Breaking news –

Wendy’s book, provisionally titled ‘The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap’, has been accepted by St. Martins Press after an auction involving another well known publisher. She’s going to be busy with her editor for a while getting it into final shape. It’s all a bit unreal!

The bookstore goes from strength to strength and is officially the best in Wise County – according to a local newspaper poll. We also got nominated for business of the year for the third time running. Wendy has a great new job; she’s Community Health Organizer with ‘Healthy Appalachia’ running events and fund-raising as well as continuing to teach at UVA Wise. Jack took another group to Scotland (and Ireland this time) and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They had wall-to-wall sunshine for two weeks – amazing! Celtic Clanjamphry is now into its third year and continues to get lots of complimentary messages (see below). The Rogersville cabin has now been re-floored as well so it’s pretty much like new – actually considerably better than new! We’ll be MCing at the Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival again in September and we got ‘arm-twisted’ into running a Celtic music event here in Big Stone Gap. We also continue to do storytelling and singing in local schools as well as classes in ballads at various places.

WETS fm received this recently –

 
“Celtic Clanjamphry is delightful! I love Jack
Beck's commentary. I would like to encourage him to play whatever he
feels like, and don't hold back on the storytelling, since that is what
makes the show so compelling. I can listen to Celtic/Gaelic music on
internet radio, but I can't get Jack Beck's insight. Play what you want
Jack, I'll walk down any road that you want to take me. Moran taing!”
 
Fiona Ritchie's 'Thistle and Shamrock' US wide radio show recently 
held a listener's poll of favourite shows and the one she did with Jack 
on the Scottish/Appalachian connection came out top. 
This show has been re-broadcast many times and we always get people 
commenting to us when it airs.
 
Even later news:
 
Jack was recently interviewed for the website of his old singing partner Barbara Dickson – check it out here http://www.barbaradickson.net/interview_jack_beck.html 
 

And more on Barbara – her autobiography was recently published and more then a chapter focused on her days partnering Jack. Here are some photos from these days (some are in the book).