Gene Ladd is from the mountains of Western North Carolina. He was born in a two-room tarpaper shack with no plumbing or electricity. In his 85 years he has been a cook, an evangeli...view moreGene Ladd is from the mountains of Western North Carolina. He was born in a two-room tarpaper shack with no plumbing or electricity. In his 85 years he has been a cook, an evangelist, an actor, a radio/TV personality in New York City, a delimeister, owner of a health food store, an herbalist and a meditation and energy healing coach, devoted husband and father on his way becoming a poet. He writes about life in the mountains and the lives of the children of Appalachia, the people country singers sing about.view less