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Nashville singer-songwriter, Mark Elliott releases The Sons of Starmount a book about childhood innocence and adventure

July 17, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Inspired Southerner Mark Elliott
Elliott is an award-winning singer-songwriter in Nashville

We sat down with Nashville singer-songwriter Mark Elliott to interview him about his new book The Sons of Starmount, which is about childhood innocence and adventure, to see what the response has been since he released it back in February. The audiobook will come out in the fall. There also is a companion EP Sons of Starmount now available. 

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
The Sons of Starmount

The book was born from Elliott’s love of songwriting, blogging and telling stories about his childhood. We found the book intriguing, quirky, funny and reminiscent of what life was like growing up in the South in the late 70s. Most who grew up in that era had a pack of friends who were adventurous, who dared us to do things, who we got in trouble with and who helped us shape who we are today. Elliott’s book takes you back to days when kids let their imaginations captivated them, and before children lost their innocence to screens and instant notoriety. 

Inspired Southerner Mark Elliott
Mark Elliott wrote a chart-topping song for Neal McCoy

Where did you get the idea for your book?

Mark Elliott: I’ve been a singer/songwriter for the past three decades, and have written for many of Nashville’s music publishers. With the music business changing by the day, and sometimes not for the better, I thought I’d search out the one creative industry uglier and more poverty-producing than music. I found it in being an author.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
The innocence of adventure

Mark Elliott: In all seriousness though, starting a blog a few years ago, and having the room (500-1,000 words a week) to write, intrigued me and sparked a new interest in writing. I enjoyed having room to develop thoughts beyond a two-and-a-half-minute song. As I began thinking beyond the blog, a book seemed the next step for me.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
The adventures of Sons of Starmount

“The memories of friends, the outdoors, and all the adventures I had on Starmount, in 1977 have stayed with me throughout my life I wasn’t necessarily looking to start my author career with a memoir, but you tell the story begging to be told,” said Elliott.

What is the Sons of Starmount from your perspective?

Mark Elliott: We all have a place and time in our childhoods that help define the adults we eventually become. Seeds are planted, and habits are formed. The experiences and relationships we share when the world is still wild, and our hearts are still open to it all – sculpt a life like the forces of wind and water do upon canyon walls and ancient river beds. This is the story of how an era as free as the seventies, with its parental permissiveness and music, coupled with a one-in-a-million neighborhood filled with friends, swamps, creeks, woods and tree forts, set in motion a creative and adventurous life rarely devoid of either. 

Inspired Southerner Mark Ellott
Singer-Songwriter Mark Elliot releases his first book, The Sons of Starmount

What did your friends think of The Sons of Starmount?

Mark Elliott: Two or three of the old friends seemed interested and enthusiastic and helped to fill in my 40-year-old memories. And others were either care-a-less about me telling our story or outright uncooperative. It had been 40 years since I had seen all of them and nearly 20 since I had seen some of them. I thought that the dilution of time and circumstance was the main problem.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Elliott hopes that readers find their own Starmount

Mark Elliott: But in writing the book and having some of the conversations, it became clear that I left Starmount at the perfect time. I left the neighborhood while the waters were still wild and the trees were still tall. I left before the bull dossiers pushed through the dead end and the woods, all the way to the mall parking lot. The rest of my friends, those who stayed on Starmount through their teen years, witnessed the slow undoing of Neverland, to the point where it was just another street in any town USA.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Actors in the book trailer

What do you hope people take away from the book?

Mark Elliott: The stories in the book are, I hope, funny and poignant, and filled with an Americana zeitgeist that most will relate to. My earnest hope for the reader is that they find their own Starmount, no matter what generation or geography it may lie in. The experience of finding those straight lines between the man or woman you’ve become and the boy or girl you once were, is a unique one. The journey is not always easy or obvious, but I believe it to be for all of us, a journey well worth the taking. I hope my Starmount points the way to the reader’s Starmount.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Book Cover

Mark Elliott and Runaway Home

We first met Mark Elliott and his band Runaway Home six years ago in Alabama at the Black Creek Arts Festival. The band was the headliner for the festival. He continues to tour with the band. He also has received accolades for his songwriting. The song he wrote for Neal McCoy, Everyman for Himself, hit the top 40 Billboard Chart. Billboard called the song, “a song with rare lyrical and musical edge and the best cut on the album.” He also has written other award-winning songs. Elliott is currently working on Rippers, a novel with co-author Joe Johnston. Click to purchase The Sons of Starmount and companion EP.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Companion EP for Sons of Starmount

Filed Under: Entertainment, Family, Life, Music Tagged With: author, Mark Elliott, Music, seventies, singer, songwriter, Sons of Starmount, Writers & Writing

Alabama Entrepreneur giving away 300 book bags to students

July 3, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Sponsored

Inspired Southerner TC Counseling
Tammy Cauthen is making a difference in Birmingham.

