Smoky Mountnain Shenanigans! — Aug 2026

It’s been way too many years since I got to toodle around the Smoky Mtns, so I was psyched to be making a return trip the land of mist-covered mountains, moonshine, and of course, the inimitable Dolly Parton. AND home to Long Story Short, one of the coolest bookstores you’ll ever get to visit!

You know how there are good friends, great friends, and great friends with whom you travel really well? Yeah. I got to go with THAT group. We used to make a trip every year or so, but life has interfered and it’s been two years since we’ve all been able to get away together so that made this trip extra special. Add in the fact that I got to do a book signing while I was there — at the COOLEST bookstore ever (!!) — and I was a very happy camper. 😊 Well, until a bear decided to UNpack the car we’d just packed, to get to the bucket of kettle corn one of our traveling companions had tucked inside the bag housing her motorized scooter. He tossed out suitcases and boxes alike to get to that bag, then pulled it out of the car and dragged it about twenty feet, then ripped open the top, and went to town on that kettle corn. Fortunately, the only thing really damaged was the scooter bag …. but let’s just say this one was a shenanigan we will ALL remember!

Happy Trails & Happy Reading!