Interview with B. L. Dotson-Lewis

I recently ran across an article talking about a new book on bluegrass by an author I was unfamiliar with. I did a little digging and contacted B.L. Dotson-Lewis about her new book The Sunny Side Of Appalachia: Bluegrass From The Grassroots. This is Dotson-Lewis' third book in a series of books on the life in and history of Appalachia. She was gracious enough to send me a copy of the book, which I will be posting a review of next week. She was also gracious enough to give me an interview and talk a little about her passion for the Appalachian people. (You can learn more at her Web site: http://www.appalachiacoal.com/)

Music Tomes: What prompted you to want to tell the stories of Appalachia?

B.L. Dotson-Lewis: Well, Appalachia is my home and I love my home region. That is one reason.

Secondly, when I attended Berea College I was cultured in Appalachian culture. I was taught about the special gifts of the mountain people
and that they are a special group. I was taught to be proud of the mountain heritage I own. I suppose I took that all in.

As you know, Appalachia is one of the last subcultures left in the United States. When you think about a subculture, you think about a distinct group of people with similar beliefs and habits. The mountain people of Appalachia have retained and nurtured the traditions brought over from Scotland, Ireland, England and other countries when they first settled the mountains. These stories tell us about our roots, who we are, who we were, and how we got here.

I think the most authenic history we can get is through first person stories. That is what I like to do is oral histories - impromptu interviews, etc.

Down the road you may read about a coalminer or a mine disaster but actually to read the life story or details of an explosion in first person, to me is living history.

MT: Why do you feel those stories are important?

BLDL: I believe it is of vital importance these traditions be preserved now because technology and highways may eventually erase the divide which exists between Appalachians and people outside the region. When this happens and we all merge, the individuality of the region will be lost.

MT: When did you first realize you had a talent for writing?

BLDL: I have never thought of myself as talented. I love to write but it is because I am telling the stories of a group of people who are forgotten or overlooked. It is exciting and I consider it a privilege to be able to do this.

I don't have a business plan or anything like that. There is nothing written down that I am going to write 5 books or 6 books. I don't
know. It is almost as if something drops down from the sky and tells me to capture this story or take that photo. So, I am completely mesmerized by these projects.

I am doing my best to get a composite of the people who make up Appalachia.

What I do is go out and talk to people about their lives - their hardships and successes. My main emphasis has been the coalfields where I live or near my home and I don't have to look any further for the most exciting stories or sometimes the worst tragedies. The coalfields have a history of violence. It is still there.

My books are centered around the working class. I am able to give them a voice by letting them tell you their story. I can't think of anything more exciting.

MT: What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

BLDL: I think the hardest part of actually writing for me is when I start on a project, for example the book I just finished dealing with bluegrass music, an important part of our heritage, I have trouble thinking about anything else. I can't sleep and I often dream about what I am writing about. I might wake up in the middle of the night with an idea I was not able to come up with during my waking hours. The hardest part may be for the people I am around because I will talk their ear off.

One of my major concerns is that I represent the people I have interviewed or written about in the best and most honest way possible.

I really like to keep everything very simple. My life is very simple and my writing is very simple. I don't worry about trying to come up
with big words or complex themes.

When I finished my first book, titled: Appalachia Spirit Triumphant (a cultural odyssey of Appalachia), my biggest fear was turning my material over to editors or a publisher who would wipe out all the originality so important to me. The way it has worked with my publisher, I
can keep all the original dialect, verbatim, black and white photos, large print. And my books are printed on recycled paper. All those
things are important to me. They represent Appalachia and the people whose stories are in my books. So, I couldn't not be more pleased with the outcome. I think down the road when more people see and read the books I have written they will understand what I am talking about, not because I have written the book, but because it all goes together to make the book complete. The books represent the region in format inside and outside - something to treasure.

I would like to talk about my book on bluegrass music. I love this book. The stories are great. I was able to interview bluegrass greats like Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, Everett Lilly, Aubrey Holt and relatively new musicians like Jamie Dailey. They were all impromptu interviews. It is so exciting to think about reading in first person their life stories and how their lives revolve around bluegrass music.

The music associated with Appalachia plays a key role in the history of the region. These songs and tunes tell stories about lifestyles and major historical events such as mine wars, love gone bad and happy events such as flat footin' fiddle tunes. The fact that acoustic instruments are standard for bluegrass music is one thing which sets this music apart. All these different elements make up Appalachia.

This is what I am trying to capture - the look and feel of the region and the spirit of the people. I hope I have been able to do that through my writing.