Where Stories Come From: Lazy Acres, Home, and the Heart of My Work
- Tibbi Ann Hardix
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Some places don’t just exist on a map.
They exist in you.
When I first began sharing my stories—quietly, nervously, hopeful in that way only writers understand—Lazy Acres Mart didn’t hesitate. They listened. They asked questions. And without a second thought, they offered to carry my books.
That kind of support stays with you.
Later, when they asked if I’d be interested in a book signing this year, I was over the moon. Truly. Because this wasn’t just about books on a table—it was about stories returning home, to the very place that shaped them.
Lazy Acres isn’t just a store.
It’s a gathering place.
A porch you recognize.
A familiar stretch of road that tells you you’re close to where you belong.
The people who own and run it—the real-life inspiration behind the Winslows in my work—are the heartbeat of our area. The kind of folks who show up, who support quietly, who care deeply about community. They are exactly the kind of people Appalachian stories are built around.
If you’ve ever read my work and come across Lazy River Mall or the Winslows who own it, now you know the truth: they’re real. The store is real. The spirit is real. And yes—they are characters in my books, because how could they not be?
My writing has always come from home.
From the woods I grew up knowing.
From Audra State Park and the Alum Cave trails.
From a little secret waterfall we found once and spent our summers beside—always respectful, never leaving a mess, always leaving it just as we found it.
If you don’t know where it is, you won’t find it.
That’s the truth behind my stories. They aren’t imagined out of thin air—they’re shaped by real porches, real paths, real people, and real love for this place.
Lazy Acres believed in my work early. They opened their doors. And now, seeing my stories circle back to that porch feels like something closing gently, exactly the way it should.
My writing comes from my dreams.
And my dreams come from my home. 🖤Some places are meant to stay that way.
Stay tuned for updates! Book signing to come Spring/Summer 2026
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