Vivian Hopkins is a new contributor to the Trail Tales column. Her story, Hiking the Gold Hill Rail Trail invites hikers and readers to explore one of the best kept secrets in the Carolina Piedmont, just in time for the holiday season!

About Vivian Hopkins- Vivian Hopkins is Vice President of the Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc. and is a member of the North Carolina Humanities Council’s Road Scholar Speakers Bureau. Her program, “If Picks and Shovels Could Talk”, is endorsed by Dr. Brent Glass, Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. She also currently serves as President of the North Carolina Bluegrass Association. She is a musician, freelance writer and author.  Her books include “Your Guide to Gold Hill Mines Historic Park and the Gold Hill Rail Trail”, “Gold Hill Ghosts and Other Legends”, “The Haunting of Morgan Manor and Other Gold Hill Ghost Stories”.  She is currently writing “A Pictorial History of Gold Hill and the Gold Hill Mining District”. The book will include over two hundred photos of Gold Hill historic sites and the mining industry as well as chapters on churches, homes and families of the nineteenth century. Vivian enjoys trips home to the mountains, writing, playing music, and hiking. As a visual artist she enjoys painting scenes that she encounters along the trails wherever they may take her.  You can reach Vivian by email at v.hopkins12@gmail.com. You can also email her through the historic foundation website vivian@historicgoldhill.com  or by mail at P.O. Box 123, Gold Hill, NC 28071

Theresa Lambert is a new contributor to the Trail Tales column. Her story, Dance reminds readers that they must exercise their minds as well as their bodies.,Dance recalls a lifetime of memories. In the eighth decade of her life, she dances her way into the hearts of everyone she meets.

  About Theresa Lambert- Theresa, aka Peanut,  grew up in a rural North Carolina, where she developed her passion for dancing. For several years she has led line dancing classes at the Cabarrus County Senior Centers.

William Cottrell is a new contributor to the Trail Tales column, and an occasional hiker. His story, Perfect Attendance recalls a childhood memory that finds a measure of closure in a recent visit.

 About William Cottrell- William is a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network, and an anesthesiologist who practiced over 39 years in the area of Concord, North Carolina before retirement in 2018. He has served in various capacities including president of Cabarrus County Medical Society, Chairman of the Department of Anesthesia and as a medical examiner for Cabarrus County. His medical practice has been complimented by a love of writing, acoustic guitar, golf, community and family including six grandchildren. In 2016 he completed his memoirs; Confessions of an Anesthesiologist, available on amazon and Barnes and Noble. It is also featured in the Bookstore Tab on this website. This book gives a chronological review of how his medical practice evolved over forty years from both a personal and professional perspective.
You can reach Dr. Cottrell by email at wcottrell1@windstream.net.

  Mel Pitts is a new contributor to the Trail Tales column, and a hiking enthusiast. Her story, Trail Lesson reminds readers that some of the best trails are those shared with someone you love.

  About Mel Pitts- Mel Pitts is a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network. She grew up in a rural setting, where she developed her passion for writing, nature, and animals. In 1973, she earned a BS degree in English education from Ohio University and then a Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Mel stayed in that town to teach high school English and creative writing. Mel writes, gardens, kayaks, hikes, is active in her church, and enjoys being a mom and grandmother. You can reach Mel by email at melpitts@yahoo.com  

Debra Madaris Efird is a new contributor to the Trail Tales column, and a hiking enthusiast. Her story, My Own Green Cathedral reminds readers that some of the best trails can be enjoyed right in their own back yard.

About Debra Madaris Efird- Debra is a member of the NC Writers' Network and author of Groups in Practice: A School Counselor's Collection (2012, Routledge).  She has had numerous articles published in professional counseling magazines as well as in saturdayeveningpost.com, livinglutheran.org, Savannah Anthology, Wake Living magazine, UNCG magazine, and others.  She has been a Finalist in numerous writing contests, including the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, Doris Betts Fiction Prize, Press 53 Open Awards, NCSU Prize for Short Fiction, and others. You can reach Debra at email debramadarisefird@gmail.com , website: https://sites.google.com/site/debramadarisefird/home

Readers of this blog know that novels aren’t the only place where written treasures are hidden in the narrative. Some are revealed in the chapters of a novella, the paragraphs of a short story, or the flow of a poem. My walking buddies and I decided to make a range of written material available to other hikers who frequent the Buffalo Creek Preserve and Trail.
The article posted this month was written by Barbara Baker. In her short story, "He was Supposed to Be a Robot" Barbara shares about a very special artifact that she treasures to this day.

About - Barbara Baker
Barbara Baker is a retired Kindergarten teacher, who has been writing poetry for over 50 years.  She was born on the US Naval Submarine Base in New London, CT, but grew up in south Central New York State.  After graduating high school Barb chose to explore life for a few years before entering college. Her journey is captured in her writing. She can be contacted at poemtree68@gmail.com.

Benny Moose is a long-time hiking buddy, enjoys the outdoors, and is now a second time contributor to Trail Tales. A Sunday School Picnic Fifty Years Ago recalls a story originally penned back in 1973 by Archie Evans Moose. It describes a special trip as seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy. This is the second part of the story.

About - Benny Moose
Benny is married to his high school sweetheart.They have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Benny taught Physical Education and Health classes for 31 years in Newton-Conover City School System and Cabarrus County School System. Taught Driver Education for 45 years in both school systems.