Denise Giardina is a novelist from Charleston, West Virginia. She is considered one of the most talented Appalachian novelists, with six critically acclaimed novels, several of which received awards and high recognition. In addition to being an acclaimed novelist, Denise is also a retired university professor, a playwright, an ordained Episcopal deacon, a community activist, an actress, and a former candidate for governor of West Virginia.
In this conversation, we talk about her novels, about her challenges and successes as an author, and about her time in community theater. We also discuss the unfortunate stereotyping of Appalachian culture and community and how it is so often negatively conveyed in popular culture.
