Writer’s Conference of Northern Appalachia President PJ Piccirillo (from left) stands next to Todd Davis, editor of “A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia,” and director of WCoNA book of the year Kimberly McElhatten. Courtesy photo

Three writers with ties to Blair County have their fingerprints on the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia’s book of the year.

Penn State Altoona English professor Todd F. Davis, along with son Noah Davis and Penn State University Park Biology and Environmental Studies professor Carolyn G. Mahan, edited the 2024 book “A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia,” published by the University of Georgia Press.

The companion novel to “A Literary Field Guide to Southern Appalachia” features more than 70 poets and 11 contributing artists.

Because the book is classified as a natural and literary anthology, it includes descriptions, notes on habitat, range and ecology, along with visual art and poetry, Todd Davis said.

And about 70 indigenous species are celebrated within the guide from states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

“Love and wonder for these ancient mountains and their ever-evolving residents flood the pages of this book, inviting the reader into a deeper way of knowing a place and the lives dependent on it,” he said.

Davis sees himself as a nature writer with a deep love for the region. Because a large portion of prose relies on the human condition, nature is often ignored, exploited and sent to its extinction.

“I thought a book like this might bring humans closer to the natural world, which in turn might lead to greater care for our bioregion and ecosystem, the natural world that sustains our very lives,” he said.

When he taught an environmental studies major senior seminar class at Penn State Altoona, he used “A Literary Field Guide to Southern Appalachia” as one of his textbooks. Mahan saw the copy on Davis’ desk.

Mahan said Davis used the Southern copy because there wasn’t a Northern edition out yet.

“I said, ‘well, can’t we write one,'” Mahan said.

“I knew with the help of my son Noah, an accomplished writer who works in conservation, that we would make a good team for this project,” Davis said.

Noah said creating the companion anthology completed the rest of the Appalachian chain, covering the differences in species and terrain between the southern and northern parts of the mountain range.

“The Northern Appalachia is so unique, it warrants its own book,” he said.

After the University of Georgia Press gave the writing trio a contract, Davis reached out to 70 poets with the task of writing an original poem about the species Davis and Mahan assigned for the anthology.

Meanwhile, Noah worked in a new medium, coordinating submissions and edits with 11 featured artists, which he said was fun and exciting to execute.

The project took two years to complete.

“What’s good was that my dad has an athletic background and regimen,” Noah said. “He did a great job of making sure we were hitting our deadlines.”

The Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia, which took place on March 6-7 at Saint Francis University, announced “A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia” as its book of the year, where Davis personally accepted the award.

Book of the Year director Kimberley McElhatten said the anthology highlights the need for ecological literacy.

“We hope it inspires greater love and appreciation for the plants, animals, insects and fungi that share our mountains,” she said.

Receiving this award was a surprise and an honor for Noah, who believes his anthology won a fitting award that uplifts writing about the region.

“Northern Appalachia is my homeland,” he said. “I wanted to elaborate on all the different qualities of the place, and to win this award is a real honor.”

Davis also feels rewarded for the work he and other artists contributed to the anthology.

“Often Appalachia is overlooked,” he said. “I hope this book helps to bring attention to our region as an important part of North America.”

Mahan said their work is to teach, research and write about this area, and this book reflects those goals.

“The book did not exist — so we made it,” she said.

The Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia is an annual conference that celebrates and preserves regional voices through novels, poetry, essays, histories, memoirs, dramas and other creative writing expressions. The conference brings together writers and interested individuals to honor works and enhance their own craft.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.