‘Come Saturday’

By Joe Tennis
Features Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: July 12, 2008

Appalachian Author Doris Musick Pens Tale

HOLSTON, Va. – It’s another bustling day on the festival trail for Doris Musick, as this white-haired, curly-topped writer answers questions from passersby while in Holston, a tiny village in Washington County, Va.
She’s set up to sell her books at a roadside craft fair. And all day, Musick shares stories on how she takes tidbits of local history and weaves that into novels.
To date, she’s done that three times now – most recently with the new “Come Saturday” (MtnValy Publishing, $12.95).
“I love writing about the folks of Appalachia,” Musick said. “I find them to be a proud populace – interesting, innovative, loyal and, above all, they know how to look after their own.”
Musick should know. Born in Meadowview, Musick moved to Abingdon at the age of 9.
These days, Musick won’t reveal her age, instead saying “I am in the early glow of retirement.”
She lives with her husband, Larry, in a remote corner of Russell County, not far from Cleveland.
For several years, Musick wrote articles about rural life for a magazine called Country. Ultimately, those articles turned to wanting to write a book.
“About four years ago, I started researching a story which began in the late 1700s,” Musick said. “And the more I researched, the more exciting the tale was becoming. It was much too good to break down to short articles so it became my first book, ‘The Starched Apron.’ ” 
After that, Musick brought a newfound flock of fans “Up the Water Spout,” her second novel. Later, Musick contemplated writing a book about the 1912 Carroll County Courthouse shooting in Hillsville.
But “Come Saturday” turned up instead.
The title comes from “the manner of speech of rural folks. When expressing a future plan of action, their sentences will begin, ‘Come spring’ or ‘Come Saturday,’ ” Musick said. “And they will complete their statement with an explanation of what is to occur when that time arrives. In this case, the plan was to secure corn meal for the family’s needs in each coming week – ‘Come Saturday.’ ”
But hey – let’s not give away too much of the story.
This is a work set in Russell County. The cover of the book shows Cleveland, Va., in 1930.
“While the core of the story takes place a bit further into the mountainous region,” Musick said, “Cleveland was the nearest town and that was where the people would find a doctor, a rail depot and other businesses necessary for their existence.”
This book is a bit different than earlier releases, Musick said.
“My other books cover a span of several years in the life of one family,” Musick added. “Except for the final chapter, this book takes place in the span of one week and touches many families.”

BOOKSIGNING & MORE
Doris Musick will be signing copies of her books at the Hungry Mother State Park Arts and Crafts Festival on July 18-20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in Marion. She will also be signing books at the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon on the Barter Green on July 26-30.

TO ORDER THEM
What: Books by Doris Musick, including “Come Saturday”
Web: http://www.dorismusick.com
E-mail:
Info: (276) 889-4599