Lighthearted, humorous storytelling from a seasoned traveler firmly grounded now in rural Southern Appalachia. With a love of character and community, Rouse delights readers with subtle details of relationships, adjusting to country life, wisdom of nature and the landscape of domestic negotiations. Americana with a twist. Regional yet global.

Snapshots and slices of life. Stories include Appalachian tales of family and community, suburban humor of picking out Mother's Day presents, a Who-Done-It with a lady sheriff solving the crime and porcine humor— from an encounter with a flying pig to getting a stray piglet tipsy!

Characters are wise, clueless, young, old, eager and reluctant. Clever and delicious, tender and thoughtful, read these aloud or enjoy the wisdom and humor alone.