Monday, December 29, 2014

Liane Moriarity has written another page turner filled with complexity and undulating undercurrents that crest and wreak havoc on what appears to be a straight laced community filled with interdependent members.  Liana Moriarty has shown herself a master of writing insightful, funny, poignant, and thought-provoking page turners. With BIG LITTLE LIES she proves that she’s at the top of her game. The complexity begins when a single mother and her little boy age 5 become part of the close nit community of Pirriwee.  The little boy new comer is accused of trying to choke another little girl who is strangely tightlipped and reticent after the accusation of made.

Pirriwee Public is a beautiful little beachside primary school where children are taught that ‘sharing is caring.’ So how has the annual School Trivia Night ended in full-blown riot? Sirens are wailing. People are screaming. The principal is mortified.  And one parent is dead. Was it a murder, a tragic accident or just good parents gone bad? As the parents at Pirriwee Public are about to discover, sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal.  As the reader moves through the back story of each of the characters it becomes evident that what appears to be truth is instead a landscape filled with big little lies.

BIG LITTLE LIES is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, school-yard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

This is a most engaging read that will have current and new fans eager to talk and share their thoughts…and truth; about what is real and what is a lie.

Posted by Karen from Book Flap.  Do pick this one up! 

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Reaching Out To Your Past

Relationships are complicated. Meet Georgie, a sitcom writer who has a chance to create her own show with her writing partner, Seth.  Georgie chooses to spend the holiday season writing a pitch for the show of her dreams instead of traveling to Omaha with her husband Neal and their two young girls.  Neal is not thrilled with the idea of going on his own for the holidays.

Georgie, wracked with guilt over not leaving LA,  tries everything possible to reach her husband during their separation, including calling him in Omaha on her old yellow land line phone from her old childhood bedroom. Miraculously, the land line phone always seems to reach Neal, though it is the Neal during their courtship in college.

Georgie experiences talking with her husband during the week prior to their engagement. She becomes wrapped up these conversations and becomes increasingly disinterested in writing the new show despite the deadline. Her writing partner and best friend Seth tries to keep her focused on their dream of creating their own scripts.

Landline is the creation author Rainbow Rowell, who is known for Eleanor and Park and Fangirl. Pick up Landline and connect to a relationship that is realistic and touching.

Review by Cara

Monday, December 8, 2014


Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth is a totally engrossing tale of consisting of three story lines with the fairy tale Rapunzel at its apex.    Charlotte Rose de la Force is banished from Versailles by Louis the IV, the Sun King.  Her scandalous affairs go beyond even what is fashionable in that time period.   Charlotte is also a French Novelist which was a unique calling during this time period. She bonds with a mysterious older nun Soeur Seraphina who calms and engages her with the glories of her herbal garden.   She also spins a tale about a beautiful young girl with red gold hair locked in a tower.  The story moves to the fate of Margherita whose father steals bitter greens from the garden of Selena who demands the first born child or the father will have his hands chopped off.  In desperation the father promises this since it is seven years away and likely anything can change in that time period.  Of course it does not and Margherita is spirited away soon after her seventh birthday and banished to the tower by Selena.  The novel then moves to the life and times of Charlotte which resulted in her banishment and next to the life of Selena and her mystical gifts and dark talents.  If the reader gets this far into the story it becomes a page turner wherein the outcome of all three powerful women is eager sought.  -The reader is pulled into another world of where magical happenings were regular occurrences and ingenuity the part of Charlotte Rose, Margherita and Selena have the reader cheering each of them onward.   A tale for any who want to be swept away by a tantalizing fairy tale for adults!

Reviewed by Karen   


Monday, November 17, 2014






Now an American citizen living in Rochester, New York, Salva was a young fugitive of the war in Sudan who lived in a refugee camp for ten years. He finally traveled to America, where he is still studying for his bachelor's degree in International Business. Salva Dut was only 11 when he had to take the long and treacherous journey to Ethiopia, where he spent about six years living there. Then Salva led the "Lost Boys of Sudan" to a refugee camp in Kenya. From there only about 3000 people were chosen to go to America, but Salva was one of them. He was relocated to Rochester where he was adopted by a man named Chris and his wife. There he lived, but later decided to go back home to Southern Sudan and started his non-profitable organization that changed his old home, called "Water for Southern Sudan".

I read this in two evenings!  It was so affecting, horrifying and filled with moments no child should have to experience.  A true life story about a resilient young Lost Boy who grew into a visionary and honorable man!  This one was recommended by one of my young customers at Gwinnett County Public Library Lilburn Branch.

