Coming Home: A Stranger In The Smokies

While reporting on the manhunt for terrorist Eric Rudolph in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia, journalist John Christensen becomes fascinated by people in a town hard hit by economic misfortune. His initial assignment complete, he returns often over the next eighteen months to document their passion and resilience.

In a region famously suspicious of strangers, he visits with a soulful country singer, a converted New Yorker, a "hick" from Ohio, the scion of the leading family, and a shotgun-toting hermit.

Over coffee and meals, in their homes and businesses, even at a secret hideaway, he witnesses kindness and generosity, humor and hope, scandal and forgiveness, death and renewal.

But after losing his job in a corporate layoff, he sets the project aside.

He is in his 50s. At an age when his peers are retiring, he must start over at the worst of times. His industry is shrinking. He must contend with the dot-com meltdown, the Great Recession, a pandemic and yet another recession, all while haunted by self-doubt, failure and depression.

When he finally revisits the manuscript years later, he discovers something that had escaped his notice before, something that could change his life. But there's a catch: he must include a story he never thought he'd have to tell - his own.

"Coming Home: A Stranger In The Smokies" is an upbeat and uplifting story with a message of hope for those who refuse to give up.

Formato	Tapa dura
Número de Páginas	194
Lenguaje	Inglés
Editorial	Skinny Brown Dog Media
Fecha de Publicación	2023-03-01
Dimensiones	9.0" x 6.0" x 0.5" pulgadas
Letra Grande	No
Con Ilustraciones	No

Christensen, John Wade

John Christensen is an award-winning journalist, author, and contributor to multiple books, including "Perfect Swing, Imperfect Lies: The Legacy of Golf's Longest Hitter," "Serve: The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation Story," and "Voices: Reflections on an American Icon in Stories and Song." He has written for various prominent publications including The New York Times and was a senior writer at CNN.com, where he contributed to award-winning specials. Christensen's diverse journalism experience covers hard news, sports, the environment, and music criticism. He has interviewed a wide range of influential figures, including Nobel Prize laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, artists, musicians, athletes, and spiritual authors. Throughout his career, he has been nominated for Pulitzer Prizes three times and has had personal encounters with famous individuals such as Muhammad Ali and Arnold Schwarzenegger.