The New Editions

Jodi Rhoden, owner of Short Street Cakes in Asheville, built on her love of baking with her first book, Cake Ladies: Celebrating a Southern Tradition. Photographs by Jennifer Haynes

The New Editions

The day to tear open those colorfully wrapped packages under the tree is near. If you’re still looking for gifts for folks on your list, check out these recently released books penned by our region’s own. Plus, don’t miss upcoming signings and events at bookshops across WNC.

Cake Ladies: Celebrating a Southern Tradition
Jodi Rhoden | Lark Crafts (2011)
Cake Ladies: Celebrating a Southern Tradition is one-part cookbook and two-parts homage to 17 women carrying on the sweetest of food traditions. Baker, blogger, and owner of Short Street Cakes in Asheville, Jodi Rhoden traveled the South in pursuit of bakers, their stories, and recipes. Each account reveals a bit about each cake lady and how she came to be known for her special dessert. Accompanying every story are recipes, from classics such as pineapple upside-down, Italian cream, and Gullah Dirty cakes, to new twists on old favorites, including vegan red velvet cupcakes and hummingbird cake topped with dried pineapple flowers. —Sarah Hinson

Lions of the West
Robert Morgan | Algonquin (2011)
The 10 most influential figures of Manifest Destiny and America’s westward expansion form the subject matter for New York Times bestselling author Robert Morgan’s epic new biography, Lions of the West. It’s a compelling and accomplished exploration of one of the most significant periods of America’s development. Morgan encapsulates the milestones and key players, including Thomas Jefferson and Davy Crockett, with prose that’s graceful and rife with stylistic flourishes. —Joshua Simcox

Waking
Ron Rash | Hub City Press (2011)
Award-winning Southern poet, novelist, and short-story writer Ron Rash presents his fourth collection of poetry, Waking. With evocative imagery and crisp, melodic prose, the Western Carolina University professor crafts dozens of beautiful, at times elegiac, gems that recall a hardscrabble Appalachian existence of yesteryear. From the eerie imagery of “Tobacco Barn” to the weary narrator of “Three A.M. and the Stars were Out,” a country veterinarian on a late-night call who feels like an “old, drowsy god tired of answering prayers,” the words are as lean and weathered as the subject matter. —JS

Highland Books | Brevard
December 16, 5-7 p.m.
Highland Books is hosting a signing by author Susan M. Lefler for her new book, Brevard Then & Now, at the Aethelwold Hotel in downtown. (828) 884-2424; highlandbooksbrevard.com

Malaprops Bookstore | Asheville
December 17, 1 p.m.
On Saturday, Elizabeth Englehardt will be at Malaprops signing her latest book A Mess of Greens, covering food culture and gender studies of the South. And next month, don’t miss Western North Carolina authors David Joy (January 14) and Rose Senehi (January 28) for signings of their new books, which you can read about in the January/February issue of WNC magazine. (828) 254-6734; www.malaprops.com

Spellbound Children’s Bookshop | Asheville
December 17, 2-4 p.m.
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Archie Comics, Spellbound will host a Creating Comics workshop and talk by Archie Comics co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit. (828) 232-2228; www.spellboundchildrensbookshop.com

City Lights Bookstore | Sylva
December 21, 6-9 p.m.
Western North Carolina author Scott Nicholson will sign his three latest horror novels: Chronic Fear, Liquid Fear and his short story collection, Monster Ink. (828) 586-9499; www.citylightsnc.com