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C.L. Willis’s Hillbilly Odyssey: Resilience in a Small Mountain Mill Town is a memoir that refutes the Appalachian stereotyping embedded in J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy and instead offers a realistic and authentic portrayal of the hard-working Appalachian family struggling to succeed in a time of limited opportunities and low wages. The author’s family life from youth and beyond is more typical of the self-reliant, resilient families of the Appalachian region. His yearning to flee from hardships and the rigorous determination his family endured come full circle with his passion and love for his mountain home restored and entirely on display through this warm-hearted volume.
—Les M. Brown, author of Iron Bridge Sunday and Other Stories
About the Author
C. L. Willis, a native of Canton, North Carolina, is professor emeritus of sociology and criminology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. This is his first book. His previous publications were scholarly articles in social science journals.After retiring from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, he moved back to his beloved mountains.He lives with his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren in Alexander County, NC.
Bringing books to market, one manuscript at a time!
Since 2017, Redhawk Publications at Catawba Valley Community College has been proud to bring distinctive voices and original books to life, with more than 200 titles published so far. We are one of only a handful of community colleges in the United States with a literary press. To learn more about Redhawk, our submission guidelines, local literary services, or writing workshops, feel free to contact Patty Thompson at pthompson994@cvcc.edu.
Books are available for purchase through our website and directly from our authors at book events. We encourage readers to support authors and small presses by buying directly whenever possible.