A BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BLOG

KIND HEARTS, THIS IS GARY CARDEN, THE FELLOW WHO OCCASIONALLY POSTS STUFF ON THIS BLOG.  I AM A STORYTELLER AND PLAYWRIGHT WHO LOVES APPALACHIAN CULTURE AND I SERVE AS THE MC FOR A MARVELOUS PROGRAM CALLED THE LIARS BENCH.  IT IS A SUCCESS BECAUSE IT MERELY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STORYTELLERS, MUSICIANS, POETS, AND YES, EVEN PLAYWRIGHTS TO PERFORM BEFORE A LIVE AUDIENCE.  THE LIARS BENCH HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR THREE YEARS NOW, AND THANKS TO THE GOOD PEOPLE AT THE MOUNTAIN HERITAGE CENTER, WE HAVE A PLACE TO MEET ON THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH. AT THE PRESENT, WE ARE
INVESTIGATING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO TAKE ON SOME ASPECTS OF FOLKLORE AND HISTORY THAT NEED TO BE EXPLORED.

HOWEVER, THE REAL REASON I AM  POSTING THIS MESSAGE IS, I FEEL I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT THIS BLOG OCCASIONALLY TAKES ON TOPICS THAT MAY SEEM A BIT "UNRELATED" TO STORYTELLING AND FOLKLORE.  I DO BOOK REVIEWS AND EDIT A FOLKLORE COLUMN.  THAT MEANS THAT I OCCASIONALLY DISCUSS MOVIES, CURRENT FICTION AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT PROVOKES MY INTEREST.  I PUBLISH SOME OF MY REVIEWS ON THIS BLOG, AND SINCE THEY MAY DEAL WITH TOPICS THAT YOU MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN, YOU MAY STOP READING MY BLOG.  PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.  AND IF I HAPPEN TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT PROVOKES YOUR INTEREST, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  SOMETIMES, IT GET A LITTLE LONESOME UP HERE IN RHODES COVE.  ASK ME SOMETHING PROVOCATIVE!

FOR EXAMPLE, I AM CURRENTLY INTERESTED IN NEW APPALACHIAN WRITERS, THE "WALKING DEAD" (MOVIES AND GRAPHIC NOVELS), FAMOUS MURDER TRIALS (THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE, JEFFERY MACDONALD, ETC.) AND NOW I HAVE GOTTEN HOOKED ON "GAME OF THRONES" AND A BUNCH HORROR WRITERS FROM SWEDEN.  EVENTUALLY, I WILL ALWAYS RETURN TO THE STORIES AND REFLECT APPALACHIAN CULTURE.  PLEASE STAY WITH ME.  IF I STRAY TOO FAR AFIELD, DON'T STOP READING MY BLOG....COMPLAIN!  WHEN
WE BEGIN PREPARING FOR ANOTHER LIARS BENCH PERFORMANCE, I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.

GARY CARDEN