Despite public outcries over his 1929 debut novel, Look Homeward, Angel, local residents were still eager to know what Thomas Wolfe had planned next. As pressure mounted to deliver his next book, Wolfe begged his mother to not leak any information to the Asheville press.
After nearly a decade’s worth of research, local author Anne Chesky Smith celebrates the publication of her new book, Murder at Asheville’s Battery Park Hotel: The Search for Helen Clevenger’s Killer.
At the start of COVID, local historian Mary McPhail Standaert began sending out emails to friends and family featuring tidbits of local history. She considered it a fun and creative way to stay in touch amid the pandemic. But as the project evolved, she came to realize she had unintentionally launched her latest book.
The findings of Priscilla Robinson’s 14-year project are published, a recent Asheville High graduate earns a spot in the prestigious GRAMMY Camp and more area arts news.
The YMI Cultural Center and First Congregational United Church of Christ renew their partnership; Asheville Pizza & Brewing reopens its theater; and more area arts news.
“Kids don’t actually care about what other people believe,” says children’s author Vicki Garlock. “They don’t care about dogma. A good way to educate kids is through traditions — holidays, rituals, food and stories.”
Over the last two years, writer Wayne Caldwell has written poems based on imaginary conversations with his fictional character Posey Green. His forthcoming poetry collection, Woodsmoke, comes out Tuesday, Feb. 23.
In 1949, poet Langston Hughes spoke at the Allen High School in Asheville. One of the students in attendance was Eunice Waymon, later known professionally as Nina Simone. In time, the poet and the singer developed a unique relationship, which author and N.C. State University professor W. Jason Miller is currently documenting in an online archive, Backlash Blues: Nina Simone and Langston Hughes.
There are plenty of free virtual and in-person exhibits and educational opportunities in and around Asheville. Poets and visual artists are also being called to submit works for a pair of contests.