Alison Lyn Miller presents ROUGH HOUSE with Robert Alan Grand
Schedule
Sat, 14 Feb, 2026 at 03:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
3 East Jackson Street, Sylva, NC, United States, North Carolina 28779 | Sylva, NC
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Alison Lyn Miller will visit City Lights on February 14th at 3:00pm to present her new book, ROUGH HOUSE: A Father, a Son, and the Pursuit of Pro Wrestling Glory, in conversation with Robert Alan Grand.“Truly, this is a book that belongs on the shelves of not just wrestling fans, but anyone who wants to understand the agonized American soul.” —Josephine Riesman, author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America
Professional wrestling is both a cultural phenomenon and a multibillion-dollar industry that has launched some of the biggest names in entertainment. But what does it take for a wrestler to break through? In Rough House, journalist Alison Lyn Miller introduces Hunter James, an aspiring star born into a family of wrestlers in Georgia. Hunter lifts, runs, and pounds protein, sculpting himself into a human action figure with the goal of being signed by a major promotion and finishing what his father started. Miller’s immersive, unforgettable account shows us what happens when Hunter enters the bruising world of indie wrestling—where gymnasiums become arenas, trampolines serve as training grounds, and young men fight for glory.
Rich with drama, humor, and heart, Rough House is a ringside seat to a coming-of-age story that reveals the escapism, self-actualization, performance, and violence inherent in one of America’s most dismissed pastimes. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the spectacle, this true story will leave you cheering for more.
Alison Lyn Miller has reported and written about independent professional wrestlers around her home state of Georgia and published related pieces in Sports Illustrated and Gravy. She has also written for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Post, and Garden & Gun, among other publications. She lives in Athens, Georgia.
Robert Alan Grand is a writer and photographer based in Asheville, NC, primarily covering Appalachian art and culture. His writings have appeared in publications such as Art in America, The Bitter Southerner, and Garden & Gun, among many others. He currently serves as the Carolinas Editor-at-Large for Burnaway, and he is a 2025 recipient of the Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant.
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Where is it happening?
3 East Jackson Street, Sylva, NC, United States, North Carolina 28779Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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