Ep. 057: The Leaf-Mould of an Appalachian Mind

This may have been one of my favorite episodes to record in quite awhile, and I hope you all enjoy it too. In this week’s episode, Garrett interviews West Virginia author, S.D. Smith, author of the beloved Green Ember series. Garrett & Sam discuss such wide-ranging topics as the beauty of Appalachia, Sam’s childhood in South Africa, the philosophy and writing of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and the feeling that many West Virginians have of inferiority inter-mixed with a deep sense of pride.    If you believe all children should read fairy tales, if you feel awe when you behold the sunset across the Appalachian Mountains, and if you enjoy the company of characters from a good book, you will adore this discussion with Sam and the sneak peak he gives into his life as a writer in southern West Virginia.    Follow Sam’s work at his website https://sdsmith.com/.   Literature and Locations Mentioned Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) Old Smith Cemetery, Wayne County, WV Pipestem Resort State Park New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Little Beaver State Park   “it grows like a seed in the dark out of the leaf-mould of the mind: out of all that has been seen or thought or read, that has long ago been forgotten, descending into the deeps.” - J.R.R. Tolkien    More information on the concept of “leaf-mould of the mind” from the Rabbit Room.   ---------- Garrett Ballengee, Host Executive Director - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Communications Director - @akieffer13  Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Tony Reed, Editor & Producer Associate Director of Operations - @treed1134 International Center for Law & Economics   Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

This may have been one of my favorite episodes to record in quite awhile, and I hope you all enjoy it too. In this week’s episode, Garrett interviews West Virginia author, S.D. Smith, author of the beloved Green Ember series. Garrett & Sam discuss such wide-ranging topics as the beauty of Appalachia, Sam’s childhood in South Africa, the philosophy and writing of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and the feeling that many West Virginians have of inferiority inter-mixed with a deep sense of pride.    If you believe all children should read fairy tales, if you feel awe when you behold the sunset across the Appalachian Mountains, and if you enjoy the company of characters from a good book, you will adore this discussion with Sam and the sneak peak he gives into his life as a writer in southern West Virginia.    Follow Sam’s work at his website https://sdsmith.com/.   Literature and Locations Mentioned Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) Old Smith Cemetery, Wayne County, WV Pipestem Resort State Park New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Little Beaver State Park   “it grows like a seed in the dark out of the leaf-mould of the mind: out of all that has been seen or thought or read, that has long ago been forgotten, descending into the deeps.” - J.R.R. Tolkien    More information on the concept of “leaf-mould of the mind” from the Rabbit Room.   ---------- Garrett Ballengee, Host Executive Director - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Communications Director - @akieffer13  Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Tony Reed, Editor & Producer Associate Director of Operations - @treed1134 International Center for Law & Economics   Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter