John Ehle (1925–2018) was an influential American novelist and screenwriter, often referred to as "the father of Appalachian literature." Born in Asheville, North Carolina, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II before pursuing studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ehle's works, such as The Land Breakers (1964) and The Winter People (1982), vividly depict life in the Appalachian Mountains, blending historical fiction with rich storytelling.