H. Byron Ballard

Byron Ballard has called western North Carolina home since her birth. Her education includes a BA and MFA in theatre. She studies and practices Appalachian folk magic, a traditional folkway that she's dubbed "hillfolks' hoodoo." Her research in its origins has led her to fieldwork throughout the British Isles. Her books on the subject include "Staubs and Ditchwater: an Introduction to Hillfolks Hoodoo" (Silver Rings Press) and "Asfidity and Mad-Stones" (Smith Bridge Press). "Embracing Willendorf: a Witch's Way of Loving Your Body to Health and Fitness" (Smith Bridge Press) debuted in 2017. She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at festivals and conferences that include Sacred Space Conference, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Southeast Wise Women's Herbal Conference, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, the Scottish Pagan Federation Conference and Mystic South. A member of the Appalachian Studies Association, she recently presented the paper "The Ragged Wound", which has become the core of her current work-in-progress. Byron serves as senior priestess and co-founder of Mother Grove Goddess Temple in Asheville. She is also one of the founders of the Coalition of Earth Religions/CERES, a Pagan nonprofit, and she does interfaith work locally and regionally. She is a folklorist, a playwright, a gardener, and a tai chi student who blogs irregularly and talks about Tower Time far too often. You can find her at her website www.myvillagewitch.com and on Facebook and Twitter.