Wes Blake
@wesblake.bsky.social
Writer | PINEVILLE TRACE (Etchings Press, 2024) |💙 music, cats, & trees | ✍️Words in Electric Literature, storySouth, more | wesblake.com | linktr.ee/wesblake |📍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
· Nov 13
My debut book, PINEVILLE TRACE, winner of the Etchings Press Novella Prize, is available now. For readers who like cats, con men with a possible heart of gold, escapism, introspective stories, & innovative forms. It’s about a former faith healer and a cat named Buffalo.
#Author #WritingCommunity 💙📚
#Author #WritingCommunity 💙📚
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.
Check out our Literary Fiction Panel at Books on the Banks at 1:30 pm on Sat. Nov. 15 in Room 1SB. Join @katherinehowe.bsky.social Lynne Hugo, Esinam Bediako, me, & our moderator Isa Fernandez. It’s sure to be a lively talk!
#bbtbcincy #booksbythebanks #bookfestival #literaryfiction
#bbtbcincy #booksbythebanks #bookfestival #literaryfiction
November 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Check out our Literary Fiction Panel at Books on the Banks at 1:30 pm on Sat. Nov. 15 in Room 1SB. Join @katherinehowe.bsky.social Lynne Hugo, Esinam Bediako, me, & our moderator Isa Fernandez. It’s sure to be a lively talk!
#bbtbcincy #booksbythebanks #bookfestival #literaryfiction
#bbtbcincy #booksbythebanks #bookfestival #literaryfiction
The new Oct. 27 @publisherswkly.bsky.social Best Books Issue features a review of PINEVILLE TRACE and names it a @booklife.bsky.social EDITOR’S PICK!
October 28, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The new Oct. 27 @publisherswkly.bsky.social Best Books Issue features a review of PINEVILLE TRACE and names it a @booklife.bsky.social EDITOR’S PICK!
I’ll be at the West Virginia Book Festival this Saturday signing copies of PINEVILLE TRACE! #bookfestival #literaryfiction #appalachianlit #southernfiction #novella #pinevilletrace #writingcommunity 💙📚
October 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I’ll be at the West Virginia Book Festival this Saturday signing copies of PINEVILLE TRACE! #bookfestival #literaryfiction #appalachianlit #southernfiction #novella #pinevilletrace #writingcommunity 💙📚
Had a blast on our panel at the Southern Festival of Books talking writing and books with Robert Inman. So many great Barry Hannah stories, too! If you missed Bob and I, you can get signed copies of our new books VILLAGES & PINEVILLE TRACE at @parnassusbooks.bsky.social ! #southernfestivalofbooks
October 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Had a blast on our panel at the Southern Festival of Books talking writing and books with Robert Inman. So many great Barry Hannah stories, too! If you missed Bob and I, you can get signed copies of our new books VILLAGES & PINEVILLE TRACE at @parnassusbooks.bsky.social ! #southernfestivalofbooks
Had so much fun at Proof Book Fest signing books and talking with readers, editors, and writers that I forgot to take pictures until it was over!
October 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Had so much fun at Proof Book Fest signing books and talking with readers, editors, and writers that I forgot to take pictures until it was over!
Great conversation at Morgenstern Books with @klagodzki.bsky.social last week. You can get signed books of PINEVILLE TRACE & CONTROLLED CONVERSATIONS at Morgenstern Books in Bloomington, IN!
October 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Great conversation at Morgenstern Books with @klagodzki.bsky.social last week. You can get signed books of PINEVILLE TRACE & CONTROLLED CONVERSATIONS at Morgenstern Books in Bloomington, IN!
Nashville! Sunday at 1 pm in the Duck Room: Museum—Come hear Robert Inman and me chat at the Southern Festival of Books. Robert studied under one of my favorite writers—Barry Hannah! Book signing after!
📍Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Nashville, TN
@parnassusbooks.bsky.social
📍Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Nashville, TN
@parnassusbooks.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Nashville! Sunday at 1 pm in the Duck Room: Museum—Come hear Robert Inman and me chat at the Southern Festival of Books. Robert studied under one of my favorite writers—Barry Hannah! Book signing after!
