Stories and songs in Boonville

A new series of events entitled “Stories and Songs” is slated to begin Thursday, May 30 at 6 p.m. in the Regional Studies Room of the Boonville Community Public Library.

“The purpose of the Stories and Songs Series is to help build a sense of community, keep traditions alive, and better understand the unique culture of Appalachia and the mountain valley hill country of Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin. Words and music show us where we’ve been, who we are, and most importantly where we are from,” said event organizers.

The May 30 event will feature two award-winning writers, Trevor McKensie and Matthew Wimberly. McKensie is a storyteller, ballad singer, fiddle player, actor, and author of Otto Wood, recently published by University of North Carolina Press. He is also Director of the Appalachian Studies Center at Appalachian State University in Boone.

Wimberly has published two books: All the Great Territories, and Daniel Boone’s Window. He is the recipient of the prestigious Weatherford Award for Writing from Berea College.