George Ellison and Janet McCue wrote the book, Frances Figart edited it and the Great Smoky Mountains Association published it. 

“The committee was especially struck by the depth of research and the objective and nuanced perspective that Ellison and McCue show in their work,” said Brandon Johnson, chair of the award committee and instructor at Mars Hill University. “This book will long serve as a comprehensive picture for a casual reader and a wealth of sources and information for researchers.”

There were 21 nominations for this year’s award, with the five finalists including Robert Beatty for Willa of the Wood, David Joy for The Line That Held Us, Meredith McCarroll for Unwhite: Appalachia, Race and Film and Terry Roberts for The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival. 

Back of Beyond is the first-ever full-length biography of Horace Kephart, who came to North Carolina after enduring a breakdown of his health and his marriage. It was in the Smokies that he pieced together a life as an author and an advocate. Kephart believed that the mountain wilderness saved his life — a conviction that led him to champion the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

McCue and Ellison had both researched Kephart for decades before meeting in 2009 and beginning to work collaboratively. 

An award ceremony will be held 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Renaissance Hotel in Asheville, with a  reception to follow. Admission is $15 for the general public and $10 for WNC Historical Association members. 

For more about Back of Beyond, visit www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/27014.