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April 24-26, 2026
Artis Henderson’s work has appeared in National Geographic, the New York Times, Reader’s Digest and Sierra, among others. Her first book, Unremarried Widow, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice named to more than 10 Best of the Year lists. Her second book, No Ordinary Bird, was named a best new book of 2025 by […]
A special mystery guest will be joining Rhett DeVane and Paul Wilborn at out panel on humor in writing, Saturday April 25 at Word of South. […]
Mary Ann Lindley was a newspaper columnist for nearly 40 years, primarily for the Tallahassee Democrat. Her commentaries on Florida politics, community issues, and most frequently, trends and curiosities throughout American culture received state and national awards. Ms. Lindley started working in a small weekly newsroom in her native Northwest Missouri at the age of […]
Annie Woodford is the author of Peasant, Where You Come from Is Gone, recipient of the 2022 Weatherford Award for Appalachian Poetry, Bootleg and her micro-chapbook, When God Was a Child. Most recently, she was part of the poetry anthology Had I a Dove: Appalachian Poets on the Helene Flood, proceeds from which go to […]
Dori Freeman is a singer and songwriter from southwestern Virginia. She lives in the small mountain town of Galax where she grew up learning to play guitar from her father and singing in the school choir. At twenty-four she released her debut self-titled album produced by musician Teddy Thompson. In the decade since, she has […]
Carla Gover is an 8th-generation Kentuckian whose art and work celebrate the best of what the state has to offer. She shares flatfooting, ballads, and banjo through her performances, recordings, collaborations, and online courses. She’s released eight albums, including her most recent, Kentucky Queen. Her three most recent recordings have reached #1 on the Folk […]
Doug and Telisha Williams, partners in love and music, have spent the last 20 years building their careers as the Nashville-based, country-folk band Wild Ponies. They’ve released five albums, hosted the long-running Wild Ponies Happy Hour radio show on WSM, led nine annual distillery tour Trail Rides for fans and friends, and garnered devoted musical […]
The Shaelyn Band is a Florida-based, national recording and touring band capable of shifting from classic, soul, blues and funk, to rock. The band formed in 2020 and has continued to develop and grow, building on the foundation of family first and sharing genuine love with each and every heart they connect with. On September […]
The Little Mercies are an award-winning folk and old-time trio of songwriting multi-instrumentalists. Bronwyn Chelette, Shanice Richards, and Rosalee Walsh united from diverse musical backgrounds through their love of old-time music, giving them the versatility to blend genre lines. ‘Boy Genius meets The Chicks,’ The Little Mercies deliver performances that feel both intimate and electrifying— […]
Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Willy Vlautin has published seven novels, The Motel Life (2007), Northline (2008), Lean on Pete (2010), The Free (2014), Don’t Skip Out on Me (2018), The Night Always Comes (2021), and The Horse (2024). A new novel, The Left and The Lucky, will be published by Harper in April […]