In his recent collection, The Things of This World (Kelsay Books 2026), poet and professor Michael David Blanchard tasks his poems with finding a reckoning, thereby inviting readers toward a parallel accounting. Anchored by this theme of moral inventory, the collection showcases Blanchard’s deep appreciation for the art of poetry and his talent for shaping […]
“Tore All to Pieces” By Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.
September 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
I first picked up Tore All to Pieces (University Press of Kentucky 2026) by Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. at the Appalachian Studies Association Conference this past March. After hearing him speak on two panels, I was immediately taken by the sincerity in which he spoke about growing up in Appalachia and the challenges that […]
A Big “Thank You” to Associate Editor Dawn Major
September 16, 2026 by 1 Comment
After serving as Associate Editor and contributing many reviews and author interviews, Dawn Major is stepping down from that leadership role to concentrate on her own writing at year’s end. Thankfully, she will continue to contribute occasional reviews and interviews to SLR. Dawn Major received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Etowah Valley Writing […]
Welcome to new Associate Editor Jennifer Lewis
September 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Southern Literary Review welcomes Jennifer Lewis as its newest Associate Editor. Lewis is an English Instructor at Marshall University and an Editorial Assistant for Mountain State Press. As a student, she earned her BA in Theatre and MA in English at Marshall. She’s had her work published in the 2023 and 2024 issues of Et […]
“Waking Up Alone,” poetry by Michael Hettich
September 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Tender. Poignant. Evocative. Unflinching. Waking Up Alone (Redhawk Publication, 2026) by multiple award-winning poet Michael Hettich is all that—and more. Heartbreaking and authentic, these are elegiac poems by a poet at the height of his talents writing about the loss of a much-beloved wife after 44 years of marriage. Dedicated to Colleen Ahern-Hettich, there are […]