HARROGATE, Tenn. — Many were treated to a special dual reading/musical performance Tuesday night at the Carnegie Vincent Library on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. Acclaimed Kentucky author and LMU Writer-in-Residence Silas House was joined by Knoxville, Tenn. musician Scott Miller for a performance piece based on House’s new novel, Eli The Good.

House read selections from the novel, which just came out, between acoustic musical performances from Miller. House praised Miller’s talent before the performance.

“I think he’s the best singer/songwriter that there is in Appalachia, for sure,” said House. “He’s written some of my favorite songs. And so many of them influenced this particular book.” House said Miller’s song “Wild Things” was a huge inspiration for his fourth novel.

“I would listen to that song over and over and over again while I was writing this book,” said House.

Sylvia Lynch, principal of the J. Frank White Academy, gave an introduction to House, saying that because of him, LMU’s rich literary tradition has come alive again and that he has inspired the whole campus to write.

She said his willingness to share his expertise was “evidenced by the number of students here at the University, at the J. Frank White Academy, and even among the faculty and staff who are fervently writing and sharing their excitement about it.”

“Silas House knows and loves Appalachia, that’s obvious. He knows the geography and he knows the people. And he understands there are things here that must be said and must be put down and kept,” said Lynch. “Silas House is not only one of the strongest, most respected, most passionate voices in Appalachian literature today, he’s become a role model for a new generation of writers who have come to appreciate and now desire to cultivate and collect that which is all around them.”

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.