Changes coming to Southern Literary Review

Staff changes; mission remains the same

As 2026 transitions to a new year, Southern Literary Review is also experiencing changes. For decades, SLR has prided itself on reviewing emerging authors and covering small presses ignored by major media like the NYT. As local newspapers have cut staff, it has become more difficult for these authors to obtain reviews. That’s where SLR comes in—and that won’t change. Our staff may change, but the mission to help writers connect with readers will not.

Claire Matturro

Following Associate Editor Dawn Major’s resignation, Claire Hamner Matturro also plans to step down from the editorial staff in 2027. For the past six years, Claire has served with outstanding devotion as Associate Editor of Southern Literary Review. Although she is leaving the editorial staff, she may continue to contribute reviews.  SLR has been fortunate Claire shared her time and talents with us for so long. She will be missed.

Gale Massey

Meanwhile, Gale Massey is joining the SLR team as Associate Editor. She is full of enthusiasm and good ideas for keeping SLR vibrant and relevant. At some point early in 2027, the plan is for Gale to transition to editor and publisher of SLR. Gale is the author of the novel, The Girl from Blind River, which received a Florida Book Award, and the collection, Rising and Other Stories. Gale’s stories and essays may be found in Lambda Literary, the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Noir, and Saw Palm. A Florida native, she lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

John Davis, Jr.

In addition, John Davis, Jr., is coming on board as Poetry Review Editor. John is the author of The Places That Hold (Eastover Press, 2021) and four other collections of poetry. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Common, Nashville Review, Tampa Review, The American Journal of Poetry, Salvation South, and elsewhere. He holds an MFA and teaches English and Creative Writing in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida.

Thankfully, Mary Ellen Thompson of St. Helena Island, South Carolina, will remain as an Associate Editor, sharing her sunny, personable style of reviewing with readers. And injecting youthful energy to the team will be Jennifer Lewis who teaches at Marshall University in West Virginia. She recently joined the SLR team as Associate Editor.

Donna Meredith will remain as editor through the early months of 2017—until the new team is comfortable taking over. After thirteen years as editor and publisher and five previous years as Associate Editor of Southern Literary Review, she is ready to pass the torch to another person devoted to reading and promoting Southern literature. “During my tenure, it has been a true pleasure to read and review hundreds of good books and interview dozens of talented authors,” she said. “I will continue to contribute reviews,” she promised.