📍Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Nashville, TN
@parnassusbooks.bsky.social
📍Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Nashville, TN
@parnassusbooks.bsky.social
I wrote a few words for my writing mentor Gurney Norman, the Kentucky and Appalachian writer and teacher, who passed this Sunday. I’ve been reflecting on what a big influence he had on my life and others. You can read it at substack.com/@wesblake/no...
#GurneyNorman #appalachianlit #kentuckywriters
#GurneyNorman #appalachianlit #kentuckywriters
Gurney Norman, My First Writing Mentor
On the passing of an inimitable writer and teacher
substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I wrote a few words for my writing mentor Gurney Norman, the Kentucky and Appalachian writer and teacher, who passed this Sunday. I’ve been reflecting on what a big influence he had on my life and others. You can read it at substack.com/@wesblake/no...
#GurneyNorman #appalachianlit #kentuckywriters
#GurneyNorman #appalachianlit #kentuckywriters
New interview! Check out this interview over at The Daily Obsessive on Substack. My friend Dave Kolonich and I talk about flash fiction, the fourth wall, fictive dreams, faith, fraud, etc! You should subscribe to Dave’s Substack, The Daily Obsessive, too.
Read at open.substack.com/pub/thedaily...
Read at open.substack.com/pub/thedaily...
The Ego Check Interview Series: Author Wes Blake
On Flash Fiction, the Fourth Wall, Fictive Dreams, and Faith and Fraud
open.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
New interview! Check out this interview over at The Daily Obsessive on Substack. My friend Dave Kolonich and I talk about flash fiction, the fourth wall, fictive dreams, faith, fraud, etc! You should subscribe to Dave’s Substack, The Daily Obsessive, too.
Read at open.substack.com/pub/thedaily...
Read at open.substack.com/pub/thedaily...
Thank you, Gurney. In January 2000 I took my very first creative writing course. Gurney wrote these words after reading my first story. He was such an important mentor.I’ll never forget him. He taught me that people in Kentucky had something to say. And so did I. And it was worthwhile. #gurneynorman
October 14, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Thank you, Gurney. In January 2000 I took my very first creative writing course. Gurney wrote these words after reading my first story. He was such an important mentor.I’ll never forget him. He taught me that people in Kentucky had something to say. And so did I. And it was worthwhile. #gurneynorman
Reposted by Wes Blake
#Publishing With this week's announcement about the closure of the book distributor Baker & Taylor, it's important to support independent presses that will lose their publisher services. @schaffnerpress.bsky.social is one such. Buy one of their books. Or five. #BookSky #Reading schaffnerpress.com
Schaffner Press – BOOKS OF SOCIAL RELEVANCE FOR DISCERNING READERS
schaffnerpress.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
#Publishing With this week's announcement about the closure of the book distributor Baker & Taylor, it's important to support independent presses that will lose their publisher services. @schaffnerpress.bsky.social is one such. Buy one of their books. Or five. #BookSky #Reading schaffnerpress.com
Indianapolis Readers! I’ll be signing copies of PINEVILLE TRACE at the Proof: Midwest Lit Fest in Indianapolis at the Harrison Center on Sat. Oct. 11 from 10 - 11:30 am. Hope to see you! #booksigning #PinevilleTrace
October 8, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Indianapolis Readers! I’ll be signing copies of PINEVILLE TRACE at the Proof: Midwest Lit Fest in Indianapolis at the Harrison Center on Sat. Oct. 11 from 10 - 11:30 am. Hope to see you! #booksigning #PinevilleTrace
I’ll be at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville on Sun. Oct. 19! Come hear Robert Inman and I chat on Sun. at 1 pm. Robert studied under one of my favorite writers—Barry Hannah! Book signing after!
#SouthernFestivalOfBooks #SouthernFiction @parnassusbooks.bsky.social
#SouthernFestivalOfBooks #SouthernFiction @parnassusbooks.bsky.social
October 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I’ll be at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville on Sun. Oct. 19! Come hear Robert Inman and I chat on Sun. at 1 pm. Robert studied under one of my favorite writers—Barry Hannah! Book signing after!
