Backwoods Literary Press

Home
United States
Knoxville, TN
Backwoods Literary Press

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Backwoods Literary Press, Publisher, 1405 E Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN.

Grassroots project platforming and supporting diverse rural artists—especially those in the South & Appalachia—through creative community building, events, and publishing.

12/31/2025

We’re just tickled to share that the first copies of “Testament: A Rural Anthology” are officially here.

This anthology stretched us—more voices, more places, more depth—and we’re grateful for how much it’s helped us grow and for everyone we met along the way. Spending so much time with these works, and with the people and places behind them, has truly been an honor and a privilege for all of our editors.

We’re excited to put these stories in your hands. Our first round of pre-orders is already SOLD OUT (before shipping even began!), and we’re starting to ship now while we wait on the next batch. Thank you for your patience—and your faith in this work.

🕯️Editor-in-chief: Belle Townsend
🕯️Managing Editor: Trish Gibson
🕯️Supporting Editors: Bayley Hope Amburgey, Samantha Ratcliffe, Shiloh Stump, and Olivia Dudding-Rodriguez
🕯️Foreword Author: Surabhi Balachander

Link to pre-order: https://www.backwoodsliterarypress.com/store-1/p/style-01-ej5na-fbhnt-krsft

12/16/2025

We’re honored to share that the foreword to “Testament: A Rural Anthology” is written by Surabhi Balachander.

A scholar and writer whose work rethinks rural America beyond stereotype, Surabhi traces rural identity in American literature across the last century—insisting on rural life as multiethnic, complex, and deeply connected to the world.

Her voice opens Testament with clarity, care, and a deep understanding of what we’re doing at the press and with this book.

* Don’t forget preorders are open! Link in bio.

** We anticipate beginning shipping in early January. Due to winter weather and a high volume of orders, fulfillment may take a little time, but all books will ship in the order they’re received. Thank you for the enthusiasm and patience—it means everything to us.

12/15/2025

Backwoods Literary Press had a busy n’ beautiful weekend!

We spent Saturday morning at Hindman Settlement School during Winter Burrow, where Shiloh Stump and Belle Townsend co-facilitated “In Our Own Handwriting”—a workshop on writing what’s hard, claiming our stories, and telling them on our own terms.

Then we gathered for Afternoon Tea with Backwoods at The Pond in Whitesburg, Kentucky, where we had our very first Backwoods event. 🥹 It was a gentle afternoon of reflection, quiet, and writing, which was exactly what we needed.

Thank you to our hosts for holding such thoughtful spaces, and to everyone who spent time writing with us. We’re so grateful. ❤️‍🔥

12/03/2025

ONE WEEK AWAY! Marianne Worthington

Join us next Wednesday for a virtual workshop on December 10 facilitated by the wonderful Marianne Worthington.

“The Voice of the Poem: A Generative Workshop”
A warm, hands-on space to explore memory, perspective, and the odd little timbres that make your writing unmistakably yours. You’ll leave with at least two new drafts and a few freshly lit lanterns for your creative path. ✨

Details
Dec 10 | 6:30–8:00 PM ET
Virtual on Zoom | Pay What You Can
Your contributions support printing costs for our newest anthology and creating accessible spaces like this wokshop.

Open to all. Come find the shape of your voice.
Register here so we can send your Zoom link: https://shorturl.at/zWw2q

12/01/2025

Testament: A Rural Anthology is finally here! Months of late nights and long roads led to this one, and we couldn’t be more excited to open pre-orders. ❤️‍🔥

This collection brings together 84 artists with ties to 30 states—a beautiful weaving of places, voices, and home-ground stories.

Huge thanks to our imaginative, heart-filled editorial team: Belle Townsend, Trish J. Gibson, Bayley Amburgey, Sam Ratcliffe, Shiloh Stump, and Olivia Dudding-Rodriguez. Thank you as well to our foreword author, Surabhi Balachander, and our cover artist, Ceirra Evans!

The 5.5 x 8.5 paperback is now available for pre-order on our website www.backwoodsliterarypress.com or at the link in our bio.

*** Orders will ship in the order they’re received. We’re a small team and expect to begin shipping by the end of the month, and we appreciate your patience in advance! ❤️‍🔥

11/11/2025

We have an exciting poetry workshop planned with the lovely and talented Marianne Worthington!

