Upcoming Events
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
Silent Book Club - First Fridays
Bring a book with you (or grab one off of our shelves!), read quietly for one hour (7-8pm), then talk about it with other people (or not) if you choose to (8-9pm)! Tell people about what you’re reading and hear about what other people are reading. (Or just keep reading quietly by yourself for the second hour—it’s up to you!)
Nancy Schutt McCorkle Author Talk & Book Signing
Join us as for a special Black History Month event with Nancy Schutt McCorkle—81-year-old debut author of the historical fiction novel The End of the Sidewalk.
ABOUT THE END OF THE SIDEWALK
Going to a new school is scary, especially when your best friend dumps you.
In 1961, on a warm summer day in Jackson, Mississippi, a bus arrives in town that will spark change. White and Black people get off the bus and challenge norms that have been in place for decades.
All Trudy Scuffer wants for her birthday is a horse, and she’s worried about starting junior high—really worried. It’s a big change. She likes the familiar patterns and people of her life. The only change she really wants is a horse.
But on her birthday, she sees the bus full of Freedom Riders, and Trudy starts down a path to understand what they’re doing and why.
At the same time, she struggles with her mother’s work as a civil rights activist, but learns why it’s so important. Unfortunately, Trudy also learns how divisive and mean people can be, which puts her relationship with her best friend in jeopardy.
Trudy must figure out where she stands regarding the changes that are happening in her town. But will her views keep her best friend away forever?
If you liked Night on Fire by Ronald Kidd or Ruby Lee and Me by Shannon Hitchcock, then you’ll love The End of the Sidewalk.
ABOUT NANCY SCHUTT MCCORKLE
Nancy Schutt McCorkle grew up in Jackson, Mississippi during the Civil Rights Era. She lived in Georgia for 40 years and was a teacher of children with special needs. She was editor of the yearbook at the University of Southern Mississippi. While in Georgia, she attended the Coastal Georgia Writing Project under the direction of the late Pat Fox and the seed for her novel was planted. The End of the Sidewalk is her first novel. She is a member of Society of Children’s Book Writer & Illustrators. She now lives in North Carolina with her family. Her hobbies include writing, reading, walking, and gardening.
Freddy Bradburn Performs “Fathers and Sons”
Join us for an afternoon of original music from award-winning songwriter Freddy Bradburn, performing songs from his album Fathers and Sons!
Freddy Bradburn taught communications, theater, and storytelling at McDowell Tech for more than 20 years. He is also an award-winning songwriter, mulit-instrumentalist, and member of the local trio The Happy Enchiladas. He has had two original musicals produced by the local theater. Presently, Freddy created and directs a youth string band that performs in the community.
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
Fire Cider Making Class
Join us for a fun class on making fire cider, hosted by Angela De Nigro! Cost is $5 for supplies for each jar you plan to make and take home. (Donations are also welcome and appreciated.)
Angela intends to share the process of making an immune-boosting herbal tonic by infusing apple cider vinegar with ingredients like garlic, ginger, horseradish, and peppers, plus herbs and citrus, to support wellness through the stressors of daily life.
This hands-on class will cover history, ingredients, and customization, allowing you to create and take home your own jar of a flavorful natural herbal medicine, which in folk traditions can be used for digestion, immunity, and respiratory health.
Participants will leave with their own jar of freshly made fire cider, ready to support their own health!
When: Saturday, January 24, 7pm
Where: Bigfoot Books & Brews
What to Bring: $5 for supplies for each jar you want to make
Questions? Submit via the RSVP form below!
We ask that you please RSVP by using the form below so Angela knows how many supplies to bring:
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
Songwriter Night hosted by Freddy Bradburn
Join us for a night of original music hosted by Freddy Bradburn!
Hosted by award-winning songwriter, educator, and playwright Freddy Bradburn, FEATURING performances from all of you!
Would you like to perform at our first Songwriter Night? Just contact Freddy to get on the list to perform!
