NORTH CAROLINA AUTHORS....A SPECIAL BREED !

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I promised Carolyn at Mountain Musings blog , a post on my favorite NC authors and their books. I will start with Sharyn McCrumb. Although she actually lives in Virginia, her "Ballads"

are set in North Carolina. This is the series that is responsible for my love affair with NC authors. ' She Walks These Hills", ' Songcatcher', 'Rosewood Casket', 'The Ballad of Frankie Silver',' Ghost Riders' are a few of the titles. "Frankie Silver" is my favorite. Song Catcher was made into a movie and Rosewood is being made into a movie. The reappearing character of

Nora Bonesteel has kept me reading Sharyn's books. She has not written a ' ballad' lately as she became a NASCAR freak (you know, in the same way I am an NFL freak) and wrote two bestselling books with a NASCAR setting. ' St. Dale' (in my TBR stack) and 'Once Around The Track'. I did receive an e-mail from her recently saying she would be returning to the 'ballad'

series an introducing a young Nora Bonesteel.( Nora, is an old woman with the 'sight' in the previous ballads). This got me so excited! Sharyn is a brilliant storyteller and you will not be sorry you 'discovered ' her books.................

It was through Sharyn McCrumb that I discovered my next favorite...................Vicki Lane.

Vicki does live in the western NC mountains and has written four books whose setting is very close to Vicki's own farm. 'Signs In The Blood', 'Art's Blood', 'Old Wounds' and ' Dark Season'.

They are known as the Elizabeth Goodweather mystery series. Vicki is near completion of a stand alone book on one of the Goodweather series characters, Miss Birdie! Then she will return to the Goodweather series for the next book. Vicki also has an enchanting blog from her farm that her readers comment on.( I follow daily and leave comments) You can access it from my blog roll.

I have read the first two in the series and loved both! I have delayed reading the other two because my book club, 'Awesome Read' has chosen the first two as Feb. and March selections.

Since some of the 'girls' read this blog, I am hesitant to say too much except that I 'KNOW' great writing and Vicki is indeed a great writer!

I discovered the next author when Oprah picked his book 'Gap Creek' for her book club.

Robert Morgan is a master storyteller. His books to are set in his native NC and are based on tales he heard growing up. I have read 'Gap Creek', The Truest Pleasure',(my favorite)

'The Rock'( sequel to Truest) 'Blue Valleys', The Hitherlands',and The Mountains Won't Remember Us'.

In an earlier post I reviewed Sheila Kay Adams book 'My Old True Love'. Sheila also has a book of short stories,'Come Go Home With Me' that are just delightful and very informative of what it was like to grow up in the beautiful NC mountains. I keep this book in my guest bathroom for the pleasure of my guest. They always pick it up and comment on the stories.

Wayne Caldwell has written a bestselling book 'Cataloochee'. I discovered Cataloochee Valley by reading two non-fiction books by Wayne's cousin Hattie Davis several years ago. Cataloochee Valley is in the NC section of the GSMNP. A lot like Cades Cove but not nearly the traffic and much harder to get too but soooooooo worth the effort! This is where they introduced the Elk and they are just Awesome to see! This book is fiction and brings to life not only the Valley but it's residents as well. A really wonderful read!

I will end with a new discovery from my last trip to the mountains this past October. I picked this book up in an Antique store in Townsend,TN. It too is a book of short stories based on mountain memories of growing up. Gary Carden's, ' Mason Jars in the Flood & Other Stories'

is just pure fun to read. Think of how much fun it is to 'sop hot biscuits in a mixture of syrup and butter' and you'll have an idea of what I mean!

Hope this helps you to some great reads NC Mountain Woman! (CAROLYN) and all you other blogers too..............