27 ratings | 3 reviews | avg rating:4.85

Crystal Wilkinson’s Followers (77)

More followers…

Crystal’s Bookshelves

read (24)
currently-reading (1)
to-read (11)

Crystal’s Friends (1,040)

Lowell White

281 books | 356 friends

Lisa

775 books | 41 friends

Susan Shapiro

30 books | 1,201 friends

Malikah Harris

0 books | 114 friends

Ari

1,406 books | 279 friends

Claudette Melanson

2,908 books | 5,001 friends

Read In Colour

2,088 books | 614 friends

Laurie Buchanan

378 books | 1,773 friends

More friends…

Crystal Wilkinson

Goodreads Author

Born

Hamilton, OH

Website

http://www.crystalwilkinson.com

Genre

Short Stories

Member Since

September 2010

edit data

Crystal Wilkinson was born in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1962 and raised in Indian Creek, Kentucky. Her grandparents, Silas and Christine Wilkinson, took her into their care when she was six weeks old. Often describing herself as a country girl, Wilkinson's work reflects a love and homage to her Appalachian roots. She recalls growing up on her grandparent's farm where her grandfather planted tobacco and corn and made sorghum molasses and her grandmother worked as a domestic worker for school teachers in the county. "I lived an enchanted childhood," Crystal says in remembering her days roaming the knobs and hills of her home. "My grandparents gave me the freedom to explore the countryside and to write, to dream, to discover. They wanted me to have t Crystal Wilkinson was born in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1962 and raised in Indian Creek, Kentucky. Her grandparents, Silas and Christine Wilkinson, took her into their care when she was six weeks old. Often describing herself as a country girl, Wilkinson's work reflects a love and homage to her Appalachian roots. She recalls growing up on her grandparent's farm where her grandfather planted tobacco and corn and made sorghum molasses and her grandmother worked as a domestic worker for school teachers in the county. "I lived an enchanted childhood," Crystal says in remembering her days roaming the knobs and hills of her home. "My grandparents gave me the freedom to explore the countryside and to write, to dream, to discover. They wanted me to have things that they didn't have, to know things they didn't know. But whether they knew it or not, they WERE the wisest people I have ever known. I learned so much from them about nature, about art, about life."

One of the first generations of her family to attend college, Crystal graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a B.A. in journalism and an MFA from Spalding University.

Crystal is the 2002 recipient of the Chaffin Award for Appalachian Literature and is a member of a Lexington-based writing collective, The Affrilachian Poets. Crystal's latest work,Water Street was recently a long-list finalist for the prestigious Orange Prize and short-listed for a Zora Neal Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation Legacy Award in fiction. She has presented workshops and readings throughout the country including the Sixth International Conference on the Short Story in English at the University of Iowa and the African American Women Writers Conference at the University of the District of Columbia.

She is the author of two books, Blackberries, Blackberries (July 2000), and Water Street (September 2002), both published by Toby Press. The paperback version of Water Street is scheduled for release in February 2005. In 2001 Blackberries, Blackberries was named Best Debut Fiction by Today's Librarian Magazine. She has been published in the anthologies Confronting Appalachian Stereotypes: Back Talk from an American Region (University of Kentucky Press 1999); GiftsFrom Our Grandmothers (Crown Publishers, a Division of Random House, May 2000); Eclipsing A Nappy New Millennium (Purdue University, 1998); Home and Beyond: A Half-Century of Short Stories by Kentucky Writers (University Press of Kentucky 2001);A Kentucky Christmas (University Press of Kentucky 2003) and Gumbo: Stories by Black Writers (Doubleday, Harlem Moon Press Fall 2002). Her work has also appeared in various literary journals including: Obsidian II: Black Literature in Review, Southern Exposure, The Briar Cliff Review, LIT, Calyx, African Voices, and the Indiana Review.

