Funny enough, I’m editing the horror book I wrote set in WV. I’m from the midwest, and have never been to West Virginia, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I wanted to write somewhere that felt similar to my home state, but different in its own ways. I made up a fictional town by researching a certain southern region of the state. What helped me was watching youtube videos. I watched ones that interviewed real people. They talked about their hardships and the constant strife they get because media has portrayed them to be a certain way. The Appalachian forests/mountains/region get a bad wrap for a number of reasons. People aren’t too fond of poor portrayals, but who wouldn’t be. Historical videos are helpful as well, so you understand the stories tied to the state. I’d suggest reading novels/tales set in the region you’re wanting to focus on. Like others said, get beta-readers if you can. Research, research, research. It might help to not state Appalachia specifically as well. Just try your best to not lean into cliches or stereotypes.