West Virginia University Press has published The Rope Swing, a collection of short stories by Jonathan Corcoran in his debut book that focuses on LGBTQ people in Appalachia.

Jayne Anne Phillips, author of “Quiet Dell,” “Lark and Termite,” and “Black Tickets” declares, ”’The Rope Swing’ takes us inside quiet revolutions of the soul in mountain towns far from Stonewall and establishes a new American writer whose unerring instincts are cause for celebration.”

Kirkus Reviews calls Corcoran, “A remarkably empathetic writer whose subtle portraits capture undeniably tender moments in the lives of his characters. These stories are particularly poignant for anyone who grew up gay in America’s desolate places, but Corcoran speaks eloquently to all facets of the human condition.”

In “The Rope Swing,” a once-booming West Virginia rail town no longer has a working train. The residents left behind in this tiny hamlet look to the mountains that surround them on all sides: The outside world encroaches, and the buildings of the gilded past seem to crumble more every day.�

These are the stories of outsiders — the down and out. What happens to the young boy whose burgeoning sexuality pushes him to the edge of the forest to explore what might be love with another boy? What happens when one lost soul finally makes it to New York City, yet the reminders of his past life are omnipresent? What happens when an old woman struggles to find a purpose and reinvent herself after decades of living in the shadow of her platonic life partner? What happens to those who dare to live their lives outside of the strict confines of the town’s traditional and regimented ways?�

The characters in�”The Rope Swing” — gay and straight alike — yearn for that which seems so close but impossibly far, the world over the jagged peaks of the mountains.�

More praise for “The Rope Swing:”

“A powerful, moving, and beautifully-written�book. He is an observant writer who understands people’s pain, regrets, heartache, and hope.”
Carter�Sickels, author of�”The Evening Hour”

”’The Rope Swing’�is an astute, stereotype-busting triumph that shines a light on gay Appalachia. Corcoran unflinchingly exposes hard�truths about a complicated region and its people who grapple with identity in more ways than one.”
Marie Manilla, author of�”Still Life with Plums”�and�”The Patron Saint of Ugly”

“Aching and honest narratives of what it means to be both tied to a geography and excluded from it.”
Megan Kruse, author of�”Call Me Home”

Regional events:

Reedsville, W.Va.: Sunday, April 17, 12 p.m.-3 p.m.
Modern Homestead presents a reading a discussion by Jonathan Corcoran
41 S Robert Stone Way, Reedsville, WV 26547

Morgantown, W.Va.: Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m.
MWG and WVU Press present Jonathan Corcoran and Jessie van Eerden
Monongalia Arts Center: 107 High St, Morgantown, WV 26505
Refreshments at 6:30 p.m. Readings starts at 6:45 p.m.

Buckhannon, W.Va.: Thursday, April 21, 7 p.m.
Lascaux Micro-Theater presents Jonathan Corcoran and Jessie van Eerden
33 E Main St, Buckhannon, WV 26201

Elkins, W.Va.: Friday, April 22, 7 p.m.
Old Brick Playhouse presents Jonathan Corcoran and Jessie van Eerden
329 Davis Ave # 4, Elkins, WV 26241

Huntington, W.Va.: Tuesday, April 26, 6 p.m.
Empire Books and News presents Jonathan Corcoran, Marie Manilla, and Art Stringer
30 Pullman Square, Huntington, WV 25701

Lexington, Ky.: Tuesday, April 27, 6 p.m.
The Morris Book Shop presents Jonathan Corcoran and Carter Sickels
882 E High St, Lexington, KY 40502

Washington, D.C.: Tuesday, May 3, 7 p.m.
The Potter’s House presents Jonathan Corcoran
1658 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009

The Rope Swing by Jonathan Corcoran
Publication date: April 2016
April 2016/144pp/PB�978-1-943665-11-2: $16.99/eBook epub�978-1-943665-12-9: $16.99

-WVU-

af/4/8/16

CONTACT: Abby Freeland, sales and marketing director, WVU Press
304 293-6188, abby.freeland@mail.wvu.edu

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