A Civil War soldier who still haunts the tree where he was chained and left to die...a witch who locked two little girls in a cellar...unexplained voices and heavy footsteps on the stairs... The North Carolina Piedmont can be a very spooky place. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, many people in this region have experienced things that simply cannot be explained. This collection of local lore includes classic ghost stories that have been passed down for generations, as well as personal experiences of the author, her family, friends and even strangers. Join local author Frances Casstevens as she recounts one spine-tingling tale after another.

The history of the Tar Heel State is filled with mysterious and creepy tales. Legends say that several places in North Carolina have been visited by the devil, from the Devil's Tramping Ground near Siler City to the footprint he left in the Devil's Rock in Warren County. Learn why the Banshee of the Tar River first appeared and why her bloodcurdling screams continue to be heard. The Catsburg Ghost Train still appears on moonless nights. Sightings of Normie, the monster of Lake Norman, have been reported since the lake was created in the early 1960s. Join master storyteller Sherman Carmichael as he explores the lore of North Carolina's Piedmont.

Read your way across North Carolina's Piedmont in the second of a series of regional guides that bring the state's rich literary history to life for travelers and residents. Eighteen tours direct readers to sites that more than two hundred Tar Heel authors have explored in their fiction, poetry, plays, and creative nonfiction. Along the way, excerpts chosen by author Georgann Eubanks illustrate a writer's connection to a specific place or reveal intriguing local culture--insights rarely found in travel guidebooks. Featured authors include O. Henry, Doris Betts, Alex Haley, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, John Hart, Betty Smith, Edward R. Murrow, Patricia Cornwell, Carson McCullers, Maya Angelou, Lee Smith, Reynolds Price, and David Sedaris. Literary Trails is an exciting way to see anew the places that you already love and to discover new people and places you hadn't known about. The region's rich literary heritage will surprise and delight all readers.

The Tar Heel State’s most notorious crimes are revealed by the coauthor of Ghosts of the Triangle: Historic Haunts of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The smiling faces and southern hospitality of North Carolina promise a paradise for visitors and residents alike, but darkness still lurks in small towns as well as big cities. The state’s dangerous past of violence and murder is never seen in tourist pamphlets. From the capture of Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph in the mountains to the seaside murder of the Hermit of Fort Fisher, dark deeds have touched every part of the state. Author Rick Jackson tells the stories behind some of the most famous, and most heinous, crimes in the history of the Old North State. Includes photos!

The Piedmont Triad of North Carolina has played a remarkable role in the history of the Southeast--one day at a time--for centuries. Against the backdrop of major historical events and movements, the Triad is also flecked with smaller gems of oft-overlooked history. Prolific author and Triad native Alice Sink chronicles these events, reviving a story for each day of the year. From a Civil War buried treasure to gypsy kidnappings and runaway marriages, each day brings with it an exciting, bite-size adventure through history. Residents from Winston-Salem to High Point to Greensboro and beyond can all enjoy this volume for their daily dose of that old Piedmont Triad history.

There are many stories about the history of the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina (including Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point) that even the natives have never heard. Join longtime Piedmont Triad resident and writer Alice E. Sink on this journey to uncover those out-of-the-ordinary historical truths that rarely appear in books. Learn about the nightclub in High Point that once hosted the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington and the famous short story writer O. Henry's connection to a Greensboro drugstore. Have you heard the story of Lexington native John Andrew Roman, put to death on circumstantial evidence, or the local World War II fighter plane pilot who flew eighty-two missions to prevent German fighters from attacking American bombers? These fascinating true tales featuring towns throughout the region will delight and inform readers of all ages.