Charles Hood, author of Looking for Space: My Pickens Journey, released in August of 2025, spoke Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Hagood Community Center/Pickens Senior Center about his newly released book, Pickens Portraits, Volume One and held a book signing for both books.

Specifically, the topic of his slideshow presentation on April 22 was Highway 11, the subject of one of the chapters in Pickens Portraits, Volume One, titled “Our Blue Ridge Parkway.”

To listen to audio of Hood’s entire presentation on April 22, click on the play button on the audio player below.

Other chapters in Pickens Portraits, Volume One are about, in order: the historic Pickens water tower, Rudy Hayes, the 1928 Six Mile tornado, Pickens’ Sunrise Cemetery, Browning Bryant, the windows of Grace United Methodist Church, Charles Dalton, the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Batson, post offices, country doctors Dr. John Lesley Valley and Dr. David Erastus Peek, the Pickens Graded School, Pickens High School volleyball coach Peggy Anthony, the creation of local lakes, the Appalachian Lumber Company, Connie and June Bowers, the Pickens Donut Shop, Tubby Dodson, local hotels, and Dennis Chastain.

Both of Hood’s books are valuable resources for present and future generations in Pickens County. Also, proceeds from sales of both books will benefit the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program, for a camp scholarship fund in memory of Hood’s youngest son, Ryan. Looking for Space: My Pickens Journey has already raised more than $7,500 so far. Both books are available from Amazon and also when Hood speaks at book signing events.

To read The Pickens County Chronicle’s previous stories from interviews with Hood about Pickens Portraits, Volume One and Looking for Space: My Pickens Journey, click on the links below.