Misty Mountains
I have had a writing project percolating in my head for some time now. Although I haven’t found the time (or perhaps created the time) to really start pursuing it, the project has inspired this smaller idea. In one of my earlier posts, I talked about the fact that, for me, home is Appalachia even though I no longer live there. I grew up there, nestled among the mountains and hollers, the mist and creeks. I grew up with tales of ghosts, dewdrop poetry, and the memories of oldsters spun out like the silk strands of a silver spider web caught in the moonlight.
I want to share a little of that with the world so I have decided to start Appalachian Voices Spotlight, a special section of my blog to share the stories and poetry of Appalachia. Appalachian Voices Spotlight will officially kick off next Friday, July 24th with a guest post by Kelli Haywood who has a delightful blog called A Mountain Mama: Off-grid Appalachian living, parenting, writing, and being.
Kelli B. (Hansel) Haywood was born in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, in Letcher County, to a family who had been in the mountains for generations. Being a part of such a rich culture, Haywood was submersed in the world of stories. Many nights she spent in her grandmothers’ laps listening to tales of ghosts, their childhood, and her ancestors. She heard the men folk telling fish tales and stories of triumphant victories on the grid iron or the hardwood. Storytellers from Appalshop came to her school to spin their yarns. So, from the time she became literate, Haywood had the desire to write. To tell her story.
To learn more about Kelli and read her guest post titled, “Home,” be sure to stop back next Friday.
Interested in being part of Appalachian Voices Spotlight? Send up to 3 poems or a 700 word story or essay to morgan_dot_redraven_at_ gmail_dot_com along with a short bio, including where you currently live and your connection to Appalachia if you no longer live there. Put Appalachian Voices Spotlight Submission in the title of your email.
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