STORIES I LIVED TO TELL is more than a selection of stories from revered mountain storyteller Gary Carden. It is a testimony of a distinguished culture, sense of place and spirit of community that connects the Appalachian past to its present. This memoir-in-stories invites the reader to move beyond stereotypes to experience the scenes, characters and community of the author's childhood and formative years, intersecting with the regional folktales and mythologies that fired his imagination. It is not only a fascinating window into an Appalachian community in the middle of the 20th century but also an insightful reminder of who that community is today, in spite of the external changes.

Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton was raised in a Southern Appalachian community steeped in tradition. He learned to make moonshine at an early age and continued to pursue the perfection of the craft throughout his life. At the same time, he honed a natural talent for performance and came to fill not only the role but the appearance of the master moonshiners he had known as a child. Ultimately appearing in documentaries, television shows and heritage events, he brought the traditional craft of a secret brotherhood into the light. Now remembered as a folk hero who would literally live free or die, THE MOONSHINER POPCORN SUTTON captures the true story of the man behind the myth in a celebration of craft, heritage and irrepressible character.