by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jan 17, 2019 | Appalachian, Food, Waiting
It’s January. In case you hadn’t realized. At the grocery store these days, I can buy strawberries and asparagus. This (along with an occasional warmish day) adds to my delusion that spring is just around the corner. The sun stays up just a little longer,...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jan 14, 2019 | Appalachian, Memories, Writing
This year will be the fifth anniversary of the release of my first novel–Miracle in a Dry Season. Which is kind of hard for me to believe! Half a decade as a published author. And while I fall in love with each and every character I write, Casewell and Perla...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jan 10, 2019 | Appalachian, History, Writing
I love researching my stories. Especially when I turn up something fun that I just flat out didn’t know. Like that John Henry, the mythical “steel driving man” of folk ballads, took on a steam drill in southern West Virginia. My next novel, When...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jan 3, 2019 | Appalachian, Family, Memories
I had no idea something as common and everyday as a pocketknife could stir such passion. Last week I posted a link to an essay in Appalachian Magazine titled “The Kind of Men Who Carry Pocketknives.” Man–the clicks that link got! Since I don’t...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Dec 28, 2018 | Appalachian, Family, Memories, Writing
Yes, I know it’s Friday. At least now I do. I’ll blame it on the holidays throwing me off. All day yesterday I thought it was still Wednesday and so I neglected to get this post ready and up. But here it is, a day late and hopefully NOT a dollar short....
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Dec 20, 2018 | Appalachian, Family, History, holidays, Memories, superstition, Thistle
While I suppose we were relatively modern when it came to my childhood Christmases, the old-timey traditions are still hanging on in the mountains. And there are some I very much think we should revive for broader use. Here are a few of my favorite Appalachian...