She is currently working on two first novels. She lives in Bloomington, Indiana. ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Crystal Wilkinson questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Crystal Wilkinson’s books

Average rating: 4.06 · 720 ratings · 123 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	Blackberries, Blackberries 4.04 avg rating — 257 ratings — published 2000 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Birds of Opulence 4.13 avg rating — 179 ratings — published 2016 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Water Street 3.94 avg rating — 178 ratings — published 2002 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Holler 4.18 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Degrees of Elevation: Short Stories of Contemporary Appalachia by Charles Dodd White (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Ron Rash, John McManus 4.24 avg rating — 50 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Walk Till the Dogs Get Mean: Meditations on the Forbidden from Contemporary Appalachia by Adrian Blevins (editor), Karen Salyer McElmurray (editor), Dorothy Allison (contributor) 4.38 avg rating — 34 ratings — published 2015 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Degrees of Elevation: Short Stories of Contemporary Appalachia (Appalachian Writing Series) by Chris Offutt (Goodreads Author), Valerie Nieman (Goodreads Author), Chris Holbrook liked it 3.00 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mythium: A Journal Of Contemporary Literature, Volume 1 Number 1 by Ronald Davis (Editor), Crystal Wilkinson (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2009	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mythium 1.2, 2010 by Ronald Davis (Editor), Crystal Wilkinson (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mythium: A Journal of Contemporary Literature, No.3, 2011 by Ronald Davis (Editor), Crystal Wilkinson (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Crystal Wilkinson…

24 posts
Crystal Wilkinson's Blog

Makes Bustle List of 12 Women of Color Authors You Need to Know This Year

So happy to join such a cache of writers on this Bustle list. And of course any opportunity to use this #blackgirlmagic gif is a win!

http://www.bustle.com/articles/144471...

View more on Crystal Wilkinson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 13, 2016 09:08 • 27 views

View all 24 posts »

Upcoming Events

No scheduled events. Add an event.

Crystal is Currently Reading

Crystal Wilkinson rated a book it was amazing

This Is How You Lose Her

by Junot Díaz

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Nov 10, 2015 08:29AM

rss
Crystal’s Recent Updates

Crystal Wilkinson is now friends with Tonya Wiley
17 hours, 16 min ago · like
Crystal Wilkinson voted for What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours as Best Fiction in the Semifinal Round of the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 12, 2016 02:21PM · 1 like · like
Crystal Wilkinson liked Krissa's review of The Birds of Opulence: "Really loved this book! The language was so colorful and descriptive! Felt like I was right there with the Goodes in Opulence. I wish she went a little deeper into Yolanda's, Kee Kee's and Mona's adulthood though but I still think it's a great rea..."
Apr 15, 2016 08:37AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Crystal Wilkinson liked Nona's review of The Birds of Opulence: "A beautifully written story of families in Opulence, Kentucky. Author Crystal Wilkinson's words flow from the characters mouths, drawing you into their families secrets. Could not put it down and hope there is more to come in the future, from the..." Read more of this review »
Apr 15, 2016 08:37AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Crystal Wilkinson liked Shakira's review of The Birds of Opulence: "I picked up a copy of this book after it was listed as a recommended book by one of my favorite authors on her Facebook page. I was not disappointed. I felt as though I lived in Opulence and shared meals at the Goode family table. Wilkinson's char..." Read more of this review »
Apr 15, 2016 08:37AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Crystal Wilkinson rated a book it was amazing The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 26, 2016 06:09AM · 3 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Crystal Wilkinson is now following Cole Lavalais Author of Summer of the Cicadas
Mar 22, 2016 10:42AM · like
Crystal Wilkinson rated a book it was amazing Child of God by Lolita Files	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 23, 2016 04:38PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Child of God by Lolita Files. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Child of God by Lolita Files <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Crystal Wilkinson rated a book it was amazing My Soul to Keep (African Immortals, #1) by Tananarive Due (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 23, 2016 04:38PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Crystal's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Appalachian Leaves: Appalachian Writers Workshop	1	36	Jul 21, 2010 07:29PM
Around the World ...: Kentucky	7	149	Jun 20, 2013 04:55PM
The Reading For P...: Deb's Digs	44	59	Aug 29, 2017 03:40PM

More…