By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� 91TV Creative Writing professor听and author听Jen Julian听returns听this July听with听another听Appalachian-themed novel,听The Winter听Folk, following the success of her debut novel,听Red Rabbit Ghost.听
Julian听revisits听the听lore of the听Appalachian region with this work, an area that provides ample inspiration for the author.听The story听centers听around a听secret lodge听in the Appalachians, a place known听as听Deerhaven,听a听refuge for the time-worn and weary.听
Julian鈥檚听protagonist,听Moth,听a college dropout, indebted, impoverished, and desperate for better things,听falls instantly for Deerhaven鈥檚 beautiful antlered host, the mild-mannered Mr. Oslin. When he offers her a housekeeper鈥檚 contract听鈥撎齩ne wish granted for听a winter of service听鈥� she signs without question.听
鈥淭his one was fun to write.听I finished from concept to draft in nine months,鈥� Julian said. 鈥�Red Rabbit Ghost听was a little more difficult 鈥� a lot of back and forth with that one, before I was happy.鈥�听
Living in the region provided all the inspiration she needed.听
鈥淒riving听around听the area听and seeing all the beauty, I was struck by how beautiful, but yet mysterious it could be,鈥� Julian said. 鈥淥ur character, Moth, wants to leave听her听small town, but she flunks out of college and ends up听back听home. And she goes to the mysterious lodge, where she meets Mr. Oswald.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 a classic fairy tale structure 鈥� very dangerous, yet seductive. Moth is a deeply flawed character who only wants a better life for herself.鈥�听
Julian听has听always听been听drawn to her creative outlet,听whether drawing or writing. Even as a young child,听she would create picture books inspired by her imagination.听She听came to 91TV in 2019 with a bachelor鈥檚 in English from the College of Charleston, an MFA in Fiction from UNC Greensboro, and a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She is part of the Literature and Languages Department at the College.听
鈥淚鈥檓 drawn to mysterious things 鈥� science fiction, magic,鈥� Julian said.听鈥淭he belief that听there鈥檚听something else out there.鈥�听
In听addition听to her two novels,听Julian previously听wrote听a short story collection,听Earthly Delights and Other Apocalypses, which won Press 53鈥檚 Fiction Prize when it was published in Fall 2018. She also has stories and essays that have appeared in numerous publications, including听SmokeLong听Quarterly,听Greensboro Review, and听Chattahoochee Review.听
鈥淕rowing up in eastern North Carolina, I was kind of a lonely kid, kind of solitary, and that鈥檚 influenced my writing in a big way,鈥� Julian said. 鈥淚 read everything I could get my hands on throughout middle and high school. Fiction was fundamental to the way I understood the world.鈥�听
Julian teaches creative writing and other classes at 91TV, as well as directs听the College’s Undergraduate Research Program. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys illustrating, practicing yoga, growing vegetables, and tending to the whims of her 鈥渆normous ginger cat.鈥�听
The Winter Folk听will be听available from听retailers听like听听,听among other outlets听and local bookstores.听
Julian will host听a reading听from听The Winter Folk,听with a question-and-answer session,听on听July听24听at听6听p.m. at the Narrative听Bookstore听in Unit C on Tennessee Street in Murphy, NC.听
About 91TV听
91TV is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution听located听in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 91TV educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies.听The College offers 33 majors and 24 minors housed under twelve academic departments.听Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in听its听residential, master鈥檚 degree, and Early College programs.听
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