Tethered to an Appalachian Curse

“This is an engaging story about the wounds—even from childhood, and even from the church—that can be used to form gravitas in a pastor’s soul.”
—M. Craig Barnes, Princeton Theological Seminary

“David Howell is a great storyteller, and his story will intersect in one way or another with every reader I can imagine.”
—Brian McLaren, author of We Make the Road by Walking

“I love it! . . . such a fine way of storytelling . . .”
—Thomas G. Long, Candler School of Theology

“. . . clear, persuasive, and so well written . . .”
—Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Seminary

“. . . a lovely, readable style . . .”
—Barbara Brown Taylor, New York Times bestselling author

“I am greatly enjoying ‘poop in the boots,’ ‘all about the Murdocks,’ ‘Elvis at the Nu Wray Inn.’”
—Donald Davis, Featured Storyteller, National Storytelling Festival

“Christian preaching is the act of proclaiming how the story of Jesus Christ rewrites our own stories. David Howell’s memoir narrates just how it is that God makes a preacher.”
—Rolf Jacobson, author of Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms

“Sitting upon the porch of David Howell’s imagination we are given the gift of listening to a Southern storyteller, preacher, prophet, and stirrer of holy mischief. This spiritual memoir offers the reader a window into rugged, pragmatic, and complex theological thought peppered with a heavy dose of compassion.”
—Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago

“This remarkable book seems to provide evidence that once the world was denser with stories. Funny ones, scary ones, poignant ones—an accumulation of stories that make a life and a community.”
—Bill McKibben, author of Wandering Home

“David Howell’s telling of his coming of age in the provincial Appalachian town of Boonford, North Carolina enthralled me from the start. From a gasp of horror to an all-out belly laugh, it brought a much-needed lightning flash of delight to my reading queue. Tethered to an Appalachian Curse delivers story after amazing story of hilarity, tragedy, sex, lyin’ and cheatin’, drunkenness, heartbreak, and grace-filled redemption of Old Testament proportions as they unfold among the citizens of this tiny North Carolina town. In his whimsical, down-to-earth way, Howell reminds us of our own journeys to find purpose, and our life-long attempts to prove we belong in the very arms of love that have claimed us all along.”
—Peter Mayer, Lead Vocalist and Guitarist, the Peter Mayer Group

“David Howell possesses the two indispensable ingredients of all gifted writers. He is a consummate storyteller, and he has an incredible story to tell. Across the pages of this book, the grace of God is neither an abstract concept nor a pious sentiment, but rather it shows up in the nitty-gritty and sometimes painful details of our lives to guide, encourage, and ennoble. You will be drawn into Howell’s superbly written and breathtakingly honest story from the very first page, and you will be blessed by reading it.”
—David J. Lose, author of Preaching at the Crossroads

“Howell’s tales will engage you, amuse you, provoke you, and keep you turning the pages to read more. For all those blessed with an open mind, who refuse to settle for false platitudes and condemnations, who hunger for real substance . . . there is much here to feast upon.”