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Kathleen Wilson's Debut Novel

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:27:02 GMT

From Fact to Fiction: Unraveling Kathleen Wilson's Debut Novel, The Fabric of Wishful Thinking

For years, Kathleen Wilson has been our trusted guide through the intricate world of Appalachian history and traditional crafts. As a celebrated non-fiction author, her deep-seated expertise in fabrics and weaving has illuminated the rich cultural tapestry of the region. Now, Wilson is trading the loom for literature with her highly anticipated debut fiction novel, The Fabric of Wishful Thinking. By channeling her vast historical knowledge into a narrative format, she delivers a richly researched and breathtaking portrait of 1910 rural Appalachia.

At the heart of this gripping novel is a rare, authentic look inside early Southern textile mill culture. Because Wilson understands the warp and weft of Appalachian textiles better than anyone, the world she builds feels deeply tangible and immersive. It isn't just a historical backdrop; it is a vital thread in a compelling story about families and the profound fractures that result from divided loyalties.

The Fabric of Wishful Thinking also stands as a powerful testament to female resilience. Through the compelling story of her protagonist, Ella Hutchinson, Wilson paints a harrowing yet inspiring portrait of navigating womanhood during a time completely devoid of legal protections for mothers and wives. Ella’s journey explores the raw, unfiltered realities of an era that demanded unimaginable strength, courage, and perseverance from its women.

Ultimately, Wilson has crafted a deeply human story that transcends its historical setting. It is a gripping exploration of enduring friendship, the complexities of motherhood, the breathless hope of first love, and the heavy ache of irrevocable loss. Whether you are a longtime fan of Wilson's non-fiction works or a lover of masterful historical fiction, this masterful debut is guaranteed to capture your heart and keep you turning the pages.

"What a dramatic, tragic, heart-rending ending. It was beautiful and poignantly haunting. This book seems like it aches for a sequel!

The Fabric of Wishful Thinking signals a slight, teasing preoccupation with how moral imagination works inside a period’s constraints--like what an 1910s woman could plausibly think, feel, risk, and articulate without retrofitting late 20th or 21st century assumptions."

-Richard K. Perkins, The Tide Waits for No Woman

"Kathleen Wilson uses her extensive knowledge of textile production in Appalachia and her love for the Blue Ridge Mountains as backdrop for weaving a tale that shows how many ways love can hurt and can heal. And how many sacrifices love can demand."

- Jean Haskell, Ph.D.

Professor, Appalachian Studies

Textile Treasures from Appalachia

Fri, 01 May 2026 03:15:58 GMT

Lecture by Kathleen Curtis Wilson given at The BEAR in Hot Springs, Virginia

In beautiful downtown Hat Springs, a group of local and regional lovers of art, 19th century woven covelets, and locally made quilts gathered at the BEAR, art gallery, to hear Kathleen Curtis Wilson give a presentation about a variety of textiles she has uncovered during her many years of research.

With lots of questions, Kathleen helped the audience understand the historical importance of her research.

May 26 was a beautiful warm day in the mountains. Locally made quilts sparkled on the gallery walls. Friends and neighbors enjoyed refreshments after the presentation and lingered to hear more about Kathleen’s new novel, The Fabric of Wishful Thinking , available June 9.

Book Reading and Signing in Warm Springs, Virginia

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 22:28:01 GMT

Book reading and signing

June 17th from 2 PM to 4PM

Come to The Inn at Warm Springs to meet our Guest Speaker, author of Dancing at the Warm Springs Hotel.

Kathleen Curtis Wilson is an author, speaker, and international exhibition curator. For the past 40 years, she traveled in Southern Appalachia to write about people and places often overlooked, raising public awareness of diverse social, cultural, and economic issues in the region.

A Virginia Humanities Fellow, this is Wilson's 5th book.

Join us at:

12968 Sam Snead Hwy
Warm Springs, VA 24484
1-540-839-5351

theinnatwarmsprings.com

Book Signing in Warm Springs, Virginia

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:17:20 GMT

2023 Events start with a book signing event.

May 6th, 2023 - Book signing event at The Inn at Warm Springs, Warm Springs, Virginia .

More Information to follow, so please check back

Convergence 2022 - Keynote Speaker

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 16:49:09 GMT

Keynote Presentation: Kathleen Curtis Wilson

Monday July 18th 2022 - 7 PM to 9 PM

Tickets: $73 or Free with CVP, includes dinner, cash bar available

After 25 years documenting the hand woven textiles in Southern Appalachia, Kathleen Curtis Wilson has a treasure trove of photographs and stories to share, including photographs of a rare bed rug, a woven quilt made by two enslaved women in Tennessee, and a suit of clothing made of fabric woven c. 1820 in North Carolina.

She will share the fascinating story of two Appalachian women who wove the furnishings for the Lincoln bedroom in the Woodrow Wilson White House and show a few images of the crafts made during the earliest years of the settlement school movement.

With every piece of cloth, the history of the region is revealed. Kathleen will present a visual tour of the talent and diversity of the strong, resilient men and women who settled in Southern Appalachia.

Virginia Magazine of History & Biography Vol 129 No. 2

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 16:49:09 GMT

From Enslavement to Entrepreneurship in Appalachian Virginia

Beautiful and sassy, Alice Bolden was used to getting her own way. One hot summer day in 1932, she sashayed out of her family’s home in the black community of West Warm Springs, Virginia, wearing shorts. Her mother, Elizabeth Morris Bolden, looked up from her gardening. Mother and daughter locked eyes.

As the personal maid of a wealthy white woman, Alice spent summers at her employer’s mountain farm in Appalachian, Virginia, where her own family had deep roots. But Alice wintered with her employer in Montclair, New Jersey, and there, the willful young divorcée had learned new ways. She dyed her hair red, smoked unfiltered Camels, and spent her free time at Harlem jazz clubs, listening to Cab Callaway and Duke Ellington and sipping Four Roses whiskey. Alice had inherited a passion for nightlife and fashionable clothing. In the Northeast that year, two-piece sportswear outfits were all the rage. The more daring styles, designed for sporting activities like tennis and golf, exposed shoulders and bared legs. Alice liked the look, hence the shorts.

In Appalachia, however, economically and culturally light years removed from the cosmopolitan Northeast—this was inappropriate attire. And no one knew that better than Alice’s mother, an accomplished and successful dressmaker with a straight-laced sense of decorum and a proud sense of place. Elizabeth Bolden would brook no arguments. She threatened to switch her thirty-two-year-old daughter if she did not change clothes, and she meant it. Alice took off the shorts.

Kathleen Curtis Wilson, an authority on Appalachian crafts, is the author of several books, including Textile Art from Southern Appalachia: The Quiet Work of Women.

Coverlet Chat with Kathleen Curtis Wilson

Thu, 27 May 2021 16:49:09 GMT

On May 27, 2021, from 1:00 - 3:00pm

4 W. Main St. (2nd floor, enter under yellow awning)

For the past 35 years, Kathleen Curtis Wilson has documented, written, studied, and lectured on textile traditions in southern Appalachia.

Particularly, Wilson has revived the narrative regarding coverlets, the beautifully intricate fiber works, and the women who wove them.

Join us to explore these common, yet mysterious pieces that abound with heart.

For more information and to make reservations call (540)382-5644

or email: collections@montgomerymuseum.org

Attendance to the event is free.

Have your own family coverlets reviewed by Ms. Wilson for $20. Reservation Required for personal review.