Appalachian Homilies is a collection of short essays which addresses a variety of topics, such as institutions, foodways, music, urbanity, industry, justice, and cultural fabric. These pithy writings are suitable for brief sittings, each one inspiring the reader to think deeply and creatively about Appalachia—to think beyond the usual regional cliches. Their brevity makes them ideal for stimulating discussion in any setting, from book clubs to Sunday schools, and they make superb writing prompts for classrooms above grade seven. The essays originally appeared in Now & Then magazine, a publication of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University.