He wrote, in some detail, of the geographical and climatic conditions that existed well into the 20th century in the Appalachians. A trained researcher, Kephart lived for several years in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Horace Kephart's book, Our southern Highlanders (University of Tennessee Press, 1984), written in 1913, provides the best answer I have found. GH: Contemporary Appalachian culture is little different from rural cultures in other parts of the country. As a native steeped in the language and remnants of the old culture and as a person who has lived in large cities for more than 20 years, I am aware of nuances which a non-native might not discover even through years of research.ĮL: Why is the Appalachian culture different? GH: As a native, I hope to capture, to freeze, snapshots of that culture, particularly of the time of my parents' childhoods before the changes began about World War I. I have a need to give my experiences and thoughts organization and form and my writing allows me to do this.ĮL: How does being a native of the Appalachian culture affect the way you write about it? I wrote throughout my life but only attempted to be published in 1976. GH: I made up stories all my life, but knew that I would write books when I read Little women at age 7. She feels that the culture, language and people of the mountains have often been misunderstood and even ridiculed by outsiders who have little knowledge of the cultural diversity found there. Her Appalachian heritage is very important in her writing in fact, the majority of her works are set there. Gloria attended Riverside Elementary School in Spear, North Carolina, Crossnore High School in Crossnore, North Carolina, Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Her mother still runs the family's country store, Sunny Brook Store, which can be seen in the railroad scene of The year of the perfect Christmas tree and in But no candy (the frontspiece).
Gloria Houston was born in Marion, North Carolina and grew up in Avery Country near Spruce Pine, North Carolina. She states that she has been a flight attendant, teacher, waitress, consultant, free-lance writer, columnist, wife and mother and has had fun doing most things, but writing and talking to children is the most fun. She teaches children's literature, the techniques of writing and adolescent literature. GLORIA IS CURRENTLY AN ASSISTANT professor and author-in-residence at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
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