My Appalachian Roots

My Appalachian Roots is a fierce, tender memoir about finding belonging, building family, and carrying forward the mountain wisdom that raised us.

Adopted at birth and raised by parents shaped by the hollers, Traci Madden grows up between two truths-the daughter her family chose and the child her birth mother let go. From Sunday dinners and canning jars to hard lessons, faith healings, and “granny magic,” she learns what endures when life gets lean: work, community, and God.

When a life-threatening brain tumor shatters normal, Traci leans on the grit of her people-scripture, stories, and the stubborn hope of women who made much from little. Through adoption wounds, complicated mother-daughter ties, marriage, homeschooling, and the wild joy of grandchildren, she discovers a simple compass: God first, family second, community always.

Warm as a kitchen table and honest as front-porch talk, My Appalachian Roots celebrates the sayings, recipes, and rituals that shape character: keep your word, help your neighbor, and never forget where you came from. For anyone who’s ever felt out of place-or wondered how to turn pain into purpose-this book is a hand on your shoulder and a lantern for the road.

Perfect for readers of: Hillbilly Elegy, Where I Come From, and faith-forward memoirs about resilience, adoption, and regional heritage.