I recently found myself standing in the parking lot of a Piggly Wiggly in the hot, early morning sun of August listening to turkey hunting tales from a friend’s new book while savoring every word. Some folks might find that odd, but it seemed perfectly normal to me. In fact, the moment even struck me as one of the most “Southern” things that I had ever done.

That’s really saying something considering that every aspect of my life, some 54 years of it, has, like Bryan smoked sausage, been seasoned with “The Flavor of the South.” I’ve lived in Mississippi my entire life, it’s all that I’ve known, and no matter where my adventures may take me, the Magnolia State will always be home.

Over the years, I’ve coon hunted, tried my hand at catfish noodling — which we always called grabbling — and even sipped mint juleps on the veranda. My status as a true southerner should never be in jeopardy.

However, I must admit that while I do love the sound of a redbone hound baying to a treed raccoon, I have always preferred running trotlines and jugs to grabbling, and a bourbon on the porch is, without a doubt, much more my style.

One of the things that I most love about the South is our culture of storytelling. As much as I enjoy experiencing the outdoors and outdoor pursuits like hunting, fishing, hiking and backpacking, I also love the stories about those pursuits, whether told around the campfire or on the page.

A big reason why I always enjoy my time in camp, be that hunting deer in the Mississippi Delta or fly-fishing on the south fork of the Snake River in Idaho, is story time. For me, the reliving of past adventures is always a highlight of any expedition.

When it comes to storytelling, some people are more gifted than others, a reality that applies to both the spoken word as well as the written. Rare are the individuals with a talent for both, which brings me back to my “tell me you’re from the South without telling me you’re from the South” moment at “The Pig” in Collinsville.

I had stopped in at the iconic location to meet my friend Mike Giles and get a copy of his new book. As a side note, I only ascribe the “iconic” tag to the well-known local grocery because I’m told that an impressive group gathers there each morning for breakfast to catch up on local news and solve the world’s problems one cup of coffee at a time.

Giles is no stranger to The Meridian Star readers, having written weekly for the paper for over 20 years, and no doubt many of you have also read his books. He is a gifted and inspiring storyteller, and his latest work is a showcase of those talents.

“Legends of the Spring: Masters of the Call” is, at its heart, a book about turkey hunters, but it is also much more. In talking with Giles last week, it quickly became clear that his goal for the book was focused on “passing on a legacy.”

“My hope is to share the stories of these hunters and call makers and, in doing so, to leave a positive legacy to these men and women who otherwise might not be known outside of their home areas or close circle of friends,” he explained.

Giles brings his passion for the wild to life in all that he does. If you have ever attended one of his live speaking events, then you know exactly what I mean. In his latest book, he sets out to do the same with the stories of other turkey hunters from across the U.S., and, in my humble opinion, he does so admirably.

The stories in “Legends of the Spring” range from the bizarre and unexpected in Mark McPhail’s “Pepsi Cola Gobbler” to the heartbreaking and uplifting in Med Palmer’s “Gunner’s Last Hunt.” In between, these turkey tales run the gambit of the emotional rollercoaster that is turkey hunting — and life.

The first edition offering of “Legends” comes as a limited-edition hardback of which only 500 were printed. As such, I suspect these signed and numbered editions will go fast. To get your copy you can reach Giles via his email mikegiles18@comcast.net or via his Facebook or Messenger at Michael O. Giles.

Until next time, here’s to the stories and storytellers that shape all of us, and here’s to seeing you out there in our great outdoors.