Freddy Bradburn taught communications, theater, and storytelling at McDowell Tech for more than 20 years. He is also an award-winning songwriter, mulit-instrumentalist, and member of the local trio The Happy Enchiladas. He has had two original musicals produced by the local theater. Presently, Freddy created and directs a youth string band that performs in the community.
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
Vanessa Miller Author Talk & Book Signing
Join us for this very special Black History Month event with USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Miller—author of historical fiction titles The Filling Station, The American Queen, and dozens of other books!
RSVP IS REQUIRED: We are asking you to RSVP in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements for seating, coffee, etc.:
ABOUT THE FILLING STATION
“Should be required reading.” —Library Journal, starred review
Two sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.
Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma—also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all—movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.
Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.
But they eventually realize that they can't hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them--and their community--to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost.
The Filling Station weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported into a story about strong Black women in a pivotal moment of history.
Discussion questions are included, so it’s perfect for book clubs! Keep your tissues nearby because this one is practically guaranteed to make you feel all the feelings.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN QUEEN
“A hidden gem in American history.” —Publishers Weekly
A Christy Award WINNER | A 2024 American Fiction Award WINNER | A 2025 Audie Awards WINNER | Best Historical Fiction of 2024 (She Reads)
There is only one known queen who truly ruled a kingdom on American soil.
Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen is based on actual events that occurred between 1865-1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life. As seen on Good Morning America: GMA 15 New Books to Reads.
Kingdom of the Happy Land in The Asheville Citizen newspaper, 1957
The article on page two of The Asheville Citizen from July 11, 1957, explores the beginnings of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a vision brought to life by Robert Montgomery.
After the Civil War, Montgomery, a former slave owner, sought a new beginning for himself and his former slaves. With the abolition of slavery, these newly freed individuals faced numerous challenges and uncertainties as they navigated their newfound freedom.
Over the 24 years she was enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there’s no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.
But when William finally listens to Louella’s pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people off the plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.
Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness—and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.
The American Queen weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported to a pivotal period in American history, where oppressed people become extraordinary heroes.
ABOUT VANESSA MILLER
“Miller captivates with a propulsive historical based on a true story.” —Publishers Weekly
Vanessa Miller is a USA Today bestselling author. Her writing has been centered on themes of redemption and books about strong Black women in pivotal moments of history. Vanessa is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in 1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has been centered on themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.
Miller’s book, The American Queen won the prestigious Christy Award, the Audie Award, and was the 2024 American Fiction Award winner for Historical Fiction. The American Queen is a North Carolina Reads pick for 2025.
Her novel, The Filling Station, has received starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist. It is a Positively Charlotte book club pick and a USA Today bestseller.
Vanessa’s novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine’s Bestseller’s List.
Miller graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication. She and her family live in the Charlotte, NC, area.
Silent Book Club - First Fridays
Bring a book with you (or grab one off of our shelves!), read quietly for one hour (7-8pm), then talk about it with other people (or not) if you choose to (8-9pm)! Tell people about what you’re reading and hear about what other people are reading. (Or just keep reading quietly by yourself for the second hour—it’s up to you!)
Catherine Yael Serota Author Talk & Book Signing
Join us as for a special afternoon event with Catherine Yael Serota, Flag Pond, Tennessee-based author of the new book An Appalachian Life: A Storyteller’s Perspective.
ABOUT AN APPALACHIAN LIFE
Everyone loves a good story. However, storytelling, whether written or spoken, is a talent not everyone possesses. In An Appalachian Life, Catherine Yael Serota shares her gift through stories about her mountain life and tales from history and her imagination.
From the awfulest Christmas tree and Peking duck to stories of an unsung war hero and a couple of mischievous boys named Bobby and Jack, Catherine’s tales are humorous and heartwarming.
Whether you grew up in the mountains or have never even seen one, you will love reading these short stories—some fact, some fiction—about life in Appalachia.
