What is Backroad Portfolio?
Long before highways, backroads transported us to the places in between. Some evolved into interstates. Others exist in pristine condition, curving around the boundaries of cities and new suburbs. They beckon us to travel their winding lanes that lead to hidden gems, undiscovered adventures, and untold stories.
Backroad Portfolio is a seasonal celebration of southeastern backroads through modern storytelling and compelling imagery. We travel roads marked by endless fields, immaculate vistas, and cozy, small towns.
Subscribers receive weekly story emails every Thursday, monthly Backroad Bulletin emails the first of each month, and quarterly digital versions of new print issues at the start of each season. Readers who prefer print can subscribe to our Explorer plan to receive mailed copies of each new issue on archival quality paper.
Here’s what readers have to say about Backroad Portfolio.
Why Subscribe?
By subscribing, you’ll discover the history behind how these backroads came to be for future generations. You’ll meet people who breathe life into the landscape, sharing stories, traditions, and artisanal endeavors that make each stop along the way unforgettable.
When you sign up for our free subscription, you’ll receive quarterly digital releases of our print magazine, monthly Backroad Bulletin emails, and weekly previews of paywalled content.
If you prefer holding the Southeast’s greatest stories in your hands, learn more about becoming one our Explorer subscribers here.
If digital content works best for you, consider upgrading your free subscription to get full access to weekly emails plus bonus content.
Stay Updated
Never miss an update—every new post is emailed directly to your inbox. We promise not to spam you, and we will strive to ensure each email is worthy of your time.
Join Our Community
Be part of our backroad traveling community. Participate in the comments section by sharing your ideas and experiences. Watch for our posts on the Substack Notes page, and discover other writers and publications you want to explore there. If you become one of our Explorers, you can contribute to our quarterly print and digital issues!
Backroad Portfolio’s Creators
Elizabeth Poland Shugg
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Editor and Co-Creator
Born in Lincolnton, Georgia, Elizabeth grew up in nearby Athens exploring 200 acres of woods and farmland originally purchased by her great-great-grandfather in 1910. At age 13, she moved to rural Botetourt County in Southwest Virginia, but spent her summers in Columbia, South Carolina. She now lives on 3 acres in rural Chatham County, North Carolina, and enjoys exploring the region’s backroads and small towns. Elizabeth has thirty years of experience as a professional writer and editor of seven magazines, four of which she helped launch. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their three adult children; hiking with their Brittany spaniel; and traveling backroads to unique destinations.
Website: elizabethshugg.com
Substack: elizabethpolandshugg.substack.com
Erica de Flamand
Olin, North Carolina
Art Director and Co-Creator
Erica attended the School of Fine Arts at UCONN, and since graduating, has worked as a designer, photographer, and creative director for more than two decades in industries including adventure travel, conservation, finance, national security and defense, and signature event planning. She has been a featured artist in over a dozen gallery installations, received numerous industry awards, and spent four semesters as an adjunct college professor. In addition to cultivating her studio, The Summer House, she launched a nonprofit organization that provides nature-based mental health services and alternative therapies to an underserved area of North Carolina. Erica currently resides off a backroad in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband, two dogs, and a herd full of horses and donkeys.
Website: the-summerhouse.com
Substack: substack.com/@equuvation
Backroad Portfolio’s Contributors
Contributors
Our amazing contributor list continues to grow. Pictured above, from left to right, top to bottom, they are: Tom Poland1, Robert Clark2, Bruce DeBoer3, Jennifer Linney4, Eifel Kreutz5, Bryce de Flamand6, Morgan Harrington7, Philip Juras8, Beth Peterson9, Jason Cave10, Kathleen McIntyre11, Danita Delimont12, Jenna Biter13, Jon Bilous14, Sean Byrne15, Grace Franklin16, Rosie Molinary17, Pat Branning,18 Jeff Tucker,19 Andrew Hebard20, and Christy Langston21.
