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 […]
Michael Blanchard
November 12, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Michael Blanchard is the author of four poetry collections, the most recent of which is The Pearl Diver’s Daughter and Other Poems (2023). A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he now lives in the Cadron Valley of Arkansas, where he teaches at the University of Central Arkansas and edits SLANT, the university’s international journal of contemporary poetry. […]
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 […]
Read of the Month: “Hotel Impala” by Pat Spears
November 6, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The devastating effects of mental illness on a family become appalling clear in talented author Pat Spear’s latest novel, Hotel Impala (Twisted Road 2024). Leah’s drastic mood swings bring complete chaos to the lives of her two children—teenage Grace and grade-schooler Zoey—and her husband Daniel. Chaos is not even the worst result of Leah’s instability. […]
Read of the Month: “Without You Here” by Jody Hobbs Hesler
November 6, 2024 by Leave a Comment
With achingly beautiful prose, Jody Hobbs Hesler explores mental illness and the devastating effects of suicide on family members left behind in her novel Without You Here (Flexible Press: 2024). Complicated family dynamics and a troubled marriage are also important themes that make this story set in the Virginia mountains unforgettable. The timeline shifts frequently […]