ABOUT CATHERINE YAEL SEROTA
Catherine was born in a 100-year-old log house in Eastern Buncombe County, North Carolina. It was a magical plot of land, surrounded by mature oaks, maples, white and jack pines and hemlock. Huge azaleas, mountain laurel, and rhododendron garnished the house with a dense woodland beyond. She lived there with her mother and father for six years until they moved into a house her mother built.
The next door neighbors, a childless couple, gave Catherine a tender upbringing during the day while her mother taught at Asheville-Biltmore College and her father worked at Morgan Brothers School Supply. Her father taught her to read at four years of age by under-lining the sentences in the Asheville Citizen-Times with his finger, beginning a lifelong love of reading, writing, and learning. When asked what has motivated her, she answers, “A continual child-like curiosity in all aspects of the world.”
Catherine was blessed by an extensive education at Saint Genevieve of the Pines Academy for Girls, including summers with a French family in Grenoble. First published at age 12 in The Laurel, the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s creative writing magazine, she attended UNCA and Mars Hill College simultaneously. Catherine earned her undergraduate degrees at age 18 and proceeded to the Department of Political Science at North Carolina State University.
Her career goal was the Foreign Service, but she did not pursue that, opting instead to manage programs in two federal anti-poverty agencies: HUD’s Model Cities Program and the Office of Economic Opportunity. Subsequently, she studied psychology and counseling at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, followed by theology at Beacon University, earning the Doctorate in Ministry.
Catherine’s career path has taken her to 40 years’ private, institutional, and community mental health practice. She served as the director of a women’s services program. Catherine spent twenty-five wonderful years as the owner-operator of the Glenfiddich Tree Farm producing Fraser Fir Christmas trees, seedlings and transplants for other growers and a 7000-unit container yard of hemlock and native ornamentals. A two year sabbatical from mental health services took her to the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service where she wrote grants to the federal government Department of Agriculture, and managed the Integrated Pest Management program serving growers of Fraser Fir, Canadian hemlock, tomatoes, apples, and alfalfa.
Her storytelling experience began when her soon-to-be husband, Wallace Shealy took her to an Asheville Storytelling Circle Christmas Party where she was invited to tell a story. She stood up and told “The Awfullest Christmas Tree” off the top of her head. Prior to this evening, she had thought stories were for little children and bedtimes. Since then, she has told at Asheville’s Front Porch, the Hendersonville Center for the Arts, the Blue Ridge Storytelling Summit, the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, several libraries including Asheville’s Pack Libraries, Hendersonville Library, and the Unicoi Public Library. Community and Senior Services Centers, churches, synagogues, the Center for Pioneer Living and Sycamore Shoals State Park are included in her venues. There are several appearances at Tellabration!™, the Mountain Makins Festival, the Stone Soup Festival, the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild, the Asheville Storytellers Circle, and writing for and performing before the live audience of the Story Town Radio Show on a monthly basis.
Catherine does make time for other activities including an organic garden growing beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, herbs, squash, okra, peppers and Chinese vegetables. She cans, freezes and dehydrates the harvest. Catherine is said to be a good cook and loves to entertain. Traveling and reading are two other hobbies she pursues, in addition to supporting several non-profit organizations.
“A continual, child-like curiosity in all aspects of the world” has been, and is, her motivation.
Heather Leah Author Talk & Book Signing
Join us as for a special afternoon event with Heather Leah, “The Hidden Historian” and author of the new book Lost Towns of North Carolina.
RSVP IS REQUESTED: We are asking you to RSVP in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements for seating, coffee, etc.:
ABOUT LOST TOWNS OF NORTH CAROLINA
Take an adventure through ruins of ghost towns and lost communities in the Old North State. Explore isolated settlements like Lost Cove, hidden so deep in the mountains that no roads reach it. Ferry out to Portsmouth Island, where a ghost town has withstood multiple wars and generations of hurricanes. Explore the ruins of Brunswick Town, a port community of secret rebels destroyed in the Revolutionary War as punishment for “treason” against the British. Visit decaying remains in Snow Camp, a community that sheltered freedom seekers in the Underground Railroad.
