The Appalachian Echo

Introducing Ever U, a whimsically comic young adult novel for readers who like their coming-of-age stories weird, wired, and whip-smart.

Sixteen-year-old Milo Bradford is a gifted artist trapped in a life he never chose—carefully groomed by his emotionally distant parents to become a captain of industry instead of the creator he longs to be. When a mysterious invitation arrives from Ever Mountain College—an unconventional art school hidden deep in the mountains—Milo takes the leap.

But freedom at Ever Mountain is as strange as it is exhilarating. Professors speak in riddles. The mountain itself seems alive. And nothing on campus works quite the way Milo expects.

Then Silas Thorne, a local teen determined to shut the college down, begins turning the nearby village against it. Fear spreads. Torches rise. And Ever Mountain’s future hangs in the balance.

Now Milo must decide: retreat to the safe, scripted life waiting for him—or risk everything to defend the quirky, brilliant community that is finally teaching him how to see.

Perfect for fans of Going Bovine, Mosquitoland, and emotionally offbeat, creatively fearless coming-of-age stories..

About the Author

Andrew Dietz is the author of Ever U, a novel about creative identity, artistic courage, and the search for a life that fits who you truly are. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains and inspired in part by the legacy of Black Mountain College, the book explores what happens when a young artist chooses to trust his creative instincts rather than follow a conventional path.

A part-time resident of Cashiers, Andrew has spent more than two decades advising companies on growth and strategy, helping leaders clarify their message and build organizations that endure. Throughout that professional career, creativity has remained central to his life — through writing, board service in the arts community, and ongoing engagement with artists and educators.

He divides his time between Georgia and Western North Carolina and has long been drawn to the region’s artistic heritage and independent spirit. Ever U reflects both his belief in the transformative power of art and his conviction that young people deserve stories that affirm their creative potential.