Author Wilma Hicks Simpson will sign copies of her book, “Greater Than the Mountains Was He: The True Story of Johann Jacob Shook of Haywood County, North Carolina,” at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main St., in Waynesville.

Simpson is a resident of Olympia, Washington, and the great-great-great granddaughter of Johann Jacob Shook.  She considers it a privilege to tell the story of his life, his family and his work for God.

Many in the area may know of Jacob Shook because of the Shook House in Clyde. The book tells of his life and accomplishments and explains why he is an important figure in the history of Western North Carolina and in the history of Methodism.

Jacob Shook served in both the Revolutionary War and with the North Carolina Militia in numerous Indian ...