ABOUT HEATHER LEAH
You may also know Heather Leah as Candid Slice, Downtown Dino, or The Blue Beacon. She is passionate about building community through storytelling. She has her hands in many of the exciting events in Downtown Raleigh and Cary, NC.
She loves giving talks at community forums and conventions, like Pecha Kucha, SPARKCon, or at the CORMuseum. At the end of the day, she just loves highlighting people’s stories and connecting community through the power of storytelling.
Heather has served as a Commissioner on Raleigh’s Historic Development Commission, driving community awareness. Her past work includes being the Hidden History Segment Journalist at WRAL TV and ABC11 / WTVD.
She is currently the Historian guide for The Great Raleigh Trolley.
Independent Bookstore Day
Come celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at Bigfoot Books & Brews in downtown Marion, NC!
Peter Ivey Author Talk & Book Signing
Join us as for a special evening of poetry with Peter Ivey, author of the new book After the Storm (Poems and Prayers) inspired by Hurricane Helene.
ABOUT AFTER THE STORM
In the months that followed Hurricane Helene, poetry became Peter Ivey’s open window through which to breathe out sorrow and confusion, a refuge from the heartache, a sanctuary of hope and divine light.
For those who have endured their own floodwaters, watched their own forests fall, After the Storm offers a way through the muck, a glimmer of what-could-be, a hand to hold on the journey toward healing.
ABOUT PETER IVEY
Peter Ivey founded Four Seasons Soul Care with the desire to accompany others on their unique version of sacred journey.
He is a graduate of Furman University (BA Religion), Denver Seminary (MA Leadership), and the Soul Care Institute. Currently, he is a spiritual direction apprentice at Anam Cara.
Apart from offering soul care, he loves trail running, getting his hands dirty in his garden, attending live concerts, and playing soccer. He also enjoys writing! He is the co-author of Solo: Creating Space with God and co-creator of The State of My Soul. You can also find his poetry through his Substack newsletter, This House of Longing.
Peter lives in Asheville, NC, with his wife, Becca, and their three wonderful children.
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
National Irish Coffee Day
Sunday 1/25 is National Irish Coffee Day, and we’re excited to announce our very first cryptid-themed coffee mocktail—The Dobhar Chú (pronounced doh-war-koo), a delicious non-alcoholic version of the Irish original. This hot and hearty drink is named after the gargantuan beast (sometimes referred to as the King Otter) that is said to have once lurked beneath the surface of Glenade Lake in County Leitrim. Come enjoy a hot (or cold, if you’re crazy like that) NA Irish coffee to celebrate with us!
“Sometimes known as the King Otter, the dobhar-chú is a gargantuan beast said to have once lurked beneath the surface of Glenade Lake in Glenade Valley, Co. Leitrim. A headstone, found in the nearby Conwall Cemetary, bears an image of its likeness. Dating back to September 1722, this headstone marks the burial site of Grace Connolly, a woman became the tragic victim of the King Otter while washing her clothes on the shore of the lake one morning.
“Though the story of the Glenade Lake dobhar-chú is easily the creature’s most famous appearance in Irish mythohistory, it’s far from the only one. In the 1896 edition of The Journal of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, a reader, Ms. Walkington, wrote a letter that described her sighting of a creature ‘half-wolfdog, half-fish.’ Her letter was responded to some time later by Mr. H. Chinchester Hart, who had heard stories of a creature identical to what she described. He called him ‘The king of all lakes and father of all otters,’ and claimed he could ‘run his muzzle through rocks.’
“In the year 2000, renowned Irish artist Sean Corcoran reported witnessing the appearance of a dobhar-chú in a lake while visiting Connemara’s Omey Island with his wife. He said, ‘The creature swam the width of the lake from west to east in what seemed like a matter of seconds.’ After doing so, it gave ‘the most haunting screech’ he had ever heard, and disappeared into the water.”
