Intro: The publication of my debut novel, The Bystanders, in 2023 meant of plethora of author events, conferences, and book and literary festivals. Reflecting upon last year, I decided to share some favorite literary destinations with Southern Literary Review’s readers starting with Beaufort, SC where I attended the Eighth Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival (PCLF) […]
“Boolean Logic” by Morgan Christie
February 14, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Elegant and poignant, Boolean Logic, (Howling Bird Press 2023) Morgan Christie’s collection of twelve autobiographical essays, shines light on what life is like as a Black woman. What it is like to be overlooked or dismissed as insignificant, despite talent and skill. These essays are crafted using the best creative nonfiction literary techniques, often employing […]
“The Little Girl at the Bottom of the Picture” by Jeremy White
February 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
In The Little Girl at the Bottom of the Picture: A Journey of Selfless Discovery, Jeremy White takes readers into and through a labyrinth of relationship by providing almost-voyeuristic access to emails, text messages, phone calls, and in-person communications. This he does with candor, humor, and meticulous attention to detail. The true story begins with […]
“Inheritance with A High Error Rate” by Jen Karetnick
February 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Reading Jen Karetnick’s bio suggests that the woman is never without her computer and her scribbled notes, her peripatetic inquisitiveness driving her in a hundred directions at once. But this is not a scattered writer. Apparently when Jen Karetnick homes in on a topic, her views expressed as a critic, travel reviewer, appliance tester, cookbook […]
March Forth to be held in Beaufort
February 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center’s eighth annual March Forth will be held on Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3. This special event commemorates the anniversary of Pat Conroy’s passing on March 4, 2016, with programs on major themes of his writing and teaching life, including social justice, inclusivity, conservation, education, and storytelling. Learn […]
“Florida Hustle” by Paul Wilborn
February 10, 2024 by Leave a Comment
All the street’s a stage—one that’s eerily deserted in Paul Wilborn’s comic-noir Florida Hustle. This trickle-down era tempest is weathered by a jaded, albeit generous, Prospero, Cavanaugh Riley—whose past promises finally come due, especially for his long-forsaken daughter. Her dedicated and eventful search finds her in the wilds of West Palm, Florida, en route to her father’s […]