A Year Ago Today

If you told me a year ago that I would eventually play a part in publishing a book, particularly a book that is the best I have ever read by an author that has sold thousands of books and recognized by national icons, I would have laughed at you.  Yes, I never thought I would go down this road until I went to my aunt, Eva McCall, and said I wanted to do it.  I guess I can now say “never say never.” 

A year has passed, and so many things have happened with the production and release of Eva’s new novel, “Murder on Haint Branch.”  This is all Eva’s baby, but since working on it with her, I have felt like it’s my baby too.  This has been months of hard work.  And there were even times that Eva and I didn’t think it was going to work out. 

It was Eva’s birthday when the idea hit me.  We had all the family and all of the Carpenter sisters at my grandma’s house.  Every time I saw Eva at times past, I would ask how the publishing of the book was going.  And she would say that no one had picked it up and was waiting for something to happen.  I told her that if she was willing to invest some money and time, I would be willing to invest my time and previous experience toward the project.  I don’t think I had her sold on the idea at the time, but she said she would look into it and would send me the manuscript for me to read. 

It only took me three days to read the book.  And when I put it down, I stepped back and said, “Woah.”  The plot and the characters were all so well done, and were so rich in Appalachian history.  You know it’s a good book when you ponder about it all day.  As soon as I could, I called Eva and said, “You have to publish this!”

That’s what started our journey.  Eva still wasn’t convinced it was good enough to be published, or that we could do it.  But she did send it to Barbara McRae from The Franklin Press, and asked for her thoughts.  After a week or two, Barbara too said that it was good and we should pursue the project.  That’s what made Eva realize we needed to do it.  Eva felt that Barbara would also be good to edit the book and format it.  So as Barbara began the long process, Eva and I focused on other aspects of the book. 

Those aspects included finding a printer and a cover.  Henry Fichner offered to do the cover, so that was easy.  Finding a printer, however, was a different story.  Because we were doing it ourselves, we quickly found out why authors don’t get much money when they are with a publisher.  No matter who we went with, printing was going to be expensive.  We wanted to keep the printing process local, but wasn’t able to because the book was going to have to be published in the thousands before each individual book would be cheap enough. 

Months later, when Barbara had the editing completed, we still did not have a printer.  At the same time, we were pursuing a lead that would possibly get a quote from Dolly Parton on the back of the book.  But it all came together when we had the final version of Barbara’s editing, Henry’s finished cover, Dolly’s letter, and the final decision with a printer.  We submitted our final product to Book Patch, an online printer stationed out of Arizona. 

Nothing can describe the feeling I felt when the first printed copies arrived.  It gave me a sense of accomplishment, and months of hard work paying off.  These three books were in no way perfect (I have one of the three, and I have hidden it very good.  It’ll be worth something one day!), but it showed us what we needed to do to make it perfect and have it ready for mass printing. 

April 1, 2013 was the day that people were able to purchase the book in stores.  Now that I think about it, we should have done a midnight release like they did with the Harry Potter series (I will make sure to do this with the next book!).  I think we had planned on doing a release party with close friends and family, but wasn’t able to work it in our schedules.  I was so excited to hear that people were finally buying the book and reading it.  And while the journey of getting the book published was over, the next journey, selling the book, began. 

Since the release, Eva and I have sold lots of books, and learned new things in the process.  Our first book signing at Books Unlimited was a big success, and the signings following were also successful.  In May, the book was published in eBook format, which was another brand new experience for me.  And it has given me experience in advertising and social media, which is working well for my college major. 

I can’t believe it has already been a year since we started the project.  I also can’t believe it has already been six months since the book has been available to readers.  It’s true what they say, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”  This experience with Eva has certainly been loads of fun, and I have told her to call me up when she is ready to start the next book.  I’m expecting to get that call very soon. 

The fans of Eva and my family have all been so supportive and have given great reviews for the book.  None of this could have been done without you cheering us on.  And of course, this couldn’t be done without the mind behind the story.  Thank you, Eva, for giving me something to be passionate about and to be proud of. 

On to our next journey…

-Tyler

You can now purchase Murder on Haint Branch here. 