(Source: FolkloreThursday.com)
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
Used Media Donation Drop-Off Day
Clean off your shelves and bring your pre-loved (gently used) paperbacks, hardcovers, DVDs, and Blu-Rays to our Used Media Donation Drop-Off Day on Saturday, January 17, 1–9pm!
We’re accepting books for all ages in readable condition. (Sorry, no magazines.) For each book, DVD, or Blu-Ray you bring, you’ll get one entry in a drawing for 2 tickets to see Saxsquatch in Asheville on Wednesday, February 18.
We can’t guarantee every book, DVD, or Blu-Ray will be sold in the shop, but anything we can’t sell will be donated to local partners—so your media will still find good homes! Your donations help us keep quality books and movies at lower prices for our community.
When: Saturday, January 17, 1–9pm
Where: Bigfoot Books & Brews
What to Bring: Clean, gently-used books, DVDs, and Blu-Rays (all ages)
What Not to Bring: Magazines, moldy/damaged books
Questions? Fill out our contact form or simply email shop@bigfootbooksnc.com
Pop-Up Game Night
Join us for another SUPER FUN pop-up game night hosted by our friends Grace Kendall and Mike Belsole from the Tabletop Inn right here in Marion, NC!
Mike and Grace will be bringing a variety of games with them from the inn that are suitable for families and seasoned gamers alike.
Come out and try your hand at some fun party games and/or strategy games!
“Mike and Grace were the most amazing and accommodating hosts! Truly could not ask for better. Also, Mike is an excellent teacher for rules and how to play different board games!” —Tabletop Inn visitor review
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
“The Librarians” Free Group Viewing Party
Join us for a FREE group viewing party of the award-winning documentary “The Librarians” followed by a post-screening conversation with Director/Producer Kim A. Snyder, Film Participant/Librarian Martha Hickson, Film Participant/#FReadom Fighter Weston Brown, with more special guests and organizations to be announced!
Snail Mail Society
Join us for the Snail Mail Society!
We will gather every Wednesday at 1pm for a casual letter writing group, hosted by Grace Kendall from the Tabletop Inn. Grace will bring some stationary, but feel free to bring your own. Anybody can write letters to people they know or maybe there's a letters-to-strangers project you'd like to participate in. Just bring your ideas, and let’s write together!
Silent Book Club - First Fridays
Bring a book with you (or grab one off of our shelves!), read quietly for one hour (7-8pm), then talk about it with other people (or not) if you choose to (8-9pm)! Tell people about what you’re reading and hear about what other people are reading. (Or just keep reading quietly by yourself for the second hour—it’s up to you!)
New Year’s Day Holiday CLOSED
We will closed on Thursday, January 1 for the New Year’s Day holiday. Happy New Year, y’all!
New Year’s Eve Great Gatsby Party
In celebration of the 100th anniversary this year of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous work — join us for a super-fun (and slightly fancy) Great Gatsby-themed New Year’s Eve party!
Jimmy and Sarah from Asheville Literary Tour will be with us to share all about F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s connections to Asheville and western North Carolina:
Western North Carolina offers many things: The mountains, the views, award-winning food, great music, and beer. Lots and lots of beer. But there is another version of our region—one that gets overlooked far too often: the history of the written word.
Our area has excited and incited many authors to pick up pens and scratch out brilliant work. Among those whose presence has left a lasting legacy are F. Scott and Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald.
Join the creators of the Asheville Literary Tour at the close of The Great Gatsby's 100th anniversary year as they detail the history of this famous couple in the region and their connections with the small towns we know and love.
Christmas Holiday CLOSED
We will closed on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25 for the Christmas holiday. Happy holidays, y’all!
Christmas Week - Special Holiday Hours
We will be OPEN on Monday and Tuesday, December 22 and 23 from 6-8am* and then again from 1-7pm. CLOSED Wednesday and Thursday.
