Toby Press - Publisher

Feature Articles on Crystal and Reviews of Blackberries, Blackberries and Water Street

Part of KET’s Book club features a video interview
Ace Weekly Model Citizen Story
Ace Weekly Blackberries Story
Interview with Joyce Dixon of Southern Scribe
She had a dream—Herald-Leader columnist Merlene Davis
Washington Post Review of Water Street by Jabari Asim
International Herald Tribune in France picked up Washington Post Review
A New Kentucky Voice: Courier Journal Article
Toby Press Publisher of Blackberries, Blackberries and Water Street

The Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation was established in September 1990 by novelist Marita Golden. Their mission is to develop, nurture and sustain the world community of writers of African descent. Crystal credits this organization as the giving her the confidence to start her writing career. She was a part of the first Writer’s Week workshop in 1996. Buy Gumbo: Stories by Black Writers, an anthology co-edited by Marita Golden and E. Lynn Harris, published in the fall of 2002 to help support this foundation.

Coal Black Voices Film Documentary: an intimate mosaic of images, poetry, and storytelling by the Affrilachian Poets. We challenge simple notions of an all white Appalachian region and culture while drawing on traditions such as the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, and experiences of the African Diaspora. Our poetry celebrates African heritage and rural roots. In this documentary we give voice to the pleasures of family, land, good food, community, music and transformation. Website shows texts of poems by the poets, photos, film clips, how to order the film, etc.

ChickenBones: A Journal –Provides a space for writers, poets, artists, and others on any theme that may be relevant to the life, history, and culture of African-Americans and others. They invite topics on economics, politics, and religion as well. And Rudy is nice too!!! You will find a REAL person at the helm of this journal.

Articles on the Affrilachian Poets—To book the Affrilachian Poets for a performance contact Frank X Walker

Article by Charlie Brown on Affrilachian Poets
Sojourner Magazine Article
Crystal and Frank X Walker Speak to Teachers in Huntington, WV

For Writer’s and Readers

Southern Scribe—Features Southern Culture and Storytelling. Writers tips, book reviews, resources, etc.
Mosaic Books—Books, reviews, author highlights. Find out where African-American bookstores, book clubs, etc. are in the country. Ron has done a terrific job!!!!!
Poets and Writers Magazine
Raw Sistaz Online Book Club

Websites of some of the authors Crystal knows (or has met) and loves and a few words she had to say about each of them
Nikky Finney A wonderful website featuring the life and works of friend and fellow Affrilachian Poet and author of Rice and The World Is Round.
Lynn Pruett Lynn’s debut novel Ruby River has received acclaim all over the country. We are both members of KABOOM! writing group!
Silas House Check out my friend Silas House’s books—Clay’s Quilt and A Parchment of Leaves. He’s one of country’s finest contemporary Appalachian Writers and a sweet, sweet man.
Tayari Jones The LitDiva!! Her book Leaving Atlanta was one of the biggest hits of the 2002!! And Look for The Untelling in April 2005.
Julianna Baggott Girl Talk, Miss America Family, This Country of Mothers. Met her in Lexington twice.Very real, very nice.
Lisa Teasley Glow In the Dark, a collection of short stories, that are a must have. Met her in Tennessee.
Gayl Jones NEVER MET HER BUT SHE IS STILL MY FAVORITE WRITER!
Frank X Walker His books of poetry include Affrilachia and Buffalo Dance. Frank is the founder of the Affrilachian Poets and a dear friend.
Gwynn Rubio Her book Icy Sparks was chosen as an Oprah selection. We share a quiet spirit.


Sena Jeter Naslund director of the program and a wonderful writer and person…her book, Ahab’s Wife, rocked the canon!! Also read her latest book Four Spirits! And check out Amazon or your local independent bookstore for a listing of all her fabulous books! Thanks for everything Sena!

Melissa Pritchard my dear friend and author of Disappearing Ingenue and Late Bloomer. Her spirit soars!

Robin Lippincott Author of Our Arcadia. Robin and I were both selected for the UTNE Reader’s new book club. We were soul mates in some life or another I’m sure!!


Neela Vaswani Author of Where the Long Grass Bends. Neela is absolutely the most genuine person I know. Hands down! Sounds simple but in this day and time this kind of person is a rarity!

Connie May Fowler Oprah loved her and so do I! Author of When Katie Wakes and Before Women Had Wings

FOR WRITER'S CONSIDERING AN MFA PROGRAM


Choosing the right writing program is a life-changing experience. There are in general two routes to take. If your lifestyle doesn't allow a full-time commitment then a low-residency program may be the way to go. If you are interested in a full-time comitment then a traditional program may serve your needs better. There are lots of MFA programs out there to choose from so make sure you look at them all carefully.


Spalding University's Brief Residency Program

It is a wonderful low residency program and happens to be the one I graduated from..