Introduction: Rickie Zayne Ashby’s debut novel, Walton’s Creek, Land of our Fathers, is the first of two volumes chronicling the life of several families in rural Western Kentucky. Based on his own family, this book, Volume I, covers the years 1913 – 1955 and gives a bird’s eye view of what life was like in […]
Bradley Sides interviews Maggie Nye, author of The Curators
December 4, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Maggie Nye’s debut, The Curators (Curbstone Books 2024), mixes magical realism with history. Set in Atlanta during the summer of 1915, The Curators follows a group of young girls–known as the Felicitous Five–as they create and deal with a golem in the aftermath of Mary Phagan’s murder and Leo Frank’s lynching. Nye’s novel boldly and […]
Bradley Sides interviews Willie Davis, author of “I Can Outdance Jesus”
November 19, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Willie Davis’ I Can Outdance Jesus (2024) is a rip-roaring collection of excellent rural short fiction–one that is almost certain to leave a lasting impression on readers. In Davis’ stories, songwriters taunt Episcopalians leaving church, a young girl preaches to chickens, and miracles appear (well—maybe not). It was my pleasure to be able to talk […]
Donna Meredith interviews Leigh Ebberwein, author of “The Cottage on Mystic Lane”
November 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Leigh Ebberwein, a native Savannahian, has established herself as a captivating storyteller with her “Saints of Savannah” series. An alumna of St. Vincent’s Academy, Ebberwein weaves her experiences growing up in Savannah into her novels. The series is known for its heartfelt narratives deeply rooted in Savannah’s enchanting scenery, rich cultural backdrop, and the unbreakable […]
Dawn Major in Discussion with Christopher Lowe, author of “Make Some Wretched Fool to Pay”
November 12, 2024 by Leave a Comment
In Make Some Wretched Fool to Pay (University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press 2023), Christopher Lowe unleashes the dark side of “Friday Night Lights,” alongside its cutthroat recruitment tactics, the commercialization of players, and the dynamics of football family legacies. Set in the Deep South where high school football is the heartbeat of small Southern […]