Dark fall days, night falls early Mountains loom black, against an indigo sky First star of the evening, twinkles brightly in the west People scurry home, like squirrels scampering to their nests Early Christmas decorations, light up the avenues W...

Over at the Flatiron Writers blog, Heather Newton has posted a lovely piece about how she came to name her novel, "Under the Mercy Trees," which has been accepted for publication. Congratulations, Heather!

Nance Dude by Gary Carden, starring Elizabeth Westall (DVD, 2009, 60 minutes, $23, distributed from 236 Cherry St., Sylva, N. C. 28779). See Holler Notes. For authentic, character-driven stories from the mountain past, we go to Gary Carden, illus...

Blue, blue farscape, Wave upon wave of mountains. What others strode here before me? Did they marvel at what they saw? Earth seems so empty, Trackless forest, fields and hills. I feel the spirits of the old ones As they pass this way still. Chuc...

UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program has launched a new online literary magazine, “The Great Smokies Review.” The magazine offers former and current students of the Great Smokies Writing Program an opportunity to share not only their crea...

Mr. Hart, author of "3000 Miles in the Great Smokies," and Mr Slusser, author of "In the Near Loss of Everything," will read from and sign copies of their books.

Some writers can use language to create images that evoke the gamut of emotions. Some writers can tell a darn good story. But not every writer can do both. Paula Kane, a long-time student in the Great Smokies Writing Program, is a card-carrying m...

Julia Nunnally Duncan will read from her collection An Endless Tapestry (March Street Press, 2007) and new poems as part of Poetrio at Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe on Sunday, December 6 at 3 p.m.

Every once in a while, even I have to get out of the mountains. This weekend, I'll be attending the North Carolina Writers Network at Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington. I'll be presenting a workshop on How to Write a How To. Most people who att...