Tammy Cauthen, entrepreneur and owner of TC Counseling, has a passion for transforming individuals and families by helping them make the necessary changes to enhance their quality of life. To help families start the new school year right, TC Counseling is giving away 300 book bags to students during their first-ever back-to-school Carnival on July 13. 

Inspired Southerner TC Counseling
TC Counseling wants students to start the year off right.

Giving Back to the Community

Tammy recognized that some students in the Birmingham, Alabama area may not have the supplies necessary to start off the new school year on the right foot, so she came up with the idea to ensure students are prepared for their classes when the bell rings on Aug. 8.

Inspired Southerner TC Counseling
TC Counseling will help students prepare for the new school year.

Unfortunately, some parents can’t afford the basic supplies for their kids to go back to school which presents an undue burden on them. It also can take a toll on their children. 

“We want to take the pressure off of parents, so we’re hosting this Back-to-School carnival on July 13 so families who may need a little help can get a running start into the new year,” said Tammy Cauthen, owner of TC Counseling. “We want every child to be prepared so that they can focus on and feel enthusiastic about learning.”

Inspired Southerner
TC Counseling is hosting first-ever back-to-school carnival

Back to School Carnival

This fun back-to-school carnival will be held at the Shields Conference Center at W.C. Patton Park in downtown Birmingham from 12-4 pm. It will feature carnival rides, a gaming truck with Laser Tag, XBOX, Playstation Nintendo and other video games, food, educational and safety programming.

In addition, and the best part of all, families will leave with brand-new school supplies and book bags. Parents who want a book bag must register at noon the day of the event to be eligible. 

Inspired Southerner TC Counseling
Students will get new school supplies at TC Counseling’s back-to-school carnival

Company Mission

The mission of TC Counseling is to make an impact on the community by engaging with individuals and families through community outreach. The company also partners with other Birmingham-area companies to host events. For this event, in particular, she is seeking donations of supplies or money from those who may want to donate to the event or companies who may want to partner with TC Counseling.

Inspired Southerner TC Counseling
TC Counseling is giving away 300 book bags filled with school supplies .

 “I hope to make this an annual event to celebrate families before they start the new school year,” Tammy added. 

If you would like to make a donation or more information about the Back-to-School Carnival visit TC Counseling’s website or call (205) 601-6195. 

In addition to the back-to-school event, TC Counseling hosts an annual luncheon for Jefferson County social workers.  

Sponsored

Inspired Southerner TC Counseling

Filed Under: Family, Inspiration, Life, Uncategorized Tagged With: back to school, backpacks, Birmingham, book bags, give back, giving back, school supplies

Escape to this tiny home eco-retreat on 85 acres in North Central Alabama

May 12, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
Glenn and Rachel Evans built their sustainable tiny home on 85 acres on their farm.

Nestled in the woods on the banks of the Locust Fork River north of Birmingham, Alabama, Glenn and Rachel Evans have put their love of the environment and sustainability into everyday practice with their Case Rock Cabin a modern tiny home they built earlier this year as an eco-retreat on their farm in Blount County.

Glenn and Rachel built their tiny home as an eco-retreat on the back-side of their 85-acre farm, a mile and a quarter off of the nearest paved road. The cabin is only accessible by an ATV or four-wheel drive vehicle. Glenn, an electrical engineer, built it himself by hauling materials on top of a Polaris down steep terrain.

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
Guests will find breakfast foods including fresh eggs from Case Rock chickens.

“We designed the home together,” said Rachel Evans, an artist and an Alabama teacher who home schools her children. “We wanted the project to be an example and a teachable moment for our children about environmental sustainability.”

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
Case Rock Cabin is on 85-acres on the bank of the Locust Fork River.

Tiny home design

The home was designed with a modern, industrial aesthetic look and feel. It was built out of reclaimed and recycled materials with solar panels, a back-up generator, a water tank, a wood heater and a composting toilet.

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
Case Rock sleeps six. It has two bedrooms and a futon.

