Young Harris College professor releases second novel
Young Harris, GA (06/10/2026) — YHC Creative Writing professor and author Jen Julian returns this July with another Appalachian-themed novel, The Winter Folk, following the success of her debut novel, Red Rabbit Ghost.
Julian revisits the lore of the Appalachian region with this work, an area that provides ample inspiration for the author. The story centers around a secret lodge in the Appalachians, a place known as Deerhaven, a refuge for the time-worn and weary.
Julian's protagonist, Moth, a college dropout, indebted, impoverished, and desperate for better things, falls instantly for Deerhaven's beautiful antlered host, the mild-mannered Mr. Oslin. When he offers her a housekeeper's contract - one wish granted for a winter of service - she signs without question.
"This one was fun to write. I finished from concept to draft in nine months," Julian said. "Red Rabbit Ghost was a little more difficult - a lot of back and forth with that one, before I was happy."
Living in the region provided all the inspiration she needed.
"Driving around the area and seeing all the beauty, I was struck by how beautiful, but yet mysterious it could be," Julian said. "Our character, Moth, wants to leave her small town, but she flunks out of college and ends up back home. And she goes to the mysterious lodge, where she meets Mr. Oswald.
"It's a classic fairy tale structure - very dangerous, yet seductive. Moth is a deeply flawed character who only wants a better life for herself."
Julian has always been drawn to her creative outlet, whether drawing or writing. Even as a young child, she would create picture books inspired by her imagination. She came to Young Harris College in 2019 with a bachelor's in English from the College of Charleston, an MFA in Fiction from UNC Greensboro, and a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She is part of the Literature and Languages Department at the College.
"I'm drawn to mysterious things - science fiction, magic," Julian said. "The belief that there's something else out there."
In addition to her two novels, Julian previously wrote a short story collection, Earthly Delights and Other Apocalypses, which won Press 53's Fiction Prize when it was published in Fall 2018. She also has stories and essays that have appeared in numerous publications, including SmokeLong Quarterly, Greensboro Review, and Chattahoochee Review.
"Growing up in eastern North Carolina, I was kind of a lonely kid, kind of solitary, and that's influenced my writing in a big way," Julian said. "I read everything I could get my hands on throughout middle and high school. Fiction was fundamental to the way I understood the world."
Julian teaches creative writing and other classes at Young Harris College, as well as directs the College's Undergraduate Research Program. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys illustrating, practicing yoga, growing vegetables, and tending to the whims of her "enormous ginger cat."
The Winter Folk will be available from retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, among other outlets and local bookstores.
Julian will host a reading from The Winter Folk, with a question-and-answer session, on July 24 at 6 p.m. at the Narrative Bookstore in Unit C on Tennessee Street in Murphy, NC.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master's degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 33 majors and 24 minors housed under twelve academic departments. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential, master's degree, and Early College programs.
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