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Stacy Hawks: Unearthing the Unsolved Secrets of Appalachia | S5 EP238: Book Banter Podcast

Discover the Real 1937 Murder Behind Dividing Ridge and Preserving the Stories of the Blue Ridge Mountains with Stacy Hawks

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Hello My Happy People,


Every once in a while, I interview an author whose connection to the place she writes about is so strong that the setting becomes almost another character in her books. That was definitely the case when I talked with award-winning author Stacy Hawks.


Stacy's roots run deep in the Appalachian Mountains of Alleghany County, North Carolina. Her love for the region, its people, and its history comes through when she talks about her work. Before becoming a full-time writer, Stacy spent years teaching, and today she uses both historical fiction and poetry to preserve stories connected to the place she calls home.

Our main focus was Dividing Ridge: The Unsolved Murder of Elva Brannock, the first book in The Ridge Series. The novel grew out of the real 1937 murder of 16-year-old Elva Brannock, whose death shocked her small mountain community and remains unsolved. Stacy spent years researching the case, including newspaper accounts, court documents, genealogical records, and stories that survived within the community.


That real history is one of the things I found particularly fascinating about Stacy's work. The Ridge Series isn't simply historical fiction that happens to take place in Appalachia. The books are inspired by actual events, mysteries, and unanswered questions connected to the region. She takes those pieces of history and builds fictional stories around the spaces where the historical record can no longer give us definitive answers.


We also talked about Devils Ridge and Patriots Ridge and how the books continue Stacy's exploration of Appalachian history. One thing that became clear during our conversation is how much research goes into creating these stories. There is always a point where an author has to stop researching and start writing, but when you're working with real people and real events, there's also a responsibility to distinguish what history can tell us from what fiction has to imagine.


Of course, we couldn't talk about Appalachia without me once again fighting with the word Appalachia. I know perfectly well how it's pronounced, but apparently knowing how to say something and convincing my mouth to cooperate are two entirely different things. Stacy graciously gave me a pronunciation lesson during the interview.


Our Five Quick Questions weren't particularly quick, as usual. We talked about how Stacy chooses songs for her book playlists, a favorite family travel memory, the DC and Marvel superheroes she identifies with, and where she heads first when she walks into a bookstore. Those questions are supposed to give listeners a quick glimpse of the person behind the books, but they frequently lead us into some of the most entertaining parts of an interview.

What stayed with me most after talking with Stacy was her connection to the history she's writing about. These aren't distant stories she discovered and decided would make interesting novels. They come from the communities, landscape, and history that helped shape her.


If you enjoy historical fiction rooted in real events, particularly stories built around mysteries history never completely resolved, Stacy Hawks and The Ridge Series are definitely worth checking out. Start with Dividing Ridge and the story of Elva Brannock, then continue into the other mysteries Stacy has uncovered along the Blue Ridge.


And, of course, be sure to listen to my complete interview with Stacy Hawks on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt.


Enjoy,

Dianne



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