Sam Venable, b. 1947, is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. degree in journalism and minor in forestry and wildlife management. He has enjoyed a long career with daily newspapers in Tennessee. Since 1970, he has been with the Knoxville News Sentinel, first as outdoors editor, later (1985) changing to general interest-humor columnist. The author of eleven books, he is the winner of more than three dozen local, state and national writing awards. Venable is widely known throughout Southern Appalachia as a standup comedian, often appearing...