John O'Brien

Identified in the Pocahontas Times as a "recently deceased Pocahontas County author," (March 31, 2005; page 9) John O'Brien's book At Home in the Heart of Appalachia details his relationship with West Virginia, including Pocahontas County. His publisher, Random House, has an informative Web site about the book, including author interviews and an excerpt.

There are several other reviews by Appalachian publications available on the Internet. The Smokey Mountain News published a November, 2001 review by Gary Carden, entitled "Appalachian Home: Constant outside influences have little effect on the abiding culture of these mountains." Amy Quigley reviewed At Home in the heart of Appalachia for the West Virginia University Alumni Magazine, Spring, 2002 edition, and Belinda Anderson interviewed O'Brien for West Virginia Division of History and Culture's Artworks Spring, 2002 issue.