Appalachian Stories

. . . for kids and older folks, too!

Think of Appalachian literature and the Jack Tales come to mind. Not only will North Carolina author Lynn Salsi be in the Authors Tent with some of her Jack Tale books, but she'll also tell a Jack Tale or two in the Storytellers Tent, which right next to the Authors Tent. Lynn will have her latest book, the award-winning Jack and the Giants, as well as several of her other books.

UPDATE: Because of her husband's surgery, Lynn Salsi will be unable to appear at this year's festival.

Rex Stephenson, who established the Jack Tale Players at Ferrum College back in 1975 will also tell a Jack Tale or two—and he'll have some of his Jack Tale scripts for sale in the Authors Tent. (You'll have to at Mountain Spirits Festival early to see him; Rex will have to leave at noon for a rehearsal.)

Tina Hanlon, a Ferrum College professor who maintains the AppLit website, an extensive collection of resources for readers and teachers of Appalachian literature, will have handouts about the AppLit site. Parents of homeschooled children might want to stop by and talk to Tina.

Becky Mushko will have Ferradiddledumday, an Appalachian version of the Rumpelstiltskin tale. An early version of Ferradiddledumday, with drawings by Ferrum Elementary School students as well as a study guide, is posted on AppLit. 

If you're looking for Appalachian stories, look no farther than the Authors Tent on October 5, 2013.

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Inspirational Books

If you're looking for inspiration, the Authors Tent will  have several books you might enjoy.

If you're looking for non-fiction, former pastor Curtis Nester will have three books this year: Faith will Keep You Afloat, Trails to Triumph, and his new book, America—Dawn to Dusk.

 Two novelists will have books that readers might find inspirational—and that both young people and older readers will enjoy. JoAnne M. Anderson will be at Mountain Spirits for the first time with A Noble Spirit. According to JoAnne's website, "It’s a horse story for all ages. The characters are fictional, and Noble, Cash, Kazi and Paloosa are real and true to their equine names, breeds and personalities."

The novel isn't just a horse story—it's a story of people overcoming challenges in their lives. "Against the back drop of a renovated horse farm where an Afghanistan war veteran (Lt. Col. Paul R. Silverton) begins his first civilian job and a girl (Mandy) befriends a horse (Noble), the reader takes a peek into the lives and challenges of everyday people. You’ll meet someone you know in the pages—a friend, neighbor, colleague, school pal or relative." This is a good book for the whole family to read and discuss.

Two more good books for the whole family to read (but especially mothers and daughters) are Barbara Roberts' Christian fiction books,  What a Christmas! and its sequel, Not in My Wildest Dreams.

 

If you didn't take a look at Barbara's books at last year's festival, you might want to do so this year.

The above books aren't the only inspirational books you'll find in the Authors Tent, but they're a good representation of what you might find in the Authors Tent on October 5.

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