#SouthernFestivalOfBooks #SouthernFiction @parnassusbooks.bsky.social
#SouthernFestivalOfBooks #SouthernFiction @parnassusbooks.bsky.social
Bloomington Readers! Join @klagodzki.bsky.social & I at Morgenstern Books as we discuss Pineville Trace and Controlled Conversations. Both novels feature characters on the run, escaping to realize freedom. What are they running from and toward, and why does it matter? 💙📚 #authors
October 2, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Bloomington Readers! Join @klagodzki.bsky.social & I at Morgenstern Books as we discuss Pineville Trace and Controlled Conversations. Both novels feature characters on the run, escaping to realize freedom. What are they running from and toward, and why does it matter? 💙📚 #authors
Another pic from Kentucky Native Cafe’s #LastMondayReadingSeries last night!
September 30, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Another pic from Kentucky Native Cafe’s #LastMondayReadingSeries last night!
Thanks so much to the kind folks at Michler’s Florist and KY Native Cafe for their hospitality and for creating this awesome reading series, community, and place. And thanks to everyone who joined us tonight! I had a great time reading, listening to Jan LaPerle’s poetry, and talking with everyone.
September 30, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Thanks so much to the kind folks at Michler’s Florist and KY Native Cafe for their hospitality and for creating this awesome reading series, community, and place. And thanks to everyone who joined us tonight! I had a great time reading, listening to Jan LaPerle’s poetry, and talking with everyone.
EDITOR’S PICK @publisherswkly.bsky.social #BookLife named PINEVILLE TRACE an Editor’s Pick! Learn more at wesblake.com. #PublishersWeekly #EditorsPick #BookReview #SouthernLit #AppalachianLit #Novella #NovellaInFlash #Cats #PinevilleTrace
September 29, 2025 at 9:36 AM
EDITOR’S PICK @publisherswkly.bsky.social #BookLife named PINEVILLE TRACE an Editor’s Pick! Learn more at wesblake.com. #PublishersWeekly #EditorsPick #BookReview #SouthernLit #AppalachianLit #Novella #NovellaInFlash #Cats #PinevilleTrace
So happy to share that Publisher’s Weekly’s Booklife just named PINEVILLE TRACE an Editor’s Pick! They wrote such an insightful review, too. The review will appear in the new Publisher’s Weekly.
Read the review, here: booklife.com/category/fic...
#bookreview #publishersweekly #editorspick 💙📚🐈
Read the review, here: booklife.com/category/fic...
#bookreview #publishersweekly #editorspick 💙📚🐈
September 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
So happy to share that Publisher’s Weekly’s Booklife just named PINEVILLE TRACE an Editor’s Pick! They wrote such an insightful review, too. The review will appear in the new Publisher’s Weekly.
Read the review, here: booklife.com/category/fic...
#bookreview #publishersweekly #editorspick 💙📚🐈
Read the review, here: booklife.com/category/fic...
#bookreview #publishersweekly #editorspick 💙📚🐈
Had an awesome time talking with Jacinda Townsend about her new book TRIGGER WARNING tonight. If you missed us, you can get signed copies of TRIGGER WARNING & PINEVILLE TRACE at Carmichael’s bookstore. Her new book is so good. Check it out. #booksigning #appalachianfiction
September 24, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Had an awesome time talking with Jacinda Townsend about her new book TRIGGER WARNING tonight. If you missed us, you can get signed copies of TRIGGER WARNING & PINEVILLE TRACE at Carmichael’s bookstore. Her new book is so good. Check it out. #booksigning #appalachianfiction
TODAY in Louisville:
September 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
TODAY in Louisville:
Save the date, and please feel free to share! Jan LaPerle and I will be reading at the always incredible Last Monday Reading Series at KY Native Cafe on Mon. Sep. 29 at 8 pm. This is such an amazing place and such a cool reading series. Hope to see you there! #reading #lexingtonky
September 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Save the date, and please feel free to share! Jan LaPerle and I will be reading at the always incredible Last Monday Reading Series at KY Native Cafe on Mon. Sep. 29 at 8 pm. This is such an amazing place and such a cool reading series. Hope to see you there! #reading #lexingtonky
Good times today at A Likely Story Bookstore for the Midway Fall Festival signing PINEVILLE TRACE. If you missed me today, you can still get signed copies at A Likely Story in Midway! #midwayfallfestival #booksigning #southernfiction #appalachianlit #PinevilleTrace
September 20, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Good times today at A Likely Story Bookstore for the Midway Fall Festival signing PINEVILLE TRACE. If you missed me today, you can still get signed copies at A Likely Story in Midway! #midwayfallfestival #booksigning #southernfiction #appalachianlit #PinevilleTrace