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Ky. Native Recalls Mountain Life

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2009

Susan Noe Harmon was born and raised and spent most of her adult life in the small mountain town of Loyall, Ky., which is in Harlan County.

Growing up in the 1950s, her grandmother and mother were models of strength in harsh, impoverished times. Little did Harmon know that their stories would inspire her for many years to come.

As a girl, Harmon was creative. She loved to write short stories and daydream, but marriage and children took precedence over her creative goals. In the 1970s, she went to work for the state of Kentucky.
Harmon retired in 2002 and moved to Florida in 2004 with her husband, Bill. Soon afterward, she sat down at the computer, finally willing to give writing a try. She wrote about what she knew best: life in the mountains.

Harmon's first novel, "Under the Weeping Willow," was recently published by Mountain Girl Press of Bristol, Va. The book tells the story of three generations of Appalachian women.

Harmon, 59, lives in Zephyrhills.

Why did you want to write about the mountains?

I wanted to present mountain life in a more positive light. There's this misconception that mountain women are all ignorant, barefoot and pregnant, and that is not at all what we are. I wanted to show the strength of the mountain woman and how she holds the family together.

Were you nervous to try writing?

It's something I always wanted to do. I figured if I was going to do it, now was the time. I thought if things happen with it, great, and if they don't, I'll know I tried.

What puts you in the writing mood?

I write in my head a lot at night. I like to write with pictures of the mountains around me. I have old pictures of the railroads and coal miners. I also like to read other Appalachia writers, like Silas House. If I pick up a book and read a page, I get in the mood real quick.

Your book starts in the 1950s. Describe that era.

Well, it was a hard time and a good time in the mountains. We were poor, but we didn't know it. The kids were always outside playing after dark. We all looked out for each other. We had coal heat, and only a few people had a car. I didn't realize how hard we had it until I was grown.

Were you surprised to find a publisher for your first book?

I was surprised, excited. I'd published a couple short stories, and Mountain Girl Press saw my work. They are a wonderful publisher.

Did you consider the book signing a success?

Yes. It was good to get out and share my work.

What are you writing now?

I'm working on writing my father's memoirs. He's passed away, and he told me all these stories growing up. I'm going to put them in book form and dedicate that to him. I'm going to call it "My Father's Memoirs: The Truth and Other Tall Tales."

Sarah Rothwell

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