Octavia Sexton, Appalachian Culture, Creative Writing, Drama, Storytelling
A native of eastern Kentucky, Octavia grew up in a rich tradition of storytelling. She has been privileged to grow up hearing folk tales, haint tales, Jack tales and Cherokee legends handed down from her English, Irish, and Cherokee ancestors. The core of her stories is rooted in the traditions and lifestyles of her family and her past. Octavia’s natural dialect transports the listener into the mountains of eastern Kentucky - where “haints” chill your blood, Jack tickles your funny bone, and the hills and hollers’ are full of surprises.
“Her genuine Appalachian dialect and love for her beloved Kentucky Mountains are the magic that brings her stories to life. She is one of our few, true folk artists and her performances are authentic representations of the tradition from which she comes.” Loyal Jones, Appalachian Humorist, Folklorist, and author