Family Stories to Fiction | Azul Terronez & Steve Vannoy

Send us a text When the world slowed during the pandemic, Steve Vannoy and I found an unexpected gift in that stillness. We began recording stories from his father, Smokey Vannoy—vivid tales of a bygone West Virginia filled with cinder-bottom towns, red-light districts, and river adventures. What started as a collection of oral history soon grew into something more—a shared book project, born from legacy and love. Adventures in Cinder Bottom became more than a family story. It turned into a vibrant retelling of time, place, and identity. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, as we reflect on our second book, Greenbrier River, we weren’t just navigating the usual creative hurdles of fiction—we were also carrying the weight of loss. Smokey passed away during the writing process, and that grief wove itself into every chapter. What makes these stories resonate is that they’re rooted in real people, real places, and a real desire to honor someone we both deeply admired. Timestamp: 00:00 Smokey’s stories and Cinder Bottom 03:08 Greenbrier River: growth through stories 08:54 Authentic storytelling for Appalachia 11:37 Boom to bust: a county’s journey 13:32 Avoiding judgment in polarized times 16:41 Early integration in segregated America 19:34 Living stories: a father’s legacy 25:32 Believe in your story 26:46 From starter to finisher 29:18 Join Authors Who Lead podcast Full show notes COMMUNITY PROGRAMS 📚 Write and Publish your book CONNECT 📷 Instagram 🎬 TikTok 👫🏻 Facebook 💼 LinkedIn 🐦‍⬛ Twitter 🤝🏻 Apply to be a Guest LEAVE A REVIEW ✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts ✍️ Review on Spotify 🖱️ Episode Webpage