I really love the way Amanda Held Opelt writes and thinks, so it was a joy to talk about what’s lighting her up these days, most specifically the idea of provisions. Amanda has steeped herself in what that word means, both in terms of the food of her region of Appalachia AND what it means to have bodies that depend on the provision of food. Please raise your hand if you’ve ever had a complicated relationship with food. Okay, now keep your hand up if you are wondering how to pronounce Appalachia. You’re in the right place. Amanda is our girl for this work. 

Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and life in Southern Appalachia. Amanda studied Liberal Arts at Bryan College and is pursuing a Masters in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University. She spent nearly 15 years in the non-profit sector, and has written for Christianity Today, Plough, and 100 Days in Appalachia. A proud resident of Boone, North Carolina, Amanda enjoys life in the mountains with her husband and two young daughters.