Ford Mountain Publishing Is Heading to the Appalachian Highlands Celts Celtic Festival!

We’re going Celtic this weekend.

Ford Mountain Publishing will be joining the Appalachian Highlands Celts Celtic Festival, taking place September 4–6, 2026, at the beautiful and historic Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The festival brings together the history, music, traditions, and cultures of the Seven Celtic Nations for a weekend of celebration—and we’re looking forward to being part of it.

But before you make your plans, there is one important detail.

You Can Find Us Friday and Sunday Only

Ford Mountain Publishing will have our booth open on:

Friday, September 4 & Sunday, September 6

We will not have our booth open on Saturday, September 5. So, if you’re coming specifically to see us, browse our books, or check out what we’ve brought along, make sure to find us on Friday or Sunday.


A Few New Things Are Coming to the Mountain

We’ll be bringing some familiar Ford Mountain Publishing offerings with us—but we’ll also have some new items for sale.

That means this will be one of your first opportunities to stop by, browse, and see what we’ve been working on.

There will be books. There will be publishing and creative goodies. And there may be a few things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them sitting on the table. That happens sometimes. We make no promises about your wallet.


Books and Plus Ultra Are Joining Forces

Because apparently we have decided that simply bringing books was not enough.

We’re also partnering with our friend Roy from Plus Ultra Coffee to share some of his excellent goodies with visitors at our booth. It seemed only reasonable to bring them together.

So while you’re visiting Ford Mountain Publishing, you’ll also have an opportunity to check out some of the offerings from Plus Ultra Coffee.


Come Enjoy the Festival Weekend

The Appalachian Highlands Celts Celtic Festival offers far more than a reason to visit our booth.

The weekend is an opportunity to enjoy Celtic history, music, traditions, and culture in the setting of one of Northeast Tennessee’s historic sites.

Take some time to explore. Enjoy the festivities. Visit the vendors. Spend the day surrounded by history and community.

And, somewhere along the way, come find us.

We’d love to meet you.

Whether you’re:

  • A reader
  • A writer
  • An independent author
  • A lover of history
  • An anime enthusiast
  • Interested in Celtic culture
  • Or simply looking for something worthwhile to do over the holiday weekend

Stop by and say hello.


Save the Dates

Appalachian Highlands Celts Celtic Festival

September 4–6, 2026

Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site
Johnson City, Tennessee

Ford Mountain Publishing Booth

OPEN:

Friday, September 4

Sunday, September 6

CLOSED:

Saturday, September 5


Planning Your Visit

For complete festival information, schedules, and event details, visit:

Appalachian Highlands Celts Celtic Festival
https://www.tipton-haynes.org/events/celtic-festival-09042026

We’ll see you at the festival.

Discovering Stories and Connections at Plus Ultra Coffee

Megan here and boy…there are some events that leave you tired by the end of the day, and then there are the ones that leave you full in the best possible way. Sunday at Plus Ultra Coffee in the Bradley Square Mall was very much both.

Thank you to everyone who came out, browsed the tables, picked up books, asked questions, shared stories, and stayed awhile to chat with us. One of my favorite parts of these events is getting to sit down with people who are just as eager to geek out over history, mythology, folklore, dragons, and strange old tales as we are. We always crave those connections and conversations!

And truly, that is always welcomed by all three of us — me, Megan, D.B. Hopson, and Roy, who somehow manages to turn imagination into something tangible with every drink and project he touches.

One of the most rewarding things to witness throughout the day was seeing people light up when they found their thing. Sometimes it was one of the dragons D.B. designed and Roy printed. Sometimes it was finally spotting the book they’d been searching for and realizing they could actually take it home with them that day. There’s a kind of quiet magic in that moment — when a story, an image, or even an idea suddenly clicks into place for someone. That is what makes all of this worthwhile.

