The Life and Times of Ray Hicks Released
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 09:38PM | Lynn 
The release of The Life and Times of Ray Hicks Keeper of the Jack Tales is a long awaited event that has finally come to pass. It happened yesterday in a rather unceremonious manner when UPS left a small box of books from the University of Tennessee Press beside the gate that leads to my back yard.
Who knows why, on such an important day, the delivery person walked passed my covered front porch (where packages are always placed) and left my precious books that represent seven years of work on the concrete walkway in the blazing sun. Never mind I had received notice from my editor that the books should arrive on Monday in time for a presentation I was making for the Allegheny Public Library in Sparta, NC (at 6:30 P.M.). The "Appalachian Story Quilt" is a fairly popular program that I present as part of the North Carolina Humanities Council's speakers programs offered across the state. I promised my host, Debbie Brewer, that I'd bring the brand new book and read from it.
So, there I was, peeking out the front window all day long to get a glimpse of the porch just to see if a box was there. As I gathered my North Carolina story quilt, the Gone With the Wind quilt, and my grandmother's 1936 crazy quilt made from her old dress scraps, I sighed with disappointment that the new book was not going to make the trip with me. Resigned to "carry on," yelled for my son to come and please help me load the trunk with my artifacts, a few books, and a large framed Bob Timberlake poster I use as part of my show and tell.
"Mom, why did you leave a box in front of the gate for me to fall over?" Brian hollered (that's Appalachian speak).
I hadn't left anything outside. But there in front of me was THE best sight of my day--an ordinary cardboard box with the UT return address. Needless to say, my hands were nearing shaking when I took a knife to the packing tape and flipped back the top of the box. Wow! There is no better feeling (well maybe a few things are more exciting) than seeing a brightly colored, beautiful cover with my name written on the front cover.
Read about the new book on this site. It is available in all book stores and online. I'm going to be busy on road within the next few weeks doing readings and Appalachian history presentations. Best of all, I'll get to talk about the Jack tales. Look for more about Jack the trickster and Jack the hero. He is not nearly as famous as he should be.
Reader Comments (4)
I was actually planning to do an Aug 28 post about Mr. Hicks, but since your book is a perfect match to my readership, I'm wondering how you'd feel about a quick interview?
I was a professor of Biology at Lees-McRae College from 1968 to 1993 and took an interest in Ray Hicks. Spent several hours going up to his place and talking with Rosa, Ted and Ray.
I have several photos of Ray and his cousin Stanley which I'd like to share with you (for free) as I feel you might like to have. Not sure how to get them to you, perhaps send them to an address or e-mail them.
I also have a couple of incidents about Ray that I'd like to relate to you.
Thanks for writing such a good book about Ray Hicks and his "way of life".
I have all the rest of books about Ray Hicks over here. In fact now waiting for the large 20X30 prints of him to arrive by ship to display. Cannot wait to have a copy ready for me when I return in late October. Very interesting in trying to explain to a totally different culture the images Hicks presents and his language in the tapes is hilarious to these kids in Cambodia trying to learn "proper" American English. Save me a copy.
les