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…
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…
The Penmen Profile: Short Fictionist Tony Press
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Short fiction writer Tony Press published a collection of stories, “Crossing the Lines: Stories by Tony Press,” earlier this year. In 2014, one of his stories was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His story, “Funeral Season,” was published in 2015 in The Penmen Review. Press also writes…
The Penmen Review: Multi-Genre Author John Dufresne
by Rebecca LeBoeuf John Dufresne is the author of novels, short stories, nonfiction, plays and chapbooks. He has also edited anthologies and worked with 12 other authors to write “Naked Came the Manatee,” a 1996 mystery novel. Primarily a fiction writer, Dufresne’ most recent work, “I Don’t Like Where this…
The Penmen Profile: New England Historical Fiction Author Ed Londergan
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Ed Londergan‘s interest in American history is reflected throughout his novels. His Brookfield saga, consisting of “The Devil’s Elbow,” “The Long Journey Home,” and “The Farmhouse,” the unfinished final book of the saga, have a focus on the New England colonial time period. “The Devil’s Elbow” was a…
The Penmen Review: Anthropologist|Ethnographic Novelist John Colman Wood
by Rebecca LeBoeuf The author of two novels, “When Men Are Women” (1999) and “The Names of Things” (2012), anthropologist John Colman Wood incorporated his field research on a group of nomadic, camel-herding Africans into his writing. “The Names of Things,” a story that deals with love and grief as well…
The Penmen Review: Gold IPPY Winner Cynthia A. Graham
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Author Cynthia A. Graham is anticipating the release of her third book, “Beulah’s House of Prayer,” on the shelves this July. An avid writer of historical fiction, Graham has explored eras including The Great Depression and World War II in her writing. “Beneath Still Waters,” Graham’s debut novel, achieved a Midwest…
The Penmen Profile: Contemporary Southern Writer Dixon Hearne
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Louisiana native Dixon Hearne uses his Southern roots as an influence in his writing. The author of “Delta Flats: Stories in the Keys of Blues and Hope” (2016), a collection of short stories, tends to incorporate Southern imagery and themes into his work. Hearne writes short stories, novellas, poetry…
The Penmen Profile: Versatile Writer Peter Grandbois
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Peter Grandbois is an author that does it all. From writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry and plays, Grandbois has two novels, one book of short stories, a memoir and a collection of three novellas published. His Etruscan Press novel, “Nahoonkara,” was a finalist in the 2011 Foreword Review Book of…
The Penmen Profile: YA and Historical Fiction Author Han Nolan
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Han Nolan is the author of nine young adult fiction and historical fiction novels. Her first novel, “If I Should Die Before I Wake,” published in 2003, achieved the International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council Book Award. In this book, Nolan unites the present with a dark part of history,…