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Book Launch with Denali Nalamalapu

Denali Nalamalapu’s Holler is a debut graphic memoir—and living history of climate justice—based on the stories of six frontline resisters to the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Appalachia, offering a portrait of the diverse people and places of Appalachia, and the creation of a hopeful movement. Holler shares the stories of six ordinary people who became resistors of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a project that spans approximately 300 miles from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia—a teacher, a single mother, a nurse, an organizer, a photographer, and a seed keeper.

Climate activist, scientist, and writer Bill McKibben says: "Holler is a truly beautiful account of the beautiful people who have waged a beautiful fight for a beautiful piece of a beautiful planet. Read it and learn how to fight!"

Blacksburg Books will host the launch of Holler in which Denali will speak about the process of writing the book and how the book relates to the growing movement to stop fossil fuels and build a livable future.

Denali will be joined by one of the activists featured in the book, Desiree Flores Shelley. Shelley is a transdisciplinary researcher, ecologist, environmental and conservation educator and community organizer. Currently, she serves as a Indigenous Knowledge and Data Specialist for the Indigenous Conservation Council for the Chesapeake Bay and is pursuing a PhD in Plant and Environmental Science at Virginia Tech. Her academic research has centered on the nexus between Indigenous language revitalization and traditional foodways, as well as historical Indigenous land use and food forests practices in Appalachia and the applications of Indigenous knowledge in modern agroecology conservation and restoration efforts.

Desiree also dedicates her time to language revitalization efforts and land protection and conservation in her community through her work with the Yesa:sahį Language Project and the Southwest Virginia Agrarian Commons. She has a passion for seedkeeping and native plants. Most importantly, Desiree is a mom of three kids. She lives in the Roanoke area with her husband, family and lots of animal relatives on a small farm where she seedkeeps Indigenous heirlooms and implements regenerative Indigenous land use practices.

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May 24

Summer Reading Book Fair for Kids!