November 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Thanks to Randy Mackin and Porch Light—Southern Lit Journal for publishing my new story “Hit the Road,” excerpted from ANTENNA—the novel manuscript about Frank Russet’s life prior to PINEVILLE TRACE! Read here: www.readporchlight.com/read/excerpt...
Good times at the Books by the Banks Book Festival literary fiction panel and book signing!
November 16, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Good times at the Books by the Banks Book Festival literary fiction panel and book signing!
Late October/early November days in Nonesuch with Natalie Blake. Planted the last (hopefully?) of our hundred plus trees, hanging with our cats Pig and Queak, and watching the leaves change.
November 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Late October/early November days in Nonesuch with Natalie Blake. Planted the last (hopefully?) of our hundred plus trees, hanging with our cats Pig and Queak, and watching the leaves change.