We're heartbroken to announce the passing of a beloved uncle, dear friend, and one of our authors with the loss of Frank Kilgore.
Frank and his niece and fellow Spiral Publishing author Kari Kilgore at a book signing in 2014.
Spiral Publishing got its start with Frank's nonfiction projects, beginning with The Clinch River: A World-Class Treasure (with Stacy Fowler-Horton) way back in 2006. That was Kari's first real experience with page layout and design, as well as setting up a large print run.
Saying she learned a bunch would be a huge understatement.
Kari was then co-author along with Lu Ellsworth while Frank served as editor for The Virginia Headwaters of the Big Sandy River: A Story of Revitalization and Nature’s Resilience in 2008.
Print copies of both of those science textbooks were donated to area high school students, and teachers commented that they were a great help with getting children ready for the Commonwealth of Virginia's SOL testing. A second printing of The Clinch River was equally well-received.
Frank decided to update one of his earlier books in 2012, revising and expanding Far Southwest Virginia: A Postcard Journey, originally written and published with Katharine Shearer.
After two years of intensive work (and another vast jump in Kari's page layout and design skills), Spiral Publishing's first official title, Far Southwest Virginia: A Postcard and Photographic Journey, appeared in 2014.
The greatly enhanced book features over 300 pages and over 1000 remarkable images of postcards, photographs, and memorabilia documenting the history of the coalfield counties of Virginia.
Frank arranged an innovative distribution agreement with Abingdon, Virginia-based grocery store chain FoodCity to carry the postcard book throughout the region, including many book signing events. Frank loved getting to meet and chat with folks eager to learn more about our beautiful and interesting corner of Virginia, who were often equally excited to share their own tales and memories.
Both Kari and her husband Jason A. Adams have taken a great deal of inspiration from the postcard book for their fiction, and many other writers have as well.
Even after ten years and several thousand copies sold, people continue to discover and love this wonderful book about old stuff.
In 2015, Frank turned his attention to Mountain Peeks Magazine, a regional publication focused on highlighting the natural beauty of our home in far Southwestern Virginia, along with the many accomplishments of our fellow residents. Kari and Frank published three issues of Mountain Peeks, again distributed for free through the FoodCity chain of grocery stores.
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The three covers for Mountain Peeks are Kari's favorite example of how much design skills and confidence can change in a short time!
Then in 2022, Frank collaborated with Fake Hillbilly Publishing on bestseller J. D. Vance Is a Fake Hillbilly: Think Twice Before Calling (All) Coalfield Appalachians Racists, Sexists, and Ignoramuses.
This fascinating book combined his extensive knowledge of history and culture with a no-holds-barred rebuttal to outsiders offering nothing more than disparaging and often dishonest opinions about his native Appalachia.
The fact that the book continues to generate steady and increasing interest after Vance's recent nomination as Vice President for the Republican Party would have undoubtedly tickled Frank to no end.
Over the last year, Frank, Kari, and Frank's good friend Proal Hartwell have worked together on The History and Culture of the Coalfields of Southwest Virginia. Spiral Publishing will release this book on September 1, 2024.
This new title begins with much of the historic and cultural material of Fake Hillbilly and expands upon it, adding geology, natural history, and more emphasis on the accomplishments of our region's best and brightest.
Frank hoped to continue to inspire residents and natives living near and far to embrace and celebrate all the wonderful aspects of our home, while encouraging us to continue to preserve and improve our way of life and the lives of our descendants.
Spiral Publishing will offer this much-needed celebration of our region in ebook, paperback, Large Print, and hardcover. Pre-orders are available for ebooks now, and the print versions will be added soon.
And according to Frank's generous wishes, the ebook of The History and Culture of the Coalfields of Southwest Virginia will also be available free of charge to area schools.
Keep an eye out for an upcoming book full of short tales, ranging from his vivid memories of a rather adventurous Appalachian childhood through yarns of unusual experiences well into his later years.
Much like our colleagues at Fake Hillbilly Publishing, we at Spiral Publishing were honored to work with Frank to help get his memories, knowledge, and dreams out into the world.
And we're all dedicated to continuing Frank's literary legacy well into the future.
He'll be missed, but not forgotten.