Please pick this one up!


Reviewed by Karen J. Harris


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tales of Terror

Below are a selection of tales to get you in the mood for Halloween.

Ever since he nearly drowned in the ocean three years earlier, 10 year old Jack Peter Keenan has been deathly afraid to venture outdoors. Refusing to leave his home in a small coastal town in Maine, Jack Peter spends his time drawing monsters. When the drawings take a life of their own, no one is safe from the terror they inspire.

Review provided by the publisher.





The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco
Okiku is a lonely soul. She has wandered the world for centuries, freeing the spirits of the murdered-dead. Once a victim herself, she now takes the lives of killers with the vengeance they are due. But releasing innocent ghosts from their ethereal tethers does not bring Okiku peace. Still she drifts on. Such is her existence, until she meets Tark. Evil writes beneath the moody teen's skin, trapped by a series of intricate tattoos. While his neighbors fear him, Okiku knows the boy is not a monster. Tark needs to be freed from the malevolence that clings to him. There's just one problem: if the demon dies, so does it's host.

Review from the dust jacket flap.



Property of a Lady by Sarah Rayne
A house with a sinister past and a grisly power. When Michael Flint is asked by American friends to look over an old Shropshire house they have unexpectedly inherited, he is relucatnt to leave the quiet of his Oxford study. But when he sees Charect Hourse, its uncanny echoes from the past fascinate him, even though it has a sinister reputation that no one has lived there for almost a century. But it's not until Michael meets a young widow, Nell West, that the menace within the house wakes...

Review provided by the publisher.



To request these books, please click on the title or the book cover.

Posted by Cara






Monday, October 6, 2014

A Delightful Compendium of Short Stories by a Master Storyteller

Chestnut Street by Maeve Binchy 

Chestnut Street is a collection of short stories compiled after Maeve Binchy’s death in 2012. It is vintage Maeve Binchy as the characters represent the full range of humanity grappling with sorrows, joys and the complications of living.

Represented are teachers, office workers, nurses, window cleaners, shopkeepers and others with wholesome characters. There are also the bad eggs, salt of the earth, grifters, never do wells, in this case, deadbeat and unfaithful men, worriers, the brokenhearted and even some from across the ocean who find love on Chestnut Street. Each character’s story is presented in a matter of fact, down to earth tone that says this is the way life is for each character. The misfortune experienced in the lives of some is minimized by an undertone of humor that seems to say what really matters is how one deals with life not what happens in life. One cannot help but root for the strong, dislike but not hate the bad, and root for all in this collection.

For those who enjoy short stories tinged with joy, pathos and humor, this collection is a delightful compendium to the many walks Maeve Binchy presented in her stories. These varied streets in Ireland are replete with friends easily found.

 Reviewed by Karen

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Can You See Me Now?

Invisible Ellen by Shari Shattuck 

Ellen is invisible. 

She gets up every day. She goes to work. She comes home. She observes others and records her observations in her notebook. She goes to sleep. She wakes up and does it all over again.

That all changes the day she meets Temerity, a young blind woman Ellen observes on the bus. Ellen is intrigued by Temerity, curiously follows her home and intervenes after two muggers run off with Temerity's backpack. Temerity invites Ellen to her home as a thank you and they start an unlikely friendship. Ellen is used to spending her life alone and friendless. Temerity breaks through her reserve with her unfailing charm and positive attitude.

Invisible Ellen is a story of isolation, redemption and friendship. It is a quick read. Join Ellen on her journey of self discovery.

Click the title or book cover to view the catalog or make a request.

Review by Cara 




Monday, August 25, 2014

An Epic Journey through Courtesan Houses of the Turn of the Century

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan 

This book takes the reader on an epic journey to the Courtesan houses of turn of the Century Shanghai to a hidden away Chinese mountain village, to nineteenth century San Francisco covering 50 years in the lives of a mother and daughter torn apart by a series of unusual events. Half Chinese Violet Minturn is separated from her mother by a twist of fate and sold as a virgin courtesan to the Hall of Tranquilly, a famed courtesan house. Violet finds love with an American in Shanghai, has a child, and then is widowed during a break out of the Blue Disease. Because she was not legally married her child was taken by the family of the American leaving her bereft. Violet's attempt to improve her life leads her to a meager existence in a Chinese mountain village as wife number 3 to abusive and crazed husband posing as a Poet. Ever resourceful, Violet joins forces with the other wives and manages to narrowly escape this situation through wit, strength, and a refusal to be overcome. At this point we go back in time to explore the story of Lucia Minturn, Violet's mother whose actions begin the thread of events that span the 50 year time period the story covers. The Valley of Amazement could be a page turner, but the prose and story lines are so intricate and involving that the reader must slow down a savor each page. Not to be missed for long time Amy Tan fans and those new to her storytelling skills.

