Penn State Altoona professors’ book wins Writers Conference award

ALTOONA, Pa. - The Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia (WCoNA) has selected "A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia," edited by Penn State faculty members Todd Davis and Carolyn G. Mahan along with Noah Davis, as the 2026 WCoNA Book of the Year.

Todd Davis accepted the award at WCoNA's annual conference, held March 6-7 at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania.

The project grew out of collaborations between Davis, professor of English and environmental studies, and Mahan, professor of biology and environmental studies, focused on demonstrating how interdisciplinary perspectives broaden understanding of and relationship to the natural world.

"I see our book as a culmination and good representative of the work we do in the Environmental Studies program, emphasizing the natural history of the flora and fauna of our region and its celebration through art and literature," said Davis. "As a team effort, winning the book of the year from the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia is most gratifying."

"A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia" explores 70 species native to northern Appalachia through a distinctive combination of poetry, visual art, and natural history. The book brings together creative and scientific perspectives in a fresh approach to the field-guide genre, highlighting the richness of the region's biodiversity and deepening readers' appreciation for its landscapes and species.

"Like our Environmental Studies program, the book is interdisciplinary, combining the humanities and natural sciences to examine the special features of the Appalachian Mountains," said Mahan. "These mountains are ancient, resilient, and biodiverse and have served as important spaces for teaching, research, and inspiration."

Read an excerpt of "A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia" and an in-depth interview with Davis online.

WCoNA champions the voice of northern Appalachia, aiming to ensure its acknowledgment, appreciation and preservation. The organization is a catalyst for novels, poetry, essays, history, memoir, drama and other modes of literary writing that represent the region.