Amy Ammons Garza, Author,  Storyteller
dba Ammons Communications

Background
Amy grew up in Western North Carolina listening to the stories her grandfather told her. As the eldest of her generation, he impressed upon her to “pass on” the stories of their heritage to the next generation.  Amy began writing at age 39 in 1981, studying with Professor Charles Tinkham, completing 8 years of creative writing at Purdue University Calumet, in Hammond, Indiana.  Winner of over 30 awards for short stories, personal essays, children's literature, poetry and novels, including four first place awards for "Novel-in-Progress" through Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. While attending Purdue, Amy became editor of Skylark, the fine arts publication for Purdue University Calumet. Her articles have appeared in EQ Magazine, Skylark, Arts Indiana, Right Here, The Hometown Magazine, Now and Then, Healing Network, Appalachian Heritage, The Alumni Courier, The Good Old Days, and Potato Eyes.  

Author
1993-Current—Author of 14 books:
Retter, A Novel of the Mountains  (Winston-Derek, 1988) based on her grandmother's life.
Cannie, the Hills of Home  (Mountain Lights Publishing, 1991) story of her mother. 
Matchbox Mountain (Bright Mountain Books, 1994) short stories based on growing up in WNC
Catch the Spirit of Creativity  (Bright Mountain Books, 1994) creative writing and art workbook.  
I Am Somebody, (Ammons Communications, LTD, 1996) true story of a young Appalachian  man, Tony Queen, with 15 interviews of those who knew him before his tragic death at the hands of seven "friends."
Sterlen, and a Mosaic of Mountain Women, (Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, 2005) third book in the trilogy of her family.
Appalachian Storyteller in a Feed Sack Dress, (Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, 2016) short stories based on the author’s life
Mountain Storytelling & Spontaneous Art, (Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, 2020) 30 years of Storytelling with the Ammon Sisters
High on a Mountain Grandpa Told Me Stories, (Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, 2026) A Creative Writing Guide for Beginners

Amy's books for children published by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia plus CDs:
Said the Leaf, 2012; Somewhere in the Great Smoky Mountains a leaf lives, dies to replenish the earth, and lives again.
The Lean Horse, 2020; Three children making do without the amenities of the world outside their environment.
So & Oh--Black Bear Twins, 2020; One twin learns he cannot read the thoughts of his brother.
My Cucumber Doll, 2023; A true life story of a one and only doll for an Appalachian child. 
Old Jack’s Dream For a Wildlife Sanctuary, 2026; Based on a true story, told through the eyes of a Canadian Goose.

“Blue Ridge Mountain Stories.”  Storytelling CD containing stories drawn from her  novels
“Appalachian Storyteller,” Storytelling CD drawn from “Stories of Mountain Folk” radio program
"Matchbox Mountain,” Audio CD of 1994 book by the same name

Workshop Leader/Teacher
1993-2014—Workshop leader in local schools and summer camps, teaching creative writing. Teacher of creative writing at Southwestern Community College, Sylva & Franklin, NC    Editor/Columnist/Publisher
1988-1993—columnist/associate editor/graphic artist for Transport Fleet News, a trucking magazine in Chicago, IL (Circulation 11,000). 
1993-2014—Editor and columnist for Fun Things to do in the Mountains, a publication serving Western North Carolina (circulation 30,000).
1993-Current—Editor/Publisher for Ammons Communications (Imprint: Catch the Spirit of Appalachia) based in Tuckasegee, NC & Taylors, SC, which has published to date 181 books written by regional authors. 

Playwright
Amy has written and produced four major community plays:  
1999—“The Spirit of Appalachia,”—Appalachian Cultural Center in Dillard, Georgia, 25 shows
2000—“Strong Comes After,” —UNC in Asheville for WNC Women's  2000 Convention
1999-2004—“The Trail of Light,”—(Linage of Christ) Christmas on the WCU campus, Cullowhee, NC 
2005-2008—“Mary, Did You Know,”— Christmas on the WCU campus in Cullowhee, NC

Storyteller/Visiting Artist/Co-Founder—
“The Ammons Sisters” Partnered with her sister Doreyl Ammons Cain for thirty years as a visiting artist, speaker, storyteller. 
In Performance—as Amy told stories of growing up in WNC, Doreyl spontaneously illustrated the story. 
In Residencies—Amy taught creative writing and drama; Doreyl taught visual art and opening doors to creativity. The two worked in Indiana,  Illinois, and all over the South through Visiting NC Artist
In Community—In1989, Amy and Doreyl cofounded Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, Inc., a not-for-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to honoring the heritage and creativity of all people. 
1997-2010—co-founded Greening Up the Mountains Festival in Sylva, NC 1997-2010—founded Heritage Alive! Mountain Youth Talent contests in three WNC counties and the Traditional Heritage Walk at festivals. 2002-2012—conducted The Great Smoky Mountain Railfest in Bryson City, NC
2006-2011—founded & conducted the Patchwork Folk & Fabric Festival in Cullowhee, NC
2007-2017—established & funded Scholarships for Appalachian Studies at SCC, Sylva, NC
2009-2013—founded & conducted ColorFest in Dillsboro, NC
2008-2015—founded & conducted Stories of Mountain Folk, a radio show, which became an online podcast, interviewing over 800 local people, now archived at Hunter Library, WCU, Cullowhee, NC Community

Awards
2012—Amy presented the Duke Energy’s Citizenship and Service Award
2013— Catch the Spirit of Appalachia awarded the prestigious Mountain Heritage Award by Western Carolina University.