Blue Ridge Calling

The Appalachian mountains are some of the oldest in the world. They say ancient magic runs through these rivers and valleys. Two years ago, a car accident on a perilous mountain road sent a family into freefall, and none of them have been the same since. Sage used to have everything under control: perfect grades, record times on the swim team, and carefully medicated ADHD. But ever since her mom died, she’s just been going through the motions, and no one in her family seems to notice. Kora has known Sage’s family her whole life, so losing Sage’s mom was like losing her own. At the end of the summer, she’s supposed to abandon her beloved Blue Ridge mountains for a prestigious art school in New York, but leaving now feels wrong. And an unexpected romance with a new girl in town might complicate things. Then there’s Sam, Sage’s older brother. He’s spent the last two years traipsing through the mountains, trying to find evidence of local ghost stories. He said he would be back by now, but no one has heard from him. To find him, Kora and Sage will have to dig deeper into the myths and legends of the mountains they call home -- before it’s too late.

Olivia Neal is a writer, artist, and storyteller from Greensboro, North Carolina. She has published work across genres, including fiction, poetry, essays, reviews, and zines. She also works as a communications specialist for social justice nonprofits, advocating for reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ rights. She currently lives in Durham, North Carolina with her partner and three cats. You can find out more and stay up to date with her work at olivialeighneal.com.