Crystal Wilkinson is an accredited author who has spent a few weeks at several colleges as a result of a grant from the Appalachian College Association.

Author in-residence Crystal Wilkinson

In addition to Berea College, Wilkinson visited Cumberland College and Lindsey Wilson College to conducted workshops and work on creative writing for three weeks with students at each school. "These workshops were meant to create a community of writers at different colleges and not place the focus only on me and my writings,” said Wilkinson.

A reception was held for Wilkinson on May 1 in the Oak Room at Boone Tavern. Students from all three colleges gathered to share the pieces they worked on with Wilkinson during her workshops. Students commented that the atmosphere created by Wilkinson allowed them to get positive feedback and inspired them to write. Wilkinson also invited the writers to keep in touch and even offered to critique their work.

Wilkinson is the author of two books, “Blackberries, Blackberries” published in July 2000, and “Water Street” published in September 2002. Wilkinson has recently accepted a position at the University Indiana at Bloomington in the creative writing department.