At last I have found a topic for the novel I've been dreaming of writing for years.

[Brigid]

It's the fascinating story of the Battle of Blair Mountain, an all-out shooting war between coal miners and mine operators in Logan and Mingo Counties in WV in 1921. It's wonderful material, and I can't believe nobody's ever touched it. But then, it's going to be a challenge to do it justice.

[Bossy Monkey]

1. That wasn't what John Sayles' movie Matewan was about?

It was certainly about bloody Mingo County. Absolutely unforgettable if you haven't seen it.

[Brigid]

2. Is it a documentary?

No, I haven't seen it; but now I must find it. :)

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Not a documentary. For instance, it probably took longer than 5 minutes

for hillbilly, Italian and black miners to invent bluegrass. But outstanding nevertheless.

[driver8]

4. Matewan is an awesome movie. I love John Sayles, and this is one of his best!

Definitely check it out if you haven't seen it.

[taterguy]

3. Thunder in the Mountains by Lon Savage is a non-fiction book about it

Denise giardina's Storming Heaven is a novel about it.

It has been touched. You just haven't read every book ever published.

Good luck.

:toast:

[Brigid]

5. Rats!

Looks like others have beaten me to this story. I will have to read these books and check out that movie -- and unless I can do something different with this, and do it better -- which is doubtful -- then I'll have to find another topic.