Fred Brown, co-author of “The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith,” will present a luncheon keynote speech during the second annual Rose Glen Literary Festival on Saturday, February 25 at Walters State Community College Sevier County Campus. The event will begin at 9am and conclude at 2pm with the luncheon taking place at noon.

Brown and his wife, novelist Jeanne McDonald, co-authored the book which follows three families who are prominent in the serpent handling faith. As a journalist, Brown spent 16 years following the faith and getting to know many who practice it in order to accurately tell their stories.

“Fred Brown has an unparalleled knowledge of East Tennessee and ability to relay a story,” says Sevierville Chamber special projects facilitator and event organizer Carroll McMahan. “I feel certain he will deliver a memorable address comparable to the outstanding remarks last year from Lyn Bales.”

A working journalist for 45 years, Brown is retired from The Knoxville News Sentinel and is a member of the Scripps Howard Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editor’s Malcolm Law Trophy for Feature Writing and the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship in Journalism at the University of Michigan.

Other confirmed writers for the Rose Glen Literary Festival include Robert Allen (retired FBI Agent) and Steve Watson (retired TBI agent) who are co-authors of “The Perry’s Camp Murders” as well as J.C. and Margaret McCauley, co-authors of “Growing Up in Cade’s Cove”.

Other authors include Greg Johnson (“Sanctuary”), Cathy Wilhem (“Inside the Darkness, a Walk Through Grief”), Ersa Rhea Smith (“Flying Bullets and the Resplendent Badge”), Emma Catlett and Glenna Julian (“Kodak Historical Cookbook”), Laura Long Martin (“A Beautiful View: Reflection on Bluff Mountain by Matriarch Marian Oates”), Veta King (“History of Pigeon Forge” and “Images of America, Pigeon Forge”), Lyn Bales (“Natural Histories” and “Ghost Birds”), Mary Phillips (“Booger: A Tall Tale”), Eric Ball (“Blue Mountain Mist Cookbook”), Donnie Lamon (“Riding to Newport”), Dr. Bruce Wheeler (“A Mountain City in the New South”), Jack Hodge, Arthur McDade (“Smoky Mountain Days” and “The Natural Arches of Big South Fork”) and Steve Cotham (“Great Smoky Mountains National Park”).

There is an $18 charge for attending the keynote luncheon, which includes a gourmet chicken pot pie lunch, a gift from The Old Mill Pottery and an opportunity to win door prizes. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. There is no fee to attend the other workshops during the day. To reserve your tickets, call Carroll McMahan at (865) 453-6411.