* From Paul in Christiansburg about both books

It has been an embarrassing number of months since I saw you on the Huckleberry and promised to e-mail you with comments about Union, WV.  I loved reading Union, WV!  Wayne, until his redemption, epitomized the despicable, selfish, wasteful, thoughtless, hateful, right-wing, 21^st Century American.  We all know plenty of people just like him.  And, though I would like to be able to forget it, there's a counseling maxim that says the people we find most despicable probably remind of us of some repressed aspects of ourselves.  The story of Wayne's redemption was a hopeful one, and I liked that. 

Having lived in Virginia since 1974 and for a couple of years in the 60s, and having worked in the Welch to Lewisburg area for a year in 1981, I could relate easily to the characters and places you described in the book.  I loved the historical information and the environmental education you provided, too.

What prompted me to finally write to you is that (my wife) and I spent last Saturday night in Monterey, VA at the Highland Inn.  I had been through Highland County a couple of times about 20 years ago and thought it was beautiful, but never got around to going back until last weekend.  We really enjoyed hanging out in Monterey and driving around the surrounding area.  We went to the Highland County Fair on Saturday, and it was like stepping back into my childhood and being at the Guernsey County Fair in southeastern Ohio in the the 50s.  Just amazing and enjoyable!   I almost expected to find Aunt Bea's pickles there.  Anyway, on the way back to Christiansburg, we took US-220 south to Covington, then SR-18 south to Paint Bank.  We ate lunch there, and as we were walking through the General Store, we saw your display, and on it, The Spine of the Virginias.  I bought it, and I've been reading it this week.  I love it!  You beautifully describe places I know and provide interesting and inviting descriptions of places I haven't been.  Once again, I can so easily relate to the places and people.  I'm on p. 96.  I'll report back to you when I finish the book.

Thanks for your work.  I'll look forward to reading your next book!