Tammy Robinson Smith ~ Author and publisher through Mountain Girl Press, Tammy presents several books of fiction which celebrate the wit, humor, and strength of Appalachian women.  www.mountaingirlpress.com

Doris Musick ~ Doris is the author of two books of historical fiction based on actual events, The Starched Apron, set in Russell County, and Up the Water Spout, set in Washington County, Virginia. www.dorismusick.com

Partnering with Kathy Shearer of Clinch Mountain Press, these women comprise the Heritage Writers and exhibit together at various events in the Abingdon, Virginia area.

Jeanne Shannon ~ Stars Scattered Like Seeds. Short stories, memoir pieces, and poems drawn from Jeanne's early life in the Southwest Virginia mountains.
www.thewildflowerpress.com

Donna Akers Warmuth ~ Books and short stories focused on the history and culture of Washington County, Virginia.
www.donnawarmuth.com

Southwest Virginia history websites
Buchanan County ~ www.silvermaple.net/buchanan/
Dickenson County ~ www.dickensoncounty.net/
Lee County ~ www.rootsweb.com/~valee/lchgs.htm
Russell County Genealogy ~ www.russell.lib.va.us/localhistory.htm
Scott County ~ http://scottcountyva.info/
Tazewell County ~ www.mindspring.com/~ronwags/Tazgen.html
Washington County ~ www.rootsweb.com/~vawashin/historic.htm
Wise County ~ www.wisevahistoricalsoc.org/

Dante Lives On, Inc.   www.danteliveson.org  
Community revitalization non-profit group working to preserve the old Bank/Beer Garden building in Dante, Virginia, as The Dante Coal Mining and Railroad Museum. When completed, this center will be a gathering place for local people and visitors, and an education center where school children can learn about their heritage. Annual Reunion Festival: Second Saturday in August.

Clinch Mountain Links

The Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area is the most biologically diverse tract under Commonwealth of Virginia control. Laurel Bed Lake and the waters of Tumbling Creek are popular for fishing. Hunting, camping, and hiking on this 25,477 acre tract are also allowed. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wmas/detail.asp?pid=21

Richard Kretz's Photo Gallery. Stunning photos of the Clinch Mountain WMA.
http://www.pbase.com/rkretz/clinch_mountain_wildlife_management_area&page=1

The Clinch Mountain Birding and Wildlife Loop running through four counties has been developed for public enjoyment by the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries.  http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/loop.asp?trail=2&loop=MCM

The Carter Family Fold is the memorial music center at Hiltons where every weekend musicians perform for a packed house in the shadow of Clinch Mountain, celebrating this family that first recorded their old-time songs in 1927, thereby ushering in the commercial era of country music.  http://www.carterfamilyfold.org/

Ralph Stanley, the dean of bluegrass music, was born and raised on Smith Ridge, a few miles north of Clinch Mountain. Ralph and the Clinch Mountain Boys perform all over the country and have an annual festival at his homeplace in Dickenson County. http://drralphstanley.com/index.shtml

The Clinch Mountain MusicFest, held in June at Natural Tunnel State Park near Gate City, is a heritage celebration of life in Appalachia. http://www.clinchfest.net/