A Space Apart

This 1979 edition by Charles Scribner's Sons, inscribed by the author in 1981 with the personal message "To Alice, a practitioner of the arts whom I respect and enjoy so very much," represents the debut novel of one of Appalachia's most important contemporary voices. When Willis's first novel, which tells the story of a troubled preacher's family in West Virginia, first came out in 1979, it was declared a cause for celebration by the Los Angeles Times. The Times compared Willis to Anne Tyler, noting that "She has written with depth and honesty about a life style available to many of us only through books."

Born and raised in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Willis is a proud member of the Appalachian Renaissance with deep roots in West Virginia and the far western mountain counties of Virginia. A Space Apart draws directly from her intimate knowledge of Appalachian life and culture, exploring the complex dynamics of a preacher's family in West Virginia with the authenticity that comes from lived experience. The novel established Willis as a significant voice in regional American literature, capable of transforming specific Appalachian experiences into universal human drama.

Willis's subsequent works have consistently explored West Virginia themes and characters, establishing her as a key figure in contemporary Appalachian literature. Her fiction addresses the challenges facing mountain communities while avoiding both romanticism and condescension, presenting complex characters navigating the tensions between tradition and change.

This inscribed first novel represents not only a significant collectible but also the foundation of an important literary career dedicated to giving voice to Appalachian experiences. Willis's personal inscription transforms the book into an intimate artifact of literary friendship while the novel itself stands as testament to her ability to create meaningful art from regional material. The work launched a distinguished career that would include novels, short story collections like "In the Mountains of America," and influential non-fiction about the craft of writing, establishing Willis as both a significant Appalachian voice and an important contributor to American literary culture.