The Penmen Profile: International Bestseller Alexander McCall Smith

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Alexander McCall Smith’s impressive repertoire of more than 100 books span many genres, including academic non-fiction, fiction and children’s books. His work is published in 47 languages and he has publishers all around the world. Since the publication of his first book in 1980, the international bestseller…

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The Penmen Profile: International Bestselling Author Liza Palmer

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Fiction writer Liza Palmer hit the international bestsellers list with her debut novel, “Conversations with the Fat Girl” (2005). Since then, she has written six other highly-praised books, earned two Emmy nominations for her writing in the first season of “VH1’s Pop Up Video” and now works…

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The Penmen Profile: Debut Novelist Lisa Ko

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Lisa Ko is celebrating the publication of her debut novel, “The Leavers,” which hit shelves today, May 2. The book won the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction and was named one of the most anticipated books of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly, TIME, Bustle, Buzzfeed and…

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The Penmen Profile: Acclaimed Southern Writer David Armand

by Rebecca LeBoeuf David Armand’s peers often compare the Louisiana native’s writing to that of William Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy and Thomas Franklin, his southern heroes. Armand has three published novels, a poetry chapbook and a recently released memoir, “My Mother’s House.” The latter focuses on his childhood memories of his…

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The Penmen Profile: Award-Winning Faculty and Writer Elane Johnson

by Tricia Dannhauer The past year was momentous for one of Southern New Hampshire University’s faculty, Elane Johnson. At the 2016 commencement, she received the “Excellence in Teaching Award,” followed by earning “Best Essay Prize” in Creative Nonfiction magazine for her work, “The Math of Marriage,” in July. In addition…

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The Penmen Profile: Nonfiction Storyteller Richard Adams Carey

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Richard Adams Carey wrote his 2015 book, “In the Evil Day: Violence Comes to One Small Town,” about the 1997 Colebrook, New Hampshire, shootings that claimed the lives of four people. Carey tells the story of a tragedy in a town of 2,500 people that made headlines worldwide….

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The Penmen Profile: Journalist Mark Sundeen

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Journalist Mark Sundeen is on tour across the United States, promoting his newly published book, “The Unsettlers.” This work of nonfiction follows couples in search of simple, authentic lives in America. Sundeen published three other books, one of which won the 2015 Green Book Festival (“The Man…

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The Penmen Profile: “The Star Side of Bird Hill” Author Naomi Jackson

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Dubbed a “Writer to Watch” by Publishers Weekly, Naomi Jackson had her first novel published last year. Since then, “The Star Side of Bird Hill” won the Late Night Library’s Debut-litzer prize and garnered praise from such notables as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Kirkus…

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The Penmen Profile: Historical Fiction Novelist Julia Franks

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Julia Franks’ first novel, “Over the Plain Houses,” published in May of 2016. This work of historical fiction focuses on the ideas of witchcraft and women’s independence, set in 1939 in North Carolina. The novel was chosen as the Spring 2016 Okra Pick from the Southern Independent…

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The Penmen Profile: Award-winning Novelist James E. McTeer II

by Rebecca LeBoeuf School library media specialist James E. McTeer II’s life changed after he won the South Carolina First Novel Prize competition for his adventure novel, “Minnow.” This led to an opportunity to publish “Minnow” with independent publisher Hub City Press, who co-sponsored the competition with The South Carolina…

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