Ep. 59 | Conversations: Joe Bond and Mandi Fugate Sheffel

Ep. 59 | Conversations: Joe Bond & Mandi Fugate Sheffel

Read Appalachia

In this episode of Read Appalachia’s conversations series, Joe Bond and Mandi Fugate Sheffel discuss everything from writing inspired by their lived experiences to future of Kentucky during the ongoing opioid crisis.

Things Mentioned

• Appalachian Literary Arts Festival

Books Mentioned

• Hope House by Joe Bond

• The Nature of Pain by Mandi Fugate Sheffel

• Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker

• Water. Witness. Word.by Marianne Worthington

• A Middle-Aged Woman Rages by Melissa Jørgenrud Helton

• Dirt Pusher by Daisy Cashin
  

Guest Info

© Joe Bond

Hope House is Joe Bond’s first novel. He began working on it after his story “Damico” won The Masters Review Short Story Award. His writing has been published by The Paris Review, People, New South, The New Ohio Review and ESPN. He grew up around group homes in eastern Kentucky and lives now in New Orleans.

Website | Instagram

© Tyler Barrett

Mandi Fugate Sheffel was born and raised in Redfox, Kentucky. She is the owner of the Read Spotted Newt, an independent bookstore in Hazard, Kentucky, and has been involved with the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky and the Appalachian Arts Alliance, among other organizations. Her personal essays and opinion pieces can be found in Still: The Journal, Appalachian Journal, The Lexington Herald-Leader, and The Courier Journal.

Website | Instagram | Read Spotted Newt | Read Spotted Newt Instagram

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Theme Music: “Quincy Dillon’s High ‘D’ Tune,” trad. Performed by Doug Van Gundy. 2026”