Senator Jim Davis

Dear Senator Davis,

My name is Tyler Cook, and I write to you under the gravest of circumstances.  As a Maconian, I have agreed and disagreed with different beliefs that you have taken with you to Raleigh.  And as a resident of North Carolina, I would have to say the same for our state legislature.  Our recent voting laws, our school budget cuts and our state school calendar are just a few things that I disagree with.  But the recent news coming out of Raleigh has caused me great alarm, and I must plea with you on behalf of Macon County citizens. 

Hydro Fracking is a controversial issue that has brought very heated discussions in our country over the years.  Fortunately for us though is that while some states were discussing and even using this method of extracting natural resources from the earth, North Carolina remained silent.  But as years have passed, and the use of this method has become more frequent, our state leaders have shown support for this, and even proposed bringing it into our state. 

In case you aren’t fully aware of Hydro Fracking and the process it takes to extract the natural resources, it is a very complicated and dangerous concept.  According to the Remediation Technologies Screening Matrix and Reference Guide, it begins with the injection of water into the ground until the pressure creates a fracture.   Some wells can be drilled as far as 10,000 feet below the surface.   Coarse-grained sand and guar gum gel is then inserted and the fracture grows.  The sand grains hold the fracture in place while an enzyme is injected and breaks down fluids.   The thinned fluid is broken down, and pumped from the fracture to form a channel to recover any vapor or liquid below.   This process can be done several different ways with different methods and materials for extraction. 

But an extraction of this nature does not come without its consequences.  In addition to the fracturing of the ground and the releasing of gas, carcinogens, toxic sludge and other highly toxic substances also are released.  Some common ingredients include hydrochloric acid, ammonium, potassium, sodium salt, and many others.   And because of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Hydro Fracking was left unregulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.  The result of this includes the contamination of your water supply and endangers the lives of humans and pets in the surrounding area. 

Thanks to WLOS 13, I was alerted of an article, provided by News Observer, announcing the proposal to have residents extract their natural resources under their home and farms and sell them, whether they want to or not.  Once I read this I felt anger, sadness and finally disappointment towards our state legislature because a fear that has been tucked in the back of my mind had been realized.   Because this recommendation has been approved, it will go to the state legislature in hopes that it will also be approved there. 

Why is this such an important issue for me, you ask?  I have had the privilege of taking environmental classes at Southwestern Community College and Western Carolina University, and I have learned and seen the true horrors that can result from environmental hazards, Hydro Fracking being one of the most threatening and impacting hazards in our country.  These classes have opened my eyes to things I would have never thought of in the past, and has lit a fire in me to defend the home that surrounds me. 

I know I am only one person in Macon County, who is far beyond the ears of Raleigh, but I plead with you to show your opposition to this.  Yes, this isn’t an immediate threat to Maconians because this will only be affecting Lee, Moore and Chatham counties right now.  But once North Carolina approves of fracking to begin there, it won’t stop.  They will continue to spread this process throughout the state until it finally reaches our doorstep.  And by then, it will be too late to show remorse or regret for what we have allowed into our home. 

I encourage you to research on this and to seek counsel.  There are many citizens and teachers in the area that are as alert of this as I am.  I’m sure they will be happy to express their opinion, as well as the facts on this matter.  Be 100% sure of the facts before you approve or disapprove of this policy. 

As you can tell, I am very passionate about this, and I knew that I had to plead my case to you.  Otherwise, I knew I would regret knowing I had the chance to tip the scales and not take it.  This is not a debate involving politics.  This is a debate of morals and ethics and a challenge to see if we have what it takes to do what is right.  Every individual in Macon County may not have a vote on this, but they do have the vote on other things, and I trust that Macon County will put this debate and your decision into consideration when they vote. 

I urge you to join me and pledge your support not to just Macon County or North Carolina, but for the interest of this great nation. 

Best wishes,

Tyler Cook

Macon County Resident  

Because people believe more can be done, and because I believe more want to get involved, I made a petition that will be sent to the NC House and Senate.  Sign it here and share it. 

Murder on Haint Branch

A Local Writer’s New Story Depicting Mysteries in the Mountains

            Eva McCall, a local writer from Franklin, has enriched and gifted thousands of her readers with stories from the North Carolina Mountains, allowing a glimpse of her family’s history as well as combining fact with fiction.  Now 16 years after the release of her first novel, Edge of Heaven, McCall has returned with a new fictional book, filled with murder, mystery, and even moonshining. 