*Yes, you read that correctly! You asked for it, so we are testing out early morning hours. So come see us dark and early.
Monthly Craft Night
Save the trip to the store this Christmas and make some handmade gifts for your friends and family. There will be an array of craft supplies available (air dry clay, paints, collaging materials, etc.) but attendees are welcome to bring any projects they want to work on as well.
“Death Café” Agenda-Free Discussion About Death*
Join us for our next “Death Café”*!
“Death Café” is a space where people can engage in open, meaningful conversations about life, death, and living fully every day.
An agenda-free discussion about death*
Hosted by Becky Knight
*Not a support group or grief counseling
Half-Price Used Book Sale*
All used books half price! Sale ends Tuesday, December 23 at 7pm.
Gareth Higgins Author Talk and Book Signing
Join us for a very special author/book event with Northern Irish peace activist and film critic Gareth Higgins and his most recent book A Whole Life in Twelve Movies—the perfect Christmas gift book for 2025!
Gareth Higgins was born in Belfast, grew up during the northern Ireland Troubles, and now spends much of his time engaged in the work of transformative storytelling in the US, and Ireland. He writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives and world, peace and making justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction in northern Ireland and helping address the legacy of conflict, received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Queen’s University Belfast, and helped teach the world’s first graduate course in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College Dublin.
He also helped found the Wild Goose, New Story and Movies & Meaning festivals. Gareth leads retreats in North America and Ireland; and he founded The Porch Magazine.
Gareth’s new book, co-authored with Kathleen Norris, is A Whole Life in Twelve Movies: A Cinematic Journey to a Deeper Spirituality. Lee Isaac Chung, director of Twisters and Minari says, “I wish there was more writing … like it.”
Fr. James Martin says it’s “endlessly fascinating,” writer-director Scott Teems says it’s “a treasure,” and author Kaitlin Curtice says, “Please read this book … You’ll be so glad you did.”
Youth String Band Showcase
Join us for an amazing night of music with Freddy Bradburn and members of his youth string band ensemble!
Hosted by award-winning songwriter, educator, and playwright Freddy Bradburn, FEATURING performances from Mr. Freddy’s young string band ensemble!
Freddy Bradburn taught communications, theater, and storytelling at McDowell Tech for more than 20 years. He is also an award-winning songwriter, mulit-instrumentalist, and member of the local trio The Happy Enchiladas. He has had two original musicals produced by the local theater. Presently, Freddy created and directs a youth string band that performs in the community.
Appalachian Potters Market
Join us at the 37th Annual Appalachian Potters Market — Bigfoot Books & Brews will be providing the coffee!
Hosted by McDowell Arts Council Association
Saturday, December 6th from 10-4pm in the Commons Area and Gymnasium of McDowell High School.
Cost: Entry is $5 for folks 16 years of age or older (cash or card)
All proceeds benefit McDowell County Arts Council (MACA)
Accessibility:
Anyone utilizing a wheelchair, cane, mobility device, stroller, or with 'bad knees' should Entrance #1 located at the main entrance of the school / front entrance of the Commons Area. This entrance will be clearly marked and has ramps accessing the parking lot. You will be able to access all areas of the market from this entrance while avoiding the stairs located at the Gym Entrance. If you have good knees, a secondary entrance is located on the upper level of the Gym at Entrance #2.
Parking:
Parking is free at Appalachian Potters Market. *Do not park in or block designated accessibility spaces or lots marked for vendors.
Christmas Book Sale! Buy 2 Books, Get 1 Free*
It’s time to buy everyone you love books for Christmas!
Buy 2 books, get 1 FREE!*
*Of equal or lesser value. Used books purchased in store only.
Sale ends Sunday, December 7.
We’ll have a lot of other things on sale this week also, including original Bigfoot artwork, our book/tote bags 50% off, gift cards, and more!
Megan Shepherd Author Talk & Book Signing
Join us on SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY for our BIGGEST AUTHOR BOOK EVENT yet!
