This is the Madison County Courthouse Thursday. It plays a prominent role in my novel "NEWS!"

A Brief Trip Back to "NEWS!"

One of the very real treats in the past couple of days' trip back to my roots was a detour to Madison County, N.C., where a key part of my new novel, "NEWS!," takes place. 

I hadn't been to the county seat of Marshall in 60 years and it was just as I remembered it, unlike North Augusta, S.C., my ultimate destination and the town where I grew up. North Augusta was so completely unlike what I remembered that if I hadn't had it on GPS, I wouldn't have believed I was there.

The old jail is now a diner. 

Marshall is a tiny town resting on the French Broad River, a few miles from Mars Hill, where a university gives it a touch of "uptown." In Marshall, a couple has converted the old jail into a diner with a couple of rooms upstairs that you can rent.

It has another diner where I ate the best burger and fries I've had in many, may years, maybe ever. There is yet another lunch spot where an old cab is parked and a sign tells you the gas pump out front is empty.

The courthouse is as majestic as ever, especially on this fall afternoon with the azure sky and the leaves at fall peak.

The people were lovely, talky and informative. When I asked my young waitress what the name of the island in the middle of the river (where the old high school sat, but has been turned into apartments) is, she said, "Oh, we just call it 'the island.'" Good enough. Simple, straightforward. Like Marshall. 

Here's some of what Marshall looks like.

This is Marshall's main street.

Another view of the courthouse.

A railroad line runs along the river, adjacent to downtown Marshall.

A view of the back of downtown from the river.

A view from the bridge over the French Broad River.

The buildings in Marshall are old, but sturdy. 

This is the newspaper office. Nobody was home when I dropped by. 

Front view of the paper's office.

This is the back of some buildings that open up on the main street.

Marshall was nothing if not colorful Wesnesday.

A view from the alley.

I wanted to eat here, but the diner was closed. Cool place.

This is the inside of the jail/restaurant.

People waiting to order lunch.

This is the inside fo the town's general store (Carhart blue jeans on the right).

The former high school is now an apartment building on the island.

Here's a front view of the old schools.

A view of Marshall from the island.