What's Going ON?

NASCAR at the Literary Festival?
You bet. Neal Thompson will be read from his book Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR at 2:30 on Saturday in the Town Center. This history takes a look back at the 1930s and 40s when moonshiners were first fixing up cars to outrun the cops. Additionally, Appalachian State University will have a display from their archives which is the best collection of information on stock car racing in the US.

Graphic Novels for Teens
It’s not as bad as it sounds… it’s just comic books that are of novel length and subject. For teens (emphasis on teen), these sessions look at traditional novels and how graphic novels have similarities and differences. (All teen and children’s session are on Saturday.)

Mountain Mysteries
If you’re hooked on mysteries, come hear a panel called Beyond the Mystery: Addressing Problems in the Beloved Community (While Telling a Cracking Good Story & Finding Out Whodunnit) at 2:30 in the Town Center’s Area C. Or come to any of the individual sessions of Sallie Bissell, Rose Senehi, Vicki Lane or local favorite Peggy Poe Stern.

Love of Nature
For those who love a good hike out in nature, be sure to attend Danny Bernstein’s talk at the History Museum at 10 on Friday morning. Her book Hiking the North Carolina Mountains has become very popular since it came out. Or check out George Ellison’s Edible Medicine and Utilitarian Plants used by the Cherokees directly following it.

Appalachian History
An engaging speaker, Jeff Biggers will read from his book US of Appalachia: How Southern Mountaineers Brought Independence, Culture and Enlightenment to America. Festival favorite from last year Tim Silver returns to talk on the history of the Black Mountains. Other historians include Michael Joslin, John Alger, and biographer Joanne Mauldin who will speak about Thomas Wolfe—in particular his time in Burnsville. There will even be a presentation on our own Otway Burns given by historian Dr. Dennis Conrad.

Southern Women
Strong female characters are vital to Southern Literature and are created by equally incredibly women authors. New York Times Bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen will give a unique session with her father, Burnsville resident Zach Allen. Pamela Duncan, Catherine Landis, and Susan Woodring are also novelists of note on this subject.

Beloved Community
New to the festival this year is a Friday afternoon keynote address by Anthony Grooms who will expound upon the theme, examining how literature plays a vital role in advancing understanding and reconciliation between people and should invoke a contemplation of truth. Hear him at 1:15 on Friday in the Town Center.

Andrew Jackson and the Cherokee Removal
To further explore literature as a way to reconcile people, the festival presents a panel on Friday morning entitled Healing Historical Trauma: the Cherokee Removal. Consisting of spokespersons for the Cherokee, a distinguished historian of the Nation, and a noted Jackson biographer, they will explore the sensitive issues surrounding the event that displaced the original inhabitants of our region, opening it for settlement by many of our own ancestors.

Quaker Turned General
Recently released, Nor the Battle to the Strong: A Novel of the American Revolution in the South delves into the Southern Campaign of General Nathanael Greene. Burnsville author Charles Price has given many readings throughout Western North Carolina and his novel has been nominated as one of the Together We Read selections for 2009. He will read from it and moderate a panel with noted Greene historian Dr. Dennis Conrad and biographer Gerald Carbone.