BOONE, N.C. — The new Appalachian Journal (vol. 51, no. 1-2) features a tribute to Marie Cirillo, an exploration of underrated bestselling writer Agnes Sligh Turnbull, new poems, book reviews of recent publications and an interview with Leigh Ann Henion on her recent book Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens and Other Marvels of the Dark. Highlights also include creative nonfiction from Pauletta Hansel and a tribute to Dr. Sandra L. Ballard to celebrate her retirement after serving as Appalachian Journal’s editor for over twenty years.
In a tribute to Catholic nun-turned-community developer and activist, Marie Cirillo, Mark Banker offers an insightful look into the life of this Appalachian legend.
Scholarly article, “The ‘All Et Up’ and the Down to Earth: Lee Smith’s Adaptation of Wuthering Heights” by Wendy Kurant Rollins sheds light on the unique similarities of Lee Smith’s Oral History with Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights by investigating their structure and characters.
In “Middlebrow Bestseller Obscured: Reconsidering Agnes Sligh Turnbull’s Westmoreland Novels,” Samuel J. Richards discusses the little-known Northern Appalachian author Agnes Sligh Turnbull and her popular romance novels. Richards expertly brushes away misconceptions about her novels’ fluffy romantic plotlines to reveal the deep sociopolitical and religious critiques at the heart of Turnbull’s work.
This issue features two creative nonfiction pieces which deal with uncovering the past, family and legacy. In Pauletta Hansel’s “Branch and Root: In Search of an Appalachian Family History,” history and memory of place come alive as Hansel traces the roots of her family tree to Ashe County and beyond. Through a brilliant combination of poetry and prose, Hansel reveals a vibrant portrait of her family history, weaving together the past and present through the very land from which she comes. In Richard Hague and Scott Goebel’s “The Bottle and the Box,” Appalachian writers’ secrets surround a bottle of chartreuse. Exploring childhood memories, the secrets of snakebite kits and cherished moments of communion at the Hindman Settlement School, Hague and Goebel leave readers with the elusive taste of “liquid summer,” which, like the names of the Appalachian writers immortalized on its box, captures the spirit of what it means to be Appalachian.
In her article “Effie Smith Ely: Forgotten Poet: Untangling the Publications of Effie Smith Ely and Effie Waller Smith” Leatha Kendrick clears up authorial confusion over poet Effie Smith Ely whose work has been misattributed to Effie Waller Smith in publication. Through ancestral research, archival sleuthing and manuscript analysis, Kendrick works to correct false accreditation, uncovering the true authorship and voice of Effie Smith Ely.
Dr. Ballard, former Appalachian Journal editor, interviews author Leigh Ann Henion in “Who’s Afraid of the Dark?” The two discuss Henion’s recent book, Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens and Other Marvels of the Dark, her deep connection to Boone and Appalachia and the writing process. In addition, this issue features a special tribute to Ballard celebrating her retirement after over two decades with Appalachian Journal.
Thirteen brilliant poets contribute to this issue: Brian Beatty, Wesley R. Bishop, Thomas Rain Crowe, Benito del Pliego, Victor Depta, Ben Graham, Kate Cruz, Jeremy Michael Reed, Susan Shaw Sailer, Eugene Stevenson, Marcos McPeek Villatoro, Aruna Gurumurthy and John York. This issue also features illustrations by artist Annie Greenwood, accompanying “Signs of the Times.”
Twelve reviews survey a wide range of recent Appalachian literature on topics such as ecology, queer theory, music history and migration. Brent Martin reviews Leigh Ann Henion’s Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens and Other Marvels of the Dark. Theresa L. Burriss examines Beginning Again: Stories of Movement and Migration in Appalachia edited by Katrina M. Powell. Lisa Graley explores Erik Reece’s Clear Creek: Toward a Natural Philosophy. Caleb Pendygraft delves into Deviant Hollers: Queering Appalachian Ecologies for a Sustainable Future edited by Zane McNeill and Rebecca Scott. Sara Pisak explores Feeding the Ghosts: Poems by Rahul Mehta while Willie Carver unpacks Jonathan Corcoran’s No Son of Mine. Tonya Nagle examines Choices: Three Novellas by Annabel Thomas and Dana Wildsmith reviews Will There Also be Singing? Poems by fellow poet Pauletta Hansel. On the topic of music, Brandon Johnson explores Finding the Singing Spruce: Musical Instrument Makers and Appalachia’s Mountain Forests by Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth and Taylor Hagood looks at Highways and Heartaches: How Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart and Children of the New South Saved the Soul of Country Music by Michael Streissguth. Phil Obermiller delves into The Lies of the Land: Seeing Rural America for What It Is–and Isn’t by Steven Conn and Thomas Rain Crowe revisits The Creek by Victor Depta.
To order this issue of Appalachian Journal, visit appjournal.appstate.edu and navigate to the "ORDER ONLINE" page.
Related: Dr. Jessica Cory appointed editor of Appalachian Journal
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About the Appalachian Journal: A Regional Studies Review
Appalachian Journal: A Regional Studies Review, founded in 1972, is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed quarterly journal housed at Appalachian State University. The journal features field research, interviews and other scholarly studies of history, politics, economics, culture, folklore, literature, music, ecology and a variety of other topics, as well as poetry and reviews of books, films and recordings dealing with the Appalachian Mountains region. Learn more at appjournal.appstate.edu.
About the Center for Appalachian Studies
The Center for Appalachian Studies promotes public programs, community collaboration, civic engagement and scholarship on the Appalachian region. The center is committed to building healthy communities and deepening knowledge of Appalachia’s past, present and future through community-based research and engagement. Learn more at appcenter.appstate.edu.
Written by Dr. Jessica Cory
Edited by Lauren Gibbs
November 20, 2024
BOONE, N.C.
Appalachian Journal (vol. 52, no. 1-2)
Appalachian Journal (vol. 52, no. 1-2)