Black Bear Creek

Overview

The fictional town of Black Bear Creek lies tucked in a remote hollow of the Coal River Valley in West Virginia, a region reliant on and devastated by the mining industry. The people in these stories struggle to survive against rampant poverty while their drinking water is poisoned and the mountains around them are stripped away. But amongst this bleak backdrop, they find ways to love and hope and fight. Cross's raw, spare prose reflects the barren landscape his characters inhabit as they put their bodies and lives at risk just to feed their families.

Author Biography

Joshua Cross grew up in Beckley, West Virginia, but now lives in Conway, South Carolina, where he teaches at Coastal Carolina University. His stories have appeared in Fail Better, Beloit Fiction Journal, and Evening Street Review.