The Ohio County Public Library has launched its 2023 Wheeling Reads: One Book, One Community initiative and a season of programming and events based on author Jennifer Haigh’s novel, “Heat and Light.”
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Wheeling Reads, in partnership with the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia (WANA) and West Virginia Writers, Inc., with funding provided by the Wheeling Arts and Cultural Commission, encourages Ohio Valley residents to read Haigh’s book, which tells the story of a western Pennsylvania coal town that finds new life and hardship when a fracking company begins operations. Over the summer, the library will host events, lectures and discussions on issues surrounding the book, including climate change, environmental justice and hope for the future.
The season’s programming will culminate at the Wheeling Reads Festival on September 9, at which Haigh will be the guest speaker.
Sean Duffy, the Ohio County Public Library’s Programming Director and Local History Specialist, is excited to kick off a summer of events.
“Wheeling Reads is a great fit for a public library,” he said. “It encourages reading, discussion, and the free exchange of ideas, all of which are critical parts of our mission. It might also inspire action that benefits our community for years to come.”
Dr. Christina Fisanick, president of WANA, is leading the initiative with Duffy.
“Wheeling Reads is an excellent way to build community around a common read,” she said. “Given that books are now available through our library in multiple formats — paperback, e-book and audio — everyone can participate in this year’s read. The committee chose Jennifer Haigh’s ‘Heat and Light’ because it’s well written and engaging. In addition, the story lends itself to multiple conversations about energy, the environment and life in northern Appalachia.”
The Ohio County Public Library will have copies of “Heat and Light” available, and both the audiobook and the e-book will be available through Hoopla, a free digital library platform. Digital versions can all be checked out simultaneously.
Notable events include a summer writing and art contest to be judged by West Virginia poet laureate Marc Harshman and artist Logan Schmitt. Winners will be announced at the September 9 festival.
On Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m., local restaurant owner MT Welsch will host a read-in at Vagabond Kitchen. Welsch will be unveiling a special Heat and Light-inspired cocktail that will be available all summer until the Wheeling Reads Festival.
On Friday, September 8 at 7 p.m., Wheeling Reads will host a Literary Pub Crawl and a Hip Hop Poetry Slam at Towngate Theatre. Participants will visit local restaurants, including Later Alligator, Brew Keepers and The Market Vines. Storytellers Vince Marshall and Ron Scott, Jr. will feature stories about local authors Rebecca Harding Davis, James McHenry Jones, James Wright and Davis Grubb.
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A complete list of summer events is available on the Ohio County Public Library’s website and on the Wheeling Reads 2023 Facebook page (facebook.com/wheelingreads). Call the Library at 304-232-0244 or email lunchwithbooks@yahoo.com if you have additional questions.
JENNIFER HAIGH is the author of the short story collection “News from Heaven” and six best-selling and critically acclaimed novels, including the Wheeling Reads 2023 selection, “Heat and Light,” which was named a Best Book of 2016 by the New York Times, The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and NPR. Her books have won the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Massachusetts Book Award and the PEN New England Award in Fiction and have been translated widely. She lives in New England.