The Wings of Wisdom series continues to grow, with one more slated to come out within the next year or so. But there are other children’s stories already in the works. Some are whimsical and some lean deeper into folklore and myth. All of them are being built with the same hope: that stories can still spark wonder, teach values, and bring families closer together.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the far back corner of my very eclectic mind, a handful of historical fiction and science fiction projects are continuing to percolate. Slowly. The hope is to have at least one of those finished before the end of the year slips away from me.

And for those who enjoy poetry, I’m also preparing to load my recent chapbook, Appalachian Roots, onto KDP and IngramSpark so it will be more widely available for readers interested in that corner of my work as well.

Thank you again to Plus Ultra Coffee for hosting us, and thank you to every person who stopped by the table. Independent storytelling survives because people still care enough to seek it out, talk about it, and carry it home with them.

We noticed. And we’re grateful.

Join Us for the Launch of Roderick’s Perilous Journey

Stories are strange things. You spend months—sometimes years—building worlds in silence, arguing with outlines at two in the morning, chasing ideas that arrive at inconvenient times, and occasionally staring at dragons on your desk wondering why this became your life.

And then one day those stories exist in physical space, sitting on tables where actual people can pick them up and carry them home.

On May 17, starting at noon, Megan and I will be at Plus Ultra Coffee inside Bradley Square Mall in Cleveland, Tennessee, and we’ll be there until closing.

Megan will have the complete (to this point at least since there’s one more coming) Wings of Wisdom series available in hardcover, including the newest installment, Roderick’s Perilous Journey. And honestly? It may be my favorite one yet.

We’ll also have:
🐉 3D-printed dragons from the series
📖 Bookmarks
☕ Coffee and whatever experiments Roy has unleashed in the test kitchen lately

As for me, I’ll have all five volumes of the Realms Unwritten prompt books available as well. Those books were built for people who love storytelling in all its forms—writers actively working on projects, people trying to get unstuck creatively, or readers who occasionally think, “You know… I kind of want to make something.”

Mostly, though, I’m looking forward to conversations. One of the best parts of these events is meeting fellow storytellers, fantasy readers, mythology nerds, aspiring writers, dragon enthusiasts, and wonderfully creative people who wander in because they saw a dragon on a table and got curious.

That’s usually how the best conversations start anyway.

Also worth noting: ⚔️ One Piece Day is coming to Plus Ultra Coffee on July 18, and if you know me at all, you already know I’m excited for that.

If you’re nearby, come spend part of the afternoon with us. Bring questions, favorite stories, writing ideas, or just your curiosity.

Tomorrow’s the Day! Book Signing at Plus Ultra Coffee

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that tomorrow, Sunday, December 14th, I’ll be hosting a book signing session at the wonderful Plus Ultra Coffee in Bradley Square Mall! This has been in the works for a while, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally meet readers face-to-face and share this special experience with you all.

Bring Your Books or Purchase On-Site!

Whether you’ve already grabbed your copy or you’re waiting to pick one up in person, I’ve got you covered! Bring your previously purchased copies for signing, or be ready to snag the brand new 2nd edition right there at the event. For all on-site purchases, I’ll be accepting cash, PayPal, and Venmo to make things as convenient as possible.

More Than Just Books!

Here’s something extra special: Plus Ultra Coffee isn’t just your average coffee shop. Owner Roy has created an absolutely incredible space that any anime and manga fan will love. While you’re there, take some time to explore his amazing selection of premium teas and coffees, plus an impressive collection of anime and manga themed 3D printed models. With the holidays just around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to find that unique gift for the special anime/manga lover in your life!

Event Details

📅 Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025

📍 Location: Plus Ultra Coffee, Bradley Square Mall, Cleveland, TN

💳 Payment Options: Cash, PayPal, Venmo

See You There!

I cannot wait to meet you all, sign some books, chat about the stories behind the pages, and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere at Plus Ultra Coffee. Roy has been an incredible host, and I know you’re going to love what he’s created there.

Mark your calendars, grab your copies (or plan to get one tomorrow), and come on out! Let’s make this an unforgettable day together.

See you tomorrow! ☕📚✨