Morgantown author Marly Hazen Ynigues said she grew up on puns.
“You know, a lot of people call them dad jokes – but it’s just a really fun way to express joy,” she said.
In her new book, “Christmas Eve in the Mountain State,” Ynigues uses original puns that include all 55 counties and a ton of West Virginia cities and towns while capturing various cultural nods like pepperoni rolls and red bandanas.
Ynigues said that since moving to Morgantown in 2008, she has “found so many things to love about West Virginia and so many things that are unique about the Mountain State. I just wanted to capture a sense of that.
“We wanted it to be something that could be a Christmas tradition that you enjoy year after year.”
Fun festivals and things like Fasnacht get a little bit of a wink in the story along with clever lines like “the pepperoni’s on a roll,” “Raleigh ‘round the Christmas tree Putnam presents underneath,” and “angels Preston – to the snow.”
“I love West Virginia, I love writing puns. As somebody who is not originally from West Virginia I learned about it a lot over the years since I’ve moved here and everybody is so welcoming and friendly,” Ynigues said.
“I wanted to share that and make sure that everybody in West Virginia feels included in the Christmas story. So, whether you’re a West Virginian of color or a queer mountaineer or a new arrival to the state – I just want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy being a part of the Christmas story.”
Illustrations by Elkins artist Emily Prentice accompany Ynigues’ puns with some hidden fun of their own – the outline of each county is found somewhere on the page it is mentioned on as well as surprise appearances by West Virginia’s famed Mothman and Flatwoods Monster.
Prentice’s colorful illustrations capture the diversity of West Virginians and celebrate the dichotomy of the rural and urban landscapes.
Ynigues said she and Prentice met when she was living in Elkins and have worked together on art projects celebrating the Mountain State before.
“She is this brilliant artist in Elkins and I’ve always loved her work,” Ynigues said. “She’s actually starting her own art shop and community art space in Elkins – it’s called Mycelium.”
The local author held her first book signings right here is Morgantown Saturday with a stop at the Appalachian Gallery on Walnut Street and at the Moonlight Market of Morgantown.
Copies of Christmas Eve in the Mountain State are available at a few local shops like the Appalachian Gallery. You can also purchase a copy online from her website wvramparts.com, online from Barnes and Noble, and through third-party sellers on Amazon.
“West Virginia is experiencing an artistic renaissance and there’s diversity of artists and styles of music, visual art and poetry,” Ynigues said. “People all over the world are singing our song and memeing our cryptic lore. Let’s build on why we are unique and do it in a way that amplifies West Virginian voices. Believe in the moxie of the Mountain State.”