 Reviewed by Karen

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Like Nicholas Sparks? Try Jeffrey Stepakoff

A mix between Nicholas Sparks and Robert Waller, Jeffrey Stepakoff is an essential read for any lover of southern fiction. Born and raised in Atlanta, Stepakoff illustrates perfectly the nuances of southern culture.  From the dialect and southern cooking to the mason jars, readers will enjoy this tap into their southern roots. His two most popular works, Fireworks Over Toccoa and The Orchard illustrate a picturesque view of life in the rural outskirts of Atlanta. 

Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff

The little town of Toccoa is planning a big celebration for it's returning soldiers. And Lily Davis Woodward is a little pensive and anxious about reestablishing a relationship with her husband, a man she married just days before leaving for the war. Especially now that she has met Jake Russo, the Italian immigrant who has been hired to put on the fireworks display for the festivities. Now Lily must now decide, does she honor the commitment she made so many years ago or be with the man who stole her heart.


The Orchard by Jeffrey Stepakoff

Set in Atlanta, Grace Lyndon is a taste and scent developer constantly in search of unique and distinct aromas. As a work-a-holic focused on her career and landing the next big account, Grace has little time for family or friends. However, while pursuing on her newest creation Grace stumbles upon a North Georgia apple orchard that could change her life and fast paced Atlanta ways forever.


To request these books click the titles or covers above. 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Book on CD Review: A Way with Words II: Approaches to Literature by Michael D.C Drout Renowned Literary scholar Michael D.C. Drout presents 14 lectures on the big questions about literature. What is literature? Is Literature truth? Why do we read? Insight is provided on these and other questions through an exploration of the following topics: “genres,” “language,” “Identity Politics,” “Culture Cultural Production,” the “Literary Canon,” and “What do we talk about When We Talk about Literature”? Throughout, examples underscore the relevance of literature as a force for understanding the human heart. The listener is taken on a journey through the building blocks of literature, the big questions about literature and emerges with a keener awareness of the influence of literature on culture and community. Listening to this series of lectures is an absorbing and beneficial experience. Unarticulated questions are answered in a seamless narrative fashion. Lectures in A Way with Words are designed for all who desire to further their understanding of language, speech, reading and the power of words.

Karen J. Harris, Librarian, Norcross Branch, Gwinnett County Public Library

Monday, July 14, 2014

Tolkien's Beowulf a mixed bag

Beowulf
A Translation and Commentary
by J.R.R. Tolkien

There is a famous quote about poetry translations that says if a translation is faithful then it is not beautiful and if it is beautiful then it is not faithful. Tolkien's translation of Beowulf is extremely faithful.

Tolkien was a scholar of Old English and wrote a paper titled "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics" which is considered one of the most significant works in Beowulf scholarship. He was of course also the grandfather of all modern Fantasy fiction. These two factors taken together make his translation of Beowulf all the more disappointing.

The translation was completed in 1926, decades before his famous Fantasy works, and he did not attempt to publish it during his lifetime. The work is a very literal translation that is sometimes an awkward read. Of much more interest is the 200 pages of commentary Tolkien provides, explaining in great detail his translation process and word choices.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Zinio Now Available at Gwinnett County Public Library


What is Zinio? Zinio offers free full-issue popular magazines that you can check out and read on a variety of devices. Worried about overdue fees? Zinio is digital, so there are no overdue charges.


How does it work?

You need two accounts. One is an account for the library Zinio page and the other is a Zinio.com account. You must use the same email address for both accounts. 
To create your Library Zinio account:
You will check out magazines on the Library's Zinio page. 
  1. Click on the Create New Account link in the top right corner of the page.
  2. Enter your library card barcode and email address.
  3. Enter and confirm a password. Entering your name is optional.
  4. You will receive a confirmation notice via email from Gwinnett County Public Library RBDigital Gateway. Click on the link in the email to confirm your account.
Browse and checkout your magazines on the Library Zino page. 
  1. Click on the Log In link in the top right corner of the page.
  2. Enter your email and password.
  3. You will be directed to browse the magazines available for download.
  4. Click on the cover of the magazine to select an issue and send the issue to your Zinio.com account.
Once you checkout your magazine, you will be prompted to create a Zinio.com account. 