            McCall’s new novel, Murder on Haint Branch, is set in Western North Carolina during the early 1940s, a story based on a true life event from her past.  She said, “The Idea for the writing of the book was born out of conservation with author Shelia Kay Adams. I was telling her about the death of my uncle in 1942. I said, ‘They said he shot himself but you don't shoot yourself with a shot gun and lay it back down on the bed by your side. Adams said, ‘That’s your opening line.’”  McCall said after that conversation, the story took a life of its own and her characters told her the story. 

She is no stranger to writing, releasing Edge of Heaven in 1997, which featured her grandmother, Lucy Davenport Carpenter.  In 2002, McCall finished Children of the Mountain, a sequel to her first, depicting Lucy in her later years, McCall’s father, as well as McCall’s first years.  Lucy’s Recipe for Mountain Living, her latest published book, was a team effort with her sister and included daily devotional type of stories picturing Lucy’s style of cooking for the large family she inherited.  McCall says that writing these books gave her the opportunity to relive the stories that were told by her grandmother, as well as educating her younger family members about their history.  “This is an important part of their heritage that they would have never really looked at if it had just been in family research,” she says, “But with the books, they will read and feel a part of it.”

McCall is a native of Franklin, spending her early years on “Carpenter Mountain,” as she refers to it in her books.  After graduating from Franklin High School, she attended Pfeiffer College near Charlotte.  After her marriage to George McCall, they moved to Flint, Mich., where he worked in General Motors and she became a beautician.  During her time in Michigan, she began to attend writing workshops which propelled her to start writing her earlier novels.  Now retired, Eva and George returned to Franklin where they enjoy participating in their community and where Eva has written her recent works. 

Barbara McRae, columnist at The Franklin Press and editor of Murder on Haint Branch, believes that McCall’s experience in the mountains allows her to portray accurate details, and combine it with her imagination.  “Eva McCall grew up in the Southern mountains in tough times, during the years after World War II. She brought her insights as a writer to bear on that period.  Her characters ring true, and they embody aspects of many of the mountain people.”

            After years of appealing her new book to publishers, and waiting on their long reviewing processes, McCall said, “I decided I'd be too old to reap any of the benefits. After all, birthdays don't stop just because you're waiting for something special to happen.”  So she made the decision to self publish.  She gave the manuscript to her promotional manager to review, who felt that the issues presented in the book were not only relevant in the forties, but also in the present.  She hired members of the community to review, edit, and design a cover.  She also created the publishing name “Moonshine Press.”  After half a year of hard work, McCall feels that the book is ready for release. 

Throughout McCall’s years of writing, and during the production of her latest novel, she has received praise from individuals across the region, including country icon Dolly Parton.  After receiving permission from the Parton team to include her comments on the new cover, McCall couldn’t believe it.  “The truth is, it feels like it is happening to someone else, and I'm watching it from the outside, something like watching a movie,” she said.  “I think this is good because it helps keep me focused on what my goal for the book is.”

            Both McCall and McRae believe that fictional novels such as Murder on Haint Branch are paving the direction to how the historical Appalachian region is being presented in modern times.   “I feel like this book gives a true picture of the way life was for the Appalachian people,” McCall says, “And it will help the reader to understand more of why life is the way it is now, especially college students and for people not from this region.”  McRae agrees, saying that this point in history has not been fully explored.  She also says that books like McCall’s are pointing the way. 

            McCall is very optimistic about the direction of her new novel.  She has hopes for it to sell well, and dreams of it becoming a best seller or a film adaptation.  But her simple goal is to have the story touch someone’s life and making their day better.  Regardless of how things turn out, McCall says that her journey isn’t over.  She says that she has another novel also ready for release, a Civil War novel that many of her fans know as Button Box.  And as for new ideas, she says that she is “getting itchy fingers to write something else.” 

            Murder on Haint Branch is now available for purchase here. 

Tyler Cook is the nephew of Eva McCall, and has been involved in the production of Eva McCall’s Murder on Haint Branch.