AVL Lit Tours

04/09/2024

Never saw "Genius" in 2016? Make it the focus of your next movie night!

October 4, 1953, on NBC, the Hallmark Hall of Fame series aired a portion of the novel Of Time and the River concerning the death of W.O. Gant. Another TV movie was released on NBC February 25, 1972. This time based on Ketti Frings Pulitzer Prize play based on Look Homeward, Angel. The movie was nom...

28/08/2024

⭐️ In town for Labor Day weekend? ⭐️ We still have tour spots available! Book now:

Ready to go on an adventure for the storybooks? We're excited to see you! Reserve your spot in the next AVL Lit Tour here:

23/08/2024

This quick primer of mountain authors barely scratches the surface! At least 9 of the stops on our tour help expand on their stories.

Get information on The North Carolina Mountains - Asheville Area Authors | Fodor's Travel Guide - Expert Picks for your Vacation hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and activities. Read the Fodor's reviews, or post your own.

12/08/2024

Happy World Elephant Day! 🐘 Here's a quick story about an elephant who could rightly appear on our literary tour of Asheville.

Today on World Elephant Day, let’s explore the little-known connection between Thomas Wolfe and an Appalachian elephant.

07/08/2024

There's still time to nominate your favorite local author for this year's Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award!

  Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award Nominations for the 2024 Award are open! The Asheville Museum of History is now accepting nominations for the...

31/07/2024

Lots of wonderful Asheville-area authors on this list! You're sure to find your next favorite book 📚

Explore North Carolina's literary gems! From David Sedaris's humor to Maya Angelou's powerful prose, discover 20 authors and their must-read works.

24/07/2024

DID YOU KNOW? During the Gilded Age, the City of Asheville had to grow rapidly in both acreage and height. And many of the features sewn into the city’s fabric were inspired by the financiers’ New York backgrounds and tastes.

George Vanderbilt, heir to one of America’s most prominent families at the time, began construction of his iconic Biltmore Estate in the late 1880s. His interest in the area amounted to his tacit social approval of the area set to be his new home. Wealthy businessmen, socialites, movers, and shake...

10/07/2024

Do you love banana splits? 🍨 As much as F. Scott Fitzgerald? We think not!

Passersby could be excused from knowing this literary hot spot. Except, this building features a historic plaque reading “Missildine’s Drugstore 1913.”

03/07/2024

Adding one more to this list from a WNC author:
“Freedom is baffling: men having it often know not they have it till it is gone and they no longer have it.” —Carl Sandburg

If you watch the news or follow the president on Twitter, it can seem pretty hard to feel patriotic this days. But America's birthday is upon us, which means it's time to get in the mood to celebrate this great country with some backyard barbecues,…

26/06/2024

Shopping for authors local to the Asheville region? Here's a great place to start:

Western North Carolina is fortunate to claim an abundant community of authors and other artists. Over the years, many of these artists have become good friends of Malaprop’s, and our store is often a first or early stop for them when they publish new work. We believe that their creativity is a lar...

19/06/2024

Will you be visiting Western North Carolina sometime soon? Stay at the Asheville-area hotels where Scott stayed! (Or, at least visit the buildings, some of which have been converted into other uses.) We have your list right here >>

Channel your inner Jazz Age author! Here are five of the places F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed in Asheville and across greater WNC.

12/06/2024

Want to support local authors and access to books? Check out this weekend's book fair event at The Whale
https://www.facebook.com/events/7691368947567482

05/06/2024

Surveys show that experiences make the best gifts. For your next special occasion, give them an experience they will remember!

Check our booking page for digital gift cards.

Ready to go on an adventure for the storybooks? We're excited to see you! Reserve your spot in the next AVL Lit Tour here:

29/05/2024

Want to celebrate Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry, but can't make it to Asheville? Don't worry! - Raleigh has you covered

The bar — named after the North Carolina authors Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry's real name William Sydney Porter — has added on significantly to its space on Morgan Street, growing to around 3,000 square feet of space.

22/05/2024

We love seeing how Asheville's recorded history is expanding to tell the stories of more of our amazing residents!

Five years after the project began, the Buncombe County Special Collections team is continuing its work of safeguarding the history of African American Ashevillians.

15/05/2024

Are you ready to celebrate World Bee Day 🐝 on May 20? Here's why we think you should celebrate with Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Like a pollinator buzzing from flower to flower, let us explain why we like to celebrate World Bee Day with Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

08/05/2024

Want to see your art on Asheville's self-guided urban trail? We do, too. Submit your proposals by May 13!

02/05/2024

We are so excited to see this lovely new children's book about the late Asheville author Wilma Dykeman ❤️

24/04/2024

The Asheville Museum of History selected David Joy’s “Those We Thought We Knew” as the winner of the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. The award, which recognizes printed works with a WNC focus, has been given annually since 1955.

  Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award About the Award Originated by the Louis Lipinsky family, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award has been...

17/04/2024

The 2024 season of the AVL Lit Tours officially kicks off this weekend, and people are saying good things! Tickets are still available – reserve your spot today!

See what others have to say! James and Sarah have done a remarkable job putting together one of the most charming, informative and FUN tours you will take! I have lived in this area the vast majority of my life, and feel like I learned a TON about the rich literary history of this town.…

10/04/2024

The Black Cultural Heritage Trail is a wonderful new addition to downtown Asheville's sidewalks! Have you walked the trail yet?

03/04/2024

Happy April! 🌸 Get out, enjoy fresh air, and learn a little something in the process. Book your next AVL Lit Tour today!

Ready to go on an adventure for the storybooks? We're excited to see you! Reserve your spot in the next AVL Lit Tour here:

27/03/2024

How much do you know about the ongoing journey to preserve Nina Simone's childhood home? Learn more from the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

This tiny home in Tryon, North Carolina, is where legendary artist and activist Nina Simone grew up.

20/03/2024

We're less than a month away from starting our 2024 walking tour season! Get your tickets now!!

Ready to go on an adventure for the storybooks? We're excited to see you! Reserve your spot in the next AVL Lit Tour here:

13/03/2024

We're very excited to explore Asheville's Black Cultural Heritage Trail and learn more about our city's history, past and present.

Some scholars say legislative efforts to limit discussion of race in classrooms across the country underscore the need to make sure local Black history is taught and remembered.

06/03/2024

Great coverage of this year's Zelda Day events in The Laurel of Asheville. Events kick off tomorrow - DON'T MISS THEM!

The annual remembrance of the life and accomplishments of Zelda Fitzgerald, who died tragically in Asheville’s Highland Hospital fire in 1948, will be held Thursday, March 7, through Sunday, March 10.

28/02/2024

A great read leading into this year's Zelda Day celebrations in Asheville!

Her husband F Scott Fitzgerald called her ‘America’s first flapper’, but Zelda Fitzgerald, who died 75 years ago, was much more than the tragic wife and muse of a famous male writer. Kat Lister explores her literary legacy

21/02/2024

You guys! Did you realize this Wiki page existed? Very cool, but we think it's missing some names...