Asheville, North Carolina, is home base to Lark Books, and it’s part of what makes us so unique in the crafts publishing world. Why is that? For one, Asheville was named one of the world’s happiest places in a book titled The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World.

It also doesn’t hurt that Asheville has a thriving arts and crafts scene, including literally dozens of art galleries and ready access to the Penland School of Crafts and the John C. Campbell Folk School. And if that weren’t enough, our fair city was recently named number two small-city arts destination by AmericanStyle magazine.

Craftiness aside, the city is home to a plethora of performing arts, a weekly drum circle, and art deco architecture in a setting surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s also a veritable mecca for live music; Rolling Stone magazine named The Orange Peel Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a small independent venue, one of the top 5 clubs in the country.

Is it any wonder that Lark Books has thrived here? It’s no coincidence that artists migrate to the area, and we’re proud to tap into the local talent for many of our books. Because of Asheville, Lark Books has become a true crafts pioneer.