Backroad Portfolio’s offices are located in Chapel Hill and Statesville, North Carolina. Questions: Email us at backroadportfolio@gmail.com.
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Thanks for reading and remember to always take the long way home.
Tom Poland writes about the South’s people, culture, and nature, with interests in music, writing, and photography. His weekly column, in over 65 newspapers and journals, reaches 100,000 readers. His books include Georgialina, Carolina Bays, and his latest with Robert Clark, South Carolina Reflections: A Photographic Journey. A frequent speaker, Tom received South Carolina’s Order of the Palmetto in 2018. Learn more about him at tompoland.net and on Substack at tompolandwriter.substack.com.
A resident of Columbia, South Carolina, and native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Robert Clark’s photography has appeared in National Geographic, Newsweek, and Smithsonian. Specializing in architectural, editorial, advertising, and fine art photography, Robert has photographed seven South Carolina books, including Carolina Bays (2019) and his latest with Tom Poland, South Carolina Reflections: A Photographic Journey. Robert is also a PPA member. View his work on Instagram at @robertclarkphotographer.
Bruce DeBoer, with over 40 years of experience, directs brands and creates visual stories through photography and filmmaking. Discovering photography at 12 on Long Island, he earned a bachelors of science and advertising photography at Rochester Institute of Technology. Working in Boston, Kansas City, Chicago, and now Raleigh, he’s held roles at Hallmark Cards and Erickson Productions. A founding partner at Stone Soup Productions, he runs DeBoerWorks and creates fine art for deboerfineart.com.
Jennifer Linney, from Prince William County, Virginia, loves photographing old barns and farmhouses. Once a mental note-taker of photo opportunities, she now roams backroads, capturing rusted roofs and hidden farmhouses. A writer and editor, she shares her blissful finds on Instagram at instagram.com/alwaystakethebackroads.
Eifel Kreutz, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based landscape and estate photographer since 2018, loves capturing Western North Carolina’s mountains. He enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, and soccer. Working full-time in geographic information systems (GIS, he’s passionate about maps. View his photography and prints at eifelkreutz.myportfolio.com.
Bryce de Flamand is an art director and designer living in Charlotte, North Carolina, with over a decade of experience in photo/video shoots, B2B campaigns, editorial, packaging design, managing tight timelines, and solving complex problems. When she isn’t working, she enjoys nature, dreaming up projects, traveling, reading, and time with her fiancé and pups.
Morgan Harrington, an emerging western lifestyle photographer from Harmony, North Carolina, is studying Agriculture Communications at the University of Wyoming. She works at Equuvation, a nature-based therapy center, caring for animals. In her free time, Morgan enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her horses.
Philip Juras’ paintings capture ecologically intact environments. The Athens, Georgia, artist has exhibited at Chicago Botanic Garden, Illinois State Museum, the Telfair Museums, Morris Museum, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art in Georgia, and the Biblioteca Virgilio Barco in Bogota, Columbia. He has also published three books, and is a featured speaker. Juras has degrees in fine art and landscape architecture, and volunteers as a wildland firefighter. Learn more at philipjuras.com.
Beth Peterson teaches English Literature and Creative Writing in Cary, North Carolina. When she isn’t talking to her students about Ponyboy and poetry, she’s probably outside on a walk with her dog or out of state visiting her college-age kids. Her hobbies include searching for just the right word; searching for just the right shade of lipstick; stopping to talk to anyone who looks to be over the age of 80; fashion; reading dead poets; and studying theology. Not in that order.
Jason Cave lives with his wife, Cori, and their five children in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where they run a wedding venue and vacation cabins near Shenandoah National Park. Jason enjoys photographing his kids and local landscapes. He and his family love hiking, traveling, learning, giving back, and embracing life’s beautiful chaos. Visit shenandoahwoods.com to view his wedding venue and cabins.
