Williamsburg native authors new book about yesteryear in her hometown

Three Point Cafe. Petrey’s Super Market. Bailey’s Country Store. Mr. Cola Bottling Co. AB’s Barbecue Shack. These are just a few of the once-familiar local landmarks that get revisited in the pages of Diane Taylor Roberts’ new book, That’s What I Thought: Growing Up in 1960’s Appalachia.

“I grew up in Williamsburg in the 60’s,” said Roberts, who now resides in Lafollette, Tenn. “It was a completely different time. It was a simpler time, and everyone truly was your neighbor. It is very hard to explain that to the generation now, where you have to be so careful with everything, but at that particular time it wasn’t like that at all. It was a time when everyone truly looked out for one another. People didn’t really lock their doors, and children had a lot more freedom. It was just a different time.”

Roberts explained that she and many others in her generation dealt with their fair share of economic hardships while growing up in a small Appalachian town, but that the strong sense of togetherness within the community at that time allowed for a mostly idyllic childhood.

“My stories of growing up in Williamsburg were truly magical,” Roberts said. “It was a great time to grow up there, with so many caring adults who really took an interest in us.”

In all, That’s What I Thought is comprised of 80 short essays, each one telling a unique story about an important or otherwise noteworthy event from her upbringing in Williamsburg. Among those stories is a retelling of how she was able to locate a special Timex watch that was given to her by her older brother just before he left for Vietnam by calling in to the “Swap Shop” show on WEZJ Radio and sharing with the community that it had gone missing. Then there is the story of how she and a friend learned about a 4-H demonstration competition in the 7th grade, and ended up making it all the way to the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville with a presentation on “how to treat a snake bite.” There are also memories of trips to the old Dixie Drive-In Theater, and much, much more.

“I wanted to write a book that would take those ideas and those remembrances, and put them onto paper,” Roberts said. “Because if it is on paper, then it will never be forgotten.”

Since That’s What I Thought released in April, Roberts said that she has been humbled by the response, noting that she is working on a second printing already, even though the book hasn’t even been made available on Amazon.com yet. Simply through word-of-mouth, and by doing special meet-and-greet events recently at the Jellico and Whitley County public libraries, she said that people from all over have been contacting her, enquiring about how they can obtain a copy.

Prior to becoming a published author, Roberts enjoyed a long and successful career working in social services and healthcare. “I had a wonderful career, and I got to travel everywhere, but you never forget your hometown,” she said. “Everyone should have that pride in where they’re from.”

To learn more about That’s What I Thought, including how to purchase a copy, contact Roberts by email at dianetaylorroberts@gmail.com or by phone at (423) 871-1005.