Sunday, October 6, 2013

October 5, 2013

We had perfect weather for the 3rd Annual Mountain Spirits Festival. Here are some—but not all—of the folks in the Authors Tent: Marian McConnell, author of The Murder Hole, was an early arrival who had time to practice her guitar.


Another early arrival, Veronica Church, had moonshine shirts in jars.



James Nagy, author of Franklin County, displays a poster of some of Rocky Mount's historic sights. Rumor has it that he might have a new book in time for next year's festival.


Dwight Hayes had his book, Banished From Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as his photos on display. Fellow photographer Bill Mitchell stopped by to check out Dwight's old camera.


Here's a closer look.


Lots of folks looked through the camera.


Dwight's photos were certainly eye-catching.



Lots of folks tried to identify some of the people in the photographs below.


Pam Hain sang with Ladies of the Lake again this year, but this was the first time she was in the tent with her latest book, Murder in the State Capital.


The Lake Writers have been in this spot for the last three years. Sally Roseveare and Mike Davis have attended all three festivals, but Kim Dalferes—author of I Was in Love with a Short Man Once—was a newcomer.


JoAnne Anderson (Noble Spirit) was also a newcomer, but Barbara Roberts (What a Christmas!) was a returnee.


Another novelist and newcomer was Pamala Warren (The Recital). 


Tina Hanlon and Cara Modisett have also been here before. Tina had a wonderful display of Appalachian literature, and Cara had books (Blue Ridge Parkway Impressions and CDs.


Behind Cara's books was another newcomer, Otis Lee, Jr. (and his wife Michelle), from Earlysville. He's a first time author with his memoir/family history, From South Boston to Cambridge Lawyer.


To the left of Otis is returnee Ginny Brock, with By Morning's Light. Left of Ginny is Rocky Mount resident Ray Keys, who was very helpful with assisting the authors. Behind the red tablecloth was another Lake Writer here for the first time—Fred Waddell, who wrote What Colleges and Universities don't Want You to See.


Jean Schaeffer, another first-timer to the festival, had her late father's history/memoir, This Pleasant Land, a well as her own book, She Came with "Only One Suitcase." She'll have another book ready for next year.


Aaron McAlexander, another newcomer, had his two memoirs, Will the last One Leaving Mayberry Please Turn Out the Lights and So Much to Learn. His wife Glenda brought some of her  beautiful pottery. Festival committee-woman Betty Huffman checks out Aaron's book, while another newcomer, Franz Beisser (Red Solstice) looks on.


Here I am at my display . . .  and visiting with Otis Lee.





The oldest author at the festival was Lillian Hannabass Howell (Life with Charlie), who shared a table with her son, Tom Howell.


Not only people were under the tent, but so were some dogs. Joanne Anderson brought her two labs:


 Two charming sheltie therapy dogs visited. Since they participate in a reading to dogs program, they were right at home among books.



They visited with Morris Stephenson (A Night of Makin' Likker) and his wife Hazel.


A chocolate lab also came through the tent.  


Returning for the third year, was Sally Roseveare's King, who appears in her Smith Mountain Lake murder mysteries. Unlike the other labs in the tent, King isn't a real dog.


Many of the folks who were in the tent will be back next year. Y'all come see us.
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Thursday, October 3, 2013

Updates 2013

. . . a listing of who's who—and where—in art and literature

A story in Monday's Franklin News-Post gives a good overview of the festival.

Near the Artisan Center Along the Crooked Road will be these artists and crafters: Dixie Young, Jessica Altice, Marie Lordi, John Davidson, Shanna Fields, Carol Yopp, Lorraine Roe, Virginia Shirley, Tom Shirley, Robert Iuppa, Sherrie Mitchell, Nancy Hodges, and William Mitchell.

A few authors have had to cancel because of illness or schedule conflicts. However, barring emergencies, the following authors still plan to be in the Authors Tent in the municipal parking lot on Claiborne Street:

Becky Mushko: Stuck, Ferradiddledumday, The Girl Who Raced Mules, Peevish Advice, Patches on the Same Quilt, Where There's A Will—fiction
Curtis Nestor: Faith Will Keep You Afloat, Trails to Triumph, America—Dawn to Dusk—inspirational
Marian McConnell: The Murder Hole
Morris Stephenson (and friends): A Night of Makin' Likker—moonshine history
Rex Stephenson: Jack Tales—scripts
Tina Hanlon: AppLit info
Franz Beisser: Time and Place: The Making of an Immigrant, Red Solstice: an MIA's Hell, Lust and Life
Beverly Merritt's books will be here, although she is unable to attend: The Untold Story of the Clement-Witcher Feud, Franklin County True Stories, Letters and Recipes from the Grapevine, and otherslocal history
Dwight Hayes: Banished and photographs of local/regional scenes
Michael Abraham is unable to attend, but his books will be a Dwight Hayes' table.
Shea LeMone: Corner Pride, The Spring of Unexpected Consequences
Kimba Dalferes: I Was In Love With a Short Man Once—memoir
Avis Turner: In the Land Where Fairies Cried—memoir
Ginny Brock: By Morning’s Light—non-fiction
James Nagy: Franklin County—history
Joanne M. Anderson: A Noble Spirit—fiction
Veronica Church: moonshine shirt in jar—merchandise
Mike Davis: Blind Consent, Forgotten Children, Tainted Hero, and others—fiction/suspense
Sally Roseveare: Secrets at Spawning Run, Secrets at Sweetwater Cove—SML mysteries
Jean Schaefer (for Max Thomas): This Pleasant Land—history/memoir
Pam Hain: Murder in the State Capitol: The Biography of Lt. Col. Robert Augustus Alston (1832-1879); A Confederate Chronicle: The Life of a Civil War Survivor) history
Aaron McAlexander: Will the Last One Leaving Mayberry Turn Out the Lights; So Much to Learn, So Little Time—memoir (plus his wife will have some of her pottery)
Cara Modisett: Blue Ridge Parkway Impressions, Blue Ridge Parkway – Celebration
Tom Howell: Lillian Howell’s memoir, Life With Charlie
Barbara Roberts: What a Christmas!, Not in Your Wildest Dreams—fiction
Otis Lee: From South Boston to Cambridge. . .—memoir with ancestor info, Halifax Co. info
Rodger Doss: Shine—fiction
Pamala Warren: The Recital—fiction
Fred Waddell: What Colleges And Universities Don't Want You To See—non-fiction

Near the Authors Tent will be a Storyteller Tent. Some of the authors and some members of Toastmasters will tell stories throughout the festival.

There'll also be food,  music, and children's games.
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