Amanda Held Opelt
Amanda Held Opelt
author | speaker | songwriter

New book! Coming November 2026!

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New book! Coming November 2026! ~

COMING NOVEMBER 2026!

Provisions: Finding Home Through the Food Folklore of the Appalachian Table

A sensory celebration of Appalachian culinary traditions, and a call to reclaim the lost rituals and recipes of the places you call home.

Pre-order now

For licensing, booking, and speaking inquiries, email contact@amandaheldopelt.com

Order A Hole in the world
Order Holy Unhappiness
 
 

A Hole in the World music album is now available, featuring six original songs by Amanda Held Opelt and other NC musicians

Listen on spotify
“Blending history with memoir...Opelt examines death rituals and reflects on her season of grief in this devastating debut…Poignant and erudite, this is not to be missed.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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View fullsize New post today! (Featuring Liz Vice, Malcolm Guite, @ianharber and dried oranges 😊🍊) Link in profile & stories. “I came back to Christianity not simply because the alternatives seemed wanting. I came back because there are some key featu
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View fullsize It’s time!!! I usually wait to release my Christmas playlist until after Thanksgiving, but this year all bets are off! If you know me, you know that my Christmas playlist is one of my proudest accomplishments every year. I pride myself on met
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View fullsize “Once I was a traveler When I knew no better But this mountain always sent the sweetest love letters From this little old town where the Christmas trees grow Where if trouble comes calling so does someone you know.” -John Lucas These
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View fullsize 🎁Southern Appalachia Gift Guide! Support businesses impacted by Helene!! I want to thank all of you once again for the many ways you have supported Southern Appalachia as we recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. As we shift from
View fullsize In the last week, I’ve been meditating a bit on patriotism…on love of home and love of country. Political shifts can sometimes makes you feel like the landscape of a place as been altered, like the social terrain is unrecognizable. But
View fullsize I wrote this post last week. My Substack always comes out the first Wednesday of the month 😬. I wasn’t sure if it would “age well.” Maybe it has, maybe it hasn’t. This might not be for you today, and that’s ok. But some
View fullsize Morning in Meat Camp. Morning in America. Today I have the distinct privilege and sacred responsibility to live into my citizenship in the way I believe will make this country a better place for my children, my neighbors, my community. I love this
View fullsize As a person of faith, voting has always felt a bit complicated for me. If that’s you today, know you aren’t alone. Today, I voted…asking God for wisdom and considering my daughters’ futures. And also considering the future o
 

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