To request an in-person or virtual speaking engagement, please contact Authors Unbound or visit Rebecca’s Profile.
2026
November 14
Premiere, with Reena Esmail
Providence Singers
Providence, RI
2025
June 08 - July 18
Sewanee School of Letters
University of the South
Sewanee, TN
March 15
Reading with Ashley M. Jones
The Lexington Gathering
Singletary Center for the Arts
Lexington, KY
February 02
Reading with Claudia Prado
Word Up Community Bookstore
New York, NY
2024
May 17 - 19
Looking Glass Rock Writers Conference
Presenting with Pam Houston & Jason Mott
Brevard College
Brevard, NC
April 03 - 05
Beall Poetry Festival
Presenting with Major Jackson, Ruben Quesada,
Allison Benis White, & Tracy K. Smith
Baylor University
Waco, TX
2023
December 6 [Virtual]
Public conversation with Ashley M. Jones
Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights
Prince George's County, MD
November 3 - 4
Keynote Address
”CD Wright as Photographer”
CD Wright Women Writers Conference
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR
October 12 [Virtual]
Public conversation with Claudia Prado
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
2022
November 5 [sold out]
World Premiere
Say Your Name: A suffrage-rights cantata
A collaboration with Reena Esmail
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
November 1 - 5
Residency, with Reena Esmail
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
October 21 [Virtual}
Reading with Crystal Wilkinson
United States Artists
Chicago, IL
June 11 [Virtual]
Keynote.
“Roots Music: On Poetry, Pulse, and Place”
Mountain Heritage Literary Festival
Lincoln Memorial University.
Harrogate, TN.
March 24 at 6:30pm EST [Virtual]
Poetry Reading
Broadsided Press and the Fine Arts Work Center
AWP Conference (Offsite/Online)
Philadelphia, PA
Jan 25 at 6pm EST [Virtual]
Reading & public conversation
bell hooks Memorial
Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning
Lexington, KY
2021
Writer-in-Residence, [Virtual]
University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Knoxville, TN
July 17 at Noon EST. [Virtual]
Panelist.
“Of Family, History, and Appetites”
1455 Literary Arts SummerFest 2021.
Winchester, VA
May 2 at 7pm EST. [Virtual]
Poetry Reading.
Chiasmus Reading Series.
Knoxville, TN
2020
Writer-in-Residence, {Virtual]
University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Knoxville, TN
The COVID Garden: Storytelling for Food Growers. [Virtual]
A Workshop for the Appalshop
(funded by the National Endowment for the Arts).
Whitesburg, KY
Public Conversation with Ross Gay. [Virtual]
University of Kentucky.
Lexington, KY
Visit with Susquehanna University. [Virtual]
Selinsgrove, PA
Visit with Texas Tech University. [Virtual]
Lubbock, TX
Poetry Reading. [Virtual]
University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Knoxville, TN
Poetry Reading. [Virtual]
Galápagos International Poetry Festival.
Galápagos, Ecuador
Visit with Virginia Tech University. [Virtual]
Blacksburg, VA
Visit with Vermont College of Fine Arts. [Virtual]
Montpelier, VT
2019
Writer-in-Residence, [Virtual]
University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Knoxville, TN
Panelist.
“Sounding Poetry.”
American Literary Translators Association Conference.
Rochester, NY
Panelist.
”The Southern Gothic of Ralph Eugene Meatyard.”
University of Kentucky Art Museum.
Lexington, KY
Curator.
Poetry Dinner Series.
Holly Hill Inn.
Ouita Michel Family of Restaurants.
Midway, KY
Reading.
Auburn University.
Auburn, AL.
Reading.
Rural Child Hunger Summit.
No Child Hungry.
Louisville, KY
Reading.
Davis & Elkins College.
Elkins, WV
Workshop. [Virtual]
The Makery.
Hindman, KY.
Visit with Vermont College of Fine Arts. [Virtual]
Montpelier, VT.
Reading and Craft Lecture.
Eastern Kentucky University. M.F.A. Program.
Richmond, KY
Visit with Texas Tech University. [Virtual]
Lubbock, TX.
2018
Panelist.
“Appalachian Literature in the Global Context.”
Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Panelist.
“The Legacy of Carolyn Forché.”
American Writing Program Conference.
Tampa, FL
Panelist.
“Women Write the Future.”
American Writing Program Conference.
Tampa, FL
Poetry Reading.
The Berry Center.
New Castle, KY
Keynote.
“The Influence of Place.”
Southern Foodways Alliance.
Oxford, MS
Reading and Public Interview.
University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
Greensboro, NC
Public Conversation with Frederick Smock.
Kentucky Book Fair.
Frankfort, KY
Workshop. [Virtual]
The Makery.
Hindman, KY.
Reading and Craft Lecture.
West Virginia Wesleyan College. M.F.A. Program.
Buckhannon, WV
Reading.
Decatur Book Festival.
Decatur, GA
Reading.
Marshall University.
Huntington, WV
Reading.
Davis & Elkins College.
Elkins, WV
2017
Reading (Offsite).
Fierce Love: Field Office Poets.
American Writing Programs Conference.
Washington D.C.
Reading (Onsite).
American Writing Program Conference.
Washington D.C.
Reading.
Oxford American’s Kentucky Music Issue Release.
21C Museum.
Lexington, KY
Keynote.
“The Diversity of Appalachian Poetics.”
The Appalachian Symposium.
Berea College.
Berea, KY
Panelist.
“Listen to Your Gut.”
Zuckerman Museum of Art.
Atlanta, GA
Reading and Craft Lecture.
Spalding University M.F.A. Program.
Louisville, KY
Reading.
Oxford American’s release of American Purgatory.
North Little Rock, AR
2016
Keynote Poetry Reading.
Southern Foodways Alliance.
Oxford, MS
Reading and public conversation with Jaime Quatro.
Southern Literary Alliance.
Chattanooga, TN
Keynote.
Appalachian Food Summit.
Berea, KY
2015
Reading and public conversation with Ansel Elkins.
Southern Festival of the Book.
Nashville, TN
Reading and Workshop.
Martha’s Vineyard Creative Writing Institute.
Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Reading.
Fine Arts Work Center.
Provincetown, MA
Visit with Sarah Lawrence College.
New York, NY
Visit with Berea College.
Berea, KY
Reading.
Appalachian Writers Workshop.
Hindman, KY.
Reading.
Columbus State University.
Columbus, GA.