NYTimes best-selling author Megan Shepherd will be signing copies of her #1 young adult fiction book Hour of the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas …
NOTE: Event location is Golden Hour, 44 Depot St., Marion
ABOUT THE BOOK
“One year has passed since Sally wed her beloved Jack Skellington and stepped into her role as queen of Halloween Town. Even with her Jack at her side, though, being a ruler isn’t easy, and Sally feels uncertain of her future. Her seams are stretched thin with her royal duties, her newfound family in Dream Town, and a desire to bring citizens from across the Hinterlands together.
“Then a simple potion demonstration at Sally’s inaugural Halloween exhibition goes horribly wrong, and things unravel fast: Sally and her new rag doll apprentice, Luna, fall through a mysterious portal, landing in a new realm called Time Town.
“They discover that someone has tampered with the clock that controls Halloween Town, and Sally cannot return to the present-day version of her home unless she finds the culprit and resets time.
“Sally and Luna embark on a journey to unmask the truth, encountering more towns, friends, and foes along the way. But time is ticking, and as Sally fights to save Jack and her hometown, she wonders what kind of future she really wants—and what she must sacrifice to get it.”
ABOUT MEGAN SHEPHERD
#1 New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd’s first novel, The Madman’s Daughter (HarperCollins, 2013), was a Kids’ Indie Next List selection from the American Booksellers Association, won the 2013 North Carolina Young Adult Book Award, and received a starred review from School Library Journal. It was followed by two more books in the series, Her Dark Curiosity and A Cold Legacy, and was optioned for film by Paramount Pictures and TV by Gaumont Entertainment. Megan’s second young adult series begins with The Cage (HarperCollins, 2015), a New York Times bestselling title, and is followed by The Hunt and The Gauntlet.
Her young adult fantasy novel Grim Lovelies (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018) was featured in the Winter 2019 - 2020 Indie Next List for Reading Groups and is followed by the sequel Midnight Beauties (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019). Megan’s debut middle grade title, The Secret Horses of Briar Hill (Random House, 2016), was nominated for the Carnegie Medal, received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness, and was written about in Time magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Her middle-grade novel Dog Star (FSG, 2022), based on the true story of the first dog in space, was nominated as an NCSS Notable Book. Her shorter works include the stories “Hide-and-Seek” in the young adult horror anthology Slasher Girls and Monster Boys (Penguin, 2015) and "Lady Firebrand" in the young adult historical fiction anthology The Radical Element (Candlewick, 2018). Her first book for an adult audience, Malice House (Hyperion Avenue, 2022), is about the daughter of a famous novelist who uncovers a malignant secret manuscript. It was named an Amazon Editor's Best Pick for Horror, a Barnes & Noble's Top 10 Horror Book of 2022, and received a starred review from Booklist. It is followed by the second book in the Malice Compendium, Midnight Showing (Hyperion Avenue, 2023). She was selected by Disney Studios to write the novelization of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney, 2023) for the film's 30th anniversary, as well as tapped to complete the Pumpkin Queen series (Disney, 2025 + 2026) following Sally the Rag Doll's character after the events in The Nightmare Before Christmas. Hour of the Pumpkin Queen debuted at #1 on the New York Times young adult hardcover bestseller list.
“Born” into the book world, Megan grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Interested in foreign languages and travel, she earned a degree in International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and later joined the US Peace Corps, where she spent two years living and working in a small village in Senegal. There, she partnered with a local elementary school to transcribe oral folk tales into an illustrated picture book to distribute to students. Though she has always been an avid reader, this project first sparked her interest in telling her own stories.
Megan frequently speaks to schools and libraries and has taught for UNCA’s Great Smokies Writing Program, the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the NC Writers’ Network. In previous lives, she worked for a book publisher, an environmental nonprofit, as a raft guide, a nanny, and a park ranger in Montana.