To create a Zinio.com account:
  1. Enter your name, email and password when registering. Use the same email address as your Library Zinio account.
  2. Click on “My Library” to view the magazines you’ve selected from the GCPL's Zinio collection.
Start browsing available magazines today!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Small Town Secrets

The Burn Palace
By Stephen Dobyns

The citizens of Brewster, Rhode Island, lead ordinary lives without much excitement. That is until a baby is discovered missing from the local hospital. In its place is a large yellow snake. For a small town like Brewster this disappearance could run the gossip mill for weeks, but the strangeness isn't over yet. A traveling insurance man is killed and scalped, a teenage girl goes missing, and reports of aggressive coyotes are on the rise. Woody, a local cop, is searching for answers but can't find anything to connect the events. "Just a bunch of separate things happening," he says. Acting police chief Fred Bonaldo sees the harmony between neighbors breaking down under the stress, and is "shocked...to see how quickly that could be swept aside." The tension mounts as the people of Brewster look for someone to blame.

The inside flap of this book says that it is "the literary equivalent of a Richard Russo small-town tableau crossed with a Stephen King thriller" and that's an accurate description. Lots of effort goes into painting the town as a real place filled with real people, and yet they are given terrifying realities to deal with. It's a well-told tale of suspense.

Niceville 
By Carsten Stroud

Another story about a small town with big problems, this one focuses more on the supernatural. But it's got plenty of visceral, real-life danger as well. Niceville is a Southern town with a long history. The plot begins when a child goes missing on the way home from school. The disappearance is caught on video, but the police still don't have any clues because the child is there one second and gone the next with no explanation. As the investigation continues, a massive bank robbery takes place sending shock waves through the town. This isn't a particularly uplifting book, but you can probably tell from the cover that Niceville isn't very nice.

To request these books click the covers or titles above.

Review by Danny Hanbery

Monday, April 28, 2014

Winkler wins the 2014 Townsend Prize for Fiction

God Carlos
by Anthony C. Winkler
Winner of the 2014 Townsend Prize for Fiction

Jamaica-born Atlanta resident Anthony C. Winkler was awarded the 2014 Townsend Prize for Fiction for his novel God Carlos in a ceremony at the Atlanta Botanical Garden Thursday night, April 24.
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The Book
God Carlos transports the reader to the Santa Inez, a 16th-century Spanish vessel bound for the newly discovered West Indies bearing a ragtag band of fortune-seeking sailors. She is unusual for her day, carrying no provisions for the settlers and no seeds for planting crops, only vain, arrogant men seeking gold in Jamaica. When they make landfall after more than a month at sea, the crew discovers that the island is inhabited by timid, innocent people who walk around stark naked without embarrassment. The adventurers find no gold in Jamaica, only a merciless climate that nourishes diseases that slaughter them. The islanders' belief that the Europeans have come from heaven further complicates an impossible collision of culture, custom, and beliefs, ultimately leading to mutual doom.
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See the full list of 2014 Townsend Prize finalists here.
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Past Winners of the Townsend Prize
2012 — Thomas Mullen, The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers
2010 — Kathryn Stockett, The Help
2008 — Renee Dodd, A Cabinet of Wonders
2006 — Judson Mitcham, Sabbath Creek
2004 — Terry Kay, The Valley of Light
2002 — Ha Jin, The Bridegroom: Stories
2000 — James Kilgo, Daughter of My People
1998 — Judson Mitcham, The Sweet Everlasting
1996 — JoAllen Bradham, Some Personal Papers
1994 — Pam Durban, The Laughing Place
1991 — Ferrol Sams, When All the World Was Young
1990 — Charlie Smith, The Lives of the Dead
1989 — Sara Flanigan, Alice
1988 — Mary Hood, And Venus Is Blue
1986 — Philip Lee Williams, The Heart of a Distant Forest
1984 — Alice Walker, The Color Purple
1982 — Celestine Sibley, Children, My Children

Click a title or cover to view the catalog or request an item.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Collins Hill Branch Staff Picks

This month's staff picks come from the staff of the Collins Hill Branch in Lawrenceville. GCPL's tenth branch and the last to be built in the twentieth century, Collins Hill opened in 1999. For fifteen straight years now the Collins Hill Branch has been one of the county's busiest. Be sure to wish the staff there a happy crystal anniversary the next time you visit, and don't forget to thank them for sharing these great recommendations.

