Weaverville – The Seventeenth Annual Art in Autumn Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival transformed Main Street into a vibrant celebration of local talent and community spirit. Among the many artists and craftspeople showcasing their work was local author Clint Parker, who held a book signing at Tessa’s Shoppe Around the Corner for his first book, “DATELINE: Small-Town, USA.”
Parker, a senior contributor and former editor of the Weaverville Tribune, uses his book to explore themes of growth and the challenges faced by a town that is both flourishing and fading. “I wrote this book for the people of the area to let them know who covered the news for them and what my motivation was,” he explained. “It’s a record, a history of it.”
As festival-goers strolled through the artistic displays, Parker sat at a small desk near the shop’s front door, where he welcomed a steady stream of customers and supporters. “Today was overwhelming,” he shared. “The support of the people coming by to thank me or bring books they had bought to sign was humbling.” His deep connection to Weaverville is evident throughout his writing, as he chronicles events and local personalities, offering candid insights into the community he has called home for generations.
“DATELINE: Small-Town, USA” serves as both a reflection and a history of the experiences that have shaped Weaverville. Parker expressed hope that readers would find value in the stories shared within its pages. “I don’t expect it to be a big sell or anything,” he said. “But I do want it to be something people can go to and say, ‘Hey, here’s something that happened,’ and know it’s true.”
While he has no immediate plans to promote his book in nearby Asheville, Parker remains committed to documenting local history. “History is something I love to put out,” he noted, emphasizing his dedication to preserving the narrative of his community.
As the festival buzzed around him, Parker also hinted at potential future writing endeavors. He mentioned an interest in exploring fictional history in his next project, sharing, “I’ve got another one that I’ve had for a while; it’s on some family history. It’ll be fictional history that I’ve got kind of in the background.”
Reflecting on his journey as an author, Parker acknowledged the challenges he faced while writing his book. “It took five years, so it’s not something that happened overnight,” he said, revealing that many stories were drawn from years past and re-edited for inclusion.
Despite the hard work involved, Parker’s humor shone through as he joked about his literary aspirations, claiming, “I told people coming up that this book was written by the next Ernest Hemingway.” When met with skepticism, he playfully responded, “Yeah, by me.”
The Art in Autumn Festival, which featured 114 juried artists and craftspeople alongside live music, was a testament to Weaverville’s rich cultural heritage. The festival not only highlighted local talent but also fostered a sense of community, as families and friends gathered to celebrate creativity amid the beautiful fall weather.
As Clint Parker’s book signing demonstrated, local authors play a crucial role in preserving the stories that shape their communities. The event served as a reminder of the importance of community connections, showcasing not just artistic expression but also the narrative threads that bind the town together.