Silas House welcomes participants to last year's MHLF.

LMU OPENS REGISTRATION FOR MOUNTAIN HERITAGE LITERARY FESTIVAL

January 26, 2007 - Harrogate, Tennessee— Registration is now open for the second annual Mountain Heritage Literary Festival at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

The festival will run June 22-24 and will feature Earl Hamner, Jr., the creator of The Waltons and author of Spencer’s Mountain, who will give the keynote address. The staff for the festival includes some of the most sought after teachers and best writers in Appalachian Literature: Catherine Landis (fiction), Sharon Hatfield (nonfiction), Rita Quillen (poetry), and Paul Brett Johnson (children’s writing). The festival will also feature a one-woman play by Anne Shelby entitled The Lone Pilgrim, about folksinger Aunt Molly Jackson, and musical performances by Carla Gover of Zoe Speaks and Louisville guitarist/singer Kate Larken.

The festival was created to carry on the long literary tradition that exists at LMU, which claims such literary alums as James Still, Jesse Stuart, Don West, and George Scarbrough. It is the only large-scale gathering of Appalachian writers of its kind in the area and is organized by LMU writer-in-residence Silas House, the author of Clay’s Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves, and The Coal Tattoo.

“Last year’s festival was a huge success, so we’re looking forward to doing it all over again in 2007,” House says. “We’ll only be able to accept about 80 participants this year, so early registration is essential.” Writers may register for the festival by visiting the website.

The festival also offers a writing competition with prizes in poetry, fiction, essay, and children’s writing that are judged by some of the region’s most prominent authors, such as Maurice Manning, George Ella Lyon, Mark Powell, and House. Last year’s contest garnered submissions from nearly every state in the country. Visit the website for details.

Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or e-mail at admissions@lmunet.edu.

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