J. Keith Jones

North Carolina in the Civil War
By Michael C. Hardy
The History Press

Reviewed by Keith Jones

North Carolina in the Civil War provides a solid overview of the Old North State’s role in this epic conflict. Hardy divides the work into several major sections. First he gives a rundown of the portions of the war that were fought on North Carolina soil. Then he covers the roles that tar heel units played throughout the war. This is followed by the work of the veterans and various heritage organizations after the war and finally what a modern day enthusiast may find today.

This book is done in Hardy’s usual thorough, yet easy to understand style. It goes into a decent amount of depth without bogging down in a quagmire of encyclopedic minutia that so many similar works end up spiraling into. If you are looking for the big picture of North Carolina in the War for Southern Independence and how it all ties together, there is no better place to start than this book.

Haunted Watauga County, North Carolina
By Tim Bullard
Haunted America, History Press

Reviewed by J. Keith Jones

Haunted Watauga County is part ghost story, part travelogue. Leveraging both old time folklore as well as his extensive experience as a long time journalist, Tim Bullard gives you a tour of Watauga County, North Carolina. This book will ring out to anybody with a connection with Boone, Blowing Rock or any other Watauga County community; whether it be through skiing, Appalachian State University or just sight seeing and leaf peeping.

The stories in this book come from research in folklore collections, first hand interviews of local old timers and Bullard’s own experiences on the local crime beat. Among the interesting stories in this book are the details of the Durham family murders in 1972 and the subsequent haunting in the house they lived their final hours in. The author is also able to add his personal insights on such local figures as blue grass legend Merle Watson who died tragically in a tractor accident.

If you have any connection with Watauga County you will find much to hold your interest in Bullard’s stories.

Short Story America Anthology: Volume 1
Edited by T. D. Johnston
Short Story America Press

Reviewed by J. Keith Jones

Short Story America has an interesting and successful model. They select one story each week to publish on their free web portal and then collect them annually into an anthology. After the first year in service, Editor in Chief Tim D. Johnston has released 56 stories in this first volume. At one time, the short story was a staple of American entertainment. Such stories appeared regularly in magazines and newspapers. People read short stories like they now watch television. Recent decades have brought a near death of the short form as a story telling device. Fortunately the last few years have signaled a stirring of life once again in short fiction. Short Story America is an excellent example of this renaissance.

The short story requires an economy of words that forces a writer to sharpen her skills in balancing the right mixture of description and prose. Many novelists who have never written in this form are tempted to fall in love with their own words and ramble on endlessly trying to fill up pages and often losing the point in the process. Summing up this thought; the short story forces a writer to refine his story telling skills.

This anthology is a great example of some of the finest modern story telling from today’s emerging new voices. Each story a bite sized portion allowing you to reach a conclusion in one sitting rather than leaving you hanging for the next 400 pages the way a novel does. I love novels, but short stories should not be overlooked. Whereas a novel is theater of the mind, sweeping by on the big screen providing hours of entertainment growing and forming over long periods; the short story is like theater of the mind on the small screen giving you a satisfying resolution in short order. This volume of the Short Story America Anthology provides 56 such intellectual meals for the reader.

We Hold These Truths
By Skip Coryell
White Feather Press, Hamilton, MI

Reviewed by J. Keith Jones

In “We Hold These Truths” Skip Coryell examines some big what ifs. First, what if following 911 a second even bigger attack had happened. Second, what if one of these bands of terrorists found themselves in a small town, on main street USA. In short, this book brings terrorism home to the heartland. Coryell leavens what is otherwise a heavy subject with his unique humor.

In this book a terrorist finds himself dealing with small town America in the aptly named Friedham Ridge, Michigan. Unlike large cities, the people of Friedham Ridge are a more independent and self sufficient sort. Preparation is part of their upbringing and when a nuclear explosion renders them out of reach of the protection of federal and state officials it is up to them to block the escape of a very dangerous man.

“We Hold These Truths” takes you on trip that will entertain you while it makes you think. Told in his special way Coryell spins a tale that is as fun as it is frightening.