THE ÒVIRGINIA CREEPERÓ is a historically accurate (although the author admits having to use his Òpoetic licenseÓ a few times) novel about the rise and fall of the lumber/railroad town of Elkland (present-day Todd), N.C, the rise and fall of a lumber/passenger train, the VirginiaÐCarolina (aka the ÒVirginia CreeperÓ), and the rise and fall of a lumber company (the Hassinger Lumber Company) and the company town (Konnarock, Va.) the lumber company created.