When she is not writing, she can usually be found daydreaming in cafes, hiking in the mountains, and gardening at her farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina, which she and her husband share with their children, two hives of bees, eleven chickens, two cats, two horses, a scruffy dog, and several ghosts.
Thanksgiving Holiday CLOSED
We will closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy turkey day, y’all!
The Big Fire of 1894 Anniversary
We remember the Big Fire of 1894 that destroyed many houses right here on Main Street and Court Street here in downtown Marion, NC!
“Before the fire of 1894, which gutted the town, Main Street in Marion was a collection of mostly wooded huts, houses, and buildings. The old Courthouse, located at its present location, was, however, of brick construction with two outside stairways meeting each other at the second floor. Construction began in 1843 and court was first held in 1845.
“The devastating fire of November 25, 1894 started on Sunday morning in an old building known as the ‘Ark’ which was located behind the Courthouse. The courthouse did not burn. The fire spread to Main Street and roared down the street across the railroad bridge and beyond.
“Next, it jumped across the street and went back up Main Street to Court Street. The few brick buildings were also gutted, as there was no public water supply.
“Cinders and burning timbers were blown all the way to Mt. Ida, but some houses miraculously escaped with the help of bucket brigades. Marion's citizens took in neighbors and shared what they had until permanent abodes could be established 2 or 3 years later.
“Actually, the rebuilt houses and business structures were much sturdier and much better built; and a new Marion, like the ‘Phoenix, arose from the ashes’!”
(Source: Facebook)
Big Fire of 1894 Teach-In
Join us for a special teach-in on the Big Fire of 1894!
Patti Holda, president of the McDowell County Historical Society, will be here with us to tell us about the devastating fire that took place on November 25, 1894, and possibly answer the question: Is our building haunted???
“In the early morning hours of November 25, 1894, a big fire swept through downtown Marion destroying most of the buildings in its path. At the time, most of the construction in town utilized local timber as the primary building material.
“The fire spread through Main Street and Court Street, even jumping the railroad bridge destroying everything within its path.
“With no public water supply available at the time, even the few brick buildings that existed were destroyed by the fire. Cinders and burning timbers were blown all the way to the top of Mt. Ida, but miraculously some homes escaped damage with help from bucket brigades.
“The original county courthouse building constructed between 1843 and 1845 was destroyed in the fire along with many original town documents.
“Marion’s citizens took in neighbors and shared what they had until homes and businesses could be replaced. Citizens were determined to rebuild their town, and their efforts paid off with many of those same buildings still standing today as a testament of their determination. These buildings are recognized as some of the most significant architectural resources in the community, and are identified as contributing structures within the Main Street Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”
(Source: City of Marion)
A Very Marion Christmas Parade
Let’s kickoff the Christmas season together!
Kickoff the holiday season with the City of Marion’s annual Christmas Parade on Sunday, November 23 at 3pm. The theme this year is “A McDowell Strong Christmas,” and the parade marshal is Jerry Lewis.
Spectators are welcome on Main Street to watch the festive procession!
National Espresso Day
National Espresso Day is celebrated on November 23rd every year. This drink owes its existence to the espresso machine — a machine first patented in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo from Turin, Italy. When this machine was invented, it was listed as a steam machine for the instantaneous way it processed a cup of coffee.
The word espresso in Italian means “quick in time.” Before the advent of the espresso machine, espresso was simply a coffee expressly made for the person ordering it. It was also made with recently roasted and freshly ground beans. The cup was brewed shortly before serving. In the late 1800s, this practice was commonplace in cafés and restaurants.
Natural Perfume Make & Take
Join us at BigFoot Books & Brews on November 22 at 7:00 PM for a luxe, sensory-rich Pure-Fume Night.
“Death Café” Agenda-Free Discussion About Death*
Join us for our next “Death Café”*!
“Death Café” is a space where people can engage in open, meaningful conversations about life, death, and living fully every day.
An agenda-free discussion about death*
Hosted by Becky Knight
*Not a support group or grief counseling