This week’s Thacker Mountain Radio will feature one of America’s best- selling novelists, as well as a special homecoming for three favorites of Mississippi music: Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, and fiddling sensation Ruby Jane Smith.

This week’s author is Elizabeth Kostova whose newest novel is The Swan Thieves (Little, Brown). It revolves around twin stories: a 19th century love affair between two artists, and a modern-day psychiatrist treating an artist arrested for stabbing a painting at Washington, D.C.'s National Gallery of Art. Kostova’s previous book was the novel, The Historian (2005), a chilling historical mystery that reaches from the present day into the medieval past and the gruesome deeds that gave rise to the legend of Dracula. The Historian became the first debut novel to land at number one on The New York Times bestseller list and at the time was the fastest-selling hardback debut novel in U.S. history.

Fiddle prodigy Ruby Jane Smith of Columbus, (now Austin, TX) is the youngest fiddler ever invited to play the Grand Ole Opry (in 2005 at age ten). This year, in addition to fronting her own band, the Ruby Jane Show, she’s just wrapped a tour playing western swing with Willie Nelson. She was also recently awarded the Daniel Pearl Memorial violin, in honor of the slain American reporter, who was also an accomplished violinist and fiddler. She will have the instrument for one year and plans to use it in all her musical performances, including concerts dedicated to Pearl.

Somewhere amid all this activity, Ruby Jane also managed to turn 15. She has played Thacker Mountain regularly over the years including numerous appearances with the Taylor Grocery Band. We couldn’t be happier for her success (or less surprised) and are very excited to welcome her home.

Speaking of family homecomings, this week we’ll be joined by Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars for a special acoustic set. The brothers, sons of our beloved Jim Dickinson, will perform on Thacker prior to their show Thursday night at the Lyric. Founded in 1996 with bassist Chris Chew, the Allstars have spread the blues gospel of Mississippi music all over the world. The band’s most recent release is, Do It Like We Used to Do, a two- CD retrospective of their career. Also recently available is the South Memphis String Band, Home Sweet Home, and Luther Dickinson and the Sons of Mudboy, Onward and Upward.

Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson join Thacker Mountain Radio for an acoustic set this week before their big show at the Lyric later that night!