For 27 years, forest ecologist-turned-nature therapist Kathleen McIntyre has led therapeutic nature experiences. With a master’s in forest resources and social work, she co-founded Mindfulness and Outdoor Leadership at Davidson Green School, North Carolina. Her book, Nature Reset, releases in March 2024. She enjoys backpacking, trail running, and gardening. Learn more katmcintyre.com.
Danita Delimont founded her photo agency in 1999, representing global nature, wildlife, and travel photographers. She received the 2009 Jane Kinne Picture Professional of the Year award and a 2007 NANPA Fellow. Danita judges photo competitions and teaches at colleges. Learn more at danitadelimont.com.
Jenna Biter was raised on 50 acres in Pennsylvania, studied in Philadelphia, and settled in North Carolina’s Sandhills. A writer with a background in arts and coaching, she loves quirky details and making her husband laugh. Her work appears in PineStraw, Coffee or Die, The National Interest, and Evie Magazine.
Jon Bilous has been photographing small towns, big cities, and landscapes across America for over ten years. He specializes in creating images of architecture, street scenes, and retro Americana, which he has made available as prints through his website, titled On the Roadside. Originally from Pennsylvania, he’s now based in New York City. View more of his work at ontheroadside.com and facebook.com/jonbilousphoto.
Sean Byrne is a freelance illustrator and art director who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has worked for major corporations such as Fujitsu and IBM, as well as design and marketing firms such as The Early Design Group. What he loves to do most, however, is write stories and draw pictures. He also loves beagles. View more of Sean’s work at seanwbyrne.com.
Grace Franklin, a passionate equestrian and professional photographer, graphic designer, and marketer, lives on a 16-acre farm in Germanton, North Carolina. With eight years of experience, she fosters horses at Red Feather Equine Sanctuary, enjoys West Coast Swing and line dancing, and pursues entrepreneurial projects to promote ethical horsemanship.
Rosie Molinary, MFA, champions radical self-acceptance, empowering people through workshops and talks on self-care, burnout prevention, and intentional living. Author of Beautiful You and Hijas Americanas, she co-founded HAMMERS and Circle de Luz to support low-income families and young Latinas. A self-taught painter, she sells artwork on Instagram @rosiemolinary.
Pat Branning, a southern storyteller with a journalism degree from the University of Georgia, started as women’s editor at WSB Radio and worked with Ted Turner pre-CNN. After marrying and moving to Beaufort, South Carolina, she embraced Lowcountry life, collecting stories and recipes inspired by the region. As editor of Shrimp, Collards & Grits, she celebrated southern culture and now shares recipes, history, and humor on Substack at patbranning.com.
Jeff Tucker, a North Carolina native from Advance, NC, has hunted since childhood. Passionate about training dogs, he joined NAVHDA, testing dogs that earned top scores. In 2020, he founded the Foothills NAVHDA Chapter. Jeff supports conservation through groups like Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Three Rivers Land Trust. He also founded Vanguard Gun Dogs, focusing on developing versatile, high-performing bird dogs. Learn more at vanguardgundogs.com.
Contributor spotlight, day 22. Andrew Hebard of Winston-Salem, North Carolina moved from the UK to the Tar Heel State in 2002 with his family. With a degree in agricultural science, he founded Natures Crops International, focusing on biodiverse, therapeutic crops and sustainable supply chains. He chairs two charities, founded Reap More Than You Sow for community gardens, is a former Royal Warrant holder, and is passionate about farming, conservation, and the outdoors. Learn more at naturescrops.com.
Originally from Central Missouri, Christy Langston studied Agriculture Business at Missouri State University. Alongside her husband, she owns and operates Spring River Ag Supply and Spring River Kennel. She is the Vice President of the Springfield Plateau Chapter of Quail Forever, Communications Officer for the Missouri Uplands Chapter of North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA), and Vice President of the Missouri Women on the Wing Chapter. Learn more at springriverkennel.com.