Basket Case
by Carl Hiaasen

This 2002 novel by native Floridian and newspaperman Carl Hiaasen follows an investigative reporter who has been demoted to the obituary beat yet refuses to give up on his newspaper career. In Hiaasen's typical style, it is a story full of characters so peculiar that the whole tale is entirely probable. A satisfying read that is hard to put down.
Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam Triology #1)
by Margaret Atwood

Initially released in 2003, Oryx and Crake introduces a post-apocalyptic vision of a future America where gene splicing, genetically modified animals, and a yawning gap between rich and poor are commonplace. Told from the perspective of Snowman, the story moves from past to present, slowly weaving a tale of friendship, love, violence, and a social order that is doomed to fail. Snowman’s journey is both enlightening and terrible in a future that is not too difficult to conceive.


The Plantagenets
The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England
by Dan Jones

A single volume covering the Plantagenet dynasty from its founding in the late 12th century under Henry I to Richard III's downfall in the 15th century. We all know how Richard III became King of England after displacing his nephew (one of the princes in the tower). But have you heard about how the ill-suited Edward II was overthrown by his own wife? In many ways, Plantagenet history is a medieval soap opera filled with infighting, betrayals, and shifting alliances that plagued each generation of rulers. A reader can get a bit lost while sprinting through nearly 300 years of English royal history, but this book does something that few history can do: it makes the struggles of long-dead people seem relevant and immediate. Highly recommended for history buffs, Anglophiles and royal watchers.

The Selection (Selection #1)
by Kiera Cass

In a future where America has been remade into a monarchy complete with a strict caste system, when a prince comes of age a bride is chosen for him in a nationwide competition. Low caste America Singer enters the competition and is surprised to be selected to compete against 34 other girls for the chance to marry Prince Maxon. Unsure at first, she soon realizes the importance of winning the competition not just for herself but for the kingdom. Complicating matters, her ex-boyfriend Aspen shows up at the palace as one of the guards. Will America fight for her place as a princess or will she return to Aspen and her old life? Cross a beauty pageant with The Bachelor, add some surprisingly strong characters and a bit of intrigue, and you have one enjoyable read.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
by Richelle Mead

One of the better teen vampire series, Vampire Academy is more enjoyable than Twilight. The main charactera half-vampire named Rose Hathawayis brave and fierce and can take care of herself. The series opens after she and her best friend have run away from their exclusive vampire boarding school and been hauled back by the guards. Now they are back and someone is leaving them threatening notes. Rose must figure out who is stalking and harassing her best friend before it is too late. To make matters worse, they live under the constant threat of a vampire gang that wants to kill the students to increase their own power. Full of teen drama as well as action and adventure, this is one not to miss.




Click a title or cover to view the catalog or request an item.

Monday, March 31, 2014

No harm in a little prank...

The Man Who Japed
By Philip K. Dick

In honor of April Fool's Day I thought I'd present a work by a master of science fiction that uses a prank as its main plot point.

In the year 2114 Allen Purcell is an upstanding citizen of a totalitarian society that strictly enforces a moral code using spying robots called "juveniles." He has a wife and a good job in the entertainment industry and he's worked hard to get where he is. But something isn't quite right in the world, and he just can't figure it out. One morning he wakes up to discover that someone has vandalized a statue of their government's founder. Everyone is shocked, but no one more so than Allen who finds red paint on his shoes. He's pretty sure he's the one who played the little prank, but he can't remember doing it. And he's worried that he might do it again.

What does it take to crumble a totalitarian government? Maybe it just takes a sense of humor.

To request this book click the title or cover above.

Review by Danny Hanbery

Friday, March 28, 2014

Two Different Love Stories



The Rosie Project is a love story for those who can relate to the socially inept. Don Tillman, a professor of genetics, lives his lie in a logical, organized, systematic way. He knows that he tends to think and react differently than others so when he decides that he is ready to take the steps of finding a wife he of course goes about it very methodically. He makes a questionnaire and creates the Wife Project.

However, along the way he makes a friend named Rosie who ends up turning his life upside down in a very good way as he helps her find her father. Don learns that love is more than what can be put on paper. This is a funny and touching story as much as learning about oneself as it is about recognizing love. 


