Beth Macy
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bethmacy.bsky.social
Beth Macy
@bethmacy.bsky.social
Running for U.S. Congress when not when writing books, which include PAPER GIRL and DOPESICK. Regular essays on Substack.

To volunteer and/or donate to my campaign: http://www.bethmacyforcongress.com.
Grateful to Michael Keaton, who lost a nephew to overdose, to come out swinging for my campaign—and for what is right!
November 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Never thought this small town girl and longtime Appalachian would make the cover of the NYTBR! Thrilling!
October 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Grateful to the masterful reporter and writer @jeffsharlet.bsky.social for helping me write and promote this book! His “The Undertow” was hugely influential.
September 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Here’s the event info from Facebook, thanks! It’s also at The Grandin. Palmyra isn’t doing a full set but I think they’re doing 3-4 songs including a new one that’s aligned w the book. Thanks!
July 29, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Highly recommend reading Joseph Lee’s debut book, “Nothing More of This Land.” After reading the sterling NYT review of it this week, I cycled over to his parents’ gift shop on Aquinnah, where I bought the book—and some v cool jewelry—from his dad, Marshall.
July 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
24 weeks in a row protesting outside our No Show wimpy Congressman Ben Cline’s office, including in rain and 90-degree heat. Thanks Bill and Kate!
July 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Finally got to meet one of my addiction writer heroes, Dr. Carl Erik Fisher, whose book The Urge taught me so much.
June 30, 2025 at 8:40 AM
I love this sign, but it might need footnotes! #NoKingsRoanoke
June 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
After years of looking, probably a combined 70 hours, I finally found my first morel visiting relatives near Seneca Lake. Got out of the car, and this little bugger was right at my feet!
May 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I’ve been writing about the opioid crisis for so long that young med students have gotten married, graduated, had adorable babies! So great to reconnect at UVA Med School yesterday with the great Dr. Sanjay Kishore who helped me convince Roanoke city to approve syringe exchange way back in ‘18.
April 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
My genius friend Bob made these! #StopHim
April 19, 2025 at 1:20 AM
We heard from leaders representing LGBTQ, education,
Federal worker unions, church leaders and anti-Fascism organizers. Fired up at #HandsOff #HandsOffRoanoke #can’tstopwon’tstop
April 5, 2025 at 8:54 PM
#HandsOffRoanoke #HandsOff was LIT today. People are fired up for justice!
April 5, 2025 at 8:44 PM
So satisfying to be among 2k-plus Roanoke people at #HandsOff #HandsOffRoanoke
April 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Virginia delegate Sam Rasoul on protesting and organizing w purpose and @andreapitzer.bsky.social on solidarity. #noexclusions
March 25, 2025 at 11:05 AM
“Our disengagement is destroying the country,” author and authoritarianism expert @andreapitzer.bsky.social told an SRO crowd of Trump/Musk protesters in Roanoke today. “We’re not watching a reality show…we’re in it.”
March 25, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Why Brenda and Sam are taking to the streets to honor their gay son. Outside their NO Show congressman Ben Cline’s office today.
March 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Yesterday Congressman Ben Cline failed to appear—again. Also, what an apt sign!
March 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
My next-door neighbor, a Vietnam vet, is FIRED up and ready to confront his Congressman Morgan Griffith—if only the dude who claims to be a constitutionalist would show up!
March 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
He came with his service dog to rally outside Congressman Ben Cline’s office, where hundreds protested DOGE and asked for a town hall. Ben couldn’t be bothered to show. But this man, a retired National Parks ranger, showed up&got hassled by Cline’s rent a cop
for sitting down on private property.
February 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Why I love my neighborhood, #312: We were outta town last summer when our two-blocks down neighbors’ sour cherry (my favorite) tree was flush. Another neighbor picked some for us, pitted them, and yesterday they arrived in the form of cherry liqueur and frozen berries. 💝 #slowfood #loveyourneighbor
December 31, 2024 at 5:47 PM
Super good advice from Melissa Kirsch at NYT today. Glass or rubber?
December 28, 2024 at 1:26 PM
Christmas visit with the Dolue-Glays, Liberian refugees we mentored 20 years ago. They’ve bought a house and produced an accountant, a nurse, two college current college students and a factory worker. All citizens, all contributing mightily. (They also have a granddaughter named Beth Macy Glay❤️.)
December 27, 2024 at 12:56 AM