Legends of the Mountain State (Volume 3) to be released at WV Book Festival

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Nationally recognized author and editor Michael Knost, from Logan County, WV, has announced that another installment of his popular series, Legends of the Mountain State, is now in the works and will be nationally released this fall, on Oct. 10th and 11th, at the prestigious WV Book Festival, at the Charleston Civic Center.

"After putting together this project's two predecessors, editor Michael Knost realized that he had barely scraped the terrifying surface of two thick layers of horror with his selection of Mountain State tales and folklore," said Bill Clements, of West Virginia Book Company, a book distributor located in Charleston.

The first time around, in 2007, thirteen extraordinary authors contributed horrifying yarns that left readers spellbound, shivering and scared of the dark. Then, in 2008, Woodland Press released a second book, with thirteen additional tales by master storytellers. Both volumes received rave reviews from critics from across the nation. Both books were recommended for the prestigious National Bram Stoker Award.

After seeing great success with the first two projects, Knost was asked by the publisher to “perform his magic” one final time—making a Legends trilogy. "We asked Mike to create a final volume of Legends of the Mountain State," said Keith Davis, CEO of Woodland Press. "From what we've already seen, the third volume will be even grittier and darker than its predecessors."

The upcoming title, to be available exclusively at the West Virginia Book Company booth (state distributor of the titles) at the WV Book Festival, will focus on another baker’s dozen of ghastly tales—thirteen more ghost stories and mountain legends from the darkest corners of the Mountain State. This new project will embody the same tone and texture of the first two volumes, with the involvement of nationally known authors and storytellers, including Matt Venne, Steve Vernon, Elizabeth Massie, Scott Nicholson, Fran Friel, J.G. Faherty, John Little, Brian J. Hatcher, Matthew Warner, G. Cameron Fuller, Doug Warrick and others.

According to Knost, this new volume offers fresh horror tales to those who devoured the stories in the first two volumes.

In addition to the release, Knost has also been invited to speak at the 2009 WV Book Festival. He will offer his writing seminar on speculative fiction and horror. For additional information, see www.wvhumanities.org/bookfest/bookfest2.htm.

The WV Book Festival is sponsored by the West Virginia Humanities Council, The Charleston Gazette, The Charleston Daily Mail, The Kanawha County Public Library, and The Library Foundation of Kanawha County, Inc.

(PHOTO: Michael Knost recently signed copies of Legends of the Mountain State at Borders, in Barboursville, WV)