If you’re out-and-about West Virginia bookstores or gift shops this Christmas, you may come across a coffee-table book set titled, Panhandle Portraits: a Glimpse at the Diverse Residents of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
The two-volume set features 77 portraits of people and groups in the 8 Eastern Panhandle counties – Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, and Pendleton.
Author & Photographer Katherine Cobb is originally from California, but 25 years ago, she followed a friend out to West Virginia and never left.
Cobb lives in Jefferson County and works as a columnist for the Martinsburg Journal. Two years ago, she published her first novel, and now Panhandle Portraits.
Statement from Katherine Cobb:
“I wanted to show the breadth and depth of West Virginians. We have such an interesting population, both people who have lived here for several generations and others who arrived at various junctures but who have made a significant contribution in some way,” said Cobb. “It’s also no secret West Virginians are often negatively stereotyped, and I find that frustrating. The people here are like anyone in any other state. I enjoyed putting something positive about our citizens into print, and putting something positive into the world, period. There’s so much negativity and tension this past year — this is something that will make people feel good when they open it up.”
Panhandle Portraits is available for purchase at select bookstores and gifts shops across the state. It is also available on Amazon.