A Priest Walks into a Waffle House by Lauretta Hannon is a collection of ninety nonlinear short stories. So, let me just tell you right here and now, Lauretta is a hoot. Not only that but she makes a very good case for the proper use of punctuation in her first chapter when she writes, […]
“Summer State of Mind” by Kristy Woodson Harvey
July 1, 2026 by 2 Comments
In her newest novel, Summer State of Mind, Kristy Woodson Harvey does it yet again—she brings us into a story that we don’t want to leave. But before I go any further, I want to know something. Could this possibly be the beginning, or continuation, of a series? Please, say yes! I am so not […]
“The Perfect Rom-Com” by Melissa Ferguson
March 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This book is totally aptly named, because it is The Perfect Rom-Com. I read it within twenty-four hours, laughed myself silly, wanted to be Bryony’s best friend because of her quick wit, fell a bit in love with Jack myself, cried through chapter twenty-five, and lobbed imaginary spit balls at Amelia’s “Choppy yellow hair that […]
Mary Ellen Thompson interviews Bren McClain, author of “One Good Mama Bone”
March 17, 2026 by 3 Comments
I met Bren McClain in 2017 at an author’s luncheon and book signing for her new novel, One Good Mama Bone. At some point, when she was living away, I offered Bren a writing respite at MarshSong Cottage. She never did take me up on it, but we started emailing each other and because we […]
“Fatulous” by Heather Ream
February 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Fatulous by Heather Ream is the sequel to her first memoir, Lunch Ladies Bought My Prom Dress. In this book, we are introduced to Heather when she is a freshman in college, and we follow her through her experiences for several years until she finally graduates. If you were a victim of, or want to […]
“Behind the Waterline” by Kionna Walker LeMalle
January 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment
In her debut novel, Behind the Waterline (Blair 2025), author Kionna Walker LeMalle tells a dual timeline story in two historically significant periods set apart by about four decades. First and foremost, Behind the Waterline is a coming-of-age story about teenage Eric and a courageous journey that he is seemingly forced to take in a […]