“The Voice of the Poem: A Generative Workshop”

Discover your unique poetic voice in this interactive workshop! Explore memories, experiment with perspective, and try out new ways of speaking through poetry. By the end, you’ll leave with at least two new poem drafts and fresh inspiration to continue writing.

Details:
Dec 10 | 6:30–8:00 PM EDT
Virtual Zoom | Pay What You Can – All contributions help fund future artist compensation and book donations.

✨ Open to all. Come claim your voice! Register here so we can send you the Zoom link: https://shorturl.at/zWw2q

10/20/2025

We’re putting the final touches on “Testament: A Rural Anthology,” and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been cookin’ up. In the meantime, here’s something to celebrate:

A Workshop with Olivia Dudding-Rodriguez
❤️‍🔥 October 26 | 3–5 PM EDT ❤️‍🔥
Virtual, held on Zoom

Join Backwoods Literary Press for “Poetics of Disbelief,” a two-hour workshop led by Olivia Dudding-Rodriguez!

Together, we’ll examine the outlier beliefs in things like ghosts, the Mothman, and other mysteries that linger at the edges of reason. Expect curiosity, creativity, and seasonal fun!

This workshop is pay what you can. All funds go towards printing costs and funding accessible creative community events like this one. You can make donations under the “Support” page of our website.

See y’all then! ❤️‍🔥 Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-ghtHwUR40CMKkNGhTZWXOrnCWh7r4gOnM3FoeYEEg5vDRw/viewform

10/08/2025

What a lovely evening at CoffeeTree Books in Morehead, KY!

We gathered for readings and performances from contributors to “Discarded: A Rural Anthology” — including Willie Edward Taylor Carver, A.P. Harbor, Cole Allen, and Belle Townsend. Afterward, folks stuck around to chat and get books signed, including some of the authors’ own collections.

This was the first of several gatherings as we start preparing for our next book, “Testament: A Rural Anthology.” We’re so grateful to everyone who came out to share their words, listen, and spend time together.

Nights like this remind us what it means to be in community — to slow down, to make space for each other, and to keep creating beauty in a time that’s begging for more of it.

Thank you to everyone who came out! Tonight was a porch light left on if there ever was one! ❤️‍🔥

09/16/2025

These are some heavy days. Here are some words with a little light. Love you, mean it. Take care. ❤️‍🔥

09/01/2025

84 voices. Countless stories. One Testament. November 2025.

Contributors carry grief, joy, faith, and fire and lay it down in these pages for history to hold onto. This collection gathers rural voices pushed to the margins—people of all ages, from all backgrounds, from places often erased and then spoken for.

Over 400 pieces came in, and while we couldn’t include them all, each piece reflected the care, insight, and creativity of the communities it came from. We are so grateful for those who shared their work with us.

This Labor Day feels like the perfect time to honor the voices sharing their stories of solidarity, resistance, and remembrance with open hearts and hands.

We can’t wait for you to read and celebrate these stories with us! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

08/06/2025

✨ Backwoods Literary Press at Josephine Sculpture Park ✨
Join us Friday, August 22 for an evening of poetry, music, and community under the stars.

📍 Josephine Sculpture Park, Frankfort, KY
🕢 7:30–10:30 PM (Backwoods program at 8:15 PM)
🎶 Poetry + Live Music + Outdoor Installations
💫 Free & open to all – bring friends & family!

We’ll share 45 minutes of intimate readings and music before the audience explores JSP’s sound and video installations throughout the park. Our lineup will feature: Belle Townsend, Jeri Howell, Willie Carver Jr., Bayley Amburgey, Trish Gibson, and Grace Rogers!

Come celebrate creativity, connection, and the voices of Backwoods Literary Press! 💛

07/19/2025

🚨 DEADLINE EXTENDED 🚨

We’ve heard from folks who needed a little more time—so we’re extending submissions for “Testament: A Rural Anthology” through Friday, July 26 at midnight.

We’re seeking writing and art that wrestles with belief, memory, queerness, land, and the nuances of rural place.

Send us your work via the link in our bio!

Address

1405 E Magnolia Avenue
Knoxville, TN
37917

Website

http://Backwoodsliterarypress.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Backwoods Literary Press posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Backwoods Literary Press:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company in Knoxville?