I am so excited for my newest book, entitled “I Love to Tell the Stories of Appalachia.”

The rich history of my Appalachian family was fundamentally preserved through the gift of story telling from one generation to another.  I can so vividly remember as a young boy of 6 or 7, sitting and listening to the stories told by my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles and distant relatives or friends that were as close as “family.”

I entitled this book “I Love to Tell the Stories” because I love that old Hymn that my family sung in those little churches throughout Southeastern Kentucky.  Stories, like family, can be remembered with joy and laughter by some and sadness and tears by others.  

I did not begin writing my childhood memories of those Crooked Creek Christmases with the intent of this book.  As I wrote, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and joy at the comments that others in my direct family and yet others in my Appalachian roots family would respond with similar memories.  There is an old hymn entitled ‘Precious Memories’ with a line “Precious memories, how they linger,” and boy how they have lingered and grown as I have written and received feedback.  

Maya Angelou is credited with the statement, “if you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know where you are going.”  I really do believe this.  My identity is in Christ Jesus as his forgiven son.  My family’s history and those powerful little churches and strong communities brought me to relation with Jesus.  The beauty of the brokenness of my family gave me permission to fail, hope to expect, joy to continue and the elixir of laughter as a salve to cover the painful wounds of life.  In my family, laughter was and is great medicine.  I believe that God has a sense of humor.  Just look around you.  Spend a Friday evening people watching at a Walmart.  You’re telling me that you don’t think God has a sense of humor?  

I come from good Irish/Scottish/English stock.  We’re basically mutts.  Ask any dog owner and they will typically tell you the most loyal, the most loving, the most protective dogs are mutts.  You now get the picture of my family.  We’re ‘mutt loving’ and Appalachian strong.  Not a bad combo.

These stories are the story of my childhood that became my life.  I love to tell these stories.  I hope they will revive memories of your own life’s stories and of the family who brought you to this point.  

Thank you for joining me on this trip through precious memories.  I truly hope this brings back beautiful memories for you too.

“I Love to Tell the Stories of Appalachia” is scheduled for release through my Publisher in March 2026.  I will have advance copies in two weeks.  If you would like a copy of this special book, please Message me.  The cost is $15 and I would love to send you one, signed or unsigned.  (Likely better resale unsigned 😁.)

God bless you this Christmas Season.