Local writer and photographer Emory Jones will be signing copies of his new book, "Distant Voices: The Story of the Nacoochee Valley Indian Mound," on Friday at the Sautee Nacoochee Center in Sautee.

The book signing is hosted by the Piedmont College Barnes & Noble bookstore and will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The idea for the book stemmed form Jones' idea to create a photographic book of the mound, which is located between Helen and Cleveland. But with the help of contributors such as poet Mildred Greear, artist John Kollock, Piedmont College archaeology and history professor Max White and historian Thomas Lumsden, the book transformed into an account of the history of the area and of the Native American mound.

When he was younger, Jones worked in the pasture where the mound stands. Today, he and his wife own Yonah Mountain Treasures, a country store near the mound, and visitors often question him about it. The book tries to answer these questions - but some remain unanswered.

The Sautee Nacoochee Center is at 283 Ga. 255 N in Sautee.