Being Relatable By Getting Personal: University of Lynchburg's Thornton Reading

University of Lynchburg, March 16th, 2026

By Lorraine Upton  

Wilkinson talking to the audience about her childhood. Photo by Lorraine Upton. 

Lynchburg, VA - Crystal Wilkinson, a former Kentucky Poet Laureate and award-winning writer, spoke at the University of Lynchburg’s Thornton Reading event held open to all students, faculty, and the public Wednesday night. 

A group from the Summit listening to Wilkinson’s talk. Photo by Lorraine Upton.

The Thornton Reading, created in honor of Dr. John Turner, a former English professor, is an event of bringing notable authors to the University’s campus. 

University of Lynchburg students taking notes during the talk. Photo by Lorraine Upton. 

“The purpose is to give our students, faculty, staff, and local Lynchburg community the opportunity to either be introduced to authors they may not know or to hear from authors whose work they have already read,” shares Dr. Cheryl Coleman, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Wilkinson during her talk discussed her writing process along with the connection she has to her works. 

“One’s generations’ struggle food is another generations’comfort food,” - Crystal Wilkinson at the Thornton Reading. Photo by Lorraine Upton.

Dr. Kelly Jacobson, the coordinator for the event and University of Lynchburg professor, shared, “a student came up to meet after the reading and said, ‘I see a lot of myself in [Crystal].’ The most meaningful part of this event for students is for the idea of an “author” to become a person they can not just listen to, but see as a real, accessible person with a writing process and the same struggles with writing.” 

Viewing of Wilkinson’s most recent book “Praisesong For The Kitchen Ghosts”. Photo by Lorraine Upton.

After the talk, the audience participated in a Q&A session as well as a book signing opportunity. Wilkinson also visited Dr. Jacobson’s Advanced Creative Writing class to have deeper conversations with students.

Wilkinson signing her books for participants at the event. Wilkinson conversing with the participants of the Photo by Lorraine Upton. event during the book signing opportunity. Photo by Lorraine Upton. 

Dr. Jacobson shared her experience of having Wilkinson join the classroom, “she spent the entire fifty minutes doing Q&A centered around her writing process…even I took notes as she spoke!” 

Wilkinson giving a University of Lynchburg student a hug Wilkinson talking to a University of Lynchburg student

after the talk. Photo by Lorraine Upton. during the book signing opportunity. Photo by Lorraine Upton.

When asked how she had enjoyed her visit to campus, Wilkinson shared that “I was not kidding when I said I felt like I didn’t know anybody but at the same time felt like I knew them all. I think that speaks volumes for the University that people are so personable, kind, and smart.” 

Wilkinson answering a question that was asked from the audience during the event. Photo by Lorraine Upton.

For more information about the University of Lynchburg and the English Department click here! 

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