Charleston, W. Va. – The West Virginia Library Commission and the West Virginia Center for the Book have announced the One Book One West Virginia selection for 2021.  Each year, one book by an Appalachian author is selected for this prestigious honor, and this year’s honoree is Patron Saint of Ugly by Marie Manilla.   

Patron Saint of Ugly follows Garnet Ferrari as she tries to prove to the hordes of pilgrims visiting her home for cures and the Vatican that she is not Saint Garnet.  

One Book One West Virginia is West Virginia’s most important statewide book discussion group. It allows readers across the state to read the same book and take part in detailed group conversations about its unfolding storyline.  This literary project helps support the Appalachian Heritage Writer-In-Residence Project developed by Shepherd University.  West Virginia readers are urged to join book discussion groups and attend related events, such as meeting the author, character portrayals, movies, and workshops. 

Digital copies of Patron Saint are available to all West Virginians from July 11 through September 11, 2021. To access a copy, please go to https://wvlcguides.org/wvcb/wvonebook. A library card is not needed to access the work.  Readers may contact their local library or connect with others through the West Virginia Center for the Book Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WVCenterfortheBook). For more information on Marie Manilla and the One Book One West Virginia program, visit the website (https://wvlcguides.org/wvcb).

West Virginians share a proud literary history. The One Book One West Virginia project aims to share a story that promotes our rich Appalachian heritage.

The Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence Project is made possible with financial support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, in partnership with the Shepherd University Foundation, the West Virginia Center for the Book, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the Shepherdstown Public Library, the Scarborough Society, the West Virginia Division of Arts, Culture and History, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The West Virginia Library Commission sponsors the WV Center for the Book and urges state residents to explore, discover, and create in West Virginia libraries. To learn more about the WVLC, please visit www.librarycommission.wv.gov or call us at 304-558-2041.