from THE MOUNTAINEER, Waynesville NC  6-26-2012 “Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina” by Hendersonville author Jack J. Prather is a collection of mini-biographies that capture the life and career journeys of people from across the region who made their marks from anywhere in the state, nation or world. The notables have succeeded in law, faith, education, medical, military, non-profit, music, poetry, master crafts and art. They include Waynesville’s the Rev. Dr. Dan Matthews, iconic priest at Ground Zero on 9/ll, and co-owner of the Swag Inn, in Waynesville.

Others highlighted in the book are David Holt, musician-storyteller and PBS-TV host — Fairview; Doug Orr, President Emeritus of Warren Wilson College and Dr. Olson Huff, founding Medical Director of Mission Children's Hospital in Asheville — Black Mountain; Judge Harry C. Martin, former N.C. and Cherokee Supreme Court Justice — Biltmore Forest; Julyan Davis, British-born Southern art master — Asheville; Dr. Matt Hayes, emergency physician pioneer — Hendersonville; Billie Ruth Sudduth, basket artist and the first woman N.C. Living Treasure and Richard Ritter, N.C. Living Treasure studio glass artist and honored fireman— Bakersville; Capt. Ray West, USNR-ret., founder of the Moldova World Children’s Fund — Flat Rock; Glenis Redmond, hall of fame performance poet and Kennedy Center Teaching Artist — Asheville; and Joe Epley, global public relations leader and PRSA Lifetime Achievement honoree Tryon.

The 400-page book released by Future Now Publishing features 134 photos of the notables, and includes testimonials from ABC-TV’s Katie Couric, late traditional music legend Doc Watson, former N.C. Governor Jim Hunt, N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshal, former State Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Exum and others.

The centerpiece of each biography is the notable’s life-journey, as told to the author. Prather’s goal was to capture the ‘core essences’ of each subject. In April, Prather founded the Young Writers Scholarship at Warren Wilson College. Further information about Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina and the Young Writers Scholarship is available at www.futurenowpublishing.com.