Sunday, October 22, 2006

Mountain Girl Press is pleased to announce the release of The Zinnia Tales. A “Meet and Greet” and book signing with several of the writers will take place on Sunday, October 22, 2006 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the lower court of the Bristol Public Library located at 701 Goode Street in Bristol, Virginia. The event is free and open to the public.

A collection of fictional short stories about Appalachian women, written by women with Appalachian roots, it is already receiving high praise from acclaimed fiction writers such as Deborah Smith, New York Times bestselling author of A Place to Call Home. Smith states, “A warm and wonderful look at the sisterhood of women. These stories truly celebrate the womenfolk of the south. Heartfelt, wise and insightful. The Zinnia Tales are stories to cherish.” Award winning writer Cissy Hassell, author of Nowhere, says, “The Zinnia Tales are powerfully told tales, very touching and heartwarming, rich with characters of the Appalachians that burst with life and capture your heart.”

Writers from Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida contributed to the story collection. Mountain Girl Press Publisher, Tammy Robinson Smith says, “We were thrilled with the way each writer captured the true spirit of the Mountain Girl Press mission which is to publish fiction that celebrates the wit, humor and strength of Appalachian women.” The Zinnia Tales will strike a note with anyone who has ever called the mountains home, or just wishes to visit for awhile.

Mountain Girl Press was established in 2005. It located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains; in the heart of Southwest Virginia. Mountain Girl Press publishes stories that explore the relationships between mothers and daughters, sisters and friends and the way they interact with each other. Mountain Girl Press is a very small press, but is anxious to publish quality fiction and stories that will interest the readers and make them come back for more.

Mountain Girl Press published its first novel, Emmybeth Speaks by Tammy Robinson Smith in August of 2005. Emmybeth Speaks chronicles the story of a nine year old girl faced with a family crisis during the early 1970’s. She witnesses the way the women in her family, and their friends, pull together to help her family in their time of need. The book received a nomination for the 2005 Appalachian Book of the Year Award.

For more information on Mountain Girl Press, or The Zinnia Tales please visit our website at http://www.mountaingirlpress.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release for Plumb Full of History A Story of Abingdon, Virginia

Abingdon native and author Donna Akers Warmuth was inspired by growing up hearing stories of the area's history to write her first novel, Plumb Full of History A Story of Abingdon, Virginia (High Country Publishers, 2003). The book is a wonderful gift of Abingdon stories for young and old, both locals, visitors, and for folks who enjoy visiting Abingdon. Her second book, Abingdon, Virginia (Images of America) (Arcadia Publishing), a collection of 200 historic photographs and postcards of Abingdon, will be available after March 2003.

"I've always enjoyed hearing the ghost stories and legends about the houses and buildings in Abingdon, so I decided to write a book for middle grade readers which incorporated those, as well as the documented history of the area," Warmuth said. Her interest in heritage education, bachelors degree in archeology, and master's degree in urban planning and historic preservation prompted her to develop the book. The book is published by High Country Publishers, Ltd. in Boone, North Carolina.

The story centers around Abingdon's Plumb Alley Day (last weekend in May) and two children discovering much more than the history of their grandmother 's hometown. The story includes the fictional characters of Gram, Addie (13), and Owen (9). Addie, a typical 13-year-old is not excited about attending Plumb Alley Day with their grandmother, but Owen is eager for an adventure. Gram, their volunteer tour guide to Abingdon's history, shows them the alley celebration and teaches them about the history of the region and about their place in their family.

"Since I think it's important to preserve Appalachian folkways and traditions, I added plenty of those to Plumb Alley Day. I included some participants in Plumb Alley who aren't even there, but they were needed to contribute to the book. Exaggeration and making up things is so much fun when writing fiction," she said.

Characters in the book include Overmountain Victory Trail marchers, basket weavers, the Black's Fort Daughters of the American Revolution chapter members, Historical Society of Washington County members, Kiwanis club members, an Amish family, a storyteller, a bluegrass band, as well as various ghosts and spirits. Some of the characters are loosely based on real people in Abingdon, including her own family members, but they are fictionalized to add to the story. Another family connection is that DeAnna Akers Gobble, her sister, did most of the book's beautiful illustrations.

Award-winning Appalachian author and Grundy native Lee Smith says, "Donna Warmuth is a wonderful writer, so entertaining that the story really takes over and history comes alive on the page. Great reading for all ages." Sharyn McCrumb, New York Times Best-selling author of The Songcatcher, says, "Readers young and old will find a treasure trove of Virginia history in this lovingly-crafted tale of Abingdon past and present."

