Wednesday, January 14, 2009

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..............












15 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

I think the day when I can get everything in the right spot is just around the corner! My blogging for dummies book is not as helpful as I'd hoped but trial and error or making progress.

Vicki Lane said...

Thanks, Carol, for the kind words! I'm honored to be mentioned along with so many of my heroes!

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for the great post! I have read many of the authors you mention, and "Songcatcher" is one of my favorite movies. Your list will give me more ideas as I continue to read at least one NC author each month.

Interestingly enough, my brother in law was a house mate of Robert Morgan when they were in college.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Carol,

Wow, lots of interesting books by North Carolina Authors. I'll have look for some of them. Haven't read a good book of fiction in some time. Your enthusiastic reviews peeked my interest.

And I enjoyed the interview that Kat did with you.

And... I love your header It's beautiful!

Thank you for visiting and your nice comment.

Hugs and blessings,

Renie

david mcmahon said...

G'day from Australia,

I came here from my good friend Shrink-Wrapped Scream's blog.

Like you, I grew up in a caln where the written word was supreme.

Thanks for the intro to NC authors, too.

Carol Murdock said...

Vicki......I could never do a post
on NC Authors that did not include you girl ! You know how to choose your heroes!

NC mountainwoman........
Hope you found something you liked.
Does the brother-in-law write also?

Hey Renie.........
Thanks for visiting. Hope I don't have to wait 5 days to catch up with you again!

G'Day to you David..........
Thank you for the visit and kind words. Where is our friend Shrinky?
I am dying to hear how the trip went????

Andrea said...

Stopped by via Mountain Musings...so glad I did! So many interesting books and authors...I don't know where to start! Thanks for sharing! Nice to meet you. :)

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I'm not familar with any oof these authors, but I think I will stop by the library and pick one out.

steviewren said...

I have really enjoyed the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross. Her characters are small town, kindly and a little naive. The author lives in Henderson NC.

Reader Wil said...

You made me curious to read Sharyn McCrumb. I copied her name and the titles of her books, which sound very poetical.Thanks for your book reviews.

Peggy said...

Apparently, I'll be adding to my to-read list! Thanks so much for introducing me to some of these authors.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for giving me your blog URL. I've added you to my RSS feed and will visit often.
I need to come back here this weekend and do some catching up....you have a very nice blog.
Terri
http://www.islandwriter.net

Anonymous said...

Your taste are very homely! I like you blog and your post! Bravo.

Ever Yours,
Clayrn Darrow
M.IV

NCmountainwoman said...

No, the brother in law is a retired English professor.

Anonymous said...

WAIT! I know this post is old, but I have to say a word for The Ladies of Covington series. They must be included--to be read in order. The NC mountains, older heroines...even a good cake recipe!

Author Margaret Maron and her Deborah Knott series...gotta read about eastern NC, too, although a few of her mysteries take us to the mountains.

It's probably a good thing I didn't find your blog sooner. My house would be stacked to the ceiling with books.