This book is based on a collection of interviews with some of the region’s most successful people from NASCAR President Michael Helton to acclaimed author Lee Smith. The book chronicles their inspiring journeys to success, as well as the personal and cultural values that each person credits for driving them to their achievements. Though they come from very different walks of life they all have in common the belief, as taught by southwest Virginia native and global bestselling motivational writer Napoleon Hill, that success is not about wealth but the power of the mind.

Praise for Success in Hill Country:

“When I was growing up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the Great Depression, I dreamed the impossible dream of becoming a writer.  In time I found heroes like Thomas Wolfe, John Fox Jr, and Jesse Stuart who inspired me.   In her interviews with folks who have achieved success in every area from sports to medicine, from writing to education, Amy Clark’s stories will inspire the reader to achieve his or her dreams.  As a proud son of the ‘hill country’ who has achieved a degree of success, I recommend this book with enthusiasm and admiration.”

~ Earl Hamner, creator of The Waltons

“It turns out that the mountains of southwest Virginia are not only beautiful, they have brains…Amy Clark has done us all a great service, by going to the best and brightest of our hills and tapping their infinite powers of faith, ambition and belief, to show us all a
better way to live. Brava, Amy!"

~ Adriana Trigiani, author of the bestselling
Big Stone Gap novel series

Forthcoming book about Appalachian Englishes (untitled)
(University Press of Kentucky: Fall, 2012) 

Co-edited with Nancy Hayward, this book combines the latest research on speech patterns throughout Appalachia followed interpretive pieces about speaking or writing in a variety of Appalachian English by some of Appalachia’s most acclaimed writers.