Swap & Shop's Thacker To Speak At Haun Conference
January 31, 2022
Larry Thacker
Larry Thacker’s first job is writer, but lately he’s gained fame for his side hustle
– buying and selling antiques on the Netflix hit TV show, “Swap Shop.” Thacker will
explain how the two connect when he speaks at Walters State’s Mildred Haun Conference
at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5.
“I’ll be talking about the ‘Swap Shop’ and preserving Appalachia,” Thacker said. “It
is important to preserve what Appalachia is all about and the people who actually
live here, not just a popular caricature.”
Thacker said that the show has increased food traffic at West End Antiques, the Johnson
City shop owned by Thacker and his co-star, Torie Cooley.
“Getting recognized by random people is new to me,” Thacker said. “People do come
in and want to meet you, take a photo and talk about their antiques. Some people have
the ‘perfect’ item to sell you. We’ve heard from people all over the world since the
show aired.”
Thacker just learned that the release date for the show’s next season is Feb. 16.
He’s published 10 books and his poetry has appeared in over 180 publications. His
acclaimed short story collection, “Working It Off in Labor County,” was published
in 2021 by West Virginia University Press. He admits some of the characters trace
their creation to people he has met antiquing.
“One of the residents of the fictitious Labor County has a weird Uncle Arthur who
runs a curiosity shop,” Thacker said, hinting that Uncle Arthur may bear striking
similarity to himself.
Thacker has another claim to fame. He owns what is perhaps the world’s largest collection
of clown figures. Do not fear, though, as he promises not to bring any to the conference.
He will, however, have his books available for purchase. This isn’t Thacker’s first
appearance at the Mildred Haun Conference. Regular attendees will remember his fiction-writing
courses.
Other featured writers at this year’s conference include Crystal Wilkerson, Charles
Dodd White and Dr. Desirae Matherly. Events are held in the Judge William H. Inman
Humanities Complex on the Morristown Campus.
The Mildred Haun Conference begins on Feb. 4 and features writing workshops and scholarly
presentations. All sessions are free and open to the public. Registration is requested.