Going off-grid

After they built it, Rachel and Glenn listed their tiny-home retreat on AirBnB. It’s an off-grid experience for those who want to get away from it all and unplug. When you arrive at this eco-retreat you will park your car, the hosts will check you in and you will then be driven to the cabin by UTV. Once you’re dropped off, it will be up to you to figure out how to get back and forth to your car or the main house. If the hosts are available, they will give you a ride to your car. The hosts also will schedule a checkout and pick up time for you at the end of your stay.

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
The cabin has queen beds in two of the bedrooms.

The perfect place to unplug

It has no wifi or TV and cell phone reception is spotty. But don’t fret, there is radio communication in case of an emergency. You’ll also have access to a blue-tooth speaker to play your tunes or podcasts. Once you arrive, you’ll be taught how to use the cabin’s electrical system, water system, and composting toilet. For back-up, there are YouTube videos available to show you as well. One special note is that there is no refrigerator so you’ll have to bring a cooler and ice, or you can purchase ice on site.

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
There’s a wood burning stove for cold days and nights.

A dog friendly retreat

Bring your dog to Case Rock! Glenn and Rachel even provide pet bowls, old towels and pooper scooper bags; all you have to do is bring your dog’s crate, toys and food.  

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
This eco-retreat has solar panels and a back-up generator.

Case Rock sleeps six and has a composting toilet

The cabin sleeps six with two bedrooms, three beds and one bath. It’s stocked with breakfast foods including fresh eggs from Case Rock’s chickens. There is a one burner propane stove, an Instant Pot and gas grill for cooking; however, there is no oven. Shower outside in a shower heated by a propane instant hot water heater. For cooler days and nights there is a wood stove inside and for warmer days there are DC attic fans.  

CaseRock Cabin Inspired Southerner
There’s a composting toilet and propane hot water tanks at the cabin.

Guests staying at Case Rock also can bring their boats or tubes to use on Locust Fork River. There is only biking and hiking on the trails around the cabin. Guests are not allowed to drive or use motorized vehicles on these trails.

CaseRock Inspired Southerner
Guests can try their hand at fly fishing on the river.

Enjoy fly fishing or the white water rapids on the river

The river is relatively is located at the upper eastern end of the Warrior River Basin. The river is one of three major tributaries of the Black Warrior River that stretches across Blount, Etowah and Marshall counties. The area is very scenic and popular because of its white water and the area is great for hiking. Canoers and kayakers from all over the Southeast flock to the area during the spring and summer to try out the river’s world-class rapids. As far as Case Rock’s availability, Rachel and Glenn say it’s booked all of May and most of June.

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner
Guests can enjoy dining or taking in nature on the wrap-around deck.

Book now on AirBnB

“There are projects ongoing at our farm and we complete them together as a family,” said Rachel. “We love animals, traveling and camping. We meet so many interesting people when we travel. Case Rock is a way for us to combine everything we love about our farm and share it with the world in hopes of teaching people about the environment, sustainability and how to “unplug,” if only for a moment.”

You can follow the story of Case Rock Cabin on Instagram @caserockcabin or book your stay on AirBnB.


Filed Under: Family, Life, Outdoors, Travel Tagged With: Alabama, eco retreat, escape, hiking, retreat, tiny home, unplug, white water

Nashville: Opryland’s A Country Christmas a tradition for 35 years

December 20, 2018 By Kara Kennedy

Opryland’s A Country Christmas has been wowing audiences for 35 years and this year’s event is bigger and better than ever with the addition of an indoor/outdoor water attraction.

[Read more…] about Nashville: Opryland’s A Country Christmas a tradition for 35 years

Filed Under: Holidays, Life, Southern Cities, Travel Tagged With: A Country Christmas, Christmas, Nashville, Opryland, Tourism, Travel

Southern family has grown Christmas trees for 50 years

December 5, 2018 By Kara Kennedy

Inspired Southerner Pine Hill Farms
Owner Carley Walker welcomes everyone with a cup of apple cider, coffee or hot chocolate.

Tucked away in North Jefferson County in Tarrant, Alabama lies a 15 acre farm that grows Christmas trees all year long. Most probably don’t know the farm is located there and many probably pass by the farm’s sign on North Pine Hill Road. But if you want a traditional Christmas experience and a Christmas tree grown with care and love, then Pine Hill Farms offers that and more! [Read more…] about Southern family has grown Christmas trees for 50 years

Filed Under: Holidays, Inspiration, Life Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas tree farm, Christmas trees, Farm, Holidays

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We tell real stories about the south. ~Kara Kennedy, Publisher

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