2023 HIGHLANDS NC EXPERIENCE GUIDE
THE PRINCE OF TIDES AND HIGHLANDS
BY KARA ADDY
Did Pat Conroy write at least part of “The Prince of Tides” and other works in Highlands? Indeed, he may have.
By many accounts, the prolific, best-selling author, who passed away from cancer in 2016, spent considerable time in Highlands. Take this excerpt from Conroy’s acknowledgements at the end of the 1986 novel, later turned into an acclaimed film starring Nick Nolte and Barbara Streisand.
“Turner and Mary Ball let me have the use of their mountain home for long stretches of time during the writing of this book. James Landon and Al Campbell also gave me the key to their mountain home in Highlands, North Carolina.” According to Luke Osteen, contributing writer to the Highlands Experience Guide and Laurel magazine, Conroy was known to mix and mingle with residents and frequented The Mountaineer, a former diner on Main Street that offered three meals a day, a sympathetic ear and the latest gossip. “I always enjoyed our conversations,” Osteen says. “He was especially kind to my son Alex, who was a little guy at the time.” Michael Weisenburg is the associate director of the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at University of South Carolina’s Hollings Library, where Conroy’s original work and papers are preserved. He found additional information in comments and interviews from Cassandra King Conroy, the author’s wife, that mentions Highlands. “It appears that Pat and Cassandra rented a house in Highlands for a brief period, probably in the early 2000s,” says Weisenburg. “While there, Cassandra was inspired to write her novel, ‘Moonrise.’ It also seems that Pat may have been working on a young adult novel called ‘The Cave of the Midnight Owl,’ which takes place in Highlands; but this has not been published.”
Cassandra King Conroy once described the unpublished novel to a writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as “a Harry Potter-esque fantasy that includes time travel, talking animals and magic.” It was originally planned as a children’s book with illustrations by his daughter, Melissa Conroy. But it grew to 400 pages and may eventually be published as more than one book. Also an accomplished author who has visited Highlands in recent years, Cassandra King Conroy wrote of “Moonrise:” “A few years ago, my husband and I rented a dark old house in Highlands, North Carolina, a place of summer retreats and historic old homes hidden away in the beautifully misty mountains, where close bonds are forged and remain for generations.” It seems Highlands served not only as a place of inspiration for the couple, but also as a locale to gather and share with other writers. The two were attendees at a literary weekend, “Words, Wines and Friends,” held at Highlands’ Old Edwards Inn and Spa. Appalachian poet, short story author and novelist Ron Rash, whose acclaimed work, “Serena” was made into a film star- ring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, also attended.
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