Short story collections are always fun to review as these contain so much personality compared to novels. Many authors make their start with a short story collection, and Bradley Sides is no different. Sides's collection is whimsical and contains many magical realism tales. For example, one story in the collection, called “Nancy R. Melson’s State... Continue Reading →
[23] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: Love and Hot Chicken
I love when I get the opportunity to review queer literature, especially literature from southern authors, as there is still a persistent stigma against the south, and queer authors writing queer fiction and nonfiction face a double blink situation in that they are exponentially overlooked, so I'm always very excited to be able to share... Continue Reading →
[News] Abby N. Lewis Now on Poets & Writers
Abby N. Lewis is now listed in the Poets & Writers author directory! You can view her profile by clicking here or following the link below. For those who don't know, Poets & Writers is an online magazine, website, and resource for writers. Through the website, you can get in touch with authors to schedule... Continue Reading →
[22] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: That Pinson Girl
Gerry Wilson's debut novel is a work of historical fiction focusing on a southern woman named Leona Pinson who takes a chance at a romance only to have it backfire, and she must scramble to preserve her social standing in the community and keep both herself and her fatherless child safe from those who may... Continue Reading →
[21] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: Lovesick Blossoms
I have had the wonderful honor and privilege of reading and reviewing two of Julia Watts's books for Chapter 16. Watts is one of a small group of contemporary southern writers bold enough to write LGBTQIA+ fiction set in the south, and I'm so proud to help share her work with others. The first book... Continue Reading →
[20] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: All That Moves Us
This is another review that came out and then was re-released again because the author appeared at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville. Jay Wellons is head of pediatric neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and All That Moves Us is a memoir of his time as a doctor thus far as well as... Continue Reading →
[19] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: My Roommate Is a Vampire
I don't read much romance on my own time, since I'm often more interested in books that only have romance as a side plot and not the focal point of the novel, but Jenna Levine's debut, My Roommate Is a Vampire, was quite a treat to read. The vampire element reminded me of Twilight, though... Continue Reading →
[18] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women
I mentioned before that Chapter 16 introduces me to a lot of interesting books that I wouldn't be able to get around to on my own time, and the Foxfire series is one of them. The Foxfire series is a product of hard work and passion from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill,... Continue Reading →
[17] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: Those We Thought We Knew
A previous boss of mine was obsessed with David Joy's books, but I had yet to read any of this work. Those We Thought We Knew was a great entry into his work. Joy focuses a lot on addressing racial turmoil in the South, so if you like detective work, murder mysteries, or eerie small... Continue Reading →
[16] Chapter 16 Review Syndicate: The Disenchantment
I've read quite a few historical fiction novels for Chapter 16, which I enjoy because it's not a genre that I prioritize in my own TBR stack, making it a great way to force me to read outside my comfort zone. The Disenchantment is Celia Bell's debut novel, and I am not exaggerating even a... Continue Reading →