Mountain Heritage Literary Festival

Mountain Heritage Literary Festival The Mountain Heritage Literary Festival is an annual gathering of writers at LMU.

The Mountain Heritage Literary Festival is an annual gathering of writers at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Every year writer gather at the ancient and beloved Cumberland Gap to celebrate writing, music, and Appalachian heritage. Past staff-members include Lee Smith (Fair and Tender Ladies), Earl Hamner, Jr. (The Waltons), Maurice Manning (Bucolics), Mark Powell (Blood Kin),

George Ella Lyon (Don't You Remember?), Carla Gover, Jason Howard, Jessie Lynne Keltner, Kate Larken, Brett Ratliff,Reel World String Band, the Johnson Sisters, Sheila Kay Adams (My Old True Love), Darnell Arnoult (Sufficient Grace), Virginia Boyd (One Fell Swoop), Pamela Duncan (The Big Beautiful), Sharon Hatfield (Never Seen the Moon), Jane Hicks (Bone and Blood Remember), Paul Brett Johnson (The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down), Catherine Landis (Harvest), George Ella Lyon (Don't You Remember?),Rita Quillen (Her Secret Dream), Anne Shelby (The Adventures of Molly Whuppie), Barbara Bates Smith (Ivy Rowe), Neela Vaswani (Where the Long Grass Bends), and Marianne Worthington (Larger Bodies Than Mine)

📚What an unforgettable weekend!We brought together storytellers, scholars, and readers to celebrate the rich voices and ...
06/01/2026

📚What an unforgettable weekend!

We brought together storytellers, scholars, and readers to celebrate the rich voices and traditions of Appalachia. We were especially honored to welcome acclaimed author Silas House as our keynote speaker.

"The 20th annual Mountain Heritage Literary Festival was a smashing success. It was filled with inspiring classes, impassioned readings, and a spectacular keynote speech from founder Silas House. But more importantly, there were new friendships made and our writing community left the weekend stronger than ever!" - MHLF Director Patrick Wensink

Thank you to everyone who joined us, participated, and helped make this event such a success. We’re already looking forward to next year!
📸 : https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCVaZg

Friendly reminder that writing contest submissions are due this week! (You must be present at festival to win!)
04/27/2026

Friendly reminder that writing contest submissions are due this week! (You must be present at festival to win!)

04/06/2026
Thrilled to announce our workshop instructors for the 20th MHLF! See you May 29 and 30th!
03/27/2026

Thrilled to announce our workshop instructors for the 20th MHLF! See you May 29 and 30th!

MHLF 20 is coming May 29 and 30th! We are thrilled to welcome back our founder, Silas House, as this year's keynote spea...
12/15/2025

MHLF 20 is coming May 29 and 30th! We are thrilled to welcome back our founder, Silas House, as this year's keynote speaker.

Save $30 on admission until Feb 1 with promo code: MHLF20EARLYBIRD

More details to come!

The 20th annual Mountain Heritage Literary Festival is Appalachia's best creative writing event, featuring workshops, readings, and more!

One week left! Tickets are still available! (Link in comments.)
05/23/2025

One week left! Tickets are still available! (Link in comments.)

Two weeks until the 19th annual MHLF! Tickets and a few scholarships still remaining!
05/16/2025

Two weeks until the 19th annual MHLF! Tickets and a few scholarships still remaining!

Spend a weekend writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, YA and Romance at the 19th Annual Mountain Heritage Literary Festival!

Thrilled to announce that the guest judge of this year's writing contests will be Wes Browne! Wes is the author of the g...
04/25/2025

Thrilled to announce that the guest judge of this year's writing contests will be Wes Browne!

Wes is the author of the gripping Appalachian Crime noir "They All Fall the Same" and is a former attendee of MHLF.

Get those submissions turned in by May 1! (Link to submission guidelines in the comments.)

Stop by our booth at the Knoxville Book Festival Saturday and Sunday!
04/04/2025

Stop by our booth at the Knoxville Book Festival Saturday and Sunday!

Friendly reminder that our writing contest submissions are now open! (Link in comments)
03/28/2025

Friendly reminder that our writing contest submissions are now open! (Link in comments)

Address

Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN
37752

Telephone

(423) 869-6432

Website

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