Trailblazers & Traditionalists: Modern-Day Smoky Mountain People

by Holly Kays

From a Cherokee woman who makes it her mission to keep the ancient language alive to a couple of friends who are convinced that kudzu could be re-imagined as a blessing rather than a curse, the human landscape of the Great Smoky Mountains is a dynamic one. Comprising 33 separate pieces, this compilation seeks to bring that landscape to life by introducing some of the many, fascinating people who call the Smokies home.

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2019

About the author

Holly Kays is a journalist and author who makes her home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Having earned 30 state and national awards during her journalism career thus far, Kays covers a range of topics for the regional newsmagazine The Smoky Mountain News and is a regular contributor to Smoky Mountain Living Magazine. Originally from Williamsport, Maryland, she is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s creative writing and natural resources programs.