Spiritual connections explored by local author
Jody Kraner (aka JadriAnna Lee), author of Northern Lights: A Journey to Insight, will appear for a reading and discussion…
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Battling weight problems and ensuing baggage
Though heroin and cocaine are dangerous and illegal, both drugs carry with them a cachet, the dark romance of, say,…
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Read Across America
As part of the celebration of Read Across America, Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville is hosting two events that emphasize…
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Wayne Caldwell wins Wolfe award
The WNC Historical Association and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial will host Western North Carolina author Wayne Caldwell from 2-4 p.m.…
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Book group to begin
Gary Carden has announced the first meeting of a book discussion group which will begin with a meeting at 5…
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Vampire saga lacks traditional horror appeal
For quite some time now, the literary genre known as “science fiction/horror” has been undergoing radical changes. The “creatures of…
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WCU to host literacy conference
Educators from throughout the region are invited to attend a one-day conference focusing on literacy hosted by Western Carolina University’s…
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A novel that sparkles with quality writing
In Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (ISBN 978-1-4000-6893-7, 2010, $25), first-time novelist Helen Simonson has created a superb portrait of life…
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Ron Rash returns to City Lights with new paperback edition
City Lights welcomes Ron Rash back to the store at 2 p.m. on Feb. 13 to celebrate the release in…
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New book looks at remarkable work of therapy dogs
Author Deanna Klingel of Sapphire Valley will be at City Lights Bookstore at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 to discuss…
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Area storytellers featured in new book
In view of the fact that Southern Appalachia is acknowledged to be a massive reservoir of traditional storytelling, Saundra Kelley’s…
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Author recounts unique parenting journey
Some novels call to mind certain family members. There are the wise old stories that remind us of our grandparents,…
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Rash commemorates paperback release
Local author Ron Rash will hold a reading at City Lights in Sylva to celebrate the paperback release of his…
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WCU professor co-authors book about rising sea levels
A book co-authored by Western Carolina University professor Rob Young about the global threat to coastal communities posed by rising…
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Cancer survivor to talk at Jackson Library
In May 2008, Jane SpottedBird was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Her doctor gave her 6 to 12 months to…
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A grisly war novel that stands apart
“It took Karl Marlantes 30 years to write his thunderous, brutally granular account of scorched-earth combat in Vietnam. Matterhorn was…
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WCU professor co-authors book about rising sea levels
A book co-authored by Western Carolina University professor Rob Young about the global threat to coastal communities posed by rising…
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Haywood author to read from new novel ‘Sweetie’
Kathryn Magendie, an author from Haywood County, will be at City Lights book store in Sylva to read from her…
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Revisiting one of the last raids of the Civil War
Anyone who has driven state roads between Asheville and Winston-Salem has quite possibly seen those state historical markers commemorating the…
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Program focuses on African-Americans and their history in Jackson County
Victoria Casey McDonald, a local writer and historian, will present a program about African-Americans in Jackson County at the Jackson…
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This is quality Southern writing
How many times have you heard the lament, “They don’t write southern novels the way they used to”? This statement…
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A cautionary tale of the dangers of excess
“The rich are different from you and me,” F. Scott Fitzgerald once famously said to Ernest Hemingway, to which Hemingway…
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Group to discuss ‘Time and Again’ at public library
The next Book Ends book discussion group will be held at the Jackson County Public Library on Thursday, Jan.13. The…
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In new novel, outlook is grim without technology
Let me begin this review by confessing that I never heard of E.M.P. (Electromagnetic Pulse), and I was distressed to…
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Elderly Brothers ring in New Year’s at Legion
The Elderly Brothers will perform on New Year’s Eve at American Legion Post 47 in Waynesville. The Elderly Brothers have…
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Gary Carden to present Old Christmas Traditions program at library
Storyteller and author Gary Carden will present a program titled “Old Christmas Traditions” at 7 p.m. on Jan. 4 at…
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Pride of the Mountains is California-bound
Nearly 400 members of Western Carolina University’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band will travel to Pasadena, Calif., to march…
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Waynesville Inn to play host to second-annual Winterfest
Haywood County residents looking to brave the ice and leave their firesides this January can find an afternoon of respite…
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Leavitt creates emotional story, realistic characters
In her previous novels — two of which, Coming Back To Me and Girls In Trouble, have been reviewed here…
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Swain library to hold meeting for teenagers
The teen friends of the library meeting will be held at the Marianna Black Library at 3:30 on Thursday, Dec.…
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A dark story about death, love and loss
Dear readers, if you decide to purchase this amazing novel, please consider the following advice: forget George Romero and the…
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A bunch of possibilities for your book lover
To buy affordable holiday gifts for men past the age of 30 can be difficult. When confronted with men who…
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Bookstore program to help children in need
City Lights Bookstore has started the 12th year of its annual Holiday Giving Tree, a program designed to put books…
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Donation to Jackson County library makes a perfect gift
Library lovers and history buffs from all over have a singular opportunity this year to combine giving Christmas presents to…
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Lehane’s latest as good as it gets
For over a decade, Dennis Lehane’s name has been synonymous with skillfully crafted crime novels. Both Mystic River and Shutter’s Island…
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Macon County natives release book
Two Macon County natives, Gail Shepherd Diederich and Gail Kelly Lester, recently released a new book, Tales of Two Gails.…
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Find the perfect gift at your local bookshop
For many people, Thanksgiving is a holiday that delivers on its promises. The table sags beneath platters of ham and…
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Frank is always provocative and thought-provoking
Criminal Justice in America by Marshall Frank. AuthorHouse, 2008. 276 pages. In Criminal Injustice in America: Essays by a Career…
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Zafón back… but not, this time, in Barcelona
For millions of readers, Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind proved to be one of the most captivating…
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Poetry, storytelling and music at City Light
City Lights Bookstore in Sylva will host Karen Holmes for the bookstore’s monthly Coffee with the Poet gathering at 10:30…
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Readings at City Lights
City Lights will host several authors this weekend for a diverse selection of book readings. At 7 p.m. on Friday,…
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Magendie releases third novel
Kathryn Magendie will celebrate the release of her new novel, Sweetie, at Blue Ridge Books at 4 p.m. on Saturday,…
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Book explores the value of silence
The sound of silence. Silence is a rare commodity in our world today. Of course, perfect silence doesn’t exist. The…
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McCrumb gets sidetracked in book about famous trial
Several months ago, I reviewed a marvelous non-fiction work by Sharon Hatfield titled Never Seen the Moon: The Trials of…
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Photos, oral histories of Madison
Award-winning photographer and writer Rob Amberg’s multimedia presentation “The New Road and Today’s Mountaineers” — set for 7 p.m. on…
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Charles White to read from new historical fiction
Charles White, formerly of Cullowhee, will be at City Lights at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, to read from…
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The Swain Library will host an afternoon author talk with local author
Author Jane SpottedBird will discuss her new book, Still Here: Dancing to the Beat of My Own Drum on Saturday,…
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Secret Life of Bees to be discussed
Sally Salyards will lead a discussion of The Secret Life of Bees at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the…
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City Lights book group meet and greet
Are you in a book group? Do you want to be in one? Is your book group looking for good…
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Taking readers to a warm and colorful place
As cooler weather plucks leaves from the trees, stripping the branches bare as a freshly-barbered poodle, as that wonderful green…
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