It is 1880 in London and 19 year-old Frances Irvine is living a privileged life under her father's roof. She wants for little until her father sickens and passes away. Investments her father had made have fallen through and left her with nothing. With few choices she agrees to an unwanted marriage to a man she doesn't like in South Africa. On the trip over she falls in love with another passenger. When she arrives in Africa, though she marries as intended, she continues to pine for the other man.

She must decide whether to stay with her husband or leave with the man she has fallen for. Out in the harsh country with no skills Frances is forced to leave her sheltered way behind and learn about the harsh realities of life. She must challenge her perceptions and learn who to trust. The Fever Tree is a story of learning about oneself, discerning the truth and following your heart. 


Review by Arlene  

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Historical Fiction Set in Constantinople


Theodora is an excellent read for those who prefer books other than New York Times bestsellers and a great choice for lovers of historical fiction. Set in Constantinople under the rule of the Emperor Justin the novel explores the human story of Theodora with many details of history, geography, politics, and the royal family. Theodora loves the city of Constantinople, the surrounding sea, the smells, and especially the church of Hagia Sophia where she always feels safe from harm.

Theodora grew up poor, the middle child of a bear handler and went on to become a dancing star, comic, and actress of the Hippodrome. Theodora’s story has been largely marginalized in the history books of the ancient world, mainly because she was female. Duffy does much to flesh out the real woman behind the myths.

When Theodora’s father, the chief animal handler was killed by his bear and dies the family of three girls is thrown into poverty. The three girls are sent to the eunuch, Menander, the strictest dance teacher in The City. Theodora was cheeky and she longed for Menander’s approval above all else, so she was also the most likely to incur his wrath. She was not beautiful in the traditional sense, she didn't have the most beautiful voice or the best skill at dancing but her comic routines and her seductions were legendary. At 12 years of age Theodora saves a floundering production by ad libbing and soon becomes the leading lady of the Hippodrome. That means that she is expected to make most of her money flat on her back. Theodora befriends the diva of her new troupe, Sophia, a dwarf and pimp. Her friendship with Sophia assures that Theodora gets men who are generous and kind to her in the bedroom. Sophia’s affection for Theodora makes her transition to courtesan a smooth one.

Monday, March 24, 2014

2014 Townsend Prize finalists named

The Georgia Center for the Book and The Chattahoochee Review, the literary journal of Georgia Perimeter College, will announce the winner of the 2014 Townsend Prize for Fiction in a ceremony at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Thursday, April 24. Named for Jim Townsend, founder of Atlanta magazine and mentor to some of Georgia's most distinguished authors, the Townsend Prize is presented biennially to a Georgia writer judged to have published an outstanding work of fiction during the preceding two years.

2014's finalists reflect the prize's celebration of the diverse nature of today's Southern writing:

Stacia Brown, Accidents of Providence (2012)
Brown lives, works and writes in Atlanta; Accidents of Providence is her first novel.

Amber Dermont, The Starboard Sea (2012)
Dermont is an associate professor of English and creative writing at Agnes Scott College in Decatur; she is also the author of the story collection Damage Control.

Joshilyn Jackson, Someone Else's Love Story (2013)
Jackson is the author of six bestselling novels, including Gods in Alabama and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. She lives in Decatur with her husband and their two children.

Sheri Joseph, Where You Can Find Me (2013)
Joseph is the author of Stray and Bear Me Safely Over. She lives in Atlanta and teaches creative writing at Georgia State University, where she is fiction editor of the literary journal Five Points.

Charles McNair, Pickett's Charge (2013)
McNair's first novel, Land O' Goshen, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1994. He lives in Atlanta and writes full time.

Jamie Quatro, I Want to Show You More: Stories (2013)
Quatro is a contributing editor at Oxford American magazine. She lives with her family in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

Josh Russell, A True History of the Captivation, Transport to Strange Lands, and Deliverance of Hannah Guttentag (2012)
Russell is the author of the novels Yellow Jack and My Bright Midnight. He is a professor of English at Georgia State University and lives in Decatur with his wife and daughter.

Susan Rebecca White, A Place at the Table (2013)
White is the author of the novels Bound South and A Soft Place to Land. An Atlanta native, she teaches creative writing at Emory University.

Philip Lee Williams, Emerson's Brother (2012)
Williams is a member of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame and has published over a dozen books of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. He lives with his family in Oconee County, Georgia.

Anthony Winkler, God Carlos (2012)
Winkler has published more than eight works, including the novel The Painted Canoe and a biography, Trust the Darkness: My Life as a Writer. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Cathy.


Click a title to view the catalog or make a request.