Book Nook with Tamara S. Randolph

Book Nook Behind the Pages at McFarland By Tamara S. Randolph

“We’re very interested in any book-length works on the High Country areas. . . And I’d say we’re near the acme for serious books on Appalachia, especially NW North Carolina.”

—Founder and Editor-in-Chief Robert McFarland Franklin

When searching for a book to read, we look at the genre, the author, and sometimes even the cover. But we generally don’t pay much attention to the publisher, the entity that often contracts for, edits, designs, typesets, manufactures, and markets the book. The publisher is the “Oz” behind the curtain that ensures there are always plenty of book titles for all kinds of readers to enjoy.

In our Autumn 2021 issue, CML reviewed The Ashe County Frescoes of Benjamin F. Long IV, by Janet C. Pittard and David B. Chiswell, in our Book Nook column. We shared many details about the book’s main subject (Benjamin Long), the history of the artist’s work, and some of the people who made the book possible. What we didn’t include were details about the all-important publisher, who happens to be located right here in the High Country.

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, has been publishing books in Ashe County, NC, for more than 40 years. Located in Jefferson, McFarland is considered one of the leading independent publishers of academic and nonfiction books in the U.S., offering around 6,000 titles. Each year, McFarland publishes more than 350 new titles for a worldwide market and produces both print and e-book editions of most new books.

While the publisher’s scholarly books for the library market find audiences around the globe, their regional works, like The Ashe County Frescoes, attract a slightly more local, yet exceedingly loyal following. “I think what set McFarland apart was that from the beginning, our staff has largely been from Ashe County and its neighbor counties,” says Karl-Heinz Roseman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at McFarland. “McFarland would not have been a success without the people of Ashe. Our company leaders have deep roots in the area and are passionate about our community. So, our editors have sought out serious authors with research skills that are likewise passionate about our community.”

We asked the McFarland team to share some of the publishing company’s latest regional titles that are “new on the bookshelf.” We also asked them to tell us a little about these books and what attracted McFarland to the titles and their authors.

Lost Cove, North Carolina: Portrait of a Vanished Appalachian Community, 1864–1957

Author: Christy A. Smith Located just seconds from the winding Tennessee border, the remote mountain settlement of Lost Cove, North Carolina, was once described as where the “moonshiner frolics unmolested.” “Christy A. Smith wrote the first comprehensive history of Lost Cove,” explains Roseman. “She left no research opportunity unturned, including newspapers, church records, deeds, new interviews, genealogy resources and oral histories. It is possible for hikers to catch a glimpse of Lost Cove today, but with Smith’s work, people can have an in-depth look at what life was like living in Lost Cove.” (https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/lost-cove-north-carolina/)

Junaluska: Oral Histories of a Black Appalachian Community

Author: Susan Keefe Junaluska is one of the oldest African American communities in western North Carolina, and one of the few surviving today. According to Roseman, “After Emancipation, many former slaves in Watauga County became sharecroppers and were able to clear land in a segregated neighborhood overlooking the town of Boone. App State Professor Susan Keefe coordinated with Robert Hagler Jackson and the Junaluska Heritage Association. What really impressed McFarland was that this work was not only a history of a place, but how the authors provided a unique glimpse into the lives of African Americans in Appalachia. The Junaluska Community is an important institution of our area. Roberta Hagler Jackson is also an important institution!” (https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/junaluska/)

mcfarlandbooks.com.

Boone Before Boone: The Archaeological Record of Northwestern North Carolina Through 1769

Author: Thomas R. Whyte “Boone Before Boone is particularly timely with the Town of Boone celebrating its 150th anniversary,” says Roseman. “Author Tom Whyte really goes into the archeological record from before Daniel Boone’s arrival to the area. This is THE book for readers who have wondered about sites and artifacts found in Boone.” (https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/boone-before-boone/)

Other recent regional titles:

The Ashe County Frescoes of Benjamin F. Long IV The Gems of Hiddenite, North Carolina: Mining History, Geology and Mineralogy