Jan Karon

Jan Karon was born and raised in Lenoir, North Carolina. From an early age she had a keen interest in writing, having penned her first book by the time she was ten. After moving around the United States, she eventually settled in Blowing Rock, where she was inspired to begin writing weekly stories about an Episcopal priest named Tim Kavanagh. These stories eventually became her first published novel: At Home in Mitford.

At Home in Mitford was just the beginning of Father Tim's adventures. Karon has gone on to publish fourteen novels about him and the fictional town of Mitford. Mitford was based on the town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, a mountainous town and the perfect location for Karon's character-driven novels. Fans of the Mitford Years are invited to view the literary map's walking tour of Blowing Rock, which maps out the town through the eyes of Father Tim. Discover the real local businesses and parks which inspired Jan Karon, and learn more about a proud entry to North Carolina's literary heritage.

For those who haven't had the chance to experience Jan Karon's work can find At Home in Mitford and her other books at your local library or bookstore!

F. Scott Fitzgerald's 112nd Birthday

Monday, September 24th, was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 112nd birthday. Best known for his classic book, The Great Gatsby, those who haven’t had the chance to visit Western Carolina may not know that Fitzgerald had ties to our state.

During the summers of 1935 and 1936, Fitzgerald stayed in Asheville, North Carolina to rest after contracting tuberculosis. Western Carolina had become a popular destination for such getaways, as the mountain air was thought to be good for the lungs. Fitzgerald stayed at the renown Grove Park Inn, and rented out two rooms: one for working, the other for writing. The summers spent there were a low period in his life. Fitzgerald was reportedly trying to cure his addiction to gin with what was known as the “beer cure,” and wrote short stories to pay debts and bills. One story written at that time, “I’d Die for You (The Legend of Lake Lure),” was set in Western NC and featured a young actress who had come to the area to star in a movie. He left North Carolina in 1937, heading west to Hollywood with the hopes of reigniting his career. His wife, Zelda, remained in the southeast, traveling between Asheville’s Highland Hospital for treatment and her mother’s home in Montgomery, Alabama.

"I'd Die for You (The Legend of Lake Lure)" and other lesser-known Fitzgerald short stories can be read in the book I'd Die for You: And Other Lost Stories. Find it and other Fitzgerald classics at your local bookstore or library. The North Carolina Literary Map also now features a tour of Fitzgerald’s life in Western NC, that may serve as a guide for tourists or may be explored virtually. Discover more about our state's literary heritage today!

Happy birthday, Fred Chappell!

Monday, May 28th was the birthday of North Carolina poet of Fred Chappell. He was born in 1936 in the small town of Canton, North Carolina. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Duke University, and spent a significant portion of his teaching career at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Fred Chappell is a prolific author, having written over twenty-five books and amassed a collection of local and national awards. He had a five year tenure as the Poet Laureate of North Carolina. Having written everything from Lovecraftian horror to domestic fiction, readers are bound to find a work of his that calls to them.

I Am One of You Forever is a novel about a boy named Jess growing up in Western North Carolina during World War II. It is a coming of age story with an eccentric cast of characters, each with their own story to tell. Another book by Chappell, Dagon, is also set in North Carolina, but could not be more different a tale. It is a Southern Gothic horror that plays on the Cthulhu mythos. Dagon follows the story of Peter Leland, a preacher who inherits his grandparents' farmhouse and soon finds dark secrets hidden in the world around him. Find these books, or any of the other many Fred Chappell works, at your local bookstore or library! You're sure to find something just for you.

Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Need some spooky stories to share tonight? Here are some North Carolina ghost tales that you may enjoy.

• Mountain Ghost Stories by Janet Barnett and Randy Russell
• Ghost Tales from the North Carolina Piedmont by Barry McGee and Linda Duck Tanenbaum
• Ghosts and Legends of the Carolina Coasts by Terrance Zepke

 
http://brandthunder.com/2012/grab-a-spooky-halloween-desktop-theme-for-your-computer/

Did you know?

The night that we associate with candy, costumes, and tricks actually began as the Celtic festival, Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween), to honor the dead, aid them in their journey to the afterlife, and keep their spirits away from the living. It was believed that the ghosts of the dead were able to mingle with the living on this day more than any other time of the year. Creepy!!

Check out the article from The American Folklife Center to learn more about the history of Halloween.

Library of Congress

Favorite Spots

Hi everyone! Thanks for the comments about your favorite NC locations. We love to hear what you think! Our commenters said that their favorite places were Asheville and the Sandhills region. Here we’ll give you all some more information about authors and books in these areas.

For the Sandhills region we found that author Roberta Isleib stumbled upon the town of Pinehurst when she headed down to North Carolina for a work conference. After exploring the town a bit, she decided to set one of the books in her golf lovers’ mystery series here. The book, Fairway to Heaven, follows Cassie Burdette as she plays in a golf tournament on the same team as her estranged father and on-again off-again boyfriend, while holding down maid of honor duties for her best friend. Then the bride’s father disappears. What’s a girl to do?! Investigate of course….
(www.robertaisleib.com/golf/pinehurst.htm)

Did you know?

• Pinehurst was on the list of names for what we now call Martha's Vineyard.
• The landscape architect who was in charge of the design of Pinehurst also designed Central Park in New York City.
• Pinehurst is home to Maniac Hill which was the first driving range in the US.

For more history about Pinehurst check out www.pinehurst.com.

For all you Asheville and mountains lovers out there, we have many well-known authors associated with this town as well as numerous books set in this location. Some well-known authors are Sarah Addison Allen, Mark de Castrique, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Frazier, and Thomas Wolfe to name a few. Throughout our research we have found that many authors find their way to our lovely North Carolina mountains in their writing career to be inspired by the beautiful vistas of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Check out the view below and you'll see why!

Photo from Apple Wood Manor.