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When the world slowed during the pandemic, Steve Vannoy and I found an unexpected gift in that stillness. We began recording stories from his father, Smokey Vannoy—vivid tales of a bygone West Virginia filled with cinder-bottom towns, red-light districts, and river adventures. What started as a collection of oral history soon grew into something more—a shared book project, born from legacy and love.

Adventures in Cinder Bottom became more than a family story. It turned into a vibrant retelling of time, place, and identity. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, as we reflect on our second book, Greenbrier River, we weren’t just navigating the usual creative hurdles of fiction—we were also carrying the weight of loss. Smokey passed away during the writing process, and that grief wove itself into every chapter. What makes these stories resonate is that they’re rooted in real people, real places, and a real desire to honor someone we both deeply admired.

Timestamp:

00:00 Smokey’s stories and Cinder Bottom
03:08 Greenbrier River: growth through stories
08:54 Authentic storytelling for Appalachia
11:37 Boom to bust: a county’s journey
13:32 Avoiding judgment in polarized times
16:41 Early integration in segregated America
19:34 Living stories: a father’s legacy
25:32 Believe in your story
26:46 From starter to finisher
29:18 Join Authors Who Lead podcast

Full show notes

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