Warmuth is the also the author of Images of America: Abingdon, Virginia, a photographic and postcard history of Abingdon, which will be published by Arcadia Publishers of Charleston, South Carolina, in March 2003. Warmuth's stories and poetry have been published in Appalachian Heritage and Branches. Her work has placed in contests held by Now & Then and the Virginia Highlands Festival Creative Writing program. She has also contributed essays to WNCW, a National Public Radio station in Spindale, North Carolina.

"Published writers advise you to write about what you care about, so I did that by completing two books about Abingdon," Warmuth said. "I'm donating a portion of the proceeds from the sales to the Historical Society of Washington County to assist them in the wonderful services they provide."

Donna Akers Warmuth is available for author visits to schools, writing workshops for children, and in-service teacher training. "I really want to get this book in the classrooms so that local children can learn more about and be proud of their own history," Warmuth said. She is an instructor at Appalachian State University and writes in Boone, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and four-year-old son, Owen.

Copies of Plumb Full of History A Story of Abingdon, Virginia are available for $9.95 through retail bookstores. Autographed copies can be obtained through her web site at www.donnawarmuth.com for $13.00 (including shipping and handling). Contact Donna Akers Warmuth at 410 Parkcrest Drive, Boone, NC 28607, (828) 268-0970, or you may visit her website at www.donnawarmuth.com and email her at info@donnawarmuth.com

For Immediate Release

"Because of my interest in and passion for history, I've always wanted to make Abingdon's history come alive for the average person," says Warmuth. "The Washington County Historical Society was very generous in allowing me to use photos from their archives, so I plan to donate part of the proceeds of the book to them." Warmuth relates an interesting story from compiling the book when a distant cousin sent a c. 1900 postcard of Abingdon to use in the book that surprisingly featured one of their common ancestors walking down Main Street. " I also enjoyed talking with folks in Abingdon who contributed photos for the book, learning of Abingdon's early history and then finding out we're related. It seems like everyone in the Washington County area is related if you trace back far enough."

Donna grew up in Washington County just outside Abingdon and has family roots going back there for 8 generations. She can also trace her family back to Grayson, Scott, Russell, Smyth, Augusta, and Floyd counties in Virginia. Warmuth attended undergraduate school at James Madison University from 1984-1988 and graduated summa cum laude with a BA in anthropology. She received her master's in Urban Planning and Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia and graduated with honors. She is a member of the Black's Fort Daughters of the American Revolution and the Washington County Historical Society in Abingdon. She has won awards in writing contests held by the Virginia Highlands Festival and ETSU's Now & Then journal. She lives near Boone with her husband, Greg, who is a Vice President at American Emergency Vehicles, in Jefferson, and her 4-year old son, Owen.

Her other book about Abingdon, Plumb Full of History A Story of Abingdon, Virginia, ($9.95) has recently been published by High Country Publishers. The book is a fictional story of a grandmother showing her visiting grandchildren around Abingdon on Plumb Alley Day in May, while also adding in history, ghost stories, and legends of the town. Although written for a 7th grade reader, the book has been recommended for both young and older readers by well-known authors Lee Smith and Sharyn McCrumb. The book is available through area bookstores, also.

Donna is currently at work on another Images of America collection of photographs for Boone, and she plans to start a book for Blowing Rock this summer. She enjoys her work as an adjunct instructor at Appalachian State University and freelance writer and historical researcher. She is available for author visits, writing workshops for adults, teachers and students, and workshops on Appalachian heritage. Contact her at (828) 268-0970 or visit her website at donnawarmuth.com.

Donna will be signing her two books in the area on Saturday, April 19th from 11-12:30 in B. Dalton in the Bristol Mall and on April 19th from 2 pm - 4 pm at 153 West Booksellers & Gallery on Main Street in Abingdon. On Saturday, May 3, she will be signing at the new Barnes & Noble in Johnson City from 2 pm - 4 pm. She will also have a booth at Plumb Alley Day in Abingdon on May 24th signing both books and cards from illustrations from her sister's illustrations in the Plumb Full of History book.

Abingdon, Virginia ($19.99) and Plumb Full of History A Story of Abingdon, Virginia are available through area bookstores, retail stores in Abingdon, and through on-line retailers.